Death, Be Not Proud...
Underneath Society
~'~
*smacks herself* My gods, I almost wrote my name up there. The one I usually
go by. I'm glad I caught myself, because then my secret would be out and you'd
all know I'm actually B--
*muses pops out of no where and gags authoress with a scarf* Muse #4: Oh,
no, you don't! I've spent too much time on this without you screwing it up!
Authoress: MRPHVHPHMMMM!
Muse#8: *pops up next to #4* Agreed. I'll post the chapter, #5, and you keep
her occupied, #4. And hey, #12! Don't forget to tell them that if they don't
review, I won't let her write the next chapter!
Muse#12: *throws a sulky look at #8* Who died and made you god?
Muse#2: Come, come. Let's not get into another fight....
Muse#7: Yeah... last time you got your ass kicked.
Muse#2: *pupils dilate* I DID NOT GET MY ASS KICKED! *reverted to Zero-System
Dorothy mode and tackles #7*
Muse#9: Oh, dear....
~'~
She cursed you in hopes that one day, no matter how soon or far away,
You might understand a little of what she'd seen, and live only for that day.
~'~
For once, the Gundam pilots were in the same room without one of them threatening the other. It was a remarkable event, but then, strange occurrences tend to develop other strange occurrences.
Wufei looked across the table at Duo, who for once in the American's life, was serious. They were all serious.
"She knew who I was." Trowa said, in his quiet voice. "She got out of her binds and knocked me unconscious." He paused, hesitating. "A beam of light just came from her hands."
Heero was as shaken as anyone had ever seen him. "She said that there were two people in her body. One named Chaos and the other named Usagi. She jumped from the top of the tree-- landed on her feet-- full gravity-- not a flinch-- wearing this crazy uniform made of fire-- vanished--"
Duo almost fainted. Heero Yuy was showing emotion. And of all emotions, it was frustration, and God forbid-- envy! Envy, from the perfect soldier.
"So, Heero wants to be able to jump off giant trees and land on his feet." He teased. Heero glowered at him while Quatre smothered a laugh.
"Well, we can't just--"
"Oh yes we can!" Wufei said, before Quatre could finish. "She's the one who left. She's the one who went all psycho and multiple personality disorder. We can too leave her! It's not a mission!"
Right on cue, Heero's laptop beeped. Sending a looked around, Wufei buried his face in his hands as Heero opened it.
"I just had to say it..." Wufei wailed.
"Professor J." Heero nodded.
"Heero, I have a mission for all five of you." J raised his voice so they could all hear. "Heero, turn the screen around so you can all see." Heero did so, and J vanished, a full body picture of a beautiful young woman-- Usagi-- popped up in his lace.
"This is Tsukino Usagi." J's voice said. "She is a trained warrior, but very mentally unstable. My source says that she has another deity living in her mind with her, a sacrifice she made to win a war. The fate of the world itself lies in this girl. Find her."
Wufei let out a wail of dismay.
"Do not harm her unless it is absolutely necessary. Her guardians are very... powerful people. Contact me as soon as you have her within custody. Do not try to restrain her, no normal bind can hold her. She's a talented sorceress. Her guardians will arrive within seconds and try to subdue her."
"What do you mean, try?" Duo asked. "That chick didn't look like she could break a twig."
The picture of Usagi vanished, and instead of J, a very masculine woman with short blonde hair and turquoise eyes appeared. They could see she was wearing a sailor fuku similar to the one Heero had described. "That chick could take out half the planet you stand upon with a single thought. She's unstable because of Chaos. You will find her or I'll cut off what little manhood you might have and make sure it's mutilated in ways you never thought possible."
"Haruka, dear, threats are not necessary, they're just boys--" A soft, feminine voice said from somewhere off screen.
"Boys!" They heard J's outraged voice. "They are trained pilots, not mere boys, Madam!"
Haruka looked off screen, annoyed. "Michiru, if she isn't found..."
Haruka was pulled away and a beautiful lady replaced her, looking slightly irritated.
"Sorry about that." She said. "Haruka's protective of Usagi-sama."
"AM NOT!"
"Are too, dear, don't argue. It's not lady-like."
"I AM NOT A LADY!"
"Haruka, love."
"I AM A SENSHI!"
"Of course you are. But you're also a woman, Haruka."
"Michiru..."
"Oh, for Heaven's sake! Stop pouting! J, explain to them about Chaos while I go make the big baby stop pouting." Michiru stomped away. J reappeared, his face red. He kept glancing off scene, where they could hear the couple making up.
Wufei's nose started to bleed.
"Yes, er, well." J said, his face getting redder and redder. "Chaos is a, er, very dangerous villain type." His eyes bugged out at something off screen. "And, uhm, he's capable of total destruction of the, er, world." He looked to his right quickly. "Lady Pluto, please, make them stop that, this is a research facility, not a make out room!"
They heard a low female's smirking voice reply, "I'll try. But they're kind of hard to break apart... Saturn, go break them up."
J relaxed. "Okay. Chaos is a very dangerous thing. He's taken up residence in the mind of Usagi, which isn't a good thing, because if he learns how to use Usagi's powers they'll be no saving her."
