What?
Chapter 1
Sighing Gene brushed back his hair; sitting on the edge of the pier with a beer with the sun blazing in its full glory in front of him was heaven.
"Gene?"
Gene turned at the timid voice and broke into a smile when he saw who it was, "Hey Mel. What's going on?"
"Oh nothing..." She said mildly as she situated herself next to Gene. Squinting her eyes in the brilliant sunlight she began to swing her legs back and forth. "What would you like for dinner Gene?"
"Anything. You always manage to cook something good."
Smiling at the compliment she squeezed Gene's hand before standing up. It was when she was about to leave and was giving a last look to the sun when she saw the growing black mole in the air. "Gene! Look!" She cried, pulling Gene to a standing position.
Jumping up at the apprehension in her voice, he found himself blinking in confusion. "This reminds me of the ScFi channel." He muttered, staring at the black spot that hung in the air. Reaching her hand out hesitantly Melfina's finger tips brushed against it, "...It feels like silk." Reaching his hand out also Gene gasped in surprise as his hand was sucked into the enlarging portal. "Gene!" Melfina shouted.
Pulling against the hole Gene sighed, he'd been in worse fixes but he could still picture his corpse hanging from the black portal for everyone to gawk at. "What EVER the hell this is, it better let me go!" Gene was saying before he blanched as something grabbed his hand on the other side of the portal. Frantically now, Gene began to tug on his captured hand. He gaped in astonishment as he pulled out his hand that was being clutched to by a much slenderer and pampered hand. Narrowing his eyes he did the initiative, backing up he began to pull whoever's body that was attached to this arm, towards him.
"Gene!! Do you need help?" Melfina yelled over the roaring noise, a steady wind was beginning to pick up.
Wincing from the effort Gene wondered how much longer this person's arm was, when a female body fell on top of his. Mumbling a muffled 'get off' Gene opened his eyes to see who was lucky enough to have his tightly-clad body as a landing pillow. Wide azure eyes stared back at him, the pupils were dilated in fear. Melfina was quick to bend down to help Gene out of the pile of limbs, the slim female immediately turned to the blotch in the sky, "Close, close, close!!!" She said, as she sprang upright. The tip of a finger could be seen oozing out of the portal, causing the girl to come to a standstill. Swerving around seconds later she turned and ran straight into Gene.
"Sorry!" Usagi cried jumping to her feet, only to find an arm barricading her escape path.
"Who are you? And what is that, that blob in the sky?" Gene rapped out.
"Um, don't know. Ask the guy!" She blurted out as she shoved him aside, not even thanking him for being her muscley landing pad.
"You,"
Turning back, Gene's jaw dropped in surprise, "How'd you get here?" he asked leveling the boy out. The boy pointed back towards the diminishing blob in the sky before turning back to him, "Where'd the girl go, do you know?"
Eyeing the unruly brown hair and piercing Prussian blue eyes Gene shook his head, "No. Haven't the faintest clue." Pulling out his gun the 19 year old glared daggers at him, "Listen, I know you saw her so you might as well tell me!" He said, his voice eerily flat.
Gene pulled out his caster, "If I said I didn't see her punk! I didn't see her!"
Eyeing the weapon the youth wondered what type it was, sighing in aggravation he glanced behind Gene's figure. Gene gaped in surprise as the boy leapt at least 15 feet up in the air over him. With an expert eye the outlaw gauged where the boy would eventually land. The girl that had just minutes ago come flying out of the portal, had whirled around to see what was happening. Gene's eyes widened when he realized exactly where the 'punk kid' was going to land. His muscles tensed momentarily before they exploded into motion sending Gene flying down the pier with Melfina watching, riveted to the scene.
"Hey you! Start running!" Gene yelled out to the blonde. Aiming his caster at the boys descending figure Gene pulled the trigger. His experienced arm absorbed the shock of the backfire from his caster but his legs couldn't do as much and fumbled.
Heero eyed the fumglinb red-head in annoyance. He was caught by surprise when a beam of blue light came shooting towards him from out of nowhere.
Gene watched in hope but was only disappointed as his attack glanced off of some invisible shield that the boy was wearing. 'Damn it all to hell, that must be another pirate.' He thought in his growing awareness of how strong his target was.
Heero's shield barely held up against the missile. He landed roughly on his feet but wasted no time in taking off after his fleeing prey.
"Gene!" Melfina called out finally catching up with him, "Are you alright?"
"Yea..." his eyes searched for any sign of the blonde headed girl, "Listen, tell the others I'm searching for a blonde girl with her hair in weird, really long pigtails." Tilting her head to the side ever so slightly she shrugged her shoulders, "What are you planning on doing?"
"I'm going after her. I don't think any pretty girl should be chased by a pirate without interference caused by Gene Starwind." He said sarcastically, trying to lighten the worry from Melfina's face. Grinning sheepishly at his failed attempt he ran in a beeline for the street.
Biting her rosy lips in agitation from the melee of the crowd and cars around her she was constantly on a vigil. She watched a car fly by and gasped in surprise, "Where are the wheels on these?" She blushed from the attention that she was receiving. Her blush turned pale in milliseconds when she realized that she was surrounded by a multitude of alien creatures. There was a bird looking thingy next to her and an octopus thingy there and a person with really long arms there and some metal man over there...she found her heart beating just a little faster. Taking a nervous step across the busy crosswalk with the rest of the alien creatures her lungs went from easy breathing to fueling an ear-splitting shriek as one of the cars exploded right next to her. Her eyes flew to the building tops, the streets were clearing faster than ever. Cars whizzed past her as she searched despairingly for that boy that she knew was somewhere there. Finally, taking a chance, she ducked down into an alleyway as fast as she could. Looking over her shoulder she breathed just a little easier before turning to make her way down the dank alleyway. Her progress screeched to a halt when she at last saw his dreaded figure looming ahead of her. "Stop stalking me!" she screamed desperately as she turned to flee.
Her stalker fired instantly. She yelped in pain and stumbled to a stop, holding her bleeding shoulder tightly. "Finally got you." Heero muttered reloading his gun he casually strolled up to her. He watched her rise to her feet with bemusement in his eyes, she was blacking out from the pain. Falling backwards, out of the alley, she fell to the ground in a dead faint. That's how Gene found her on the empty street.
A pair of dark ocean-blue eyes were iced over as they met with. "Get out." He hissed.
"No." Pulling out his caster Gene stood in front of the unconscious girl, "I don't like pirates who harm innocent little girls."
Grinning thinly Heero shrugged, "Her pretty little face has tricked more people than you know."
"You better get out of the way!!!!" Gene yelled in warning as he let loose another #3. Heero, who on all fours, attached to the wall like a spider, narrowed his eyes as the smoke cleared to reveal an empty alleyway.
"Damn it!" Heero murmured. Leaping down from the building wall he touched the blood spots on the pavement before rising up and disappearing with the next passing shadow.
Setting her down on the cool floor of the XGP Gene glanced at the bloody shoulder worriedly. Getting up he turned to go into the storage compartment, leaving her alone in the room for the moment.
"Gene, who is that girl? She's injured. She requires," Gilliam stopped midway in his interrogation of Gene as a disturbing piece of information passed through his hard wires faster than lightning. "Oh my, Gene you better hurry to the control room.
'That's where I left that girl!' He thought instantly, panicked he turned straight around and scrambled to the control room.
When he reached the control room the only evidence that was left of the girl was a sticky pool of blood on the floor. "Gilliam! Where is she? What happened?" He snapped in irritation.
"She's behind you Gene." Gilliam said quietly, as if he was amazed. Turning, Gene jumped in surprise. "How'd, how'd she get in there!?! Melfina's the only one who can do that!?"
