****Disclaimer: I don't own 'em
****Author's Note: Gomen for taking forever, but with a full-time job, I can't do everything at once, since I spent so much time getting ready for Animé North...and it was an absolute blast. I went as Ranma-chan..my okaasan made my outfit, it's sugoi! Anyways, I'll be selling my artwork over the internet (check out Usa-chan's website when she updates smcrossover.com). It's crossover artwork, which means crossover couples, it seems my Wolverine/Usagi pics are the most popular right at the moment...even though I like the wedding pic of Usa/Heero that I did. If you're interested, contact me, pingu_18@hotmail.com, if you'd like personalized portraits. As for this fic, I'm just going to finish it off, like the movie, and start working on my new fic, "Let's Get Dirty"...which will come out soon. Good luck for those who are going back to school, I pity you! ^-^
Ja Ne
****
As soon as the group had returned to head quarters, and angry protest had arisen with the sight of Zechs Marquise' arrival. Relena had been full of energy, she kept close to Heero, but minimized her flaunting for when Usagi was looking.
Wufei had begun his protesting immediately, desiring more to eliminate the former Oz soldier as opposed to receiving his help.
Tempus was both shocked and excited to discover Patres' new personality. She actually had one now. Although Patres only kept her bubbly talking for Duo, of whom was always by her side. Needless to say, the other piolets found it both surprising and amusing that the cold guardian of death had switched so dramatically.
"How long do we have before the evil is here?" Duo asked Tempus, who had examined the two recovered elements to make sure they were unharmed.
"Not long now, you may have six hours at best".
"I guess some of us should get going as soon as possible, then". Duo looked towards Heero, who nodded in agreement. Zechs placed a hand reassuringly on Relena's shoulder.
"I'll go too, I can get through security down to the cell."
"Oh no you're not", Duo said, "you tell us how to get in, then you're going back to the Cinq kingdom with Relena". Zechs paused silently for a moment instead of protesting, he would be risking his life, but so were the gundam piolets.
"And if you die?" Zechs asked, Duo smirked.
"I'm the god of death, I will rise again".
****
The tension was very thick in the air, as everyone prepared for what was to come. Time was running out, fast, the piolets rushed to where their gundams were kept. Tempus swiftly handed her staff over to Patres who started shaking her head in protest.
"You must take this to the temple, prepare it for our arrival", Tempus instructed, Patres hesitantly took the staff, then looked towards her male companion.
"Duo help me?" Patres asked in English, "don't go with them, come with me and help me." Duo shifted his gaze between his fellow piolets and his new girlfriend, and had to make a choice there on the spot.
"I'm sorry, Baby, but I've got to go with them, they need me." Patres pouted for a second before Tempus patted her on the shoulder.
"Do not worry, you can handle it, Patres, Usagi will go with myself and we shall go to get the other elements and guardians." Dr. J approached the group and motioned towards another door.
"I will get her and the two elements to Egypt in time, you better hurry, though." With that Dr. J took Patre's arm and led her, Air and Water out of the door. Tempus turned around and looked towards the piolets.
"Alright, who will take care of breaking into the cell?" She kept her speaking crisp and quick as not to waste any time. The boys looked at each other and Quatre stepped forward.
"I will, you can ride with me". He suggested, Duo got a goofy look on his face and gave a playful slap on the blond's shoulder.
"Nice move, Q-man!" Quatre blushed wildly, not realizing what he had just said, but Tempus didn't notice. Trowa stepped up and spoke quietly, but received attention.
"I will help him as well." Tempus nodded and looked towards Trowa.
"Usagi shall go with you, what about the rest of you?" Duo pounded his fist in the palm of his hand and smirked.
"Oh, we'll clear a nice little path for ya..."
*****
The waiting was now over, and the real work was starting, or 'fun' in Duo's case. Although he pouted that he couldn't have Patres sitting in his lap, like Quatre did. They all got ready for the big attack, flying in their mobile suits, until the came to a clearing, where they could land for a minute.
The whole way there, Quatre had a few problems. First, he couldn't stop blushing. He had a beautiful, older woman sitting on his lap, and he just couldn't help but to flush all the way there. And second, he could barely see. She was definitely taller than him, and flying an aircraft with not much visibility, came a great price, and the great price was, having to smell her hair, and what a scent it was. It was very sweet, but exotic, and he couldn't get enough. This was not good because, he didn't want to be rude, and have her slap him for sniffing her hair.
Trowa had a rather different experience, Usagi was an interesting concept. She couldn't seem to sit still, making things rather uncomfortable for the silent one, Trowa had wished he had taken the laptop that Usagi had been using to keep her occupied.
"Usagi...could you stop moving", Trowa asked quietly, but sternly. Usagi stopped moving and gave him a big smile and a vigorous nod. But instead, continued with her talking.... which was starting to give him a headache. She talked non-stop about the elements and guardians. Trowa had the feeling that he was going to enjoy the company of Atticum, known for her wisdom, and silence.
****
They all landed their gundams in a camouflaged area, and proceeded to exit them. Usagi seemed persistent to stick close to Trowa, even though she could see his discomfort. He allowed her to follow close behind him, deeper into the forest, until the point where she couldn't see much. She reached out to try and touch her surroundings, but only succeeded into finding Trowa's hand. So she kept it, and made Trowa even more tense than before. They continued on, to a spot where some light was shining through.
Tempus looked at it a bit skeptically. She didn't like the site of it, but when she saw Usagi's pleading face, she gave in, and nodded. The boys both jumped on a quad each, and started it up. It was a bit noisy, but not bad. Usagi jumped at the noise. She looked the quad over for a second, and then squealed in delight, as she hoped on, right behind Trowa. Trowa secretly rolled his eyes, regretting volunteering for this, but sighed and felt like giggling instead. It was strange, but Usagi changed him......
*****
They raced towards the base, engines roaring loudly, presenting themselves, waiting for them to retaliate. As expected a barrage of Oz soldiers came pouring in lines, and clusters, ready to strike at any moment. All at once, they fired at Trowa, Quatre and the girls, about to make them cat food, but instead the shots were ricocheted off of Wing Zero, Deathscythe Hell, and Nataku.
The others had come just in time, as they distracted the Oz soldiers from stopping Trowa and the group, whom were on a mission to find the elements and their guardians. They drove their quads right through the main entrance doors, as to not waste time. They rode deeper and deeper down every corridor possible, and maneuvered the quads so well. Usagi was having a blast, as opposed to Quatre who felt ashamed for breaking and entering. As they went by one room, Tempus and Usagi felt a spark pressure through their ears. Tempus waved down Trowa, and Usagi, and Quatre stopped.
They all stood patiently at the door, as Trowa listened in, to hear for some signification of life. in his ears he heard a loud yell of distress, so Trowa took out a small bag from his quad. From inside he pulled out some tools. They were odd looking gadgets. Usagi picked one up, and played with it. It started drilling, and she shrieked. Tempus glared at the tool, ripped it out of Usagi's hands and threw it at the ground. It smashed into little bits of pieces.
"Um... what that thing Trowa?" Usagi asked, a nervous feeling flooding her. Tempus looking anticipated for a good explanation for why the tool was attacking Usagi.
Trowa looked up, directly into Tempus' eyes with a sigh, "That... was a tool called a laser drill. It is used to open a jammed, or locked door...." he trailed off, frustration finally approaching his eyes. Tempus suddenly frowned at the bits of pieces scattered along the ground. Usagi continued to twitch nervously, and Quatre chuckled, while looking at the iron, locked door. When Quatre's small bit of laughter stopped, Usagi looked at him, and then at the door. She started to giggle as well.
"Good thinking Quatre," Quatre turned his attention towards Usagi, dumbfounded, "We need no drill or laser to open door. Tempus," she signaled for Tempus to come closer. Tempus obeyed, and Usagi started to talk in her divine language. Tempus nodded, and they backed up to the other side. Like a bullet, they flew towards the door, and simultaneously punched the door, with awesome power. The door blasted open, to the other end of the room.