"Why do WE have to save her?" Heero asked, angry. Wufei scrambled for tissues.
"Because if you don't, there will be nothing to save! Not to mention that there won't be anyone to fight-- you'll all be dead! That's all!" The screen bleeped out to a loud, "But MICHIRU, I DON'T WANNA WEAR A DRESS!"
Sweatdrops all around.
"Mission accepted." Heero's voice was a lot less confident than usual.
"You heard the freaky half mental man." Duo said, clapping his hands. "Let's hop to it! Quatre's on street detail, as usual. Mainly cuz no one trusts me and he's the only social one here."
"Wait." Heero, opening the files that had just gotten finished downloading. "Here's the information we have."
They crowded to see, Wufei and Duo starting an elbow fight that was settled by Quatre.
There were several pictures of Usagi. In some, she was wearing long white gowns and had silvery hair and looked like she was twenty some. In others, she looked like a dorky school girl. There were a few of her in different sailor fukus, including a picture of the one Heero described. There were several different aliases, and then there was a few of Chaos.
Duo's mouth dropped open.
"That is the most drop dead gorgeous man I have ever seen."
For once, no one made a move to disagree.
It was Chaos's true form. He was tall and slim, with a build that was defined by the black and scarlet outfit. His hair was the exact color of sunset, a shimmering red-gold, wavy and reaching just past his slim shoulders. His eyes were large and framed by a set of thick black lashes, shaped like almonds and were the color of midnight. His face was elfish in appearance, exotic, tantalizing. Whoever had made this guy had desire in mind.
"This is the most dangerous man in the galaxy? The same guy that's sharing that chick's body?" Duo asked. "Count me in on the man hunt! I've got a gorgeous girl and a beautiful guy... think they like threesomes?"
"DUO!" Wufei scrambled for tissues.
"I'll search for any records. They're both geniuses, apparently." Heero said, tearing his eyes away from the screen. "Mission accepted."
"Yeah. Sure... Maxwell, what are you DOING?"
~"~
I feel so alone,
And I think I like this feeling.
I can always hide in a crowd
And stare at the ceiling.
~"~
Usagi sulked. She'd yet to convince Chaos to give her back control of her body. Of course, even she admited, not to him of course, that he was doing a helluva job. He knew how she moved and acted and then how she needed to move and act.
*When was the last time you had a real body?* She asked, while he was standing in the grocery isle, deciding what he wanted to cook. *You must have been a lady-killer, to know how girls react.*
-A while. But you forget, I've inhabited mostly women's bodies. They're allowed to watch other women without getting slapped. -
He shoved a few boxes into the cart and continued, selecting foods that Usagi whined at.
*Chocolate! Dumplings! Oooo, lookee at that ice cream! Come on! Why all the health stuff? I mean, can't you just taste that cake?*
-You'll get out of shape.- He threw a box of rice in the cart and headed for the fruits and vegetables. -You'll eat right or earn the wrath of Chaos.-
*You suck.*
-Thank you. I've been told I'm actually quite good at it, too.-
*ECCHI! HENTAI! BAKA!*
"Well, hello!" The over-perky woman at the counter said, as Chaos picked through the carrots to find the best. "I haven't seen you around before. Did you just move here?"
*Oooo... conversation! Let's see how you handle THIS!*
"I'm staying with a friend." Chaos said, smiling happily. "Wow, you've got a really good selection here." She frowned slightly. "I saw the place where OZ troops had a battle with the gundams-- how many were hurt?"
The woman sighed. "They're still not sure. I'd welcome you, but this isn't such a happy place anymore. I gather you're not here for pleasure?"
"Is anyone?"
The woman grinned as she weighed the purchase. "I'm not sure anymore." She sent Chaos a sideways glance. "Whose side are you on? Most of the people here are Ozzies."
"I'm not on any side." Chaos accepted the armload of bags. "I go where I must and if I must fight then it's the first side that sucks up the most. I have no loyalties." He shifted the bags. "Do you support the rebels? Don't answer, I suppose either than or the Alliance. It doesn't matter to me. It was nice meeting you."
*You really stink at conversations, Chaos.*
-Please. Call me Koto. And yes, I would. But that was for information. We've officially got what we need. You, Tsukino Usagi, are about to become an OZ soldier.-
*A WHAAAAT?! YOU REALLY HAVE LOST YOUR MIND! NO FUCKING WAY!*
Koto only chuckled, the plan already formulating in his mind.
"But first, Usagi, I'll need your help. And your ginzuishou."
~'~
I've never been a child, indeed, war could not allow me that simple pleasure.
I've never been able to enjoy the roses or walk or play at my own leisure.
But, I respect that what has happened to me, for the Fates do only as they must.
Perhaps I had some small part in the playing of Destiny, so I do not think anything unjust.
~'~
"So... do you got all that?"
*Wow... like, you had a body? But it was burnt up... and you want me to... hey, no way! What if you appear naked or something! I don't want to see you naked! What if you're really gross!?*
Koto chuckled, but put on a mock speculative look. "No one has called me gross yet... stupid arrogant bastard how could you, yes, of course, but gross?"