(ok...so I don't know the name of the little blue tank of junk (supposedly water) in the control thingy of the Outlaw Star ship so I'm just going to call it the control module...sorry for the interrupting note. If you do know please tell me!)
"I don't know how, all I know is that she's there! She's starting the engines up as we speak too!" Gilliam said, his rapid statement was the robot equivalent of a hyperventilating human. Gene frowned at what he was about to do. Pounding on the thick plate of glass sheathing the control module he yelled, "Hey! Wake up in there!" Sighing in frustration when she didn't stir in the slightest he turned to the mobile suit of Gilliam, "Isn't there anything you can do besides hang up there waving your arms?!?"
"I'm sorry Gene, these actions are out of my control." Gilliam said, still hyperventilating.
Banging the glass in frustration Gene looked at the girl in mounting anger, "DAMNN IT!"
At the word her eyes popped open, panic overtook her, where was she? Kicking against the glass she couldn't find any escape.
"Gene Don't!" Gilliam cried out hopelessly as Gene fired his gun at the control module.
The control module's liquid poured out onto the floor, Usagi stumbled to her feet, "What the hell were you doing to me!?!" She screamed, her hand flew up to her injured shoulder as she spoke. Her hand clutched onto a healthy shoulder. The wound had completely disappeared, the girl stared at Gene in a new light. "Did you heal me?" She picked her way delicately around the broken glass shards to look at the broken tank, "What is that?" She asked without waiting for the answer to the first question.
"That used to be the control Module." Gilliam stated coming into view at last. She jumped at the sight of the pink mobile suit, "Um...hi."
"You've never seen one of these before have you?" Gene asked in wonderment.
She nodded her head, "What century is this? Oh, do you know any safe places around here?"
The ever-present lewd part of Gene shot an appealing image into Gene's head, causing him to turn scarlet. The lewd Gene did have a point though, the girl was like a perfectly shaped hourglass: softly curving hips and perfect legs and not to mention her attention-grabbing blue eyes. Before he could stop himself, Gene opened his mouth and moved his tongue exactly so, to say, "My house is safe."
Her eyebrow quirked up at the comment, she eyed Gene critically before extending her hand, "My name's Usagi Tsukino."
"Gene, Gene Starwind."
***************************************************
"Goodbye Gene." Gilliam called out in his electronic voice
Usagi shivered, "Does that ship really have the ability to, think and stuff?"
Glancing sideways at her Gene shrugged, "Um...You mean Gilliam?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah. He's a machine, a really annoying one...So...uh, where do you come from?"
He had decided it best to be very cautious on which questions to ask. Usagi stopped and looked up into the darkening sky. Seeing two moons she sighed, "Far away..."
"What planet??"
"Earth." Usagi said softly, wistfully.
"Earth...Are you human?"
Giggling Usagi nodded her head as she climbed into the passenger side seat of Gene's sleek red car. They zoomed out of the docking station and onto a highway swollen with automobiles. Coming onto a rural road Usagi peered over the edge of the car. Leaning forwards even farther she felt the whoosh of air on her face as she struggled to view the area on the automobile where the wheels were supposed to be. A small smile crept up onto Gene's face from his current view of Usagi before he sternly turned to stare at the road. Usagi reseated herself moments later, and watched Gene out of the corner of her eye for a few minutes before returning her attention to the road.
"What were you doing down there for?" Gene motioned towards the side of the car.
"Oh, I was looking to see if you had wheels on your car." Usagi said slightly perturbed at the fact that the car didn't. Gene shot Usagi a quizzical glance, "Wheels on my car?"
"Well, on Earth, where I come from, our cars have wheels that let move it on the ground."
"You mean like shopping carts?" Gene asked suddenly, making the connection.
Usagi's eyes widened a little before she broke into hysterical giggles. Catching her breath she nodded her head enthusiastically, "Yup, just like shopping carts. I guess."
Missing the joke he stared at Usagi who blushed and looked forwards, "Gene! WATCH THE ROAD!" Usagi shrieked, Gene swerved around the cow just in time, sighing in relief he turned to stare at Usagi again who was breaking into laughter again.
"Huh, what's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing..."
'The road, Gene,' Gene's mind told him, he turned back to the road and wondered what the hell he was doing with some strange girl in his car.
Eyeing the yellow gun-like machine in Gene's holster Usagi's curios eyes went to the scars on Gene's face.
"Gene."
"Yeah."
"What do you do for a job?"
"Um...Well I make it big."
"Make it big??" a smile began to break onto her face
"Yeah, make it big. You know, kill somebody with a bounty on them."
"Oh..." Usagi's smile faded away.
Glancing sideways Gene sighed at her tone of voice.
"Gene, what is this?" She asked, pointing at his caster. Gene's eyes widened and he felt a faint tingle of nervousness entered his system, "Oh...that's just my caster. You shouldn't touch it, it's dangerous."
"What's it do?"
"Well you shoot it at people and kill them."
"What about magic people?"
Fully turning to Usagi then Gene scanned her face before turning back to the road, "Caster's, as I've been told, are unique and the best type of gun. Because they use a little bit of Tao magic as well, so if a pirate attacked me then I would still have a chance to be able to kill them."
"You mean sailing ship kind of pirate?"
"Yep."
Picturing a pirate with one eye and peg leg Usagi became confused.
"Like that guy who was chasing you." Gene continued on.
Usagi paused, "Him? He's a pirate?? He seems more like a stalker to me."
Glancing at Usagi in complete confusion Gene sighed, "Wherever you come from it's gotta be out of this system. What do you think I mean when I say pirate?"
"The kind that sails ships."
"What kind of ships?"
"The kind that float on water, wooden ones."
"Oh..." Grinning crookedly Gene explained fully what a pirate was to him, "Well in this system, a pirate is somebody who has Tao, Senjutsu or any kind of magic to use as powers against people they have grudges on. Very dangerous for unarmed people like you. They also have all these messed up beliefs and rituals."
Shrugging Usagi stared up at the star filled sky above her, Gene wondered if he had said one word too much. "Listen, Usagi I'm sure I could handle this guy whose after you. So I wouldn't worry about it or anything."
"Oh...it's not that...I just think I'm a pirate."
The car screeched to a halt, Gene stared at Usagi, "You're kidding."
Shrugging again Usagi reached for the door handle, "Listen, I'll understand if you don't want me to accept your invitation to stay."
There was a moment of silence before Gene found the words, "Why do you think you're a pirate? Wouldn't you be able to use some of your Tao to destroy that guy?"
"Well, the only proof that I have to being a pirate is getting here. In this...system."
"But, I don't think you're that 'type' of pirate. You're not violent, mean, unreasonable, unlike-able and all the other shit...besides if you are, I think you'll be the first pirate that I'll...make friends with." He said wincing ever so slightly at the words. Grinning sheepishly at her mystified expression he started the car up again and zoomed down the roadway.
************************************************
"Hey guys I'm back!!!"
"GENE! Where the heck have you been?" Jim yelped at the top of his lungs dusting his hands off. "Melfina told us if we saw any blonde pig-tailed person we should tell you." Suzuka sipped from her teacup.
"Don't worry I already found her." Gene answered in a muffled voice.
"Oh, did the pirates find her first?" Suzuka voiced quietly.
"Yea, that guy did..."
"Is she okay?" Aisha chimed tugging at her ears in agitation as she lost another one of her lives in the intense video game.
"Yup. I was able to save her from him for now...She's staying here so be nice." The last part he barked out.
Jim rolled his eyes at the comment, Usagi glanced up as Jim entered the hallway, "Hi." She said meekly.
