Author: ~*SerenityMoon*~
Title: Welcome to My World
Chapter: 5

Hello!

Last time someone asked me why I don't like Trowa/Usa or Wufei/Usa (Purely out of curiosity).

Number one is that there's been this HUGE outbreak of Trowa/Wufei+Usa fics lately, and I can only take so much of the same thing before I get sick of it. I never get tired of Heero/Usa fics, no offense to anyone, however I haven't seen any GOOD Heero/Usa fics as of late. (With a few exceptions, you know who you are) Even still, there haven't been enough Heero/Usa fics to get tired of. It's one thing to have a lot of Heero/Usa fics, but it's another that some people just write them to say that they have a story.

Number two is that putting Usa with Wufei is like putting Rei with Quatre. Not to mention scary and unjust, but just for me a major turn off for fics.

Putting Trowa with Usa is like putting Michiriu with Duo. Scary isn't it.
(Uranus waves space sword angrily)

Now before you say anything about Heero and Usa being opposites and that they don't belong together, listen up loud and clear people. Usagi and Heero are so opposite they ATTRACT. Take a look at the Usa/Mamo relationship. What kinda person is Mamoru? (Dark, dreary, BORING, cold-hearted, and really closed off from the rest of the world.) What kind of person is Usagi? (Cheerful, bubbly, warm, kind, and a very open person.) I don't know about you all but the Dark verses Light romance scenario is really gettin' familiar. (Ex. Heero+Usa, and Mamoru+Usa. And in the manga the SM romance works quite well so why not for Heero and Usa.)

NOTE: The previously written romance opinions have nothing to do with my fic, except the Trowa Wufei thing.

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER HOLDS LOTS OF WAFF!!!!!!!!!! (WARM AND FUZZY *Insert romance here* FEELINGS!)

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LAST TIME

Serenity's head rest just below his chin, and he could feel her soft steady breathing, occasionally brushing warm air against his bare neck, making him shiver and his eyes clench shut. Scolding himself slightly for feeling things he knew he shouldn't have, he slowly slipped into a dreamless slumber, once again the child that had been playing with his friend out in the fields.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE GYM

*SMACK*

The sound of bare skin slamming onto the training mat cracked through the air. Wufei growled angrily, he was blindfolded, and losing badly, more than his pride would allow. He and Trowa had decided to hone in on his skills. Wufei relied on his eyes far too much, neglecting his other senses. Such as the ability to hear your opponent, or to feel the air change when the enemy attacked. Trowa was easily beating Wufei because of the boy's loss of sight. In a fair fight Wufei would have easily beaten him, but for now Trowa had the upper hand. Besides, most fights are never fair.

Wufei crossed his arms over his bare chest, trying to listen for sounds of movement. He didn't really hear anything until his senses warned him, but by then he was already having an intimate moment with the floor.

He heard a small sound and immediately dodged and dropped down performing a swift kick to the other boy's ankles, which unfortunately missed. Wufei muttered obscenities under his breath, which caused Trowa's only visible emerald eye to sparkle with mirth. Wufei threw a punch at his opponent, followed by a fake to the left, finally brushing the material of Trowa's shirt with his right hook. Thinking fast he reached out further and grabbed a handful of the shirt and flipped Trowa over his shoulder. Trowa, who had anticipated the move, landed on his feet and swept Wufei's feet out from under him, letting Wufei have another un-ceremonial meeting with the unforgiving training mat.

Wufei took off his blindfold and glared up at Trowa, wiping perspiration off his forehead. Trowa offered the boy a hand up and Wufei took it, silently admitting it was a good fight. Trowa knew that Wufei wasn't angry that he had lost, but only fueled to try harder next time. He knew this because Wufei had taken his hand without hesitation, accepting the fact that for now, he was the better fighter.

"Hey, are you guys done yet?", came the voice of none other than Duo Maxwell.

Wufei was about to retort to the long hared boy, when he realized that his fun loving comrade was completely serious in his question. Trowa nodded, while Wufei adjusted his towel.

"Good because you guys have got to see this.", Duo replied his eyes a strange color, not quite violet, but more a piercing navy blue. He then turned on his heal and walked down the hall, signaling for the other two to follow. Wufei grabbed his discarded shirt with a raised eyebrow, Trowa in tow.


_______________________________________________________________________________

HEERO'S ROOM

Heero typed dutifully bringing up the Elemental plans out of the main computers hard drive, loading them onto his laptop. Through his searching he stumbled upon each of the pilots accounts; Accounts he wasn't even aware they had. It looked as if every time they completed a mission a large sum of money was deposited, and for a failed mission, money was deducted. Whenever they needed to use a hotel during a mission that's where the money came from to pay for it. That's why they all had credit cards with money on them, that strangely worked with any currency.

Duo had been gone nearly twenty minutes looking for the others, twenty minutes too long. Heero's eyes flashed with annoyance as they again flitted to his watch. He then returned to his constant companion, his trusty top-of-the line laptop, and checked the scanner for the prints. Luckily, something went right that day. 'Somebody up there likes me,' he thought as the plans loaded on screen. With a cringe, he realized he was becoming more like Duo as the days went on.

Finally, the ornate solid oak door in his bedroom swung open to reveal three of the four missing pilots. His eyes swept over them wondering where 04 was. Heero cast a withering glance at Duo that clearly asked, ' Where the hell is he?'. Duo just looked at him with a look that said, 'I dunno.' Heero gave a glare and internally sighed, there was no use in trying to find Quatre, he could be ANYWHERE in the mansion.

"Look at these.", Heero stated handing the laptop to Trowa, who shared the screen with Wufei. They both retained slightly confused looks on their faces, until something clicked.

"Why were we dragged away from training to look at these?", Wufei demanded, he had no use for the old unused worthless sets of prints. The prints explained a possible way to create a type of super human. This super human would be called an Elemental, and the elementally enhanced human would have fought for the colonies. Though, in the end, the plan was abandoned for fear that the 'super human' would turn against them. A shame really, because if the plans had worked, it would have made the war pretty one-sided. After all, with enough training an experienced Elemental would have been able to control their respective weather.

Heero glared at him warningly, whereas Duo rolled his eyes.

"And you call me a baka. Look at the bottom right hand corner of the screen, and at the model behind the plans.", Duo pointed out an insolent smirk on his face.

Wufei was about to retort but the intensity of Heero's glare silenced him and he did as Duo so kindly suggested. The model was 5 feet 4 inches, with long hair, really long hair, and kind of odd looking to be male. He looked down at the corner of the graph and frowned. F/GP/06. Female, Gundam Pilot, Serenity Croft. It wasn't a male.

His eyes widened a fraction of an inch and Trowa frowned as they both had different views on the new situation. They both agreed, however, that if J attempted to turn Serenity into an elemental, bad things would happen. Either Serenity's body would accept the radiation, or it would reject it and, slowly make all her cells explode, all the while keeping her alive to experience every molecule of her being disintegrate. No one deserved that kind of senseless death. If her body accepted the radiation, it could cause permanent physical changes in her. Such as, hair color, skin color, eye color, height, weight, and body temperature.

"Either way, we've got to stop her from doing this. We, I, don't think she understands.", Duo voiced gravely, as Trowa snapped the laptop shut.

"We can't stop her.", Heero spoke up in monotone staring at Duo with eyes that were hardened long ago.

"Yui's right. We can only explain and hope she understands,", Wufei started, but continued with a snort,"But I doubt that Onna would understand anything anyway."

"So we find her before she does it.", Duo stated wondering exactly how much time they had.

"11:30.", Trowa stated quietly, his emerald eye filled with determination.

"11:30 what?", Duo asked scratching the back of his head in confusion.

"We have till 11:30 tonight.", Trowa stated calmly turning around and walking out the door, molding himself to the shadows as he went. He had some business to attend to, before anything else happened.

"So I guess we split up, find her, then contact each other as soon as we find her.", Duo rambled off, giving Heero a mock salute, then walking out of the room.

Wufei looked at the braided one amused, they'd see her at dinner, so he didn't see the use in looking for her until then, if she didn't show. It would be a waste of his time. She was a waste of his time. But she didn't deserve the death she would surely face if she went of with the procedure, there were only two recorded survivors from the testing but they were permanently disfigured and useless for the war, demoted to wheelchairs for life.