Usagi brightened up as a new thought appeared. *Hey, you'd have to let me have my body back in order to do this...*
"Don't get any funny ideas, princess." Koto stretched out on the couch. They were back in their medium-sized apartment that Koto had bought with money he'd been able to hack. Usagi had been fairly sure they were caught, especially because they were both in her body.
They'd not been caught yet.
*Why not?*
"Because I'm not giving you full control until I'm in my body. And once I'm in my body, you won't be able to destroy me."
*Why not!?*
"Believe me. The only way they got me before was in my sleep with an explosion big enough to blow the planet I was on into asteroid dust."
*Oh.* Usagi seemed to think it over. *Alright. Anything to get you out of my head. I'd like to be able to day dream again.*
Koto grinned. "Thought you'd see it my way. Are you up to it right now?"
*Why wouldn't I be? I haven't had any good fights forever.*
"Okay then. I'm going to give you partial control. Go for the ginzuishou and I'll guide you through, because I'm sure you haven't done anything like this."
*Actually, yes, I have.* But Usagi did as she was told. Koto patiently walked her through the process because wincing and telling her to go for it.
She spoke the spell and focused her energy just as he told her to, and looked away in voluntarily as the room exploded into light, just as he'd said it would.
-I don't believe it... you did it....- He yelped, and then there was silence. The kind of silence and emptiness that she'd not felt in a long time.
It took a moment for the light to fade. Usagi turned to stare at whatever she'd created.
Her jaw dropped.
"I think we need to try again." She said weakly.
Koto looked his body over.
"Huh? Why?"
"I want to see if this time I can make you without clothes on."
His smoldering obsidian eyes flashed at her, and she felt her legs turn to jelly. "Hardy har har, Usagi. Thank you. This is exactly how I used to be."
"Uh-huh... now... about those clothes..."
"No way, Usagi."
"Why noooooot?"
"Because!"
"Please?"
"I'm not fighting with you about this."
"Why not?"
A loud pounding at the door interrupted them.
"Miss... er... Miss Ikasu? Are you alright? We just had a power surge..." He cleared his throat. "Miss Ikasu?"
It took Usagi a second to recognize the faux name Koto hadmade up for her. "Wha? Oh, yeah. Whatever. Sure thing. I'm fine."
They waited until the man left.
"I suppose we're both going to be OZ soldiers, then." Usagi said finally, convinced that Koto wouldn't even take off his scarlet jacket for her.
"Yes. I'll try to get into the technical wings. With your reaction time, you're probably going to be a soldier, probably operating a doll or suit. We need to do some research and sims first. The best are picked first and move quickly through ranks." Koto paused. "And we'll e-mail the pilots from a library or something and tell them of our plans."
"Sure thing." Even Usagi could see the logic in that. "Ko-chan, this is absolutely insane. But so's the rest of my life. How are you going to explain our living together?"
"Well, Serenity," Koto grinned. "Considering you and I are the only ones like us, we are either brother and sister or lovers. And I think the former would be more appealing if your senshi did find us."
"Who cares what they think?"
"When they're threatening both our lives, you're going to care a lot about what they think. So let's prepare, okay?"
Usagi pouted. "Fine. Sign me up, brother dear."
Koto grinned. "We'll need new names. Yours can be..."
"Why can't I give myself a name?"
"Because it would be something dinky. Uhm, how about Kagami Yumeno? I will call myself Kage Yumeno."
"You've got one twisted mind, Koto. So I'm Mirror Of The Dream, and you're Shadow of the Dream? I'm not going to ask."
"I think it's beautiful."
"Yeah, well, you're the one with the computer. Hack away. I'm finding a Rite-Aid or something and getting some hair dye and make-up. I'm pretty recognizable, you know."
"Hmm." Koto, or rather, Kage, had already pulled out his laptop and began to work. "Me too. Whatever you think would be best."
Usagi, or rather, Kagami, got a positively evil look on her face at this new development. "Of course, brother dear."
~'~
there's a place out there where fairies and
dragons laze around the land
and where magic saturates the air
and where everything's fair...
~'~
The Lady Une looked up as the duo was escorted to her chambers. They were a remarkable pair. The girl was a head shorter than the boy, with hair the exact color of copper pulled back into some intricate knot and big, cold eyes of silver. Her stance was guarded and intimidating, and the way she walked screamed she had been trained by the best, and only that.
The boy, however, had dark, almost black hair that was long, reaching just past his shoulders and loose. His eyes were exotically shaped and the color of ink. He looked comfortable in his uniform, and walked smoothly.
She knew at once they were the same, but wasn't sure how. They just seemed alike, even though they were as different as night from day. They were brother and sister, and had been with OZ for a little over a month. Each had excelled in their field. The boy was a genius with anything he touched, and the girl had the potential to be a Gundam pilot in disguise.
"Please, have a seat." She said, smiling softly, motioning. The boy didn't hesitate to follow orders, but the girl paused, ever so slightly, before doing the same.
Une ignored the guards in the room, as did the boy. Une watched, amused, as the girl kept one eye on them and the other on her. Yes, this girl had been trained. She was a soldier, there was no doubt about it.