"Hi." Jim said shortly, "...Gene could I talk to you for a moment?" The greasy mechanic said between gritted teeth.
"Sure..." Gene groaned.
Pulling him into a nearby room Jim left Usagi in the corridor, alone. Timidly taking a step into the kitchen she jumped in surprise as Aisha pounced in front of her.
"Hi! I'm Aisha Clan Clan, the greatest Ctarl Ctarl warrior there ever was!"
"A what?" Usagi said eyeing Aisha in bemused amazement.
"A Ctarl Ctarl."
"What's that?"
Aisha's ears shot up, "You...Don't know what a Ctarl Ctarl is?!?!!"
"Um, am I supposed to?"
Drooping from the comment Aisha sulked away, Suzuka smiled, "Hello."
"Hi."
"Hi." Melfina smiled warmly, "Why don't you sleep in my room since there's no more rooms left."
"Oh! No, that's okay. I'll be fine on the floor."
"You can sleep on the couch then." Melfina grinned.
"Thank you..."
"Melfina." Melfina said as she offered her pale hand to the new arrival.
"I'm Usagi Tsukino. It's a pleasure to meet you." She said with a polite curtsy.
"Same here." Melfina said, her brown eyes absorbed Usagi with a single glance, "You're very pretty Usagi. What planet do you come from?"
Usagi's eyebrows leapt up in surprise at the question, "Uh," she stuttered.
*************************************************
"So, how much are you getting paid?" Jim demanded in the privacy of Gene's musty room.
"Zip." Gene admitted quietly.
"WHAT?" Jim exploded, "GENE! We're nearly broke and you don't charge the first customer that comes up!?!"
"Look Jim, I think you'll understand when you're a bit older." Gene said, smirking slightly at the comment.
"The only thing that I understand is how irresponsible you are! Gene, how many times have you 'made it big' this month?" Jim yelled sarcastically.
"A couple of times." Gene crossed his arms over his chest in annoyance.
"TWICE!!! That barely covers the fees for the Outlaw Star and what we owe Fred!" Jim said, hassling Gene as much as he could.
"Ah, don't worry about Fred. I'm sure that we'll find something to do for him that'll pay most of it back." Gene leaned against the wall, nonchalant about these matters as always. Sighing in frustration when Jim saw that it'd be no use trying to make the 'adult' in the room do anything, he stomped out of the room. Gene rolled his eyes as the mature child left his room, crossing the room he violently pulled out his clothes drawer and rummaged for clean clothes.
"So, that boy's been after you for a month now?" Melfina said matter of factly.
"Yeah. I don't know how he does it but he seems to appear everywhere...even my dreams." Usagi said, a shiver traveled up and down her spine in remembrance.
"Are you sure they aren't nightmares?" Aisha asked lightly.
"I don't know." Usagi shrugged as she poured some carrots into the pot, "What's next Melfina?"
"Oh, you can call me Mel. Gene does." Melfina was already at home with Usagi, "We should just wait a half hour before it's ready to eat."
"Okay...What should I do now?"
"Um, well Jim's in the shop. And Suzuka's probably training."
Usagi thought for a moment, she liked little kids and the warrior woman seemed a tad bit too stiff for her. "Maybe I'll go make friends with Jim then." It looked like Melfina was about to say something but she just nodded her head and watched Usagi go out of the kitchen.
Jim scowled as Usagi stepped down from the doorway, Usagi noticed it, suddenly unsure of herself she remained where she was.
"If you don't close the door bugs'll get in the house." Jim grumbled.
Nodding her head Usagi closed the door and circled the ancient tractor that was held up by cranks with growing interest.
"How old are you?"
"11"
"You're pretty smart." Usagi said as she watched Jim fit the engine parts together.
"Thanks." He replied gruffly trying to knock the blush off of his face, he didn't like the fact that a flawless looking teenage girl was leaning over his shoulder.
"Listen, Jim,"
"Hmm?" He tilted his head to the side as he tried to get a better view of the blackened parts under the hood of the tractor.
"I don't mean to be annoying or anything but, well,"
Sensing the importance of her upcoming question Jim turned to face Usagi and blushed again. Leaning serenely on the side of the tractor she toyed with a tool in her hands.
"Do you like me? Being here, I mean."
"Well...Isn't that a little too soon to ask, I mean for me to answer?" Jim asked, he was all of a sudden in a rush to make her feel welcomed.
"Oh...I guess so." Usagi said in relief.
Sighing she watched Jim for a few minutes from where she was before sitting down on the cool floor next to him.
"What are you fixing?"
"Engine."
Heero stood outside the door to the garage, glancing down at the compass, which had a single arrow, quivering in the direction of the garage and blinking blue. 'I guess this is where *it* is' he fingered the caster, "Damn thing sent me here...at least when I get back I'll have a better weapon to deal with these freaks." He said to himself. Loading a shell he lifted the caster and fired. The shell exploded into the silence.
"Jim!" Usagi screamed pulling him down as the entire garage door and tractor were blown forwards against the wall, glancing upwards she dragged Jim towards the door. "Stop right there." Gene nodded at Usagi and Jim as they scrambled for cover. 'damn...if I shoot him at the same time our attacks will cancel each other out' Gene sighed.
Lifting his caster anyway he tensed, "Why don't we take this out somewhere else?"
"I'm here for the girl. I'll leave, if you give me the girl."
Smirking Gene took a step forwards, "I don't think you know who you're talking to." Heero remained silent, extreme annoyance and hate contorted his face as he eyed the disappearing shadow of Usagi.
Before Gene could fire he watched as Heero suddenly disappeared, turning he yelped in surprise jumping to the side as the shell blasted into the ground two feet from where he was. The ceiling collapsed, trapping Gene, Heero waited for a few minutes before turning and entering the building.
"Gene?" Melfina called out, stepping into the shadowy corridor she gave a small cry as rough hands grabbed her around the neck. Pushing the tip of the caster into her back he pushed her forwards, Suzuka's bokken found it's tip digging into Heero's back. "Fire that weapon and I'll make sure I stab right through your heart."
Pausing Heero looked over his shoulder, 'damnit!! How many damn protectors has she accumulated?'
"Give me the girl...Usagi" he never had enjoyed saying her name, it left a certain flavor on his tongue.
"Sorry. But she's our guest for the moment. You still haven't removed your weapon baka." Suzuka readied herself for a quick thrust into his back.
Heero raised his hands in surrender, "I surrender"
"Drop your weapon."
Lowering the caster to the ground his hands flew towards the small dagger, Suzuka missed Heero's side by just a few inches. Backing away as he swiped viciously with the small weapon, Suzuka smiled, "You don't actually think you can defeat me with that little weapon do you?"
"No he can't, but I can!"
Suzuka leapt into the air as the blade of a keen edged sword came swishing through where she had just stood. Suzuka leapt through the window, watching as the braided boy followed her.
Heero picked up his caster and glanced around for any others, his eyes found Aisha's. Smiling she charged towards him, Heero was least expecting the blow to his side. Fully transformed Aisha towered over Heero's limp figure, leaping back as he jumped up he pulled out a sword of energy. "Damn cat!"
"Come on. Gene and the others can handle themselves." Jim yelled at the two women.
Reluctantly clambering into the car the three set out, Jim hid the car in the distant barn, "This is the safest place I can think of. Come on, get in here."
"Jim, Gene may need our help."
"There's nothing you can do against Kei pirates Melfina. We might as well stay out of Gene's way." Sighing Usagi sat down on the bale of hay, "I hope he is okay...this is all my fault."