________________________________________________________________________________

SERENITY'S DREAM

'Mercury LOOK OUT!', a girl with raven black hair clad in red screamed tackling the shorter blue hared girl to the ground.

'VENUS........ CRESCENT BEAM....... SMASH!', called out a girl with astounding beauty, although her eyes held a great amount of sadness in them, but her determination and her love for the other fighters around her overpowered the sadness.

The beam tore at what seemed to be a droid, covered in protective armor. She sighed in relief, as some of its green blood dripped out, but then her mouth formed a circle of horror as the wound healed itself almost instantly.

"SUPREME...... THUNDER!", called out a tall amazon warrior, her muscles tense ready to spring at the slightest movement.

The droid howled in pain and shot out its weapon at the nearest senshi, which happened to be the senshi in red, who had twisted her ankle from pushing the senshi in blue out of the way. She was helpless as she waited for the oncoming blast, the blast that would surely kill her with her energy as low as it was.

"Die sailor brat!!!", the droid yelled spitefully, inwardly proud of itself.

"MOON TIARA STARLIGHT ACTION!", called out a crystalline voice from behind her. A golden tiara circled above the droid's attack, sprinkling stardust on the attack, neutralizing it.

"In the name of the Moon, I shall punish you! For hurting my friends and those dear to me you're going down!", shouted a girl in a familiar sailor fuku, with her long golden hair up in spherical buns on either side of her head, a white domino mask covering her eyes.

"MERCURY AQUA ILLUSION!", shouted the girl in blue stunning the droid.

"MOON PRINCESS ELIMINATION!!", called the girl with her hair in buns. A beam of pure energy swirling with gold and silver, flew out at the youma disintegrating it from the first contact.

"Sailor Moon!", cried out the four other senshi pouncing on her with giant hugs.

________________________________________________________________________________

END OF DREAM

Serenity's eyes flew open, and she took a sharp intake of air. 'What?', she wondered her eyes darting back and fourth, something white and blue obscuring her vision. 'What a dream.', she murmured trying to sit up. To her utmost surprise she felt arms tug her back down, and hug her close like a security blanket. She suddenly realized that she was staring at a cloth-covered chest, a white long sleeve button up shirt beneath a silken blue vest. She dared to look up and to her greatest relief she saw Quatre's sleeping face turned towards her.

'If that wasn't the weirdest dream I've ever had, I don't know what was.', she thought stretching a tiny bit. She realized her arms were draped about his waist, and with a small sigh she tightened her arms and buried her face in his chest, simply enjoying being near him. She felt a wave of protectiveness wash over her as she watched his chest rise and fall. At the same time she felt, peaceful, as if nothing could go wrong, almost as if she were... drugged. What was this drug? This, this, intoxication that she was slowly becoming addicted to. She drew in a deep breath, and with a small smile she realized he smelled faintly of roses. Just like the ones out in the garden.

Serenity reached up and brushed the platinum bangs away from his closed eyes. His hair was surprisingly soft to the touch despite its slightly spiky appearance. Carefully she ran her fingers down his cheek, tracing his jaw, studying the man he had become. She hadn't taken the time to actually figure out the differences between the way he was now and, how he had been. Sure, he was taller, stronger, his voice was deeper, but that was to be expected. His features had lost most of their boyish quality leaving a more mature, less naïve man of the world. His hands were callused, portraying endless days of work. They were much larger than her hands, making hers seem almost child-like. His eyes were a piercing aqua-marine, which could now be called blue, his hair a lighter platinum, and his skin lightly tanned. She wanted to know him again, wanted to know what he had been through. What he had seen and done, what he was planning to do. She wanted to know everything.

She felt warmth well up within her and smiled despite herself. He looked so angelic, almost as he had three years before. Serenity gently laid a hand upon his face once more, flinching slightly as she felt him stir. He was so dear to her. She let her hand rest on his cheek, and his eyes slowly fluttered open. Confused blue orbs.

"Serenity?", he questioned blinking and yawning.

"Morning sleepyhead.", she replied smiling as he settled back down again, not ready to wake up yet. He looked at her carefully as if making sure she was all right. A few moments later his eyes grew focused, as if they had been cloudy skies that had changed to an icy clear blue. His gaze still pegged on her was somehow different. It stirred something so familiar, and yet so forlorn within her. His eyes pierced through her, seeming to see things that even she did not.

"Thank-you Quatre.", Serenity stated softly after a few moments, not making any notions to move from his embrace. His eyes had suddenly captivated her, and slowly surely she was drowning in them. She was suddenly very aware of how close they really were.

"Your quite welcome.", he murmured quietly, pulling her closer. He felt heat rising to his face and desperately fought it away. He knew that he should have pulled away but he couldn't bear to let her go again. He knew he had harbored feelings for her, but as of late they had inflamed, and he didn't know what to do with them. She was so close, so very close his thoughts became jumbled and distorted. She filled his senses, and with a sudden clarity, he didn't think he could continue to live without tasting her. He blushed at the thought, but alas his actions weren't hindered by his screaming conscience.

"Forgive me.", Quatre whispered hoarsely. He dipped his head and gently pressed his lips to hers, caressing them softly, praying she wouldn't be angry with him.

Serenity's eyes were wide open as he kissed her, she hadn't expected it, and it was a shock. The warmth inside of her suddenly exploded and when that happened she lost all semblance of reason. Her eyes drifted shut as she began to respond to his caress, butterfly soft, sugary sweet. She had never felt so alive. All of her nerves felt like they were on fire, it was unlike anything she had ever felt. All her senses seemed heightened as he drew patterns on her back, slowly, painfully, driving her insane.

He was surprised, nevertheless joyful when she responded and he took his chance to deepen the kiss. By Allah, he knew it wasn't right, but he couldn't help himself. He sucked on her bottom lip forcefully, bringing all the blood to the surface, making it as sensitive as possible. She gasped sharply and arched her body against him, curling her fingers in his hair, shuddering as cold air brushed against her warm skin. His tongue darted out and brushed against her swollen lip causing her to gasp once more. Taking advantage of her gasp he gently brushed his tongue against her teeth, and finally she gave him entrance to what he wanted. He finally tasted for what he sought for, what he had tried to deny himself of. He now knew what it was like to taste a small piece of the heavens, and he didn't want to let it go.

She didn't know what to think, how to think, she could only feel. It felt as if he was consuming her and she him. The kiss somehow still seeming gentle to them, was in reality harsh and bruising, fueled by mutual feelings kept inside of both parties for far too long. Slowly they both broke away, lingering kisses keeping them from stopping completely. Quatre finally dropped his head into the crook of her neck, with haggard breathing, feeling as though he had just run and won a triathlon. He could feel her heart beating against his chest just as fast as his if not faster. Serenity absentmindedly ran her fingers through his hair, still in the warm bliss that had overtaken them both moments before. His hot breath blew repeatedly on her neck, and she shivered slightly almost surprised at the burning desire she felt for him to continue where he had left off.

Sometime during the exchange Quatre had ended up on top of her, and as he brought his head up to look at her face he felt a blush rise to his cheeks and he looked away, ashamed and upset with his actions. Serenity caught his reaction and frowned.

"S-serenity I--I-didn-I really shouldn'-I'm-", he stuttered giving the color red a new name.

Serenity placed two fingers over his swollen lips and silenced him. Hesitantly she leaned up and kissed him as he had originally done to her. Quatre sighed into her mouth and wrapped his arms about her waist kissing her in a gentle, loving fashion as if apologizing for losing control.

Serenity couldn't decide which kiss she liked better. With the last she had felt raw passion, but with this one she felt loved. Safe and loved. She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling muscles ripple beneath his clothing. Her heart felt as if it were about to burst, and once again trying to pull the suicidal action of jumping from her chest.

"Serenity, I'm sorry. So very sorry.", Quatre started his voice thick with emotion, guilt written angrily across his features.

"Sorry for kissing me? Or sorry because it was me?", she asked brushing hair out of his eyes.

"A little of both.", he replied sadness creeping it's way into his voice. He hadn't meant to lose what little restraint he had, but to his shame he had. He couldn't take back what he had done, and the apology didn't take away the bruised look of her lips. His face flamed with embarrassment, and he couldn't bear to look her in the eye.

"Why?", she whispered a little crestfallen at his response. 'Would he have been sorry if I were Mina?', Serenity wondered bitterly, suddenly feeling cold.