"Ugh..... that was my idea?" Quatre sqeaked, his right eye developing a twitch. Usagi nodded, and kissed Quatre on the cheek. Quatre turned many shades of red, and an eerie shade of blue while Tempus and Trowa entered the room. Quatre slowly followed them, Tempus turned back to look at her master. Seeing Usagi back away slowly, didn't reach a good level of trust in Tempus. She walked towards Usagi at the same pace Usagi was moving backwards.
"I must go..." Usagi whispered at Tempus, and ran as fast as she could, down the hallway, right before Tempus sprung after her to catch her wrist, stopping her from going any further, but it didn't work. Usagi had her mind set on something, and nothing was going to stop her from doing so.
*****
Duo's right arm had just been wounded, which made him go offline for a minute. Wufei covered him, he guarded Deathscythe from the Oz soldiers. One after another, each Oz member challenged the gundams to a fight, and each time they lost. They couldn't handle the amount of strength the gundams had. The odds were always against the Oz soldiers, but they wouldn't stop, and The boys knew that they would have to kill them all before entering the building. But they wouldn't have enough time to take out all the Oz soldiers.
Wufei burned a semi circle around him, and the ground. The soldiers ignored it, but were caught in a trap, as their mobile dolls caught fire. The fire blazed, and spread along the field they were battling on. At the same time, Heero had been firing at a line of dolls that were trying to pile on him, in hopes to tip him over. Of course this strategy didn't work, and Heero came back, full throttle with his mobile suit's fist. He smashed up the front of the mobile doll, and then moved back, only to fire a round of shots and blow it up.
A large force was thrown upon Deathscythe Hell, and pushed him back where he was only a few yards away from the base. He raised his scythe, about to smash the shit put of any mobile doll that came near him, but that thought was lost when a bullet of pain shot through his whole right arm, feeling dislocated. Duo screamed out in pain, his eyes squeezed tight, and sweat trickling down his face. He looked up for a moment, hatred burning throughout his body. In a second a pile of mobile dolls were blown away by Wing Zero. Debris was blown all around. A large burning piece of a mobile doll was heading for Duo's direction, there was hardly anything he could do. The others would expect him to get out of the way, but supporting his limp arm was trouble enough. Duo growled in frustration, as the debris made contact with his gundam. He was thrown back the rest of the way, collapsing onto the building. Everything blew up, the whole left area of the base was destroyed, Duo fell unconscious.
*****
Trowa was skeptical about having to get these girls out of the cells. He didn't trust them yet, and wasn't sure if he could, especially hearing that they have special powers, it made it all the more skeptical. He decided against his better judgement to try and get them out, when a loud crash was heard. Everyone became deathly silent.
The girls were looking up in surprise of the loud noise, and the guys were eyeing the hall all around the cell area.. Without warning the roof collapsed on top of them. Trowa pushed Quatre out of the way and was prepared to get barricaded, but instead the mass of metal was put on fire, and melted against the roof. Trowa looked back at the girls. They were starting to get out, one of them was already out. The long, black-haired girl, with the red outfit. Trowa nodded his appreciation, and she smiled. Trowa now knew he could trust them.
As one of the girls were attempting to get out through the melted cell bars, a completely unexpected thing happened. Everything was crashed upon. Quatre yelled, "Everyone, get down and cover your heads." The girls complied, and Trowa threw himself at Tempus, just as Quatre did the same to the black-haired girl.
A wave of smoke was thrown against them, and fire followed, but died down. It was like something had fallen from the sky. Debris was blown every where, and a chunk of metal was hurtled towards the girls in the cell, but was deflected by the bars. This became more of an advantage however, because it ripped the bars right out of the ground with a vast force. At the same time the lights gave out, leaving the girls to try and get out in the darkness.
*****
Heero and Wufei fought off the rest of the Oz soldiers as fast as they could. Then they proceeded to omit from their gundams, and race towards Deathscythe Hell. They scaled the large machine and opened the door. There Duo was, unconscious and a puddle of blood around his face, which was lying on the ground. Wufei cut off Duo's seatbelt, and checked to make sure there wasn't any major damage. Satisfied that their companion would be alright, Wufei and Heero made there way towards the cell area.
****
A bump and curse was heard a lot while the girls tried to get out of the cell. Earth had stepped on Atticum's fingers, and was knocked over by Fire trying to get through the crowd. She accidentally walked back to where she came from. Amor finally felt her way out, and ran into something about her size. It was hard, and stiff. (Megami: No you sick hentai weird oh's, it's not what you think!!!!) She was startled when she felt someone's hands clasp over hers. "Hello? Are you alright? I can't see you, but it sounds like you girls are having some trouble getting out of the cell. Here, let me help you." He put his arm around her's and guided her back to the cell. There he held out a hand towards the other girls. Atticum had felt along the bars, and came close to end when she felt someone's hand being held out, probably for her benefit. She took hold of it, and it helped her out, carefully. She thanked the person, and walked off.
Atticum had absolutely no idea where she was going. She started to walk up something, hoping it was stairs, but instead off finding another level, she fell off.... right into Trowa's arms. Trowa had been searching for something to use as a torch, when instead he caught a fallen person. He didn't know who it was, but she was light. He put her down. She raised her head, "Thank you. I cannot see where I am going." She spoke with such a light accent. Trowa seemed to admire her voice, it sounded of wisdom, and sophistication. He started to walk away, when she grabbed his hand, and walked with him. He tensed a bit, not being used to touching someone so much, but didn't really mind, because it was dark, and she couldn't see.
Quatre helped another girl out. This one seeming upset, and had quite a strong grip. She jumped out and walked to what she thought was the center of the room. There she sat down, and said a chant, spreading her hands around her, in a circle. A second later flames sparked out of the ground, and started to burn, giving the room light. Quatre looked at the girl he was accompanied by. She was quite beautiful, with shiny blond hair, and sky blue eyes. She seemed just as amazed when she starred at him, taken by his boyish look, but feeling secure with such a strong young man.
Trowa too looked at who was standing with him, holding his hand. She looked just as she had sounded. Blue hair, giving him a feeling she was different from the others. And shining in her blue eyes, he could see the innocence and kindness that she possessed. Her smile was radiant, giving him this soft feeling within his stomach. Something he never felt before, but he just passed it off, blaming it on the events that had just taken place.
Just then a crash was heard. Everyone looked at the wall. Something was banging on the other side of the wall. Quatre looked at Trowa, "It has to be the other guys." Trowa nodded, but wasn't sure on how they were going to get out, he didn't have any of his tools, and Usagi had left. He wasn't sure if Tempus would be able to open the wall herself. Quatre seemed to be thinking the same thing when he asked, "Tempus, can you break through the wall?"
Tempus looked back at the others, "Unfortunately no. I cannot." Then she looked over at Earth, "But you can." she pointed at her. Earth looked at her with a smile, and nodded eagerly, like she was enjoying this.
She walked over towards the wall. Raising her hands, her index, and pinky fingers extended, and thumb as well. Then she put both hands together, placing them on the wall. She placed her thumbs upon her index fingers. Suddenly an eerie green light flashed and the wall glowed of it. Earth took three steps backwards, her hands in the same position. Slowly she extended her other two pairs of fingers. Keeping her palms together, she opened her hands, and a blast of the same eerie green light hit the wall in one spot. From there, it cracked through the whole wall, like an earthquake. Earth then parted her hands, and the wall completely blasted open, the metal never once touching her.
On the other side, two boys stood, looking at the girls with uncertain eyes. Not bothering to explain what had happened by either party, everyone climbed quickly out of the crumbled cell to make their escape. Tempus stopped before they reached the gundams and turned around. Heero noticed her making her escape and roughly grabbed her arm, Tempus winced in pain.
"I'm going after Usagi", she clarified, and released herself from Heero's grip to continue back into the base. Heero watched her but suddenly felt the urge to go after the silver-haired woman himself. Concluding that was a better decision, he headed after Tempus, Wufei had spotted his companion and caught up.
"Where are you going?" Wufei demanded.
"After Usagi".
"Usagi's in trouble?"
"Hn. When is Usagi not in trouble?" Wufei had to smirk at that answer, and the boys decided to split up, that way they could cover more ground faster. Oz soldiers had been rushing around in a panic, making them easy target practice for either piolet.