Jim shrugged, "Gene's been in a lot of tough spots. And he somehow manages to always get out of them."
"No! You don't understand this guy's dangerous!" Usagi yelled
Jim stood up, "LOOK, I didn't want to leave Gene either but it's the safest place there is and you'd just be in his way if you were there." Sighing helplessly Usagi crossed her arms over her chest. Unaware of the sharp green eyes that watched her from the shadows.
"Do you think it's possible for any light in here?"
"No, I'm afraid not. Sorry."
Melfina turned, a sixth sense told her something was there.
Curling his lip in surprise raven black eyes darted towards the shadows where forest green ones met his gaze.
Gripping Jim's shoulder Melfina almost sensed the movement before it happened, the next minute Jim and Melfina were flying through the air and landed in the hay bales. Usagi had the briefest of moments to see the cold, hard, black eyes bearing down on her before she was slammed into the wall.
Immediately finding herself gasping for breath she was caught by surprise as warm hands choked her air supply. Dimly amazed at the strength in those arms Usagi looked up at the ceiling praying for help.
"Usagi!" Melfina cried running towards her, gasping in surprise as a platinum blonde boy grabbed her by the throat raising her from the ground. Whimpering from the lack of oxygen she kicked her legs out feebly, Jim was face forwards in the ground held down by a boy's knee.
"Are you going to beg for your life just like we did for her life?" Usagi wanted to scream, "what," and a hundred other things but couldn't as her throat gasped for breath. Tears squeezed out of her eyes as she kicked out viciously, he lowered her to the ground, straddling her arms so she couldn't struggle.
'please' she whispered in the recess of her mind, tears slipped down her face unheeded, "Please! I don't want to die!" she screamed bursting into renewed tears. "How many times did she say the same things? You damn demon!" Her eyes widened, 'what? They think I'm a demon? What the hell are they talking about?' Her body did the last thing it could do for her which was to fall unconscious.
Jim struggled vainly, the knee grinding into his back, "GENE! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Suzuka panted for air, violet eyes sparkled good-naturedly at her, narrowing her eyes and snarling in anger Suzuka charged towards him.
Heero and Aisha met blow for blow, bruised and scratched in numerous places. "I have to admit you're a pretty good fighter but that won't help you anymore!" Aisha yelled with a snide smirk, Heero grinned cruelly back.
A single black-eyed raven stared down at the red hair just visible among all the rubble of the fallen garage ceiling.
Flashes of Gene trickled into Usagi's mind before fading away. Unruly hair and cold Prussian eyes dominated her minds eye, 'who are you?' her voice echoed soundlessly off of the walls, 'why are you after me?' Five voices whispered huskily, blowing around in her mind she fought then, fought for her life.
Wufei's eyes narrowed, 'damn it, die already!'
Wincing in pain her lips parted, "Wu-chan..."
Wufei froze, his body began to prickle at the name, he loosened his grip on Usagi only a fraction of an inch. It was enough, "You're hurting me Wu- chan."
Usagi started coughing, Wufei staggered away from her, his eyes were wide open, "What did you just call me," he hissed gaining some control over himself.
Too busy coughing and massaging her throat she had no chance to reply. Wufei advanced towards Usagi, and stopped as his foot stepped on a rough object. Lifting his foot he spotted the glitter of something hidden in the hay, stooping to pick it up he recognized it immediately. "Trowa...it's the crystal."
Glancing upwards Trowa glanced at Usagi, his forest green eyes were still as hard as ever, "You don't think..."
"That she's in that body? Possibly. But it would be hard to tell." Wufei murmured.
"Morning's coming..." Quatre whispered pointlessly, as the first rays of light struck his face.
"Let's stay with her and ask." Duo said in exhaustion as he leaned against the bale of hay.
Trowa's brow lifted, "What happened to you?"
"Suzuka...I think that's her name. I had to run from her."
"She beat you?"
"NO! I just decided it was time to get going." Duo said in a clipped voice, he stared down at Usagi.
"Why isn't she...dead Wufei?"
"Look." He threw the imperium silver crystal over to the violet-eyed pilot.
Catching it on its chain he stared down at it before eyeing Usagi, "There is no way you're telling me we mistook Serena as a demon!"
Shrugging Quatre released Melfina, "I don't know. But maybe after she's fixed up we can ask her."
"ASK HER? She could be lying!"
"But we can't know that."
"What are you guys talking about?" Jim yelled angrily helping Melfina to prop Usagi into a sitting position.
"What are we talking about?" Duo glanced at Wufei before answering himself, "We're talking about the only thing that the top five, the elite, Things that go Bump in the Night-hunters would talk about."
Quatre rolled his eyes, "Idiot, he means we hunt demons, specifically evil demons. And Usagi just happens to be our next target."
"WHAT? You've got to be kidding me! Look at her!?! She's perfectly normal."
"Look kid," Duo spat, "We didn't come here to argue that, we came to kill her. "But..." Jim said in annoyance as he took in Trowa's angry glare.
"WE, might have to take another look at our victim because she had that." Pointing to the crystal that Wufei held in his fist he eyed Usagi critically, "Though I hardly doubt that all the meticulous searching just for this one particular demon we're looking for isn't Usagi! We're the best. We don't make mistakes."
"Would you shut the fuck up."
Duo looked up in surprise as Heero stepped into view wiping blood from his chin, "It is possible we could have made a mistake about Usagi, her being the demon that killed Serena but then she could have just taken the crystal from Serena already." The five turned piercing stares towards the three, "Hold, it...right there."
Jim looked to his right as Gene stumbled out of the shadows, a puncture wound in his side caused a stain of blood to appear that traveled down to his knee. Holding his caster up he fired the lethal #13, the black ball shot out towards Heero, holding his hand up Heero sent out a blue beam of light.
The black ball began to grow in size when it came in contact with the beam of light, bubbles of white burst from it occasionally as it strove to go against Heero's beam of light, Gene was panting from the loss of energy as he watched the black ball grow even larger. Lifting his caster to fire another #13 he was just able to catch Wufei sending out a beam of light. It hit him, sending him flying to hit the ground several feet away.
Heero leapt into the air as the black ball sped past him, exploding into the wall. "Heero, lets go." Quatre called out disappearing into the fading shadows...
*****************************
Gene stared up at the smooth metal ceiling tiredly, beneath him he could hear Usagi's calm breathing with the occasional cough.
"Gene?" Melfina called out hesitantly as she closed the door, "Gene, I brought you some soup." Melfina sighed at the lack of response, setting the tray down she popped her head into Gene's view, "C'mon, if you don't eat anything we'll have to stop here, Jim's not sure if he can handle the Kei pirates territory."
"I can't believe it Mel..."
Startled by his outraged tone she remained silent, "I mean, I tell her I'm going to protect her against those bastards and what happens? The first NIGHT she's in my care she gets choked!"
"But Gene, no one was expecting it." Melfina added quietly
"Yeah, well I should have. I wouldn't be surprised if she's scared to go outside the rest of her life."
"Why don't you ask Usagi that?"
"Mel," Gene paused for a minute, "Do you think I could have done anything more?"
"No." she answered truthfully.
Propping himself up on his arm he stared down at Melfina, sliding off the bed as if the matter had never been discussed he dressed quietly. Melfina handed him the warm bowl of soup suggestively, taking it he sat down on the edge of Usagi's bunk.
"Tell Jim I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Right...It's good to see you up again Gene." Melfina smiled worriedly.
As the room was cloaked in semi-darkness again Gene set the bowl of soup down onto the floor. Turning he looked at Usagi he bit his lip, 'Damn...how old is she anyway Gene? 15 at the most...' Rolling his eyes he picked up the bowl of soup again, 'too bad...two years older and I could try to,' His thoughts were cut off as the mobile suit of Gilliam entered the room, "Gene, Jim needs your assistance now."