"I assume you are Kagami and Kage Yumeno?"
"Yes, Colonel."
"Please, call me Lady. Lady Une." She had no idea why so many people called her Colonel-- as if she could ever do something as violent as fight!
"Yes, Lady." The girl's voice, unlike her presence, was soft and almost childish, with an edge that suggested serenity.
"I suppose you know you're here because of your outstanding performances. I have been told that you out-performed Zechs Marquise." Une looked at the girl, who met her stare.
"He was distracted. If he had given his full attention, he would have defeated me." She said, not modestly, but just like she would state a fact.
"Yes, well, but the fact is that you bested him. That is an accomplishment, even if you were in the newest Aquarius model." Une frowned. "Both of you, even though you're just children, have done well."
Her eyes narrowed. Shoulders back, glasses out of pocket. Voice sharpened.
"I suspect that you've had previous training, even though your backgrounds state otherwise. You move too easily."
The girl smirked. That was enough. She was immediately surrounded by the eight soldiers in the room. She looked around at her captive position and laughed.
"Colonel Une," She said, making an obvious effort not to sound amused. "What does it matter to you if our backgrounds are false? We fight well. We have revealed nothing to your enemies."
The boy nodded. "We have been loyal to this organization. And no, we are not children. Well, she is, sort of, but I am not. And you wouldn't dare let them shoot at her. I know that we have given you an edge over the gundams. We're... inexpendable." The word made Une freeze. "Even if you could kill us, if you did kill us, you would loose the war."
Kagami nodded. "Does this have to get personal, Colonel?" She asked. "If it does, I assure you, you shall loose."
"How can you be so sure of that?" Zechs appeared from his hiding place. "DO you think you can defeat me?"
Kage only remained seated, grinning. Kagami tilted her head to one side. "Are you familiar with urban legends, Mr. Peacecraft?" She asked.
"Some."
"I wouldn't suppose you would recall one of Sailor Soldiers?"
"Where is this leading to?"
"Oh, no where." Kagami smiled. "Yes, Zechs, I am fairly confident I can kick your ass. If I can defeat Heero Yuy, then you, my mortal comrade, should be of no challenge."
"You fought Heero?"
Kage spoke up. "Not really. She just stunned him enough to let her by. I was there. Don't let her brag."
"Stun him? How?" Une was thirsty for any information on the pilots.
"Take them out of the room," Kagami motioned to the soldiers. "and I'd be more than happy to show you."
"Do you think that's wise?" Kage asked, as Zechs gave the order and left himself.
"No. But this is the easier way. Any other way, and they'd start asking questions. We'd be found. And then you would die. And I don't think I could handle that. I hated you at first, Chaos, but now..." She shook her head. "I think you're growing on me."
"Oh, really?"
"Oh, don't go thinking like that. I still think you're an intolerable evil bastard."
"Wonderful."
"I just think that now, maybe that's not so bad."
Kage smiled. "Oh, really."
The last of the soldiers left, reluctantly. Kagami turned to Kage, who shrugged indifferently.
Kagami looked directly at Une. "Surely you know that Heero Yuy isn't the most knowledgeable when it comes to his emotions. All you have to do is get that blasted gun away and baffle him." She said it like a kindergarten should have deduced it.
Unfortunately, Une was not happy. "Yes, Miss Yumeno, we had realized that. The only problem is that--" Kage pushed his beautifully colored hair out of his face in a movement that caught her eye, and she found that she could not look away. He was arrogantly ignoring her attention and threw his shoulders back in a feline move. His lean muscles rippled and her breath was caught as a flush tore through her cheeks.
With a start she remembered who and where she was and sat ramrod straight, shamed to find she had been leaning in his direction like a rutty queen to a tom.
Kagami laughed. "That is how we do it. None of you hu-- of you people really understand your emotions. We--" She thought fast. "We were taught to manipulate."
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kage give the slightest of nods-- an ordinary person would not have caught it.
Une was not pleased with it, but she was satisfied in the 'truth' of their words. And impressed-- there were a number of pretty young creatures in her ranks and never had one of them, teases that some of them were, done that to her. She studied them for a moment more.
Brother and sister? She smirked. Not with the look he's giving her. I saw that one, Yumeno. Not the kind of look you give a sister, even if she is a twin. She doesn't know-- how quaint. Definitely not brother and sister. They've been together a while, however. They will make a valuable asset. Inexpendable, she though sourly. I think I can play on his lust. Yes, this may very well be in our favor.
She allowed herself a smile, and Kagami shivered.
"Very well. I have an assignment at hand, a bothersome flea that has been biting for a while." She gave a quick glance to the door where Zechs had exited. "It's about Marquise..."
~'~
Authoress: And for those of you who have read the poetry I post under my real
pen name, I just gave myself away, because most of the little snippets in
between scenes was stuff I've actually wrote and some of it I've posted here.
Under my other pen name, of course. *giggles* Do you know yet? If you do,
bloody hell, don't go advertising it around! Just e-mail me, for the love of
Christ, and we'll play the "you're getting warmer!" game, ne?
Muse#4: GET BACK HERE AND WRITE, SLAVE!
Authoress: *sweatdrops*... oh, man....