"The only reason I'm sorry it was you, is because I never wanted to hurt you, and now I have. I'm sorry for kissing you because I never should have done it without your saying so.", he quietly explained immediately sensing her emotions changing.

Serenity felt a bit less frigid as he explained what he had meant, but nonetheless a little confused.

"You didn't hurt me, I would have told you so.", she told him suddenly lapsing into naïveté. Which sometimes, she was still prone to do.

"Yes I did. You and Heero never went beyond simple touches of lips, but we did. I stole that part of your innocence. And-", Quatre continued grabbing the silver handled mirror off the nearby nightstand, and showing her, her tangled hair her, red face and bruised, undeniably swollen lips.

He felt like a-a world class creep. She should have slapped him a million times and disowned him as a friend. On the grounds that he was a man who forced himself on beautiful young girls. Guilt weighed upon him like a death shroud as he waited for her to push him away, to leave, that she never wanted to land eyes on him again. His eyes swirled to be a thick intense, remorseful blue. A shade of blue that made Serenity shiver because of the amount of emotion she saw there.

Serenity's brain finally jumped back where it should be as she processed his explanation. She felt a light frown play across her face as she realized what he was blaming himself for. She didn't consider the kiss she had shared with Heero as her first kiss. That kiss was born of a mission, and meant to stay that way. The two she had just shared with the man next to her, were what she considered her first. They meant something to her, they were special, they were from a man she knew and loved. Love? Is that what she felt for him? Was that the 'drug'? She glanced up at him again and saw guilt ridden eyes, and a broken hearted face.

"How could you have stolen that so called innocence, if I freely gave it to you?", Serenity asked him softly looking him dead in the eye.

"But I-", Quatre started flushing a bit at her words.

"You nor I have nothing to feel guilty over. Just tell me one thing, why did you kiss me?", she asked him resting her head on his shoulder, arms wrapped around his neck.

Quatre was silent for a few moments, and with a sigh, loosened his arms around her. His eyes were shut tightly, trying to think of a way to explain it. To explain the way his heart pounded when she came near, how he had tried so hard, not to let his feelings take over. The late nights he had spent awake thinking about her.

"Ever since a dream I had a few weeks before you saved us in the base, I couldn't stop thinking about you. Then when I saw you kissing Heero right after I woke up, I was ... angry, jealous, upset. That's why I fell asleep on the balcony. Then later still, every time I saw you, every time I thought of you, I had these feelings for you that wouldn't go away. I tried so hard, so very hard to ignore them, to deny them, to push them away, but I didn't try hard enough. When I woke up the first thing I saw was your face, and suddenly I couldn't hide it any more. I couldn't ignore the feelings I have for you, and they took over. I couldn't help it.", Quatre rasped in her ear with each sentence his voice becoming thicker.

Serenity stayed silent, not knowing what she should reply, if she should reply.
She shivered a little and he wrapped his arms around her back and waist, creating a safe haven.

"Where do we go now?", she asked seriously, lifting her head from his shoulder to look at him.

"I........ don't know.", Quatre replied quietly, searching her blue eyes carefully. Searching for a sign that she could tell he was lying. He knew exactly where he wanted their relationship to go. He wanted to be with her always. To be able to whisper words of comfort in her ear when she needed them. To be able to protect her, help her, guide her, keep her, hold her. To love her freely, and more importantly to have her love in return. Yet, he was afraid.

Quatre felt an unusual frown fall upon his face as he realized the irony of it all. He could have a stare down with death unafraid on any given day, at any given time during that day, but he was frightened of a girl just over five feet tall. He knew what he wanted, but was it going to work out in the long run? Would it become a complication during missions? Would it only bring pain, instead of happiness? He didn't know, and that unnerved him. For once he didn't know.

Serenity narrowed her eyes a little as soon as his eyes left her face. He wasn't telling her the truth. More than anything, she hated being lied to. It was not acceptable. A small wicked smile slowly spread across her face, as she suddenly had an idea. It wasn't very nice, but neither was lying.

To his surprise she disentangled herself from his arms and stood up off the bed walking towards the window. She swayed her hips just so as she walked, and knew very well she had his full attention. She stood looking out the window a few feet away from it, hugging herself tightly. She turned her head slightly towards him and assessed his current expression. He was confused. Good.

"So it would be all right with you if I went to the next ball with Darien Chiba then? I mean according to Mina he's a mortal Adonis.", she started coyly, yet still managing to sound innocent at the same time. She was fascinated at her ability to hide her utter loathing, disgust for the man, by covering it up with honey.

Quatre verbally said nothing, but his disapproval was evident by the frown on his face.

"Or maybe I could go out with Duo, I bet he'd love a full body massage after that beating I gave him. I am certified to do that you know.", Serenity continued nonchalantly flitting her eyes towards him, surprised to see his reaction. Quatre had stood up clutching his fists tightly, his head turned.

"Better yet I could convince Trowa to go swimming with me. I bet he'd look great in swim Trunks. I just got a new swimsuit too. You know, one of the two-piece ones that tie on in the back.", she went on, talking about her plans as if he was Mina. Quatre had turned towards her now, fists clenched so tight blood was going to begin seeping from his cuticles. He had an unusual menacing scowl upon his face, and his eyes..... By God, his eyes. They smoldered at her, a darkened aqua-marine, so dark his pupils looked to be non-existent. He looked ready to kill as his eyes gained an unusual sheen.

"Or", she started turning away, and leaning on the window sill with both hands," Or maybe Heero and I can continue where we left off."

Before Serenity could even think of moving arms were hugging her around the waist tightly, pulling her up against a firm body. She hadn't even heard him move, felt the air shift, let alone anticipated his actions.

"I forbid it Serenity. I forbid any of it, do you hear me?", Quatre ordered, his anger obviously controlled, yet barely contained.

"Why, I'm not dating anyone.", she stated flatly, leaving her hands straight at her sides.

Quatre merely lowered his lips to her bare neck, and kissed it softly, smiling as she rolled her head to the side, giving him easier access to her sensitive flesh. He sucked and nibbled at the spot he had originally kissed, till it turned a purplish red. Then suddenly as if he had just realized what he was doing he jerked his lips away, muttering clean curses under his breath. The nearly sixteen year old boy thought for a moment, shocked that just seconds before he had actually considered maiming several of his fellow pilots, one in particular.

"I don't deserve you after all I've done. Yet I want to be with you anyway.", Quatre mused aloud, missing the triumphant smile on her face and the mischievous light in her eyes.

"Whatever you've done is in the past, and by all means should stay there. I don't care what happened then, as long as you're safe here with me now. I trust you, I forgive you, I even think I love you.", Serenity breathed leaning back against his muscled chest, trusting him to keep her from falling. She hoped he didn't turn her away at this point, because if he did she didn't know what she'd do.

Quatre's heart swelled and tears pricked at his eyes. He had been afraid she wouldn't understand, wouldn't trust him because of his shortcoming's. He nearly choked as he realized she had more or less admitted she loved him, and the love pouring off of her was pure, true, and real. And to his relief, to his wonderment, to his greatest joy it was meant for him.

"Be mine Serenity. You don't have to answer me now. In fact I don't want your answer now. I want you to think it over, and then when you're positive it's what you want, let me know. I don't care how long you take.", Quatre whispered in her ear, reaching up to tuck the loose wisps of hair behind her ears in a loving manner. Serenity nodded and turned, burying herself in his arms, her hands tucked between them resting on his chest.

"You have my heart.", he whispered quietly bringing tears to her eyes, watching as the sun slowly dipped behind the horizon.

It was then that a shrill beeping came from Quatre's wrist shattering the tranquil moment.

"What the.....", Serenity trailed off after having nearly jumped a mile high, as the noise kept going.

"It was only my watch. We have fifteen minutes before dinner.", Quatre explained with a chuckle as he watched her try to calm down without him noticing. He reached around her turning off his watch, and then settled back with his arms around her.

"Ugh. We better get going before Hilary sends a search party.", Serenity muttered, reluctantly pulling out of his arms. As she walked towards the door she spotted the box Nakuru had handed her on her way upstairs. It was slightly larger than a shoebox and marked with fragile stamps everywhere. She had forgotten all about it.

"Do you think we have time to open it?", asked the silvery blonde flipping a switchblade out of nowhere.