"RIGHT! I'll be there!" he threw the bowl at the pink suit.
Just barely dodging the bowl it crashed against the wall, "Oh dear. Gene who's going to pick that up?"
Sighing Gene barged out of the room closely followed by Gilliam.
Onyx black eyes followed by Prussian blue ones constantly ran through her mind, 'where have I seen them before?' Groggily opening her eyes she blew back her bangs, 'Where am I?' She ran her hand on her throat, 'it doesn't hurt as much anymore...how long have I been asleep?' A tumult of thoughts bounced around in her head.
Sky blue eyes searched the dim interior room for an answer, 'I'm not dead am I?' Rising from the bed she wobbled for a few agonizing minutes before she fell to the ground.
Gene's hand froze from turning the doorknob, "Usagi?"
Looking up she grabbed the bed sheet as Gene walked in, blinking in surprise he swore inwardly. 'Shit, too bad she's too young!' sighing in frustration he kneeled down and grabbed Usagi into his arms. "Hey, you okay?" Nodding her head she blushed from the closeness, and bareness of the situation, Gene paused to search her face. Starting in surprise she nodded her head, "Yeah, I'm fine."
Setting her down on the top bunk she stared down into his silvery blue eyes. (I hope that's his eye color tell me if it isn't) "Say, Usagi how old are you?" he asked casually tensing for the answer
"18."
"WHAT?!"
Startled again by surprise she stared at him, "Yea. 18."
"I thought for sure you were 15." He smiled inwardly, 'this is good...'
"Oh..." shrugging her shoulders she jumped down, only a few inches smaller then Gene she gave a crooked grin, "Lots of people say that, when they don't know me."
His eyes widened in silent surprise, Usagi blushed, trapped between Gene's hands, which leaned against the bunk.
Kissing Usagi on the forehead he winked, "I'll tell the others to wait for you, dinner's ready." Nodding her head she could feel her cheeks burning as he walked away, 'oh god, I should have said 14.'
Joining the rest she glanced around, "Where are we?"
"In space."
"Really?"
"Yea! We're on the Outlaw Star." Aisha added between a bite, "Don't tell me you haven't heard of us."
Melfina sighed, "Aisha, nobody knows that we were the first to go in and out of the Galactic Leyline."
"What's that?"
"Well..." Aisha chimed in happy to say something productive.
Gene watched Usagi closely, '18...that's just wrong to look that young.' Shoving his plate away he walked away silently, Jim watched him silently before turning to Usagi. Watching her also he shrugged, 'what ever is wrong between Gene and Usagi I can't figure it out'
Looking up he met eyes with Suzuka, "Hey. I didn't see you at dinner."
"I was training."
"Where the hell do you go when you train?"
Seating herself down next to the still figure she shrugged, "Anywhere."
Rolling his eyes Gene took another chug of the beer, "Did you know that Usagi's 18 years old?"
Blinking in surprise Suzuka shook her head, "I thought she was 15."
"Same here."
Glancing at Gene she shook her head, "You shouldn't take advantage of Usagi."
"WHO SAID I WAS GOING TO DO THAT?" Gene yelled splashing beer on the floor.
"Well it's pretty obvious Gene Starwind that you weren't planning to do anything with her in the first place because of her age. But now that you know she's 18, 2 years younger then yourself you're probably going to get her in bed with you." Suzuka calmly replied, Gene looked horrified before looking away, "I get it now. You're jealous!"
Suzuka blushed at the comment, "JEALOUS? Of what??? Having some idiot try and make moves on me? I think not!" Standing up she walked stiffly away, Gene smirked, 'that shut her up'
Taking another sip from the mug of beer he sighed, 'but she does have a point. I shouldn't take advantage of Usagi...unless of course, oh god help me' raking a hand through his hair he stood up and headed towards his room.
Slamming the door open he came face to face with Heero, outrage blew up in his face.
Grabbing for his caster he realized that he had put it down earlier on his bed, which the boy blocked him from getting. Heero fingered his caster before glancing up, Trowa checked the hallway a second time and then closed the door silently, Duo glared at the 20 year old, "WELL, look what the cat dragged in."
Rubbing his head in annoyance Gene stared at the sparkling violet eyes, his eyes widened as a sharp pain emitted from his shoulder, looking down he blinked in surprise as his vision began to blur he could just make out the needle filled with sedative. With lightning fast reflexes Quatre gently set Gene down on the bottom bunk.
"That shut him up. Now, on to the happier matters."
"You really like this mission don't you." Duo quipped in annoyance.
"Well of course, we're not killing anyone."
Wufei rolled his eyes, "To think..."
"Shut up already, we have to spread out and find her. Once we find her you know what to do..." There was silence at the commanding question.
review, toodles- Qt~chan
Chapter 1
Sighing Gene brushed back his hair; sitting on the edge of the pier with a beer with the sun blazing in its full glory in front of him was heaven.
"Gene?"
Gene turned at the timid voice and broke into a smile when he saw who it was, "Hey Mel. What's going on?"
"Oh nothing..." She said mildly as she situated herself next to Gene. Squinting her eyes in the brilliant sunlight she began to swing her legs back and forth. "What would you like for dinner Gene?"
"Anything. You always manage to cook something good."
Smiling at the compliment she squeezed Gene's hand before standing up. It was when she was about to leave and was giving a last look to the sun when she saw the growing black mole in the air. "Gene! Look!" She cried, pulling Gene to a standing position.
Jumping up at the apprehension in her voice, he found himself blinking in confusion. "This reminds me of the ScFi channel." He muttered, staring at the black spot that hung in the air. Reaching her hand out hesitantly Melfina's finger tips brushed against it, "...It feels like silk." Reaching his hand out also Gene gasped in surprise as his hand was sucked into the enlarging portal. "Gene!" Melfina shouted.
Pulling against the hole Gene sighed, he'd been in worse fixes but he could still picture his corpse hanging from the black portal for everyone to gawk at. "What EVER the hell this is, it better let me go!" Gene was saying before he blanched as something grabbed his hand on the other side of the portal. Frantically now, Gene began to tug on his captured hand. He gaped in astonishment as he pulled out his hand that was being clutched to by a much slenderer and pampered hand. Narrowing his eyes he did the initiative, backing up he began to pull whoever's body that was attached to this arm, towards him.
"Gene!! Do you need help?" Melfina yelled over the roaring noise, a steady wind was beginning to pick up.
Wincing from the effort Gene wondered how much longer this person's arm was, when a female body fell on top of his. Mumbling a muffled 'get off' Gene opened his eyes to see who was lucky enough to have his tightly-clad body as a landing pillow. Wide azure eyes stared back at him, the pupils were dilated in fear. Melfina was quick to bend down to help Gene out of the pile of limbs, the slim female immediately turned to the blotch in the sky, "Close, close, close!!!" She said, as she sprang upright. The tip of a finger could be seen oozing out of the portal, causing the girl to come to a standstill. Swerving around seconds later she turned and ran straight into Gene.
"Sorry!" Usagi cried jumping to her feet, only to find an arm barricading her escape path.
"Who are you? And what is that, that blob in the sky?" Gene rapped out.
"Um, don't know. Ask the guy!" She blurted out as she shoved him aside, not even thanking him for being her muscley landing pad.
"You,"
Turning back, Gene's jaw dropped in surprise, "How'd you get here?" he asked leveling the boy out. The boy pointed back towards the diminishing blob in the sky before turning back to him, "Where'd the girl go, do you know?"