While rounding a corner, Heero spotted a familiar form lying face down on the ground.
"Tempus?" He asked, but when he didn't get a response, he moved closer and slowly turned her around so she would face him. Covered in blood, she had been shot, obviously by a soldier, but she was still alive, if barely. Tempus focused her eyes on Heero and prepared to speak, forcing the words from her throat.
"You must take her to the temple"
"Who?"
"The fifth element, the supreme being sent to Earth, to save the universe".
"Usagi?"
"Yes...but she's more fragile than she seems...she needs your help...and your love...or she will...die..." Tempus let out one last breath and her life ceased to exist. Heero kneeled there for several moments before getting up to move. He didn't know where the silver-haired woman had run off to, but he had a vague idea. Getting up, adrenaline beginning to build up, Heero set off towards Treize's office.
****
Treize clutched the four small wands protectively against his chest. He was breathing heavily, his choice hand gun laying dormant on the floor before him. A strange silver-haired woman had tried to steal the wands from him, but he had been ready and had shot her several times. Now she lay on the ground bleeding, no doubt to death, if she was not dead already.
A small chuckle escaped his lips, relief flooding throughout him.
"Why are you laughing?" Came a deep, angered voice from the doorway. Treize looked up and spotted the shadowed figure approaching his office. "You haven't won...Omae wa korosu", the deadly voice said. Treize panicked inwardly, but didn't let that show outwardly. Heero stepped inside the office, and lowered to check Usagi's pulse. She was indeed still alive, but her pulse was weak. Pulling out a gun, Heero pointed it towards the Oz leader and readied to fire, but another voice stopped him.
Wufei drew his katana and entered the room, he looked down at Heero who waited for explanation.
"Take her, Yuy, I have unfinished business here." Heero looked towards Treize who nodded silently to Wufei, a smirk curving his lips. Without any more hesitation, Heero lifted the limp Usagi into his arms and exited the room, somehow knowing what would happen.
****
The group had waited for the rest of their companions at their gundams. Duo had woken up and was groggily trying to follow what everyone else was saying. He frowned and looked up towards Atticum, who had been making a makeshift sling for him.
"Hey Patres baby, why do you have to hit me so hard?" He whined. Atticum blushed furiously, Earth had heard, and smacked Duo in his good arm.
"Ish alle Patres!" She said, Duo looked up at her, confused.
"She said that 'she's not Patres'", Atticum translated. Duo gave a goofy smile. The other women gasped when they saw Heero carrying Usagi out of the debris, their key laying bleeding in his arms. Wufei followed close behind, a solemn look on his face, he was tightly clutching the small elemental wands in his hand. Noticing that Tempus did not accompany them, no one said anything, knowing what had probably happened.
"Let's get to the temple", Heero growled, Wufei tossed the wands to Atticum.
"Who's going to piolet Deathscythe Hell?" Quatre asked. Duo stood up and wavered a bit. He grabbed onto his assailants' arm.
"This babe will do just fine, I'll use one arm, and she can use the other..." He grinned wolfishly, Quatre blushed but nodded, Amor latched herself onto him, forcing him to get to Sandrock. The others also paired up and climbed in their respective gundams and started off towards Cairo.
****
Wufei's temper was beginning to shorten out, as Fire tried to get comfortable in his lap. He was trying to concentrate as much as possible at flying Nataku, but his eyes continually drifted to the raven-haired vixen blocking his view. Letting out a big sigh of frustration, Fire leaned forward towards the cockpit's screen and looked out. She made some noise indicating her amazement at the sight, Wufei growled.
"Good thing the window's not open". He mumbled, Fire had understood and turned around, giving him her version of a dirty look. "Why do I have to have a woman sitting on my lap?" He wondered out loud in annoyance. Fire smirked and snuggled in closer, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Would you prefer a *man*?" She asked slyly. Wufei's face turned several shades of red.
"Damn woman...you speak English now?" He barked, his eyes focusing on her violet ones. She nodded.
"Mhm....I can read your mind too..." She slurred. Wufei averted his gaze, giving Fire a chance to turn her attention to all the different controls inside. She reached to push one of the buttons, but Wufei spotted her movement and slapped her hand away. She growled and slapped him in response.
"Stupid woman..." He sternly whispered, touching the reddening spot on his cheek. He then when completely quiet and said nothing more. Fire sat still and felt regret growing inside of her. Quickly she kissed his smarted cheek and looked out the screen, sitting still. Wufei didn't look at her after the short but effective contact, a small smirk threatened to touch his lips, but he willed it away. Fire then smiled.
****
All was calm and comfortable in Heavy Arms. Atticum had a visor working over her eyes, as she piloted the gundam for Trowa, since she was closer to the controls. He felt rather relaxed and not bashful at all considering the exotic blue-haired woman sitting on his lap was rather timid herself. Having no proper place to have his hands resting, without touching his female companion, he gave a small contented sigh and rested his hands behind his head. Atticum heard the small noise and briefly turned her head towards him, blushing and smiling, she averted her gaze and returned to the task that lay ahead.
****
Quatre's reflexes were getting quite the workout, as Amor could not seem to sit still, she insisted on trying to push every single button inside Sandrock's cockpit, and Quatre was trying to remove her hands before she'd reach them. Amor was having the time of her life it seemed, she was giggling furiously, and enjoyed it when Quatre repeatedly said "No Miss Amor!" To everything she tried to do.
"Quatre!" She squealed in delight and turned her body around so she strattled Quatre with her legs, her face dangerously close to his. She tightly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face into her well-rounded chest. She sighed and continued to smother him lovingly.
Suddenly the video screen popped up with Duo's face plastered right in the middle of it, when he caught sight of Quatre, his face spread into a wide grin.
"Q-man, we're trying to save the world, not your virginity!" He whooped. Quatre grabbed his captor's arms and pushed her body back, he gulped in air to return a normal color to his now purple face.
"...Help..~cough~ me..." He managed to choke out. Duo laughed in response, Amor turned her head around and looked into the screen, smiling widely. Duo was pushed out of the view when Earth pressed her face up to the screen, crushing her nose, making it flat. Amor laughed gaily at the sight. Earth began making goofy faces at the screen, making Amor's laughter louder. Quatre sighed and made his body go limp, causing his captor to slide down his legs like a slide. She squealed in delight.
"I want to do again!" She insisted, getting back onto Quatre's body. He braced himself for another smother attack. Duo regained control of his video screen and waved to Quatre.
"I'd help you, Q-man, but I'm having a bit of a problem getting Nature-girl to understand that I'm committed to another", he said. "Uh?" Was heard in the background, Earth didn't seem to understand the meaning of that comment, but was rather trying to learn what Duo's instructions meant as she assisted the injured piolet in flying his gundam. Duo gave Quatre a mischievous smile, "I'll catch you later", he said, and switched the screen off. Quatre managed to unlatch Amor from him long enough to gather strength and switch the gundam to auto piolet. With that done, he looked at Amor for a few quiet moments, she smiled in response, he sighed in defeat, and surrendered, by returning Amor's embrace. The sunny-blond woman was definitely a change from the more subtle Tempus, he blushed as he felt himself growing quite attracted to the guardian of love.
"Do...you think that you could...maybe...sit still...for the rest of the ride?" He asked innocently, Amor thought about it, then began giggling.
"Why did you not say so in first place?" She asked, causing Quatre to feel embarrassed to have not mentioning that in the beginning. "Good boy", Amor reached forward and gave Quatre a lingering kiss before turning her body in a more proper position. Quatre insisted to himself that he'd have a permanent red face from then on.
****
Meanwhile, Heero was leading with Wing Zero, a somber look set on his face, one hand on the controls and the other supporting Usagi's limp form, the blood dried to her skin now. She had since gained consciousness and had weakly snuggled in closer to Heero's body, taking some of his heat. She had her forehead resting against Heero's cheek, and he made no move to disagree with her position. All that could be heard besides the gundam itself was their rhythmic breathing in time with each other. Usagi felt rather comforted by the listening of Heero's calm heartbeat, deciding she wished to break the quiet mood, she spoke for the first time since they had last been together at Headquarters.