"It won't matter if we're a few minutes late...", Quatre trailed off with a smile, inwardly wondering what was in the package.

"Sugoi.", she replied cutting the packing tape with the blade. When she was done she put it away and pulled open the box, which was loaded with the protective bubble wrap.

"It'd be just like Papa to send me a whole bunch of this stuff with nothing else.", Serenity muttered with an amused smile.

She finally got to the treasure hiding within the bubble wrap and found it to be a beautiful crystal jewelry box. A letter fell out as she found a secret compartment.

*Baby-girl,

How are you? You haven't burned the house down yet... Have you? Your Mother and I are well, although she's not speaking to me for some reason or another. Ah, well I'll figure it out later. I hear Chibi-Mina is staying with you while we're gone, although I personally thought it was a rotten idea. I bet she's not so little anymore is she? I love Minako like she was your sister and all, but with your new eh, 'job' I don't suppose it's easy keeping it a secret from her. But Lara thought it was a great idea and thus, Mina is staying with you. We found that jewelry box in a really oddly lit cave, and thought it was perfect for you. Check for a surprise in the right hand drawer. The Topaz is for Mina, we got it in Viennese, I hope she likes it. We hope you love your new jewelry box, and the surprises it holds. Just tinker around with it you'll see what I mean. Well, we hope to see you soon! Lara sends her love! We both love you Serenity, always remember that.

Love,

Lord Alex West*

Serenity smiled and folded the letter back up, placing it in the compartment that had opened. She found a small crystal jewelry box there and found the word 'Mina' taped on top. She then saw a silver chain and found it to be connected to an ornate silver cross, imbedded with small sapphire jewels. 'Baby-girl' was taped on the back of the cross.

"That's beautiful.", Quatre stated eyes wide at such a precious gift. He tugged it gently from her hands and dutifully clasped it around her neck.

"Thanks Quat-kun.", she replied giggling at his blush. Serenity then slid her hand into his and lifted the box in the other, Minako's gift on top. Quatre squeezed her hand gently as they walked out of the room content for a time.

They went first to Serenity's room to deposit the jewelry box, and toss out the packaging.

"Do you want to head downstairs while I get Minako?", Serenity asked him walking towards her bedroom door.

"Sure, but you m-might want to wear a s-scarf.... or something....", Quatre pointed out blushing heavily, his head turned away.

"Why would I need to-", she started then spotted the purplish mark on her neck in the mirror," Oh.", she finished with a bit of a flush.

"I'll see you downstairs.", Serenity stated smiling as he turned to leave.
Before he could go to open the door, Serenity stepped over to him and in fluid movements put her hand behind his neck and pulled his head down to kiss him. Quatre as if expecting it, maintained a blush, but managed to kiss her back, his hands resting on her hips, high enough to be proper.

"What was that for?", he gasped pulling away, a small stupidly dazed grin on his face.

"Till later.", she retorted with a smirk on her features, as she leaned over to grab a black gauzy scarf, and expertly tie it around her neck, hiding the -ahem- to put is it loose terms, the hickey.

"I'll walk you to Mina's.", Quatre informed praying to whatever deity's there were, his blush could stay down for a time. He took her smaller, softer hand in his as she grabbed the small crystal box that was for Minako.
_____________________________________________________________________________

IN THE DINING ROOM

"So, Wu-man, how badly did Trowa whoop your rear end again?", Duo asked for the third time enjoying the way Wufei's face turned multiple colors.

'One, two, three,', started Wufei in his head, trying not to kill the insolent baka. The day had already been eventful enough.

"I can't hear you!", Duo called his eyes twinkling in mischief.

'Six, seven, eight', the Chinese man continued fingering his beloved Katana, ' Nine, Ten', he finished quickly, suddenly flying out of his chair at the braided baka who quickly ran out of the room.

"DIE MAXWELL!", Wufei yelled slashing through the air towards pilot 02.

And so the ageless game of cat and mouse began. It was quite like the children's cartoon 'Tom and Jerry'. The cat (Wufei) had the skills to kill the mouse (Duo), wanted to kill the mouse, and repeatedly tried to kill the mouse, and the keyword in this sentence is tried. The mouse always got away, finding a way to run from the cat. Hide and wait till it's safe to come out. Words to live by.

At that moment the opposite dining room door creaked open to reveal the blonde hared pilot; His features innocent, his eyes something else.

"Hello.", he called to them politely sitting wearily it in the comfortable chair. He sat as years of edict had taught him, back straight, elbows off the table.

There was a sudden war cry from Wufei as the two pilots raced back into the room. As they ran by Quatre snatched Wufei's katana and Duo's braid in either hand from mid-air, pulling them tightly.

"Owie, Owie, Owie.", muttered Duo darkly, ceasing any form of movement.

"Not today you two, Please? The girls aren't in good moods, you two fighting won't help any.", Quatre explained softly, all the while a polite smile on his face, never wavering. There was little that could spoil his current mood.

Wufei glowered for a moment, while Duo sighed it relief. Once again he lived to see a new day. Trowa sat with his arms crossed over his chest, slowly dissecting everyone and everything in the room. His visible eye widened slightly as he noted Quatre's extreme good mood. He silently wondered why the Innocence was so happy, something must have happened.

"J is going to attempt to turn Serenity into an Elemental.", Heero stated bluntly, his cold eyes boring into Quatre's forehead.

"W-what?", Quatre stuttered disbelieving.

Heero whipped out his ever-present laptop, pulled up the plans and passed them to Quatre. The blonde hared boy took the laptop numbly, licking his suddenly dry lips. His eyes widened as he realized what Heero had told him was true. He passed the laptop back closing it with a blank look.

"I see.", he stated softly running a hand through his hair, a serious look on his face. So much for his good mood.

With little complications dinner was served a few moments later with everyone save the two girls in their respective seats.

________________________________________________________________________________

IN MINAKO'S ROOM

"Mina, Mina, time to wake up...", Serenity spoke softly shaking the girl gently. Moment's later, large blue eyes a few shades lighter than her own, fluttered open slightly confused.

"Sere? I just had the funniest dream. There were these girls in *yawn* short skirts and they beat up this *stretch* *yawn* this, youma.", Minako replied sleepily rubbing her eyes.

"Strange, I just had a dream like that too...", mused Serenity aloud her eyes narrowing a bit.

"Maybe we watched the same movie.", suggested Minako sitting up with her feet dangling over the edge of the bed.

"Maybe.", the silvery blonde replied with a disbelieving frown.

An uncomfortable silence spread between the two girls, as the event that had taken place earlier sunk in. Mina shifted uncomfortably where she sat, her gaze kept firmly on her hands.

"Mina, about earlier, I'm sorry.", Serenity stated with a sigh staring out the window at the setting sun.

Minako nodded accepting the apology, finally looking up at her cousin with a small smile. "Why did you yell at Duo like that, what happened?", Minako asked tentatively searching her eyes for the light. And to her relief it was there.

"There's a lot going on right now, a lot I can't tell you. If you were to find out, it could cost your life. I love you Mina, and I don't want anything to happen to you. Promise me you won't go looking for trouble?", Serenity replied carefully making sure her communicator was off.

"But I-", started Mina, if her cousin was in some kind of trouble she wanted to help.

"Please...", the silvery blonde pleaded, her eyes watering slightly.

"All right, I promise.", sighed Minako warily, gasping for air as Serenity hugged her tightly.

'I just don't want anything to happen to you.', Serenity mused hugging her cousin gratefully.

"Oh man, we're late for dinner. Come on!", Mina exclaimed looking into the mirror and fixing her hair, then in quick motions ran to the bathroom and washed her face.

"Mina wait!", called Serenity as the blonde grabbed her arm on the way out the door.

"What?", Minako asked worriedly, looking her cousin up and down, making sure she was all right.

"Mum and Daddy sent this for you!", she replied holding out the crystal jewelry box.

Minako gingerly took the box from Serenity and carefully opened it. She took in a sharp intake of air as she saw the topaz stoned necklace. The topaz stone was encased in a golden cage, tiny diamonds studding the bars of the cage. Mina happily put the necklace on admiring it on its golden chain.

"Now we can go.", Serenity stated with a grin. With few words the two made it down to the Dining room, arm in arm, giggling at senseless nothings all the way.