Eyeing the unruly brown hair and piercing Prussian blue eyes Gene shook his head, "No. Haven't the faintest clue." Pulling out his gun the 19 year old glared daggers at him, "Listen, I know you saw her so you might as well tell me!" He said, his voice eerily flat.
Gene pulled out his caster, "If I said I didn't see her punk! I didn't see her!"
Eyeing the weapon the youth wondered what type it was, sighing in aggravation he glanced behind Gene's figure. Gene gaped in surprise as the boy leapt at least 15 feet up in the air over him. With an expert eye the outlaw gauged where the boy would eventually land. The girl that had just minutes ago come flying out of the portal, had whirled around to see what was happening. Gene's eyes widened when he realized exactly where the 'punk kid' was going to land. His muscles tensed momentarily before they exploded into motion sending Gene flying down the pier with Melfina watching, riveted to the scene.
"Hey you! Start running!" Gene yelled out to the blonde. Aiming his caster at the boys descending figure Gene pulled the trigger. His experienced arm absorbed the shock of the backfire from his caster but his legs couldn't do as much and fumbled.
Heero eyed the fumglinb red-head in annoyance. He was caught by surprise when a beam of blue light came shooting towards him from out of nowhere.
Gene watched in hope but was only disappointed as his attack glanced off of some invisible shield that the boy was wearing. 'Damn it all to hell, that must be another pirate.' He thought in his growing awareness of how strong his target was.
Heero's shield barely held up against the missile. He landed roughly on his feet but wasted no time in taking off after his fleeing prey.
"Gene!" Melfina called out finally catching up with him, "Are you alright?"
"Yea..." his eyes searched for any sign of the blonde headed girl, "Listen, tell the others I'm searching for a blonde girl with her hair in weird, really long pigtails." Tilting her head to the side ever so slightly she shrugged her shoulders, "What are you planning on doing?"
"I'm going after her. I don't think any pretty girl should be chased by a pirate without interference caused by Gene Starwind." He said sarcastically, trying to lighten the worry from Melfina's face. Grinning sheepishly at his failed attempt he ran in a beeline for the street.
Biting her rosy lips in agitation from the melee of the crowd and cars around her she was constantly on a vigil. She watched a car fly by and gasped in surprise, "Where are the wheels on these?" She blushed from the attention that she was receiving. Her blush turned pale in milliseconds when she realized that she was surrounded by a multitude of alien creatures. There was a bird looking thingy next to her and an octopus thingy there and a person with really long arms there and some metal man over there...she found her heart beating just a little faster. Taking a nervous step across the busy crosswalk with the rest of the alien creatures her lungs went from easy breathing to fueling an ear-splitting shriek as one of the cars exploded right next to her. Her eyes flew to the building tops, the streets were clearing faster than ever. Cars whizzed past her as she searched despairingly for that boy that she knew was somewhere there. Finally, taking a chance, she ducked down into an alleyway as fast as she could. Looking over her shoulder she breathed just a little easier before turning to make her way down the dank alleyway. Her progress screeched to a halt when she at last saw his dreaded figure looming ahead of her. "Stop stalking me!" she screamed desperately as she turned to flee.
Her stalker fired instantly. She yelped in pain and stumbled to a stop, holding her bleeding shoulder tightly. "Finally got you." Heero muttered reloading his gun he casually strolled up to her. He watched her rise to her feet with bemusement in his eyes, she was blacking out from the pain. Falling backwards, out of the alley, she fell to the ground in a dead faint. That's how Gene found her on the empty street.
A pair of dark ocean-blue eyes were iced over as they met with. "Get out." He hissed.
"No." Pulling out his caster Gene stood in front of the unconscious girl, "I don't like pirates who harm innocent little girls."
Grinning thinly Heero shrugged, "Her pretty little face has tricked more people than you know."
"You better get out of the way!!!!" Gene yelled in warning as he let loose another #3. Heero, who on all fours, attached to the wall like a spider, narrowed his eyes as the smoke cleared to reveal an empty alleyway.
"Damn it!" Heero murmured. Leaping down from the building wall he touched the blood spots on the pavement before rising up and disappearing with the next passing shadow.
Setting her down on the cool floor of the XGP Gene glanced at the bloody shoulder worriedly. Getting up he turned to go into the storage compartment, leaving her alone in the room for the moment.
"Gene, who is that girl? She's injured. She requires," Gilliam stopped midway in his interrogation of Gene as a disturbing piece of information passed through his hard wires faster than lightning. "Oh my, Gene you better hurry to the control room.
'That's where I left that girl!' He thought instantly, panicked he turned straight around and scrambled to the control room.
When he reached the control room the only evidence that was left of the girl was a sticky pool of blood on the floor. "Gilliam! Where is she? What happened?" He snapped in irritation.
"She's behind you Gene." Gilliam said quietly, as if he was amazed. Turning, Gene jumped in surprise. "How'd, how'd she get in there!?! Melfina's the only one who can do that!?"
(ok...so I don't know the name of the little blue tank of junk (supposedly water) in the control thingy of the Outlaw Star ship so I'm just going to call it the control module...sorry for the interrupting note. If you do know please tell me!)
"I don't know how, all I know is that she's there! She's starting the engines up as we speak too!" Gilliam said, his rapid statement was the robot equivalent of a hyperventilating human. Gene frowned at what he was about to do. Pounding on the thick plate of glass sheathing the control module he yelled, "Hey! Wake up in there!" Sighing in frustration when she didn't stir in the slightest he turned to the mobile suit of Gilliam, "Isn't there anything you can do besides hang up there waving your arms?!?"
"I'm sorry Gene, these actions are out of my control." Gilliam said, still hyperventilating.
Banging the glass in frustration Gene looked at the girl in mounting anger, "DAMNN IT!"
At the word her eyes popped open, panic overtook her, where was she? Kicking against the glass she couldn't find any escape.
"Gene Don't!" Gilliam cried out hopelessly as Gene fired his gun at the control module.
The control module's liquid poured out onto the floor, Usagi stumbled to her feet, "What the hell were you doing to me!?!" She screamed, her hand flew up to her injured shoulder as she spoke. Her hand clutched onto a healthy shoulder. The wound had completely disappeared, the girl stared at Gene in a new light. "Did you heal me?" She picked her way delicately around the broken glass shards to look at the broken tank, "What is that?" She asked without waiting for the answer to the first question.
"That used to be the control Module." Gilliam stated coming into view at last. She jumped at the sight of the pink mobile suit, "Um...hi."
"You've never seen one of these before have you?" Gene asked in wonderment.
She nodded her head, "What century is this? Oh, do you know any safe places around here?"
The ever-present lewd part of Gene shot an appealing image into Gene's head, causing him to turn scarlet. The lewd Gene did have a point though, the girl was like a perfectly shaped hourglass: softly curving hips and perfect legs and not to mention her attention-grabbing blue eyes. Before he could stop himself, Gene opened his mouth and moved his tongue exactly so, to say, "My house is safe."
Her eyebrow quirked up at the comment, she eyed Gene critically before extending her hand, "My name's Usagi Tsukino."
"Gene, Gene Starwind."
***************************************************
"Goodbye Gene." Gilliam called out in his electronic voice
Usagi shivered, "Does that ship really have the ability to, think and stuff?"
Glancing sideways at her Gene shrugged, "Um...You mean Gilliam?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah. He's a machine, a really annoying one...So...uh, where do you come from?"
He had decided it best to be very cautious on which questions to ask. Usagi stopped and looked up into the darkening sky. Seeing two moons she sighed, "Far away..."
"What planet??"