Underneath Society
~'~
*smacks herself* My gods, I almost wrote my name up there. The one I usually
go by. I'm glad I caught myself, because then my secret would be out and you'd
all know I'm actually B--
*muses pops out of no where and gags authoress with a scarf* Muse #4: Oh,
no, you don't! I've spent too much time on this without you screwing it up!
Authoress: MRPHVHPHMMMM!
Muse#8: *pops up next to #4* Agreed. I'll post the chapter, #5, and you keep
her occupied, #4. And hey, #12! Don't forget to tell them that if they don't
review, I won't let her write the next chapter!
Muse#12: *throws a sulky look at #8* Who died and made you god?
Muse#2: Come, come. Let's not get into another fight....
Muse#7: Yeah... last time you got your ass kicked.
Muse#2: *pupils dilate* I DID NOT GET MY ASS KICKED! *reverted to Zero-System
Dorothy mode and tackles #7*
Muse#9: Oh, dear....
~'~
She cursed you in hopes that one day, no matter how soon or far away,
You might understand a little of what she'd seen, and live only for that day.
~'~
For once, the Gundam pilots were in the same room without one of them threatening the other. It was a remarkable event, but then, strange occurrences tend to develop other strange occurrences.
Wufei looked across the table at Duo, who for once in the American's life, was serious. They were all serious.
"She knew who I was." Trowa said, in his quiet voice. "She got out of her binds and knocked me unconscious." He paused, hesitating. "A beam of light just came from her hands."
Heero was as shaken as anyone had ever seen him. "She said that there were two people in her body. One named Chaos and the other named Usagi. She jumped from the top of the tree-- landed on her feet-- full gravity-- not a flinch-- wearing this crazy uniform made of fire-- vanished--"
Duo almost fainted. Heero Yuy was showing emotion. And of all emotions, it was frustration, and God forbid-- envy! Envy, from the perfect soldier.
"So, Heero wants to be able to jump off giant trees and land on his feet." He teased. Heero glowered at him while Quatre smothered a laugh.
"Well, we can't just--"
"Oh yes we can!" Wufei said, before Quatre could finish. "She's the one who left. She's the one who went all psycho and multiple personality disorder. We can too leave her! It's not a mission!"
Right on cue, Heero's laptop beeped. Sending a looked around, Wufei buried his face in his hands as Heero opened it.
"I just had to say it..." Wufei wailed.
"Professor J." Heero nodded.
"Heero, I have a mission for all five of you." J raised his voice so they could all hear. "Heero, turn the screen around so you can all see." Heero did so, and J vanished, a full body picture of a beautiful young woman-- Usagi-- popped up in his lace.
"This is Tsukino Usagi." J's voice said. "She is a trained warrior, but very mentally unstable. My source says that she has another deity living in her mind with her, a sacrifice she made to win a war. The fate of the world itself lies in this girl. Find her."
Wufei let out a wail of dismay.
"Do not harm her unless it is absolutely necessary. Her guardians are very... powerful people. Contact me as soon as you have her within custody. Do not try to restrain her, no normal bind can hold her. She's a talented sorceress. Her guardians will arrive within seconds and try to subdue her."
"What do you mean, try?" Duo asked. "That chick didn't look like she could break a twig."
The picture of Usagi vanished, and instead of J, a very masculine woman with short blonde hair and turquoise eyes appeared. They could see she was wearing a sailor fuku similar to the one Heero had described. "That chick could take out half the planet you stand upon with a single thought. She's unstable because of Chaos. You will find her or I'll cut off what little manhood you might have and make sure it's mutilated in ways you never thought possible."
"Haruka, dear, threats are not necessary, they're just boys--" A soft, feminine voice said from somewhere off screen.
"Boys!" They heard J's outraged voice. "They are trained pilots, not mere boys, Madam!"
Haruka looked off screen, annoyed. "Michiru, if she isn't found..."
Haruka was pulled away and a beautiful lady replaced her, looking slightly irritated.
"Sorry about that." She said. "Haruka's protective of Usagi-sama."
"AM NOT!"
"Are too, dear, don't argue. It's not lady-like."
"I AM NOT A LADY!"
"Haruka, love."
"I AM A SENSHI!"
"Of course you are. But you're also a woman, Haruka."
"Michiru..."
"Oh, for Heaven's sake! Stop pouting! J, explain to them about Chaos while I go make the big baby stop pouting." Michiru stomped away. J reappeared, his face red. He kept glancing off scene, where they could hear the couple making up.
Wufei's nose started to bleed.
"Yes, er, well." J said, his face getting redder and redder. "Chaos is a, er, very dangerous villain type." His eyes bugged out at something off screen. "And, uhm, he's capable of total destruction of the, er, world." He looked to his right quickly. "Lady Pluto, please, make them stop that, this is a research facility, not a make out room!"
They heard a low female's smirking voice reply, "I'll try. But they're kind of hard to break apart... Saturn, go break them up."
J relaxed. "Okay. Chaos is a very dangerous thing. He's taken up residence in the mind of Usagi, which isn't a good thing, because if he learns how to use Usagi's powers they'll be no saving her."