"Humans act so strange..." She whispered.
"What do you mean?" Heero softly answered back.
"Everything you create is used to destroy", she concluded, small tears welled from her eyes and spilled over.
"It's called human nature..." He wiped the tears from her face, remembering when he had done so with Relena, but instead of giving a death threat, he only continued on the 'conversation', "did you learn about that on your program?" Usagi nodded her head slowly.
"I'm not finished yet, I'm on 'V'".
"There's good words in 'V'".
"Like what?" She asked curiously.
"Like 'valiant'...'victory'..." He stopped himself, and thought mentally, 'very beautiful' when he looked in her innocent inquiring eyes. The need to protect this woman seemed to tug at him since the first time they met only a few days before...which felt like a lifetime...
****
The gundams had finally reached the sandy desert of Cairo, the temple quickly coming into sights, as they spotted it, landing their gundams near the empty ship which their other companions had been on.
Getting quickly inside the temple, the others were excited of the reunion, Patres spotted Duo's slung up arm and gasped, he moved close to her, she took hold of his injured arm and lifted it.
"Ow!" Duo yelled out in pain. Patres narrowed her eyes.
"Stop being wussy-boy" she scolded, he gave her puppy-dog eyes.
"But that hurt, Baby", he whined. Patres neared her face to his.
"Well later, Patres will make all feel better..." Then she distanced herself again and raised her voice, "but for now...deal with it!" The others ignored the lover's quarrel, and waited for Dr. J's instructions.
"Put the fifth element in the center, and the others around", Heero, still carrying Usagi, took her to the center of the room and lowered her down to the sandy floor. The elements each took their respective wand from Atticum and stood in their spots around Usagi, standing behind their elemental pillar, placing the wand solidly in the groove, keeping hold.
"Now you must activate the elements!" Atticum instructed. The others held blank looks on their faces. "Wind blows, fire burns, rain falls, Earth secures..." Not quite understanding at first, Trowa figured out the riddle first and scooped up a handful of sand. He walked over to Earth and let the sand slide through his fingers onto the wand. A green light began emanating from the wand and Earth fell into a trance, her symbol upon her forehead began glowing.
Duo pulled out a lighter from his pocket and started it up, bringing the flame to Fire's wand, igniting the red light, and Fire's symbol, pulling her into a trance.
Quatre held a handkerchief to his forehead and allowed it to soak up what sweat he had there. He squeezed it upon Water's wand and activated her.
Patres took Air's hands and lifted the wand and softly blew on it, making her light begin. Now it was just up to Usagi. Everyone's fear heightened as a dark shadow spread out across the room, the dark planet so near to impact with the Earth.
Heero shook Usagi gently to awaken her as she was very weak.
"Usagi...time for you to work now", he said.
"Protect life...until death..." She whispered.
"Usagi, listen to me, if you don't work now, we're all going to die".
"What's the use of saving life, when all you do is destroy it?" She asked, tears never stopping.
"You're right...but there are some beautiful things worth saving".
"Like love?" She whimpered.
"Like love", he repeated.
"But I don't know love...I was built to protect, not to love".
"So was I", he said, his grip tightening on her.
"There's no use for me to need those things..." She insisted.
"You're wrong..." He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes tight for a brief moment, then looked at her again, "I need you...I need you very much".
"Why?"
"Because...because..."
The others watched on silently, Wufei growled and muttered, "tell her Yuy..." Everyone waited to see if the Perfect Soldier would finally break in order to giver Usagi the strength to save the world.
Heero debated on what he would say to the ailing woman next, his mind which had been molded to never feel emotion...his mind collided with his heart as the word 'love' danced in his thoughts. Could it be possible that he loved her...he wondered? The desperation and the overload of emotions made him feel gave him a sense that he wasn't so empty any more, a warmth shot through him with a wave so powerful that the words then came from his mouth.
"...because I love you". With those words more tears sprung from Usagi who began to cry out loud, and let herself be completely taken into Heero's arms, not sure what he was doing from inexperience, Heero connected his lips with Usagi's, tenderly kissing her, the new warmth beginning to heat through the both of them like wildfire.
The heat was so strong that the star symbol on Usagi began glowing brightly, the four elements around also began glowing, their symbols burst forth with a beam of light, hitting the wands, then the power shot towards the center, hitting both Heero and Usagi, the latter's face turned towards the sky and the energy shot from her symbol, shooting into the sky and colliding with the dark planet so close to the Earth's atmosphere.
The light surrounded the evil and dissolved it away, taking only a few moments the light ceased and Usagi and Heero were overwhelmed by the energy overload and both collapsed in each other's arms on the ground.
Around them the lights faded, and the elements collapsed, also unconscious, Duo was closest to Air and couldn't move fast enough when she fell on top of him. Oblivious to her mate, Patres gripped Tempus' time staff tightly.
"It is finished.". The others allowed themselves to breathe a sigh of relief. The other gundam piolets and Patres groaned when Duo started crying out in pain.
"A little help!" He squealed.
****
Duo walked through the main room of Headquarters, towards the recovery room, and glanced to where Trowa and Atticum had been playing a game of chess, he chuckled and waved towards them.
"Oo...strip chess..." He hollered playfully, the other two had heard, and Atticum's face reddened with embarrassment, Trowa ignoring the comment, made his move. Amor and Quatre had been near by, the first hearing Duo's comment squealed in delight.
"Me want to play!" She yelled, Quatre put his finger on her lips to silence her.
"No...you don't want to play".
"Me want to PLAY! How do you play?" She inquired curiously.
"You try to stay as quiet as you can, for as long as you can", Quatre slyly explained, Amor seemed to change her mind rather quickly with that answer, and latched onto her companion.
"Me rather play with you, then", she answered raining Quatre with kisses. Duo smirked at the sight.
"Get a room you two!" He yelled out. Amor had heard and nodded in agreement.
"Good idea!" She yelled in delight, dragging Quatre off to another room. Duo was pleasantly greeted by his own companion, Patres' face full of smiles for the other.
"Have you seen Wu-man?" Duo inquired, allowing Patres to slip her arm in his good one.
"He and Fire are practicing...new fighting techniques..." She answered, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Duo smirked.
"You can tell when they have one of their tender moments every time Wu-man gets a new bruise", Duo said breaking into laughter.
Relena and Milliardo walked on either side of Dr. J as he escorted them to the recovery room.
"...with the information that Heero managed to collect for me...when he first met Usagi, we were able to build a similar chamber to that of which she was created. We put both her and Heero inside to help them recover from their massive loss of energy..." They walked into the room and noticed the shielded chamber softly humming.
They stopped when Duo and Patres, following closely beside him, entered the room and walked towards the chamber. Duo glanced towards Relena and sighed in annoyance, Patres glanced at the object of her mate's displeasure and rose an eyebrow.
"I wanna see Heero!" Relena insisted to Dr. J. Patres rolled her eyes following Duo's example. Duo waltzed up to the chamber and opened a small window to peak inside.
"Are they awake yet?" He asked impatiently, his eyes slightly widening when he got a glimpse of the couple inside. He then turned around and blocked the small window with his back. He laughed nervously, and scratched the back of his head, "uh...they're not ready....they need five more minutes?"
"I want to see HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Those who could, covered their ears from the shrieking. Milliardo quickly covered his sister's mouth. She stopped but crossed her arms over her chest, frowning deeply.
"Keep that look on your face, it'll get stuck that way", Milliardo insisted.
Inside the chamber Heero and Usagi were experiencing their new-found emotion, and had gotten intimately acquainted with each other's ability to express love. Considering Usagi's eager willingness to learn new things she and Heero were experimenting with new ways to create that heat that had first erupted from their first kiss.
Breaking a deep kiss, the couple gazed into each other's eyes, Usagi's lips curved into a wide adoring smile, Heero studying her for a brief moment before he too, for the first sincere time smiled.
****
Authors Note: All done! The battle scene was completely written by Megami*Silence after I had bribed her (she's expensive) to write it. She also helped me write the last couple of scenes as well...Megami-imouto, enjoy your new animé baby-t!