"Earth." Usagi said softly, wistfully.
"Earth...Are you human?"
Giggling Usagi nodded her head as she climbed into the passenger side seat of Gene's sleek red car. They zoomed out of the docking station and onto a highway swollen with automobiles. Coming onto a rural road Usagi peered over the edge of the car. Leaning forwards even farther she felt the whoosh of air on her face as she struggled to view the area on the automobile where the wheels were supposed to be. A small smile crept up onto Gene's face from his current view of Usagi before he sternly turned to stare at the road. Usagi reseated herself moments later, and watched Gene out of the corner of her eye for a few minutes before returning her attention to the road.
"What were you doing down there for?" Gene motioned towards the side of the car.
"Oh, I was looking to see if you had wheels on your car." Usagi said slightly perturbed at the fact that the car didn't. Gene shot Usagi a quizzical glance, "Wheels on my car?"
"Well, on Earth, where I come from, our cars have wheels that let move it on the ground."
"You mean like shopping carts?" Gene asked suddenly, making the connection.
Usagi's eyes widened a little before she broke into hysterical giggles. Catching her breath she nodded her head enthusiastically, "Yup, just like shopping carts. I guess."
Missing the joke he stared at Usagi who blushed and looked forwards, "Gene! WATCH THE ROAD!" Usagi shrieked, Gene swerved around the cow just in time, sighing in relief he turned to stare at Usagi again who was breaking into laughter again.
"Huh, what's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing..."
'The road, Gene,' Gene's mind told him, he turned back to the road and wondered what the hell he was doing with some strange girl in his car.
Eyeing the yellow gun-like machine in Gene's holster Usagi's curios eyes went to the scars on Gene's face.
"Gene."
"Yeah."
"What do you do for a job?"
"Um...Well I make it big."
"Make it big??" a smile began to break onto her face
"Yeah, make it big. You know, kill somebody with a bounty on them."
"Oh..." Usagi's smile faded away.
Glancing sideways Gene sighed at her tone of voice.
"Gene, what is this?" She asked, pointing at his caster. Gene's eyes widened and he felt a faint tingle of nervousness entered his system, "Oh...that's just my caster. You shouldn't touch it, it's dangerous."
"What's it do?"
"Well you shoot it at people and kill them."
"What about magic people?"
Fully turning to Usagi then Gene scanned her face before turning back to the road, "Caster's, as I've been told, are unique and the best type of gun. Because they use a little bit of Tao magic as well, so if a pirate attacked me then I would still have a chance to be able to kill them."
"You mean sailing ship kind of pirate?"
"Yep."
Picturing a pirate with one eye and peg leg Usagi became confused.
"Like that guy who was chasing you." Gene continued on.
Usagi paused, "Him? He's a pirate?? He seems more like a stalker to me."
Glancing at Usagi in complete confusion Gene sighed, "Wherever you come from it's gotta be out of this system. What do you think I mean when I say pirate?"
"The kind that sails ships."
"What kind of ships?"
"The kind that float on water, wooden ones."
"Oh..." Grinning crookedly Gene explained fully what a pirate was to him, "Well in this system, a pirate is somebody who has Tao, Senjutsu or any kind of magic to use as powers against people they have grudges on. Very dangerous for unarmed people like you. They also have all these messed up beliefs and rituals."
Shrugging Usagi stared up at the star filled sky above her, Gene wondered if he had said one word too much. "Listen, Usagi I'm sure I could handle this guy whose after you. So I wouldn't worry about it or anything."
"Oh...it's not that...I just think I'm a pirate."
The car screeched to a halt, Gene stared at Usagi, "You're kidding."
Shrugging again Usagi reached for the door handle, "Listen, I'll understand if you don't want me to accept your invitation to stay."
There was a moment of silence before Gene found the words, "Why do you think you're a pirate? Wouldn't you be able to use some of your Tao to destroy that guy?"
"Well, the only proof that I have to being a pirate is getting here. In this...system."
"But, I don't think you're that 'type' of pirate. You're not violent, mean, unreasonable, unlike-able and all the other shit...besides if you are, I think you'll be the first pirate that I'll...make friends with." He said wincing ever so slightly at the words. Grinning sheepishly at her mystified expression he started the car up again and zoomed down the roadway.
************************************************
"Hey guys I'm back!!!"
"GENE! Where the heck have you been?" Jim yelped at the top of his lungs dusting his hands off. "Melfina told us if we saw any blonde pig-tailed person we should tell you." Suzuka sipped from her teacup.
"Don't worry I already found her." Gene answered in a muffled voice.
"Oh, did the pirates find her first?" Suzuka voiced quietly.
"Yea, that guy did..."
"Is she okay?" Aisha chimed tugging at her ears in agitation as she lost another one of her lives in the intense video game.
"Yup. I was able to save her from him for now...She's staying here so be nice." The last part he barked out.
Jim rolled his eyes at the comment, Usagi glanced up as Jim entered the hallway, "Hi." She said meekly.
"Hi." Jim said shortly, "...Gene could I talk to you for a moment?" The greasy mechanic said between gritted teeth.
"Sure..." Gene groaned.
Pulling him into a nearby room Jim left Usagi in the corridor, alone. Timidly taking a step into the kitchen she jumped in surprise as Aisha pounced in front of her.
"Hi! I'm Aisha Clan Clan, the greatest Ctarl Ctarl warrior there ever was!"
"A what?" Usagi said eyeing Aisha in bemused amazement.
"A Ctarl Ctarl."
"What's that?"
Aisha's ears shot up, "You...Don't know what a Ctarl Ctarl is?!?!!"
"Um, am I supposed to?"
Drooping from the comment Aisha sulked away, Suzuka smiled, "Hello."
"Hi."
"Hi." Melfina smiled warmly, "Why don't you sleep in my room since there's no more rooms left."
"Oh! No, that's okay. I'll be fine on the floor."
"You can sleep on the couch then." Melfina grinned.
"Thank you..."
"Melfina." Melfina said as she offered her pale hand to the new arrival.
"I'm Usagi Tsukino. It's a pleasure to meet you." She said with a polite curtsy.
"Same here." Melfina said, her brown eyes absorbed Usagi with a single glance, "You're very pretty Usagi. What planet do you come from?"
Usagi's eyebrows leapt up in surprise at the question, "Uh," she stuttered.
*************************************************
"So, how much are you getting paid?" Jim demanded in the privacy of Gene's musty room.
"Zip." Gene admitted quietly.
"WHAT?" Jim exploded, "GENE! We're nearly broke and you don't charge the first customer that comes up!?!"
"Look Jim, I think you'll understand when you're a bit older." Gene said, smirking slightly at the comment.
"The only thing that I understand is how irresponsible you are! Gene, how many times have you 'made it big' this month?" Jim yelled sarcastically.
"A couple of times." Gene crossed his arms over his chest in annoyance.
"TWICE!!! That barely covers the fees for the Outlaw Star and what we owe Fred!" Jim said, hassling Gene as much as he could.
"Ah, don't worry about Fred. I'm sure that we'll find something to do for him that'll pay most of it back." Gene leaned against the wall, nonchalant about these matters as always. Sighing in frustration when Jim saw that it'd be no use trying to make the 'adult' in the room do anything, he stomped out of the room. Gene rolled his eyes as the mature child left his room, crossing the room he violently pulled out his clothes drawer and rummaged for clean clothes.
"So, that boy's been after you for a month now?" Melfina said matter of factly.
"Yeah. I don't know how he does it but he seems to appear everywhere...even my dreams." Usagi said, a shiver traveled up and down her spine in remembrance.