"Why do WE have to save her?" Heero asked, angry. Wufei scrambled for tissues.
"Because if you don't, there will be nothing to save! Not to mention that there won't be anyone to fight-- you'll all be dead! That's all!" The screen bleeped out to a loud, "But MICHIRU, I DON'T WANNA WEAR A DRESS!"
Sweatdrops all around.
"Mission accepted." Heero's voice was a lot less confident than usual.
"You heard the freaky half mental man." Duo said, clapping his hands. "Let's hop to it! Quatre's on street detail, as usual. Mainly cuz no one trusts me and he's the only social one here."
"Wait." Heero, opening the files that had just gotten finished downloading. "Here's the information we have."
They crowded to see, Wufei and Duo starting an elbow fight that was settled by Quatre.
There were several pictures of Usagi. In some, she was wearing long white gowns and had silvery hair and looked like she was twenty some. In others, she looked like a dorky school girl. There were a few of her in different sailor fukus, including a picture of the one Heero described. There were several different aliases, and then there was a few of Chaos.
Duo's mouth dropped open.
"That is the most drop dead gorgeous man I have ever seen."
For once, no one made a move to disagree.
It was Chaos's true form. He was tall and slim, with a build that was defined by the black and scarlet outfit. His hair was the exact color of sunset, a shimmering red-gold, wavy and reaching just past his slim shoulders. His eyes were large and framed by a set of thick black lashes, shaped like almonds and were the color of midnight. His face was elfish in appearance, exotic, tantalizing. Whoever had made this guy had desire in mind.
"This is the most dangerous man in the galaxy? The same guy that's sharing that chick's body?" Duo asked. "Count me in on the man hunt! I've got a gorgeous girl and a beautiful guy... think they like threesomes?"
"DUO!" Wufei scrambled for tissues.
"I'll search for any records. They're both geniuses, apparently." Heero said, tearing his eyes away from the screen. "Mission accepted."
"Yeah. Sure... Maxwell, what are you DOING?"
~"~
I feel so alone,
And I think I like this feeling.
I can always hide in a crowd
And stare at the ceiling.
~"~
Usagi sulked. She'd yet to convince Chaos to give her back control of her body. Of course, even she admited, not to him of course, that he was doing a helluva job. He knew how she moved and acted and then how she needed to move and act.
*When was the last time you had a real body?* She asked, while he was standing in the grocery isle, deciding what he wanted to cook. *You must have been a lady-killer, to know how girls react.*
-A while. But you forget, I've inhabited mostly women's bodies. They're allowed to watch other women without getting slapped. -
He shoved a few boxes into the cart and continued, selecting foods that Usagi whined at.
*Chocolate! Dumplings! Oooo, lookee at that ice cream! Come on! Why all the health stuff? I mean, can't you just taste that cake?*
-You'll get out of shape.- He threw a box of rice in the cart and headed for the fruits and vegetables. -You'll eat right or earn the wrath of Chaos.-
*You suck.*
-Thank you. I've been told I'm actually quite good at it, too.-
*ECCHI! HENTAI! BAKA!*
"Well, hello!" The over-perky woman at the counter said, as Chaos picked through the carrots to find the best. "I haven't seen you around before. Did you just move here?"
*Oooo... conversation! Let's see how you handle THIS!*
"I'm staying with a friend." Chaos said, smiling happily. "Wow, you've got a really good selection here." She frowned slightly. "I saw the place where OZ troops had a battle with the gundams-- how many were hurt?"
The woman sighed. "They're still not sure. I'd welcome you, but this isn't such a happy place anymore. I gather you're not here for pleasure?"
"Is anyone?"
The woman grinned as she weighed the purchase. "I'm not sure anymore." She sent Chaos a sideways glance. "Whose side are you on? Most of the people here are Ozzies."
"I'm not on any side." Chaos accepted the armload of bags. "I go where I must and if I must fight then it's the first side that sucks up the most. I have no loyalties." He shifted the bags. "Do you support the rebels? Don't answer, I suppose either than or the Alliance. It doesn't matter to me. It was nice meeting you."
*You really stink at conversations, Chaos.*
-Please. Call me Koto. And yes, I would. But that was for information. We've officially got what we need. You, Tsukino Usagi, are about to become an OZ soldier.-
*A WHAAAAT?! YOU REALLY HAVE LOST YOUR MIND! NO FUCKING WAY!*
Koto only chuckled, the plan already formulating in his mind.
"But first, Usagi, I'll need your help. And your ginzuishou."
~'~
I've never been a child, indeed, war could not allow me that simple pleasure.
I've never been able to enjoy the roses or walk or play at my own leisure.
But, I respect that what has happened to me, for the Fates do only as they must.
Perhaps I had some small part in the playing of Destiny, so I do not think anything unjust.
~'~
"So... do you got all that?"
*Wow... like, you had a body? But it was burnt up... and you want me to... hey, no way! What if you appear naked or something! I don't want to see you naked! What if you're really gross!?*
Koto chuckled, but put on a mock speculative look. "No one has called me gross yet... stupid arrogant bastard how could you, yes, of course, but gross?"