________________________________________________________________________________

DINING ROOM

"What?", Serenity asked annoyed slamming her glass down loudly. The five male Gundam pilots had been staring at her quite obviously all through dinner, it was beginning to grate on her nerves.

"Later Serenity.", Quatre stated in a clipped voice. He was not happy in the least.

Serenity seemed abashed at his tone of voice and looked at him with apprehension evident in her eyes. She felt a stab of pain course through her heart as he moved mechanically stabbing at his food in an almost furious manner. Duo suppressed a surprised whistle as he surveyed Quatre's current mood swing. He had done a one-eighty in less than twenty minutes. Making Wufei angry was one thing almost a sport, but ticking off the blonde hared pilot took guts. Guts and a whole hell of a lotta skill. And here where Duo had tried countless times, Serenity had done it without even trying.

Finally, disgusted, Serenity pushed her plate away and stood up, murmuring a quiet, "I'm be in the living room." She placed a comforting hand on Mina's shoulder for a second, then swept out of the room the two double French doors swinging shut behind her, a scowl upon her face.

"You guys just love to tick her off don't you?", Mina asked sarcastically glaring at Quatre for his harsh words. Even she noticed all the boys had been staring at Serenity, the gazes none too pleasant. Weather Quatre was kawaii or not, he had no right to treat her cousin like that. Mina glared harder as the sudden urge to protect Serenity from everyone and everything welled up within her.

"You don't know the half of it.", Quatre sighed running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"Enlighten me.", Mina hissed back, flipping her hair over her shoulder. She was oh-so-sick of being in the dark. Remembering her promise to Serenity she bit her lip, and hoped she didn't accidentally break it.

To her dismay and relief Quatre merely sighed and shook his head sadly, closing his eyes.

________________________________________________________________________________

LIVING ROOM

Serenity sat bills and other odds and ends surrounding her on the floor, checkbook in hand, a pen behind her ear.

"Four thousand for the electricity, one thousand for gas.", Serenity mused aloud signing the checkbook with flourish. This was going to take her awhile. She still had to do the pay roll, the on call mechanics, stable hands, the cook, various servants, Hilary, and Bryce. She found it a bit odd that Bryce still lived outside in the courtyard in a mobile home. They had eighty-one spare bedrooms at the moment and from what she knew the only reasons Bryce still lived outside were for independence and some other nonesuch.

And she still had to have the door fixed that she broke in the Billiard room from when she slammed Duo through it. Add on another thousand dollars.

Serenity sifted through the mail again, bills, bills, bills, bills. It'd be nice to get something in the mail that wasn't a bill. She stopped as she noticed a smaller envelope stuck between two of the bigger ones. She pulled it out and opened it carefully with the metal mail-opener. Serenity carefully broke the seal of the letter and opened it up to see, formal light blue paper, with beautifully flowing silver script.

*September 14, 197 A.C.

To the Lord and Lady's of the Croft Household,

I Lord Motoki Furushuta heir to the throne of the Duchess Angelina Marie Reonaldi III, hereby invite Lord Alexander West, Lady Lara Croft, and the young Lady Serenity Croft to the birthday extravaganza of the Duchess. It shall be formal, black tie, ballroom wear. It shall be held at Gothamere Castle. You may invite up to eight persons to accompany you to this event, so that you may feel at home with your surroundings. It is to be held within the week containing November 4 through the 10. Please, do attend. If it could be feasible please place an RSVP in with our secretary, or talk to me personally within a week of you receiving this invite.

Sincerely,

Lord Motoki Chavez Furushuta IV*

Serenity's brow furrowed as she tried to think of something that she night have to do other than a possible mission. A slow smile grew on her face as she realized she could do a little talking to J and have him pose the ball as a partial mission. After all, with so many people of importance in one place at the same time something was bound to happen. She could bring Minako along too. Motoki and Mina got along famously so that was one problem solved.

She looked at her watch and realized it was a quarter after eight. Nearly time for her to head to the hanger. Serenity thought the plans over once more in her mind. They were fool proof nothing could go wrong. *gulp* Nothing.

It was then that the double doors burst open, startling her so badly she jumped up and tossed the mail opener towards the ceiling. It stuck there. Serenity fought the urge to roll her eyes as Quatre walked in trailed by Heero and Trowa. While the boys continued to stare at her each of the gazes as unnerving as the next, Serenity being the girl she is decided to try to get her mail opener back, by jumping as high as she could for it.

"You know *jump* you guys could *jump* knock *jump*.", she bit out having a bit of a problem with the height of the ceiling, and the fact that she was vertically challenged.

"Damned high ceilings.", the golden hared blonde muttered spitefully, taking another futile jump.

'I'd kill for a pair of Stiletto's.', she thought giving the mail opener the evil eye.

Trowa crossed the room and effortlessly plucked the mail opener from the ceiling, barely stretching to do so. Serenity happily took the mail opener and plopped down on the couch with the rest of her mail, looking quite content to ignore them. Quite suddenly she began shooting Trowa dirty looks muttering things such as 'Bean Pole Trowa.'

"I'm sure you're all well and happy to have your mail opener back, but that isn't why were here.", Quatre interrupted curtly running his hand through his hair with a sigh.

"Oh, so now you all have to have a reason to come and spend a little time with me?", she asked in a sweetly fake voice, dripping with sarcasm. "I'm crushed.", she finished in monotone, giving them all a glare.

"Serenity that's enough.", the platinum hared boy voiced wearily his previous anger replaced quickly by an extreme screaming worry. He looked at Heero who was already busily typing away, looking a bit aggravated that he had to bring up the same plans for the third time that day.

"Why are you here?", Serenity asked pointedly her cold blue eyes boring holes through them. Burning them from the inside out, setting them aflame. Quatre unconsciously flinched at her look and finally gave Heero a small smile of gratitude as the laptop was passed in his direction.

"Please tell us those aren't for what we think they are.", Quatre voiced sadly his voice almost pleading in itself for her to say a simple no. The laptop was passed to Serenity, who gave it a quick once over and her eyes slowly widened in shock.

'How did they.....?', Serenity trailed off gripping the laptop so tightly it was beginning to make creaking noises under her fingers. She gave an inward weary smile, they should have known, the Gundam pilots were the experts. With sudden stiffened resolve she took a deep breath, and squared her shoulders. Trowa watched in fascination as once again they watched her face mutate from the guise of an angel to the emotional content of a concrete slab.

"Where is Minako?", she asked staring pointedly at Quatre who seemed to shrink slightly under her gaze.

"With Duo and Wufei in the game room.", Trowa replied stoically as she nodded in his direction, seeming to size the three of them up.

"Follow me.", Serenity stated stiffly tossing the laptop carelessly in the easy chair. The boys followed without a moment's hesitation, keeping up with her mechanical motions. She walked briskly, her single braid trailing a few inches behind her.

After ten minutes of walking through the twisting, turning hallways Quatre finally realized they were headed towards the Solarium. As Serenity pushed open the glass double doors that lead to one of the most beautiful places in the mansion, Heero voiced his suspicions. "Why are we here?", he demanded in monotone, in no mood for games.

"Watch closely boys.", Serenity started softly seeming to order their attention with her quieted voice. "I'm only doing this once."

The silvery blonde hared girl walked to a dead rose bush that had yet to be removed. It looked as if it had just suddenly died on the spot, rosebuds and bloomed flowers still intact. With the loving touch of a mother Serenity caressed a dead rosebud and watched with satisfaction as the a dull silver energy flew from her finger tips, surrounding the bud, and soon enough it exploded in a brilliant flash of blood red, blooming as in should have before it died. The stem turned green and the thorns grew strong and healthy. The green spread to the rest of the bush, while Serenity randomly caressed crusty brown roses and leaves. Soon enough the bush was healthy once more, vibrant with color and life. Serenity plucked three roses and cleared them from thorns with her switchblade.

She handed each or the roses to one of the boys, which to their surprise felt warm, almost alive. Heero had his hand tensed just above his gun as he took the delicate flower. He had a strange flashback of a little girl handing him a flower, but shook it off. Each of them had one question on their minds as they examined the blood red roses teeming with life. 'How?'

"Once again, watch carefully.", Serenity called posing the switchblade just above her wrist, as if in deep concentration.

"Serenity what do you think-", Quatre was cut of by Serenity quickly slashing the blade across her wrist crimson blood flowing from her wound. Quatre began to bark out orders to the other pilots when Serenity shook her head.