****Author's Note: Gomen for taking forever, but with a full-time job, I can't do everything at once, since I spent so much time getting ready for Animé North...and it was an absolute blast. I went as Ranma-chan..my okaasan made my outfit, it's sugoi! Anyways, I'll be selling my artwork over the internet (check out Usa-chan's website when she updates smcrossover.com). It's crossover artwork, which means crossover couples, it seems my Wolverine/Usagi pics are the most popular right at the moment...even though I like the wedding pic of Usa/Heero that I did. If you're interested, contact me, pingu_18@hotmail.com, if you'd like personalized portraits. As for this fic, I'm just going to finish it off, like the movie, and start working on my new fic, "Let's Get Dirty"...which will come out soon. Good luck for those who are going back to school, I pity you! ^-^
Ja Ne
****
As soon as the group had returned to head quarters, and angry protest had arisen with the sight of Zechs Marquise' arrival. Relena had been full of energy, she kept close to Heero, but minimized her flaunting for when Usagi was looking.
Wufei had begun his protesting immediately, desiring more to eliminate the former Oz soldier as opposed to receiving his help.
Tempus was both shocked and excited to discover Patres' new personality. She actually had one now. Although Patres only kept her bubbly talking for Duo, of whom was always by her side. Needless to say, the other piolets found it both surprising and amusing that the cold guardian of death had switched so dramatically.
"How long do we have before the evil is here?" Duo asked Tempus, who had examined the two recovered elements to make sure they were unharmed.
"Not long now, you may have six hours at best".
"I guess some of us should get going as soon as possible, then". Duo looked towards Heero, who nodded in agreement. Zechs placed a hand reassuringly on Relena's shoulder.
"I'll go too, I can get through security down to the cell."
"Oh no you're not", Duo said, "you tell us how to get in, then you're going back to the Cinq kingdom with Relena". Zechs paused silently for a moment instead of protesting, he would be risking his life, but so were the gundam piolets.
"And if you die?" Zechs asked, Duo smirked.
"I'm the god of death, I will rise again".
****
The tension was very thick in the air, as everyone prepared for what was to come. Time was running out, fast, the piolets rushed to where their gundams were kept. Tempus swiftly handed her staff over to Patres who started shaking her head in protest.
"You must take this to the temple, prepare it for our arrival", Tempus instructed, Patres hesitantly took the staff, then looked towards her male companion.
"Duo help me?" Patres asked in English, "don't go with them, come with me and help me." Duo shifted his gaze between his fellow piolets and his new girlfriend, and had to make a choice there on the spot.
"I'm sorry, Baby, but I've got to go with them, they need me." Patres pouted for a second before Tempus patted her on the shoulder.
"Do not worry, you can handle it, Patres, Usagi will go with myself and we shall go to get the other elements and guardians." Dr. J approached the group and motioned towards another door.
"I will get her and the two elements to Egypt in time, you better hurry, though." With that Dr. J took Patre's arm and led her, Air and Water out of the door. Tempus turned around and looked towards the piolets.
"Alright, who will take care of breaking into the cell?" She kept her speaking crisp and quick as not to waste any time. The boys looked at each other and Quatre stepped forward.
"I will, you can ride with me". He suggested, Duo got a goofy look on his face and gave a playful slap on the blond's shoulder.
"Nice move, Q-man!" Quatre blushed wildly, not realizing what he had just said, but Tempus didn't notice. Trowa stepped up and spoke quietly, but received attention.
"I will help him as well." Tempus nodded and looked towards Trowa.
"Usagi shall go with you, what about the rest of you?" Duo pounded his fist in the palm of his hand and smirked.
"Oh, we'll clear a nice little path for ya..."
*****
The waiting was now over, and the real work was starting, or 'fun' in Duo's case. Although he pouted that he couldn't have Patres sitting in his lap, like Quatre did. They all got ready for the big attack, flying in their mobile suits, until the came to a clearing, where they could land for a minute.
The whole way there, Quatre had a few problems. First, he couldn't stop blushing. He had a beautiful, older woman sitting on his lap, and he just couldn't help but to flush all the way there. And second, he could barely see. She was definitely taller than him, and flying an aircraft with not much visibility, came a great price, and the great price was, having to smell her hair, and what a scent it was. It was very sweet, but exotic, and he couldn't get enough. This was not good because, he didn't want to be rude, and have her slap him for sniffing her hair.
Trowa had a rather different experience, Usagi was an interesting concept. She couldn't seem to sit still, making things rather uncomfortable for the silent one, Trowa had wished he had taken the laptop that Usagi had been using to keep her occupied.
"Usagi...could you stop moving", Trowa asked quietly, but sternly. Usagi stopped moving and gave him a big smile and a vigorous nod. But instead, continued with her talking.... which was starting to give him a headache. She talked non-stop about the elements and guardians. Trowa had the feeling that he was going to enjoy the company of Atticum, known for her wisdom, and silence.
****
They all landed their gundams in a camouflaged area, and proceeded to exit them. Usagi seemed persistent to stick close to Trowa, even though she could see his discomfort. He allowed her to follow close behind him, deeper into the forest, until the point where she couldn't see much. She reached out to try and touch her surroundings, but only succeeded into finding Trowa's hand. So she kept it, and made Trowa even more tense than before. They continued on, to a spot where some light was shining through.
Tempus looked at it a bit skeptically. She didn't like the site of it, but when she saw Usagi's pleading face, she gave in, and nodded. The boys both jumped on a quad each, and started it up. It was a bit noisy, but not bad. Usagi jumped at the noise. She looked the quad over for a second, and then squealed in delight, as she hoped on, right behind Trowa. Trowa secretly rolled his eyes, regretting volunteering for this, but sighed and felt like giggling instead. It was strange, but Usagi changed him......
*****
They raced towards the base, engines roaring loudly, presenting themselves, waiting for them to retaliate. As expected a barrage of Oz soldiers came pouring in lines, and clusters, ready to strike at any moment. All at once, they fired at Trowa, Quatre and the girls, about to make them cat food, but instead the shots were ricocheted off of Wing Zero, Deathscythe Hell, and Nataku.
The others had come just in time, as they distracted the Oz soldiers from stopping Trowa and the group, whom were on a mission to find the elements and their guardians. They drove their quads right through the main entrance doors, as to not waste time. They rode deeper and deeper down every corridor possible, and maneuvered the quads so well. Usagi was having a blast, as opposed to Quatre who felt ashamed for breaking and entering. As they went by one room, Tempus and Usagi felt a spark pressure through their ears. Tempus waved down Trowa, and Usagi, and Quatre stopped.
They all stood patiently at the door, as Trowa listened in, to hear for some signification of life. in his ears he heard a loud yell of distress, so Trowa took out a small bag from his quad. From inside he pulled out some tools. They were odd looking gadgets. Usagi picked one up, and played with it. It started drilling, and she shrieked. Tempus glared at the tool, ripped it out of Usagi's hands and threw it at the ground. It smashed into little bits of pieces.
"Um... what that thing Trowa?" Usagi asked, a nervous feeling flooding her. Tempus looking anticipated for a good explanation for why the tool was attacking Usagi.
Trowa looked up, directly into Tempus' eyes with a sigh, "That... was a tool called a laser drill. It is used to open a jammed, or locked door...." he trailed off, frustration finally approaching his eyes. Tempus suddenly frowned at the bits of pieces scattered along the ground. Usagi continued to twitch nervously, and Quatre chuckled, while looking at the iron, locked door. When Quatre's small bit of laughter stopped, Usagi looked at him, and then at the door. She started to giggle as well.
"Good thinking Quatre," Quatre turned his attention towards Usagi, dumbfounded, "We need no drill or laser to open door. Tempus," she signaled for Tempus to come closer. Tempus obeyed, and Usagi started to talk in her divine language. Tempus nodded, and they backed up to the other side. Like a bullet, they flew towards the door, and simultaneously punched the door, with awesome power. The door blasted open, to the other end of the room.