Usagi brightened up as a new thought appeared. *Hey, you'd have to let me have my body back in order to do this...*
"Don't get any funny ideas, princess." Koto stretched out on the couch. They were back in their medium-sized apartment that Koto had bought with money he'd been able to hack. Usagi had been fairly sure they were caught, especially because they were both in her body.
They'd not been caught yet.
*Why not?*
"Because I'm not giving you full control until I'm in my body. And once I'm in my body, you won't be able to destroy me."
*Why not!?*
"Believe me. The only way they got me before was in my sleep with an explosion big enough to blow the planet I was on into asteroid dust."
*Oh.* Usagi seemed to think it over. *Alright. Anything to get you out of my head. I'd like to be able to day dream again.*
Koto grinned. "Thought you'd see it my way. Are you up to it right now?"
*Why wouldn't I be? I haven't had any good fights forever.*
"Okay then. I'm going to give you partial control. Go for the ginzuishou and I'll guide you through, because I'm sure you haven't done anything like this."
*Actually, yes, I have.* But Usagi did as she was told. Koto patiently walked her through the process because wincing and telling her to go for it.
She spoke the spell and focused her energy just as he told her to, and looked away in voluntarily as the room exploded into light, just as he'd said it would.
-I don't believe it... you did it....- He yelped, and then there was silence. The kind of silence and emptiness that she'd not felt in a long time.
It took a moment for the light to fade. Usagi turned to stare at whatever she'd created.
Her jaw dropped.
"I think we need to try again." She said weakly.
Koto looked his body over.
"Huh? Why?"
"I want to see if this time I can make you without clothes on."
His smoldering obsidian eyes flashed at her, and she felt her legs turn to jelly. "Hardy har har, Usagi. Thank you. This is exactly how I used to be."
"Uh-huh... now... about those clothes..."
"No way, Usagi."
"Why noooooot?"
"Because!"
"Please?"
"I'm not fighting with you about this."
"Why not?"
A loud pounding at the door interrupted them.
"Miss... er... Miss Ikasu? Are you alright? We just had a power surge..." He cleared his throat. "Miss Ikasu?"
It took Usagi a second to recognize the faux name Koto hadmade up for her. "Wha? Oh, yeah. Whatever. Sure thing. I'm fine."
They waited until the man left.
"I suppose we're both going to be OZ soldiers, then." Usagi said finally, convinced that Koto wouldn't even take off his scarlet jacket for her.
"Yes. I'll try to get into the technical wings. With your reaction time, you're probably going to be a soldier, probably operating a doll or suit. We need to do some research and sims first. The best are picked first and move quickly through ranks." Koto paused. "And we'll e-mail the pilots from a library or something and tell them of our plans."
"Sure thing." Even Usagi could see the logic in that. "Ko-chan, this is absolutely insane. But so's the rest of my life. How are you going to explain our living together?"
"Well, Serenity," Koto grinned. "Considering you and I are the only ones like us, we are either brother and sister or lovers. And I think the former would be more appealing if your senshi did find us."
"Who cares what they think?"
"When they're threatening both our lives, you're going to care a lot about what they think. So let's prepare, okay?"
Usagi pouted. "Fine. Sign me up, brother dear."
Koto grinned. "We'll need new names. Yours can be..."
"Why can't I give myself a name?"
"Because it would be something dinky. Uhm, how about Kagami Yumeno? I will call myself Kage Yumeno."
"You've got one twisted mind, Koto. So I'm Mirror Of The Dream, and you're Shadow of the Dream? I'm not going to ask."
"I think it's beautiful."
"Yeah, well, you're the one with the computer. Hack away. I'm finding a Rite-Aid or something and getting some hair dye and make-up. I'm pretty recognizable, you know."
"Hmm." Koto, or rather, Kage, had already pulled out his laptop and began to work. "Me too. Whatever you think would be best."
Usagi, or rather, Kagami, got a positively evil look on her face at this new development. "Of course, brother dear."
~'~
there's a place out there where fairies and
dragons laze around the land
and where magic saturates the air
and where everything's fair...
~'~
The Lady Une looked up as the duo was escorted to her chambers. They were a remarkable pair. The girl was a head shorter than the boy, with hair the exact color of copper pulled back into some intricate knot and big, cold eyes of silver. Her stance was guarded and intimidating, and the way she walked screamed she had been trained by the best, and only that.
The boy, however, had dark, almost black hair that was long, reaching just past his shoulders and loose. His eyes were exotically shaped and the color of ink. He looked comfortable in his uniform, and walked smoothly.
She knew at once they were the same, but wasn't sure how. They just seemed alike, even though they were as different as night from day. They were brother and sister, and had been with OZ for a little over a month. Each had excelled in their field. The boy was a genius with anything he touched, and the girl had the potential to be a Gundam pilot in disguise.
"Please, have a seat." She said, smiling softly, motioning. The boy didn't hesitate to follow orders, but the girl paused, ever so slightly, before doing the same.
Une ignored the guards in the room, as did the boy. Une watched, amused, as the girl kept one eye on them and the other on her. Yes, this girl had been trained. She was a soldier, there was no doubt about it.
"I assume you are Kagami and Kage Yumeno?"