"Watch carefully.", she stated placing a glowing silver hand on top of her wound, palm down. In small flashes of light coming from the hand squeezing her wound, the blood flow slowed to a stop. Serenity took the hem of her shirt and wiped whatever blood remained on her away, then held up her wrist. Nothing was there, not even a scar remained to show for all the blood.

"I should've remembered.", Quatre groaned looking heaven ward.

"Yes, you should have.", came Serenity's clipped voice, her eyes hard. She was angry, to say the least. After all she had done, the things she had gone through, with the training she had suffered through she still hadn't managed to gain the one thing from the pilots that she had desperately wanted from the beginning. Their trust. Even Quatre the man she trusted with her heart, her life, didn't trust her with a ten-foot pole.

Quatre felt like a bit of a dunce now. While her 'plant powers' were new to him, her healing powers were not. It had never occurred to him that she was an elemental, and heaven knows how much time he could've saved if he had remembered.

"See boys, J isn't making me an elemental, I already am one by birth. All J is doing is enhancing whatever powers I have there before they spontaneously combust, thus making me a walking BOMB until after tonight.", Serenity explained giving one last soft pat to the bloom on the bush. Then quite suddenly she turned on her heal walking out of the Solarium head held high, defiance in her eyes.

Quatre winced as he felt anger and a slight hint betrayal flow heavily from the girl he loved. Yup, he'd blown it. She thought he didn't trust her to know what she was doing. He did, but with something's, it was so hard not to worry. So maybe he didn't have complete trust in her yet. No, wait he did, but on different levels. If she were to agree to his earlier proposal he would trust her with his heart, in fact he already did. But when it came to battles, big decisions, or life threatening things, he had to question her. He had initially been angry with her for not telling him in the first place, but that anger had quickly passed and was replaced by worry.

"We should probably go tell the others.", Quatre started glancing at his watch seeing it was after nine o'clock. He sighed as he heard the door on the other end of the Solarium slam loudly with a bang. Yup. She most definitely wasn't happy with him, or any of them for that matter.
________________________________________________________________________________

GAME ROOM

"AHHHHH!!!!!! Wufei! Don't do that to me!!!", screeched a gi clad Duo racing through a stone room with a dungeon like appearance, trying to get away from Wufei who wielded a long bladed katana.

"Get back here Maxwell!", Wufei yelled back clad in baggy black pants and comfortable running sneakers.

Duo raised an eyebrow as he saw the black spiked gloves he was wearing spark with electricity. 'I wonder.', Duo trailed off a small plan forming in his even smaller mind. He stopped suddenly ducking out of the way of Wufei's katana, and clenched back his fist sending a punch straight to Wufei's gut. Wufei flew backwards from the blow and his tanned body sparked with rounds of electricity. Half of Wufei's life force depleted.

"Yes!", Duo cheered doing a small victory dance; He had finally scored pay back on the Wu-ster. They were playing a game called Tekken 3, and what a fun game it was. It was also just like a training session, like a physical workout, all in all quite handy.

His joy was cut short as he suddenly realized he was staring up at his body from the ground. "What the....", he trailed off a bit perplexed. It was then that he noticed his body had no head, and it was then that he passed out.

'Braided-baka.', snorted Wufei cleaning off his sword with the hem of the now decapitated Duo's shirt.

{Lord Wufei Chang may now proceed to the third level, in which he will battle Lady Minako Aino. Good Luck.},Came the female computerized voice from nowhere and everywhere all at once.

Suddenly Wufei's surroundings blurred and all the colors meshed together, till they abruptly stopped, leaving Wufei standing on a gigantic crystal platform, poking with spikes here or there. His eyes widened a bit, the air was actually cold, and he could literally smell the clean cool ice.

{Ready, Fight!}, the voice suddenly yelled, leaving Wufei to wonder, 'Fight What?'

"My, my Wufei-san, do you like my turf?", asked the bubbly voice he knew all to well as Minako. Wufei jerked around and there standing before him was Mina, in a black leather Micro-mini skirt, with thigh high black stiletto's, a far to tight black and purple corset with a black duster topping it off. A dark purple bow resided in her hair with a black domino mask. On her hands were leather gloves the fingers cut out, and in her hands was a long double bladed staff,

Wufei being the modest, honorable man he is nearly passed out from the sudden blood rush. He pinched his nose, hoping it wouldn't bleed and give him away.

"Wufei-san, Are you all right?", asked the devilishly clad girl worriedly, he looked really red for some reason.

"Let's FIGHT Onna!", Wufei yelled ignoring her question, and charging at her suddenly, performing a move in which she blocked. He threw another light punch and again she blocked. Obviously she had some experience, that he and the other pilots had failed to notice.

"Oh, come on you didn't think that *CLANG* Serenity trained alone now did you?", she demanded of the slightly stunned pilot of Nataku.

"What kind of training, Onna?", he demanded praying to all of his many deity's that she wasn't speaking of Gundam training.

"Duh, Serenity and I have taken training lessons together since we were ten!", Minako shot back flipping over his head, and swiping at his back, which unfortunately missed.

"Humph.", Wufei shot back inwardly relieved that another Onna wouldn't be joining the team. One was more that enough, especially with the one that they had gotten stuck with.

The more experienced fighter slowly growing bored with the pointless banter, quickly put more force into his fighting. He soon had Minako backing towards a corner, in which he would make quick work of her. With quick precise movements he aimed his katana towards her middle at a run. To bad he didn't notice the slightly uneven ground he was treading upon, and in an almost graceful fashion his sword missed his target, and sliced cleanly into the ice wall behind her. Due to the fact that his katana continued with its route, he was forced to follow it, slamming into the blonde hared girl, nose to nose.

Wufei's eyes widened at her sudden close proximity, even more so at the fact that he could accidentally feel her every curve from the way he had crashed into her. When Mina's face flushed red, it snapped Wufei back to reality, but as he tried to pull off of her, he realized he couldn't. He looked down at the small space between them and saw something poking out of, or shall we say into, his chest.

"Looks like I win.", Mina breathed out softly sidestepping as far as she could so he could see that it was indeed her staff impaled through his middle, the spiked double bladed ends keeping him there. In a blur of colors they were back in the virtual game system, and exiting the doors to the game room.

Duo was already there still shaking the fuzz out of his head.

While Mina stripped herself of the VR suit wires, she silently congratulated herself in beating Wufei, however much of an accident it may have been.

"Hey, Duo-san, Did ya see? I beat Wufei-san!", Minako told him rushing over after hanging the suit up.

"Wow babe, who would've thought!", Duo congratulated, grinning at her brightly. Nearly six months ago he would have wondered about the -san attachment to the end of their names, but after taking the Japanese, French, and Spanish lessons Quatre had insisted he take, he understood.

"Injustice.", Wufei muttered darkly standing next the large metal doors, his arms folded angrily across his chest.

"What should we play next?", Minako asked the two boys pulling things up on her laptop. A picture of a man with a tail standing next to a beautiful dark hared woman, the label read Final Fantasy. Another picture of a strange looking creature, almost like a yellow mouse or cat, labeled P. Stadium. There was a basketball game with two pro players standing back to back, labeled Street Ball. But what caught Duo's eye was the game without a label, but with a picture of a creepy mansion, lightening flashing in the background.

"Let's try this one.", Duo suggested double clicking it for her.

Mina nodded happily and reattached her wires while Wufei just walked in the doors, determined to beat them both at their own game. Duo reattached his wires and trailed after Wufei calling, "Wait up!"

As a blur of color took place the trio found themselves on the edge of a dark, seemingly forbidden forest with gnarly old trees, containing jaggedly bent branches that seemed to try and grab them as they went past. Lightening flashed behind the house illuminating the area and bats screeched overhead, flying towards the full moon in a cloud shaped flock.

"Whoa!", Duo exclaimed looking down at his current attire. He wore bright black rubbery plumber's overalls with a luminescent white T-shirt underneath. A white handkerchief resided in his back pocket, while he wore rounded shiny black shoes, with a black plumber's cap on his head. Wufei wore the same thing as Duo, only where Duo's was black Wufei's was bright crimson red. Minako wore a bright orange slightly rubbery looking sun-dress with a white T-shirt with puffy round sleeves, and chunky orange high heels. She also had on an orange plumber's hat tilted off to the side with her hair in an orange bow.