"Ugh..... that was my idea?" Quatre sqeaked, his right eye developing a twitch. Usagi nodded, and kissed Quatre on the cheek. Quatre turned many shades of red, and an eerie shade of blue while Tempus and Trowa entered the room. Quatre slowly followed them, Tempus turned back to look at her master. Seeing Usagi back away slowly, didn't reach a good level of trust in Tempus. She walked towards Usagi at the same pace Usagi was moving backwards.
"I must go..." Usagi whispered at Tempus, and ran as fast as she could, down the hallway, right before Tempus sprung after her to catch her wrist, stopping her from going any further, but it didn't work. Usagi had her mind set on something, and nothing was going to stop her from doing so.
*****
Duo's right arm had just been wounded, which made him go offline for a minute. Wufei covered him, he guarded Deathscythe from the Oz soldiers. One after another, each Oz member challenged the gundams to a fight, and each time they lost. They couldn't handle the amount of strength the gundams had. The odds were always against the Oz soldiers, but they wouldn't stop, and The boys knew that they would have to kill them all before entering the building. But they wouldn't have enough time to take out all the Oz soldiers.
Wufei burned a semi circle around him, and the ground. The soldiers ignored it, but were caught in a trap, as their mobile dolls caught fire. The fire blazed, and spread along the field they were battling on. At the same time, Heero had been firing at a line of dolls that were trying to pile on him, in hopes to tip him over. Of course this strategy didn't work, and Heero came back, full throttle with his mobile suit's fist. He smashed up the front of the mobile doll, and then moved back, only to fire a round of shots and blow it up.
A large force was thrown upon Deathscythe Hell, and pushed him back where he was only a few yards away from the base. He raised his scythe, about to smash the shit put of any mobile doll that came near him, but that thought was lost when a bullet of pain shot through his whole right arm, feeling dislocated. Duo screamed out in pain, his eyes squeezed tight, and sweat trickling down his face. He looked up for a moment, hatred burning throughout his body. In a second a pile of mobile dolls were blown away by Wing Zero. Debris was blown all around. A large burning piece of a mobile doll was heading for Duo's direction, there was hardly anything he could do. The others would expect him to get out of the way, but supporting his limp arm was trouble enough. Duo growled in frustration, as the debris made contact with his gundam. He was thrown back the rest of the way, collapsing onto the building. Everything blew up, the whole left area of the base was destroyed, Duo fell unconscious.
*****
Trowa was skeptical about having to get these girls out of the cells. He didn't trust them yet, and wasn't sure if he could, especially hearing that they have special powers, it made it all the more skeptical. He decided against his better judgement to try and get them out, when a loud crash was heard. Everyone became deathly silent.
The girls were looking up in surprise of the loud noise, and the guys were eyeing the hall all around the cell area.. Without warning the roof collapsed on top of them. Trowa pushed Quatre out of the way and was prepared to get barricaded, but instead the mass of metal was put on fire, and melted against the roof. Trowa looked back at the girls. They were starting to get out, one of them was already out. The long, black-haired girl, with the red outfit. Trowa nodded his appreciation, and she smiled. Trowa now knew he could trust them.
As one of the girls were attempting to get out through the melted cell bars, a completely unexpected thing happened. Everything was crashed upon. Quatre yelled, "Everyone, get down and cover your heads." The girls complied, and Trowa threw himself at Tempus, just as Quatre did the same to the black-haired girl.
A wave of smoke was thrown against them, and fire followed, but died down. It was like something had fallen from the sky. Debris was blown every where, and a chunk of metal was hurtled towards the girls in the cell, but was deflected by the bars. This became more of an advantage however, because it ripped the bars right out of the ground with a vast force. At the same time the lights gave out, leaving the girls to try and get out in the darkness.
*****
Heero and Wufei fought off the rest of the Oz soldiers as fast as they could. Then they proceeded to omit from their gundams, and race towards Deathscythe Hell. They scaled the large machine and opened the door. There Duo was, unconscious and a puddle of blood around his face, which was lying on the ground. Wufei cut off Duo's seatbelt, and checked to make sure there wasn't any major damage. Satisfied that their companion would be alright, Wufei and Heero made there way towards the cell area.
****
A bump and curse was heard a lot while the girls tried to get out of the cell. Earth had stepped on Atticum's fingers, and was knocked over by Fire trying to get through the crowd. She accidentally walked back to where she came from. Amor finally felt her way out, and ran into something about her size. It was hard, and stiff. (Megami: No you sick hentai weird oh's, it's not what you think!!!!) She was startled when she felt someone's hands clasp over hers. "Hello? Are you alright? I can't see you, but it sounds like you girls are having some trouble getting out of the cell. Here, let me help you." He put his arm around her's and guided her back to the cell. There he held out a hand towards the other girls. Atticum had felt along the bars, and came close to end when she felt someone's hand being held out, probably for her benefit. She took hold of it, and it helped her out, carefully. She thanked the person, and walked off.
Atticum had absolutely no idea where she was going. She started to walk up something, hoping it was stairs, but instead off finding another level, she fell off.... right into Trowa's arms. Trowa had been searching for something to use as a torch, when instead he caught a fallen person. He didn't know who it was, but she was light. He put her down. She raised her head, "Thank you. I cannot see where I am going." She spoke with such a light accent. Trowa seemed to admire her voice, it sounded of wisdom, and sophistication. He started to walk away, when she grabbed his hand, and walked with him. He tensed a bit, not being used to touching someone so much, but didn't really mind, because it was dark, and she couldn't see.
Quatre helped another girl out. This one seeming upset, and had quite a strong grip. She jumped out and walked to what she thought was the center of the room. There she sat down, and said a chant, spreading her hands around her, in a circle. A second later flames sparked out of the ground, and started to burn, giving the room light. Quatre looked at the girl he was accompanied by. She was quite beautiful, with shiny blond hair, and sky blue eyes. She seemed just as amazed when she starred at him, taken by his boyish look, but feeling secure with such a strong young man.
Trowa too looked at who was standing with him, holding his hand. She looked just as she had sounded. Blue hair, giving him a feeling she was different from the others. And shining in her blue eyes, he could see the innocence and kindness that she possessed. Her smile was radiant, giving him this soft feeling within his stomach. Something he never felt before, but he just passed it off, blaming it on the events that had just taken place.
Just then a crash was heard. Everyone looked at the wall. Something was banging on the other side of the wall. Quatre looked at Trowa, "It has to be the other guys." Trowa nodded, but wasn't sure on how they were going to get out, he didn't have any of his tools, and Usagi had left. He wasn't sure if Tempus would be able to open the wall herself. Quatre seemed to be thinking the same thing when he asked, "Tempus, can you break through the wall?"
Tempus looked back at the others, "Unfortunately no. I cannot." Then she looked over at Earth, "But you can." she pointed at her. Earth looked at her with a smile, and nodded eagerly, like she was enjoying this.
She walked over towards the wall. Raising her hands, her index, and pinky fingers extended, and thumb as well. Then she put both hands together, placing them on the wall. She placed her thumbs upon her index fingers. Suddenly an eerie green light flashed and the wall glowed of it. Earth took three steps backwards, her hands in the same position. Slowly she extended her other two pairs of fingers. Keeping her palms together, she opened her hands, and a blast of the same eerie green light hit the wall in one spot. From there, it cracked through the whole wall, like an earthquake. Earth then parted her hands, and the wall completely blasted open, the metal never once touching her.
On the other side, two boys stood, looking at the girls with uncertain eyes. Not bothering to explain what had happened by either party, everyone climbed quickly out of the crumbled cell to make their escape. Tempus stopped before they reached the gundams and turned around. Heero noticed her making her escape and roughly grabbed her arm, Tempus winced in pain.
"I'm going after Usagi", she clarified, and released herself from Heero's grip to continue back into the base. Heero watched her but suddenly felt the urge to go after the silver-haired woman himself. Concluding that was a better decision, he headed after Tempus, Wufei had spotted his companion and caught up.
"Where are you going?" Wufei demanded.
"After Usagi".
"Usagi's in trouble?"
"Hn. When is Usagi not in trouble?" Wufei had to smirk at that answer, and the boys decided to split up, that way they could cover more ground faster. Oz soldiers had been rushing around in a panic, making them easy target practice for either piolet.