"Yes, Colonel."
"Please, call me Lady. Lady Une." She had no idea why so many people called her Colonel-- as if she could ever do something as violent as fight!
"Yes, Lady." The girl's voice, unlike her presence, was soft and almost childish, with an edge that suggested serenity.
"I suppose you know you're here because of your outstanding performances. I have been told that you out-performed Zechs Marquise." Une looked at the girl, who met her stare.
"He was distracted. If he had given his full attention, he would have defeated me." She said, not modestly, but just like she would state a fact.
"Yes, well, but the fact is that you bested him. That is an accomplishment, even if you were in the newest Aquarius model." Une frowned. "Both of you, even though you're just children, have done well."
Her eyes narrowed. Shoulders back, glasses out of pocket. Voice sharpened.
"I suspect that you've had previous training, even though your backgrounds state otherwise. You move too easily."
The girl smirked. That was enough. She was immediately surrounded by the eight soldiers in the room. She looked around at her captive position and laughed.
"Colonel Une," She said, making an obvious effort not to sound amused. "What does it matter to you if our backgrounds are false? We fight well. We have revealed nothing to your enemies."
The boy nodded. "We have been loyal to this organization. And no, we are not children. Well, she is, sort of, but I am not. And you wouldn't dare let them shoot at her. I know that we have given you an edge over the gundams. We're... inexpendable." The word made Une freeze. "Even if you could kill us, if you did kill us, you would loose the war."
Kagami nodded. "Does this have to get personal, Colonel?" She asked. "If it does, I assure you, you shall loose."
"How can you be so sure of that?" Zechs appeared from his hiding place. "DO you think you can defeat me?"
Kage only remained seated, grinning. Kagami tilted her head to one side. "Are you familiar with urban legends, Mr. Peacecraft?" She asked.
"Some."
"I wouldn't suppose you would recall one of Sailor Soldiers?"
"Where is this leading to?"
"Oh, no where." Kagami smiled. "Yes, Zechs, I am fairly confident I can kick your ass. If I can defeat Heero Yuy, then you, my mortal comrade, should be of no challenge."
"You fought Heero?"
Kage spoke up. "Not really. She just stunned him enough to let her by. I was there. Don't let her brag."
"Stun him? How?" Une was thirsty for any information on the pilots.
"Take them out of the room," Kagami motioned to the soldiers. "and I'd be more than happy to show you."
"Do you think that's wise?" Kage asked, as Zechs gave the order and left himself.
"No. But this is the easier way. Any other way, and they'd start asking questions. We'd be found. And then you would die. And I don't think I could handle that. I hated you at first, Chaos, but now..." She shook her head. "I think you're growing on me."
"Oh, really?"
"Oh, don't go thinking like that. I still think you're an intolerable evil bastard."
"Wonderful."
"I just think that now, maybe that's not so bad."
Kage smiled. "Oh, really."
The last of the soldiers left, reluctantly. Kagami turned to Kage, who shrugged indifferently.
Kagami looked directly at Une. "Surely you know that Heero Yuy isn't the most knowledgeable when it comes to his emotions. All you have to do is get that blasted gun away and baffle him." She said it like a kindergarten should have deduced it.
Unfortunately, Une was not happy. "Yes, Miss Yumeno, we had realized that. The only problem is that--" Kage pushed his beautifully colored hair out of his face in a movement that caught her eye, and she found that she could not look away. He was arrogantly ignoring her attention and threw his shoulders back in a feline move. His lean muscles rippled and her breath was caught as a flush tore through her cheeks.
With a start she remembered who and where she was and sat ramrod straight, shamed to find she had been leaning in his direction like a rutty queen to a tom.
Kagami laughed. "That is how we do it. None of you hu-- of you people really understand your emotions. We--" She thought fast. "We were taught to manipulate."
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kage give the slightest of nods-- an ordinary person would not have caught it.
Une was not pleased with it, but she was satisfied in the 'truth' of their words. And impressed-- there were a number of pretty young creatures in her ranks and never had one of them, teases that some of them were, done that to her. She studied them for a moment more.
Brother and sister? She smirked. Not with the look he's giving her. I saw that one, Yumeno. Not the kind of look you give a sister, even if she is a twin. She doesn't know-- how quaint. Definitely not brother and sister. They've been together a while, however. They will make a valuable asset. Inexpendable, she though sourly. I think I can play on his lust. Yes, this may very well be in our favor.
She allowed herself a smile, and Kagami shivered.
"Very well. I have an assignment at hand, a bothersome flea that has been biting for a while." She gave a quick glance to the door where Zechs had exited. "It's about Marquise..."
~'~
Authoress: And for those of you who have read the poetry I post under my real
pen name, I just gave myself away, because most of the little snippets in
between scenes was stuff I've actually wrote and some of it I've posted here.
Under my other pen name, of course. *giggles* Do you know yet? If you do,
bloody hell, don't go advertising it around! Just e-mail me, for the love of
Christ, and we'll play the "you're getting warmer!" game, ne?
Muse#4: GET BACK HERE AND WRITE, SLAVE!
Authoress: *sweatdrops*... oh, man....