"Ewwww...", Mina whined as she surveyed her outfit. Whomever had created it lacked fashion sense AND style.

Suddenly three vacuum packs floated infront of them, each a respective color. The grabbed the packs, and put them on their backs, walking towards the frightening house. Sudden lights lit to show the way, and soon enough Duo was creaking open the big double doors of the mansion, peeking carefully inside.

"Hey, I've got a flashlight!", Mina told him turning it on. They wandered about the foyer for a few moments, and finally Wufei flicked on the light switch he had found near the door. The smell of must was in the air, as spider-webs covered everything.

"Hey, I found a key!", Mina cried out from the top second level, and both boys raced up the stairs to go see. Duo shrugged as Mina handed him the key, and stuck it in the nearest lock he could find. To his surprise a pulsing noise sounded, and the door swung open.

"Humph.", Wufei snorted and walked in the room followed by Duo then Minako. As they looked for a light switch, the three stayed close, not wanting to accidentally get lost. Suddenly a huge purple ghost swung down from ceiling, and threw bombs at them, cackling wildly.

Two equally shocked screams of fright and terror sounded throughout the virtual reality system and flew threw the game room and out the hall.

________________________________________________________________________________

IN THE HALLS

Quatre's head snapped to the right as he heard something echoing faintly through the house.

"Did you guys hear something?", he questioned the two other boys flanking both his sides.

Heero nodded and Trowa uttered a simple, "Yes."

"It sounded like Duo and Minako.", Quatre mused aloud, feeling no direct danger from either of them.

Quatre gave an unconscious smile to his two comrades, both of whom he could predict perfectly. The blonde boy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. A distressed look flashed in his eyes, and glared on his face as he thought of the lovely girl he had recently ticked off. He was still worried, he wanted to be there, he wanted to be the first thing she saw when came out. But she probably wouldn't have it. Not now. She thought they didn't trust her. She knew they respected her, but trust, it was something that was gained over time. 'Oh love, Forgive me.', he thought pushing away the sudden intense pricking at his eyes.

Trowa watched the kind pilot with interest. The boy had been going from mood swing to mood swing, like a hyped up frog with toadstools. Happy, Disbelieving, Angry, Worried, and now desperately saddened. And that was in order. He saw the tears suddenly well up in Quatre's eyes, and just as quickly saw him blink and push them away, yet the downtrodden look stayed upon his face. Trowa placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, and Quatre looked at him a bit startled.

In Trowa's eyes Quatre read the silent question of concern, and gave the older boy a smile. Trowa stared at him a few moments longer while Quatre gratefully took the silent comfort, and tried to give him another hopefully more reassuring smile. It must have worked because Trowa dropped his hand and kept walking to the game room.

________________________________________________________________________________

IN THE 'BACKYARD'

Serenity sat in a fresh out outfit, leaning against one of the walls of the tent. She stared at the tombstone in front of her and tried to put her thoughts together. The tombstone belonged to her grandfather. She had never met him, he died before she was born, but from the stories her mother told her, she felt as if she knew him inside out. And by now he knew her as well. She dropped by the empty grave every so often to fill him in on the goings of her life. Serenity fingered the daisy chain she had made while sitting there, and carefully placed it on the stone.

"Am I doing the right thing?", she asked suddenly drying her damp eyes with a handkerchief.

"Am I only making things worse?", the silvery blonde questioned as more tears overflowed her

"Would Mama and Papa be proud, are you proud?", she continued never expecting an answer just a good listener.

"What can I do to earn their trust?", Serenity mused shuddering as the cold night air blew.

"Then there's Quatre, he's nice, sweet, and kind, but even he doesn't trust me. Not how he needs to anyway. What am I going to do?" ,she asked it wiping away a tear at the memory of his lips on hers, then just moments later his clipped anger. It had hurt her to realize that even HE didn't trust her.

It felt as if she were suddenly empty inside, as she remembered his request. He wanted her to be his, as he had so plainly stated. If that was so, how could he have so little trust, so little faith in her. A more rational voice inside her head whispered, 'He was worried. They were worried.', but she would have none of it. If one of them had decided to do this, they would have never reacted in such a way.

"I'm only 15, why does this have to hurt so much?", she cried out to the ghost of her grandfather, feeling that he was the only person who understood.

She knew it was her decision to be in this war, but she also knew it was only a matter of time before she would have been 'recruited' for it by the doctors. Her parents were luckily oblivious to this, but she had heard Dr. J's late night workings with Dr. S. Their relief that they didn't have to force her into it, that they didn't have to go through two of the most dangerous parents in the world to get to her. That was why the Gundam had been finished so quickly, for it had been started years before her father had requested one made. She had no way out, once she was in, she was in for good. It really didn't matter what she wanted anymore, it never had in the world of the Doctors. They were cold heartless bastards who never thought of fighting the war themselves, but making children fight it for them. One way or another, she knew she would've become a Gundam pilot, by choice or by brute force. There was no choice in the matter. And that's why she chose by choice, she was able to live in her own home, and stay with her family.

But now she was at a crossroads and at the moment it was more pressing on her heart that completing missions. To accept or decline Quatre's proposal. Her heart and mind firmly protested the thought of not being with him, but her conscious kept her from accepting completely, and it kept her wondering.

With a shaky sigh she leaned in a corner of the tent, and began to cry. She had cried so much today. She felt like a crybaby, who didn't get her way, but deep within she knew that was far from the truth. Crystal tears flowed out of her eyes, and down her porcelain face, dripping onto the concrete floor. She wasn't sure how long she had cried, but paused when she heard a low sound, almost a whimper. She blinked and blearily looked up, trying to control her harsh breathing. To her relief and shock Shiro, Luna, Apollo, and Artemis were staring at her. The giant white tiger sauntered over to her and curled around her from behind, his head resting on one of her hands.

The two neko's pranced into the tent and both curled up against her purring loudly. The falcon stared at her with an unnerving gaze, and soon enough swooped down to land on the edge of the tombstone, carefully walking towards her. Serenity reached out and he fluttered onto her arm, resting there carefully. Serenity leaned against her tiger, cradling the two cats, the falcon perched on her shoulder, nuzzling her cheek. She felt the tears come again and did nothing to stop them. She wanted to be within his arms once more. Only he could stop this sudden pain, which he had suddenly brought. She yearned for him in such a way that she felt as if it were pulling her apart.

Her watch suddenly played a little tune and she knew it was 10:50. Time to go. She fruitlessly dried her tears, and for the first time since all this mess had started she had trouble pulling up her 'game face.'

"Wish me luck.", she whispered, not only to her grandfather but her animal friends as well.

'We do hime, we do.', the black cat thought shaking tears out of her own maroon eyes.

"Luna, she'll be all right.", Artemis consoled rubbing his cheek against hers, licking away her tears.

"In every lifetime she goes through so much pain, why?", Luna cried out curling up next to her male counterpart.

"That is something we'll never know.", the white cat replied rubbing her tail with his, a paw on her flank.

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11:00 GAME ROOM

"I'm pooped.", Mina stated drowsily stumbling down between Heero and Trowa, kicking her legs over Heero's lap, and resting her weary head in Trowa's. Heero looked at her as if she had grown another head, while Duo hoped Heero wouldn't pull out his gun. Trowa looked mildly shocked eyes wide open. With a sudden start he realized she trusted them. She trusted the most deadly assassins in the world. Searching her eyes deeper he found that she trusted them with everything she was, as if they were the only things she could truly believe in.

"Go to sleep.", he murmured to her softly, brushing a golden strand of hair from her face.

"Mmmhmm, yes mum.", she replied her eyes drifting shut. The Virtual Reality System, as fun as it was, did take a lot of energy out of you. Especially for someone so small. A few moments later her breathing became even, and she gave light snores.

"I'll take her to bed.", Trowa stated, standing up, the light girl in her arms. Quatre glanced at Duo and Wufei who seemed to be waiting for answers.

"So?", Duo asked flipping his bangs out of his eyes, hanging up his VR suit.

Quatre sighed, his heart still tight within his chest. By Allah he needed her. To see her smiling face. He could feel her internal torment even while she was in her soldier mode, no matter how hard she tried to shield it. He also felt her fear, fear that something would go wrong, that she was alone.

"Winner, what the hell is going on?", Wufei demanded a scowl upon his face.