While rounding a corner, Heero spotted a familiar form lying face down on the ground.
"Tempus?" He asked, but when he didn't get a response, he moved closer and slowly turned her around so she would face him. Covered in blood, she had been shot, obviously by a soldier, but she was still alive, if barely. Tempus focused her eyes on Heero and prepared to speak, forcing the words from her throat.
"You must take her to the temple"
"Who?"
"The fifth element, the supreme being sent to Earth, to save the universe".
"Usagi?"
"Yes...but she's more fragile than she seems...she needs your help...and your love...or she will...die..." Tempus let out one last breath and her life ceased to exist. Heero kneeled there for several moments before getting up to move. He didn't know where the silver-haired woman had run off to, but he had a vague idea. Getting up, adrenaline beginning to build up, Heero set off towards Treize's office.
****
Treize clutched the four small wands protectively against his chest. He was breathing heavily, his choice hand gun laying dormant on the floor before him. A strange silver-haired woman had tried to steal the wands from him, but he had been ready and had shot her several times. Now she lay on the ground bleeding, no doubt to death, if she was not dead already.
A small chuckle escaped his lips, relief flooding throughout him.
"Why are you laughing?" Came a deep, angered voice from the doorway. Treize looked up and spotted the shadowed figure approaching his office. "You haven't won...Omae wa korosu", the deadly voice said. Treize panicked inwardly, but didn't let that show outwardly. Heero stepped inside the office, and lowered to check Usagi's pulse. She was indeed still alive, but her pulse was weak. Pulling out a gun, Heero pointed it towards the Oz leader and readied to fire, but another voice stopped him.
Wufei drew his katana and entered the room, he looked down at Heero who waited for explanation.
"Take her, Yuy, I have unfinished business here." Heero looked towards Treize who nodded silently to Wufei, a smirk curving his lips. Without any more hesitation, Heero lifted the limp Usagi into his arms and exited the room, somehow knowing what would happen.
****
The group had waited for the rest of their companions at their gundams. Duo had woken up and was groggily trying to follow what everyone else was saying. He frowned and looked up towards Atticum, who had been making a makeshift sling for him.
"Hey Patres baby, why do you have to hit me so hard?" He whined. Atticum blushed furiously, Earth had heard, and smacked Duo in his good arm.
"Ish alle Patres!" She said, Duo looked up at her, confused.
"She said that 'she's not Patres'", Atticum translated. Duo gave a goofy smile. The other women gasped when they saw Heero carrying Usagi out of the debris, their key laying bleeding in his arms. Wufei followed close behind, a solemn look on his face, he was tightly clutching the small elemental wands in his hand. Noticing that Tempus did not accompany them, no one said anything, knowing what had probably happened.
"Let's get to the temple", Heero growled, Wufei tossed the wands to Atticum.
"Who's going to piolet Deathscythe Hell?" Quatre asked. Duo stood up and wavered a bit. He grabbed onto his assailants' arm.
"This babe will do just fine, I'll use one arm, and she can use the other..." He grinned wolfishly, Quatre blushed but nodded, Amor latched herself onto him, forcing him to get to Sandrock. The others also paired up and climbed in their respective gundams and started off towards Cairo.
****
Wufei's temper was beginning to shorten out, as Fire tried to get comfortable in his lap. He was trying to concentrate as much as possible at flying Nataku, but his eyes continually drifted to the raven-haired vixen blocking his view. Letting out a big sigh of frustration, Fire leaned forward towards the cockpit's screen and looked out. She made some noise indicating her amazement at the sight, Wufei growled.
"Good thing the window's not open". He mumbled, Fire had understood and turned around, giving him her version of a dirty look. "Why do I have to have a woman sitting on my lap?" He wondered out loud in annoyance. Fire smirked and snuggled in closer, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Would you prefer a *man*?" She asked slyly. Wufei's face turned several shades of red.
"Damn woman...you speak English now?" He barked, his eyes focusing on her violet ones. She nodded.
"Mhm....I can read your mind too..." She slurred. Wufei averted his gaze, giving Fire a chance to turn her attention to all the different controls inside. She reached to push one of the buttons, but Wufei spotted her movement and slapped her hand away. She growled and slapped him in response.
"Stupid woman..." He sternly whispered, touching the reddening spot on his cheek. He then when completely quiet and said nothing more. Fire sat still and felt regret growing inside of her. Quickly she kissed his smarted cheek and looked out the screen, sitting still. Wufei didn't look at her after the short but effective contact, a small smirk threatened to touch his lips, but he willed it away. Fire then smiled.
****
All was calm and comfortable in Heavy Arms. Atticum had a visor working over her eyes, as she piloted the gundam for Trowa, since she was closer to the controls. He felt rather relaxed and not bashful at all considering the exotic blue-haired woman sitting on his lap was rather timid herself. Having no proper place to have his hands resting, without touching his female companion, he gave a small contented sigh and rested his hands behind his head. Atticum heard the small noise and briefly turned her head towards him, blushing and smiling, she averted her gaze and returned to the task that lay ahead.
****
Quatre's reflexes were getting quite the workout, as Amor could not seem to sit still, she insisted on trying to push every single button inside Sandrock's cockpit, and Quatre was trying to remove her hands before she'd reach them. Amor was having the time of her life it seemed, she was giggling furiously, and enjoyed it when Quatre repeatedly said "No Miss Amor!" To everything she tried to do.
"Quatre!" She squealed in delight and turned her body around so she strattled Quatre with her legs, her face dangerously close to his. She tightly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face into her well-rounded chest. She sighed and continued to smother him lovingly.
Suddenly the video screen popped up with Duo's face plastered right in the middle of it, when he caught sight of Quatre, his face spread into a wide grin.
"Q-man, we're trying to save the world, not your virginity!" He whooped. Quatre grabbed his captor's arms and pushed her body back, he gulped in air to return a normal color to his now purple face.
"...Help..~cough~ me..." He managed to choke out. Duo laughed in response, Amor turned her head around and looked into the screen, smiling widely. Duo was pushed out of the view when Earth pressed her face up to the screen, crushing her nose, making it flat. Amor laughed gaily at the sight. Earth began making goofy faces at the screen, making Amor's laughter louder. Quatre sighed and made his body go limp, causing his captor to slide down his legs like a slide. She squealed in delight.
"I want to do again!" She insisted, getting back onto Quatre's body. He braced himself for another smother attack. Duo regained control of his video screen and waved to Quatre.
"I'd help you, Q-man, but I'm having a bit of a problem getting Nature-girl to understand that I'm committed to another", he said. "Uh?" Was heard in the background, Earth didn't seem to understand the meaning of that comment, but was rather trying to learn what Duo's instructions meant as she assisted the injured piolet in flying his gundam. Duo gave Quatre a mischievous smile, "I'll catch you later", he said, and switched the screen off. Quatre managed to unlatch Amor from him long enough to gather strength and switch the gundam to auto piolet. With that done, he looked at Amor for a few quiet moments, she smiled in response, he sighed in defeat, and surrendered, by returning Amor's embrace. The sunny-blond woman was definitely a change from the more subtle Tempus, he blushed as he felt himself growing quite attracted to the guardian of love.
"Do...you think that you could...maybe...sit still...for the rest of the ride?" He asked innocently, Amor thought about it, then began giggling.
"Why did you not say so in first place?" She asked, causing Quatre to feel embarrassed to have not mentioning that in the beginning. "Good boy", Amor reached forward and gave Quatre a lingering kiss before turning her body in a more proper position. Quatre insisted to himself that he'd have a permanent red face from then on.
****
Meanwhile, Heero was leading with Wing Zero, a somber look set on his face, one hand on the controls and the other supporting Usagi's limp form, the blood dried to her skin now. She had since gained consciousness and had weakly snuggled in closer to Heero's body, taking some of his heat. She had her forehead resting against Heero's cheek, and he made no move to disagree with her position. All that could be heard besides the gundam itself was their rhythmic breathing in time with each other. Usagi felt rather comforted by the listening of Heero's calm heartbeat, deciding she wished to break the quiet mood, she spoke for the first time since they had last been together at Headquarters.