"Serenity is not becoming an Elemental--", Quatre began trying to search for the right words to explain the situation. Duo sighed in relief he had been afraid that they were going to lose the newest pilot before he had a chance to get to know her. "-- she already is.", Quatre finished finding the simplest words best.

Duo and Wufei for once it their lives threw looks at each other that did not mean certain death. "How?", they both blurted out at the same time, eyes equally wide.

"I had forgotten, her mother naturally has elemental powers, and when she had Serenity, Serenity received those same powers as well, they just need to be awakened. That's what's going on tonight.", Quatre answered glancing at Heero to see the boy staring at nowhere seemingly uninterested, yet in reality hung on every word.

"So, you're tellin' us, that she could shoot fire balls at us?", Duo questioned an eyebrow raised.

"Not yet.", Heero stated in monotone bringing the rose out, and tossing it to Wufei. Wufei eyes it strangely, the rose seemed to have an odd feel about it. It actually had an aura. Serenity's aura.

"That rose was in the solarium, dead. She healed it with a mere touch.", Heero informed the slightly miffed pair, it was just something you had to see to believe.

"Remember how badly off I was, from the questioning in the base? The large bruise that should still be here?", Quatre asked running a hand over the side of his face. Wufei nodded, remembering the situation grimly.

"Hey, you should still have it, shouldn't you? And all the other scratches, and the welts on your arms, are they gone too?", Duo asked shocked, flinging his braid over his shoulder.

"They're all gone, every scratch, every welt, every wound. All that's left of the wounds from the whip are scars, they will never go away. The only reason I'm this well off is because when she found me on the balcony she healed me. That's why she was so tired when we came back, why she immediately fell asleep. It drains her energy to heal someone of something.", Quatre explained running a hand through his platinum locks. His eyes still held an alarming look of sadness and worry in them as he looked at his watch. 11:15.

"We'll just wait and see how she is tomorrow, I guess.", Duo stated with a yawn slowly accepting all the information. "But for now I need sleep."

Wufei couldn't have agreed with the baka more he felt drained enough to collapse. He really ought to use the game system more often.

" I think we all do.", Quatre replied sending a good night to each of the three boys on his way out. He was frustrated, and he stayed that way until he reached his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

The battle-trained boy had no idea what to do. Her pain and confusion was almost overpowering him, in turn causing him to worry more. And then he felt her fear, her absolute fear. Not fear that she was going to die, but fear that she was alone. That she was going through with the procedure alone, with no one to help calm her other fears, except a cranky old doctor.

His throat constricted painfully as he felt a fresh wave of torment fall through her. Then it came to him. To protect her from her fears, from her pain, from her heartache, was what he intended to do, he loved her and heavens be damned if they decided to cause her pain. 'I love her.', he repeated again stalking back out of his room at 11:45 like the hounds of hell were nipping at his heals.

He got past Andromeda with a small hassle, saying that Serenity had said to admit no one to the hangar. But after throwing a teary-eyed look in her direction, she let him pass, seeing he meant no ill will. Through the entire ride to the hangar his whole body felt tense, his mind numb. He could only feel the intense need to get to her as soon as humanly possible. And in his case that was pretty damn fat, but to him it wasn't fast enough.

The elevator stopped and Quatre took off out the doors, racing down the hall, ignoring Bryce on the way through. As he burst through the hangar doors, J looked up in surprise from his tinkering.

"I assume you and the other pilots know?", J questioned glaring at Quatre with his beady eyes, while the boy caught his breath.

"Yes we do. Where is she?", Quatre demanded his gaze flitting around the room.

"Did she tell you?", the doctor asked angrily slamming his fist on the table.

"No we found out on our own. You left the plans out of the desk. Now, where is she?", Quatre questioned a bit of feral activity showing in his eyes. Seeing this the good doctor pointed down the hall. Quatre nodded and walked calmly towards it, fixing his shirt and hair, which had suddenly become unruly again.

He kept walking till her heard the sound of a zipper zipping something up. Quatre looked in the room to see Serenity wearing a skin tight rubber suit, with the same material for the feet, only shaped into thin boots, a zipper up the front.

"Hey.", Quatre called softly knocking on the doorframe. Serenity jumped and whirled around a gun in hand, cocked and ready. Seeing whom it was she let the weapon drop to the floor and motioned him to enter. She then turned her back and continued flipping through the yellowed charts.

"Can I help you?", she asked politely with a form of detachment in her voice.

Quatre sighed, walked up to her, and wound his arms about her waist, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"Quatre...", she trailed of turning in his arms and wrapping his arms around his waist. Her shoulders shook once more, and he soon realized she had begun to cry once more.

"I'm sorry, so sorry, for everything. I had no right to act like I did, and I'm sorry.", he began holding her close, whispering in her ear.

"I love you so very much, I just didn't want to see you hurt.", he voiced rubbing his hand up and down her back, while kissing the top of her head gently.

"I-I I love y-you too.", she replied through her tears, joy and happiness being born within her heart.

Quatre smiled at that, and leaned down to kiss her softly, expecting a soft peck on the lips, yet his lips were lovingly captured by her own. Her kiss was searing, filled with longing, as if it were to be their last kiss shared, and by Allah it was the sweetest. He pulled away slowly, not wanting it to end, but knowing that J would come to check on them soon. He placed a chaste kiss on her lips, followed by another, and another, until their lips once again became interlocked. He tilted her back slightly, supporting her with a hand at the small of her back, and the other just below the base of her neck. They finally broke away, breathing harshly, clutching each other tightly. Quatre opened his eyes to see her beautiful face wet with tears, tears she had even shed while they kissed. His first thought was that he had hurt her, but by the feeling in his heart he could tell he had done nothing but help reduce her heartache.

"I'll never leave you alone, I'll always be with you, one way or another. Weather it be in body or spirit, I will always be with you. I'll never go away.", Quatre whispered kissing her temple, enfolding her tightly in his arms.

"Thank-you.", she whispered, her eyes clenched shut tightly, as if opening them would make him a dream. A mindless day dream. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, realizing he was no dream, but real and proclaiming his love to her.

"We should get going.", he whispered back with a smile as he felt her emotions go back to normal, her fear still there yet not as profound.

She nodded and walked out of the room an arm around his waist, his arm over her shoulder.

"Took you too long enough.", J snapped obviously angry his plans were off time.

"Sorry.", Quatre apologized, never removing his arm from her frightened figure.

"Follow me.", the doctor sighed leading them across the hangar, plans under his arms.

As they approached a tall glass-titanium bound cylinder, big enough to fit two and a half Serenity's in, they saw a woman working the computer in front of it. She had long, dark green hair that swept up into a half bun, and garnet eyes, with a white lab coat.

"Hello. I am Setsuna Meioh, better known as Dr. T.", the woman began pleasantly, a smile ready for each of them. She didn't seem surprised that Quatre had been there, but more so amused.

"If you are ready we shall begin.", she started raking Serenity's hand and dragging over her to a harness. She strapped an oxygen mask over Serenity's mouth and nose, then swiftly buckled Serenity's feet to the harness. The woman then pressed a maroon button and the odd harness moved into the open cylinder, locking in place, then the glass-titanium door snapped shut with an airtight lock. As a water like substance began to fill the cylinder, fear entered Serenity's face as it came to her lower calves. She placed a hand on the glass to steady herself as the water filled to her knees. She was suddenly aware of something warm on the other side of the glass her hand touched. She looked up to see Quatre looking at her worriedly, his hand on hers through the glass. The water was so cold, now up to her waist. It was ice cold, so cold it stung. 'I love you.', he mouthed to her his eyes shining with worry for her. Serenity nodded at him as the water covered her chest. She could hardly breathe, and it was then that she realized the oxygen tasted funny, it was filled with some type of sleeping gas. Her vision blurred and as the water covered the mask, the last thing she remembered was the worried eyes of the man she loved shining down on her. And in her dreamless slumber, those same eyes continued to haunt her, ever present on her mind.

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That's the FIFTH chapter!

Sailor Grape, I'll be sending you part of the sixth to critique real soon, so be warned! THAT'S what I'm stumped on.

Please review!

Sorry for the delay, but I boys and girls was on vacation, and didn't have time to write much. Although I did shang-high daddy dearest's laptop to read and review some of the fics.

Once again Please review

Much Love SerenityMoon