"Humans act so strange..." She whispered.
"What do you mean?" Heero softly answered back.
"Everything you create is used to destroy", she concluded, small tears welled from her eyes and spilled over.
"It's called human nature..." He wiped the tears from her face, remembering when he had done so with Relena, but instead of giving a death threat, he only continued on the 'conversation', "did you learn about that on your program?" Usagi nodded her head slowly.
"I'm not finished yet, I'm on 'V'".
"There's good words in 'V'".
"Like what?" She asked curiously.
"Like 'valiant'...'victory'..." He stopped himself, and thought mentally, 'very beautiful' when he looked in her innocent inquiring eyes. The need to protect this woman seemed to tug at him since the first time they met only a few days before...which felt like a lifetime...
****
The gundams had finally reached the sandy desert of Cairo, the temple quickly coming into sights, as they spotted it, landing their gundams near the empty ship which their other companions had been on.
Getting quickly inside the temple, the others were excited of the reunion, Patres spotted Duo's slung up arm and gasped, he moved close to her, she took hold of his injured arm and lifted it.
"Ow!" Duo yelled out in pain. Patres narrowed her eyes.
"Stop being wussy-boy" she scolded, he gave her puppy-dog eyes.
"But that hurt, Baby", he whined. Patres neared her face to his.
"Well later, Patres will make all feel better..." Then she distanced herself again and raised her voice, "but for now...deal with it!" The others ignored the lover's quarrel, and waited for Dr. J's instructions.
"Put the fifth element in the center, and the others around", Heero, still carrying Usagi, took her to the center of the room and lowered her down to the sandy floor. The elements each took their respective wand from Atticum and stood in their spots around Usagi, standing behind their elemental pillar, placing the wand solidly in the groove, keeping hold.
"Now you must activate the elements!" Atticum instructed. The others held blank looks on their faces. "Wind blows, fire burns, rain falls, Earth secures..." Not quite understanding at first, Trowa figured out the riddle first and scooped up a handful of sand. He walked over to Earth and let the sand slide through his fingers onto the wand. A green light began emanating from the wand and Earth fell into a trance, her symbol upon her forehead began glowing.
Duo pulled out a lighter from his pocket and started it up, bringing the flame to Fire's wand, igniting the red light, and Fire's symbol, pulling her into a trance.
Quatre held a handkerchief to his forehead and allowed it to soak up what sweat he had there. He squeezed it upon Water's wand and activated her.
Patres took Air's hands and lifted the wand and softly blew on it, making her light begin. Now it was just up to Usagi. Everyone's fear heightened as a dark shadow spread out across the room, the dark planet so near to impact with the Earth.
Heero shook Usagi gently to awaken her as she was very weak.
"Usagi...time for you to work now", he said.
"Protect life...until death..." She whispered.
"Usagi, listen to me, if you don't work now, we're all going to die".
"What's the use of saving life, when all you do is destroy it?" She asked, tears never stopping.
"You're right...but there are some beautiful things worth saving".
"Like love?" She whimpered.
"Like love", he repeated.
"But I don't know love...I was built to protect, not to love".
"So was I", he said, his grip tightening on her.
"There's no use for me to need those things..." She insisted.
"You're wrong..." He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes tight for a brief moment, then looked at her again, "I need you...I need you very much".
"Why?"
"Because...because..."
The others watched on silently, Wufei growled and muttered, "tell her Yuy..." Everyone waited to see if the Perfect Soldier would finally break in order to giver Usagi the strength to save the world.
Heero debated on what he would say to the ailing woman next, his mind which had been molded to never feel emotion...his mind collided with his heart as the word 'love' danced in his thoughts. Could it be possible that he loved her...he wondered? The desperation and the overload of emotions made him feel gave him a sense that he wasn't so empty any more, a warmth shot through him with a wave so powerful that the words then came from his mouth.
"...because I love you". With those words more tears sprung from Usagi who began to cry out loud, and let herself be completely taken into Heero's arms, not sure what he was doing from inexperience, Heero connected his lips with Usagi's, tenderly kissing her, the new warmth beginning to heat through the both of them like wildfire.
The heat was so strong that the star symbol on Usagi began glowing brightly, the four elements around also began glowing, their symbols burst forth with a beam of light, hitting the wands, then the power shot towards the center, hitting both Heero and Usagi, the latter's face turned towards the sky and the energy shot from her symbol, shooting into the sky and colliding with the dark planet so close to the Earth's atmosphere.
The light surrounded the evil and dissolved it away, taking only a few moments the light ceased and Usagi and Heero were overwhelmed by the energy overload and both collapsed in each other's arms on the ground.
Around them the lights faded, and the elements collapsed, also unconscious, Duo was closest to Air and couldn't move fast enough when she fell on top of him. Oblivious to her mate, Patres gripped Tempus' time staff tightly.
"It is finished.". The others allowed themselves to breathe a sigh of relief. The other gundam piolets and Patres groaned when Duo started crying out in pain.
"A little help!" He squealed.
****
Duo walked through the main room of Headquarters, towards the recovery room, and glanced to where Trowa and Atticum had been playing a game of chess, he chuckled and waved towards them.
"Oo...strip chess..." He hollered playfully, the other two had heard, and Atticum's face reddened with embarrassment, Trowa ignoring the comment, made his move. Amor and Quatre had been near by, the first hearing Duo's comment squealed in delight.
"Me want to play!" She yelled, Quatre put his finger on her lips to silence her.
"No...you don't want to play".
"Me want to PLAY! How do you play?" She inquired curiously.
"You try to stay as quiet as you can, for as long as you can", Quatre slyly explained, Amor seemed to change her mind rather quickly with that answer, and latched onto her companion.
"Me rather play with you, then", she answered raining Quatre with kisses. Duo smirked at the sight.
"Get a room you two!" He yelled out. Amor had heard and nodded in agreement.
"Good idea!" She yelled in delight, dragging Quatre off to another room. Duo was pleasantly greeted by his own companion, Patres' face full of smiles for the other.
"Have you seen Wu-man?" Duo inquired, allowing Patres to slip her arm in his good one.
"He and Fire are practicing...new fighting techniques..." She answered, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Duo smirked.
"You can tell when they have one of their tender moments every time Wu-man gets a new bruise", Duo said breaking into laughter.
Relena and Milliardo walked on either side of Dr. J as he escorted them to the recovery room.
"...with the information that Heero managed to collect for me...when he first met Usagi, we were able to build a similar chamber to that of which she was created. We put both her and Heero inside to help them recover from their massive loss of energy..." They walked into the room and noticed the shielded chamber softly humming.
They stopped when Duo and Patres, following closely beside him, entered the room and walked towards the chamber. Duo glanced towards Relena and sighed in annoyance, Patres glanced at the object of her mate's displeasure and rose an eyebrow.
"I wanna see Heero!" Relena insisted to Dr. J. Patres rolled her eyes following Duo's example. Duo waltzed up to the chamber and opened a small window to peak inside.
"Are they awake yet?" He asked impatiently, his eyes slightly widening when he got a glimpse of the couple inside. He then turned around and blocked the small window with his back. He laughed nervously, and scratched the back of his head, "uh...they're not ready....they need five more minutes?"
"I want to see HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Those who could, covered their ears from the shrieking. Milliardo quickly covered his sister's mouth. She stopped but crossed her arms over her chest, frowning deeply.
"Keep that look on your face, it'll get stuck that way", Milliardo insisted.
Inside the chamber Heero and Usagi were experiencing their new-found emotion, and had gotten intimately acquainted with each other's ability to express love. Considering Usagi's eager willingness to learn new things she and Heero were experimenting with new ways to create that heat that had first erupted from their first kiss.
Breaking a deep kiss, the couple gazed into each other's eyes, Usagi's lips curved into a wide adoring smile, Heero studying her for a brief moment before he too, for the first sincere time smiled.
****
Authors Note: All done! The battle scene was completely written by Megami*Silence after I had bribed her (she's expensive) to write it. She also helped me write the last couple of scenes as well...Megami-imouto, enjoy your new animé baby-t!