"Are you sure they aren't nightmares?" Aisha asked lightly.
"I don't know." Usagi shrugged as she poured some carrots into the pot, "What's next Melfina?"
"Oh, you can call me Mel. Gene does." Melfina was already at home with Usagi, "We should just wait a half hour before it's ready to eat."
"Okay...What should I do now?"
"Um, well Jim's in the shop. And Suzuka's probably training."
Usagi thought for a moment, she liked little kids and the warrior woman seemed a tad bit too stiff for her. "Maybe I'll go make friends with Jim then." It looked like Melfina was about to say something but she just nodded her head and watched Usagi go out of the kitchen.
Jim scowled as Usagi stepped down from the doorway, Usagi noticed it, suddenly unsure of herself she remained where she was.
"If you don't close the door bugs'll get in the house." Jim grumbled.
Nodding her head Usagi closed the door and circled the ancient tractor that was held up by cranks with growing interest.
"How old are you?"
"11"
"You're pretty smart." Usagi said as she watched Jim fit the engine parts together.
"Thanks." He replied gruffly trying to knock the blush off of his face, he didn't like the fact that a flawless looking teenage girl was leaning over his shoulder.
"Listen, Jim,"
"Hmm?" He tilted his head to the side as he tried to get a better view of the blackened parts under the hood of the tractor.
"I don't mean to be annoying or anything but, well,"
Sensing the importance of her upcoming question Jim turned to face Usagi and blushed again. Leaning serenely on the side of the tractor she toyed with a tool in her hands.
"Do you like me? Being here, I mean."
"Well...Isn't that a little too soon to ask, I mean for me to answer?" Jim asked, he was all of a sudden in a rush to make her feel welcomed.
"Oh...I guess so." Usagi said in relief.
Sighing she watched Jim for a few minutes from where she was before sitting down on the cool floor next to him.
"What are you fixing?"
"Engine."
Heero stood outside the door to the garage, glancing down at the compass, which had a single arrow, quivering in the direction of the garage and blinking blue. 'I guess this is where *it* is' he fingered the caster, "Damn thing sent me here...at least when I get back I'll have a better weapon to deal with these freaks." He said to himself. Loading a shell he lifted the caster and fired. The shell exploded into the silence.
"Jim!" Usagi screamed pulling him down as the entire garage door and tractor were blown forwards against the wall, glancing upwards she dragged Jim towards the door. "Stop right there." Gene nodded at Usagi and Jim as they scrambled for cover. 'damn...if I shoot him at the same time our attacks will cancel each other out' Gene sighed.
Lifting his caster anyway he tensed, "Why don't we take this out somewhere else?"
"I'm here for the girl. I'll leave, if you give me the girl."
Smirking Gene took a step forwards, "I don't think you know who you're talking to." Heero remained silent, extreme annoyance and hate contorted his face as he eyed the disappearing shadow of Usagi.
Before Gene could fire he watched as Heero suddenly disappeared, turning he yelped in surprise jumping to the side as the shell blasted into the ground two feet from where he was. The ceiling collapsed, trapping Gene, Heero waited for a few minutes before turning and entering the building.
"Gene?" Melfina called out, stepping into the shadowy corridor she gave a small cry as rough hands grabbed her around the neck. Pushing the tip of the caster into her back he pushed her forwards, Suzuka's bokken found it's tip digging into Heero's back. "Fire that weapon and I'll make sure I stab right through your heart."
Pausing Heero looked over his shoulder, 'damnit!! How many damn protectors has she accumulated?'
"Give me the girl...Usagi" he never had enjoyed saying her name, it left a certain flavor on his tongue.
"Sorry. But she's our guest for the moment. You still haven't removed your weapon baka." Suzuka readied herself for a quick thrust into his back.
Heero raised his hands in surrender, "I surrender"
"Drop your weapon."
Lowering the caster to the ground his hands flew towards the small dagger, Suzuka missed Heero's side by just a few inches. Backing away as he swiped viciously with the small weapon, Suzuka smiled, "You don't actually think you can defeat me with that little weapon do you?"
"No he can't, but I can!"
Suzuka leapt into the air as the blade of a keen edged sword came swishing through where she had just stood. Suzuka leapt through the window, watching as the braided boy followed her.
Heero picked up his caster and glanced around for any others, his eyes found Aisha's. Smiling she charged towards him, Heero was least expecting the blow to his side. Fully transformed Aisha towered over Heero's limp figure, leaping back as he jumped up he pulled out a sword of energy. "Damn cat!"
"Come on. Gene and the others can handle themselves." Jim yelled at the two women.
Reluctantly clambering into the car the three set out, Jim hid the car in the distant barn, "This is the safest place I can think of. Come on, get in here."
"Jim, Gene may need our help."
"There's nothing you can do against Kei pirates Melfina. We might as well stay out of Gene's way." Sighing Usagi sat down on the bale of hay, "I hope he is okay...this is all my fault."
Jim shrugged, "Gene's been in a lot of tough spots. And he somehow manages to always get out of them."
"No! You don't understand this guy's dangerous!" Usagi yelled
Jim stood up, "LOOK, I didn't want to leave Gene either but it's the safest place there is and you'd just be in his way if you were there." Sighing helplessly Usagi crossed her arms over her chest. Unaware of the sharp green eyes that watched her from the shadows.
"Do you think it's possible for any light in here?"
"No, I'm afraid not. Sorry."
Melfina turned, a sixth sense told her something was there.
Curling his lip in surprise raven black eyes darted towards the shadows where forest green ones met his gaze.
Gripping Jim's shoulder Melfina almost sensed the movement before it happened, the next minute Jim and Melfina were flying through the air and landed in the hay bales. Usagi had the briefest of moments to see the cold, hard, black eyes bearing down on her before she was slammed into the wall.
Immediately finding herself gasping for breath she was caught by surprise as warm hands choked her air supply. Dimly amazed at the strength in those arms Usagi looked up at the ceiling praying for help.
"Usagi!" Melfina cried running towards her, gasping in surprise as a platinum blonde boy grabbed her by the throat raising her from the ground. Whimpering from the lack of oxygen she kicked her legs out feebly, Jim was face forwards in the ground held down by a boy's knee.
"Are you going to beg for your life just like we did for her life?" Usagi wanted to scream, "what," and a hundred other things but couldn't as her throat gasped for breath. Tears squeezed out of her eyes as she kicked out viciously, he lowered her to the ground, straddling her arms so she couldn't struggle.
'please' she whispered in the recess of her mind, tears slipped down her face unheeded, "Please! I don't want to die!" she screamed bursting into renewed tears. "How many times did she say the same things? You damn demon!" Her eyes widened, 'what? They think I'm a demon? What the hell are they talking about?' Her body did the last thing it could do for her which was to fall unconscious.
Jim struggled vainly, the knee grinding into his back, "GENE! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Suzuka panted for air, violet eyes sparkled good-naturedly at her, narrowing her eyes and snarling in anger Suzuka charged towards him.
Heero and Aisha met blow for blow, bruised and scratched in numerous places. "I have to admit you're a pretty good fighter but that won't help you anymore!" Aisha yelled with a snide smirk, Heero grinned cruelly back.
A single black-eyed raven stared down at the red hair just visible among all the rubble of the fallen garage ceiling.
Flashes of Gene trickled into Usagi's mind before fading away. Unruly hair and cold Prussian eyes dominated her minds eye, 'who are you?' her voice echoed soundlessly off of the walls, 'why are you after me?' Five voices whispered huskily, blowing around in her mind she fought then, fought for her life.
Wufei's eyes narrowed, 'damn it, die already!'
Wincing in pain her lips parted, "Wu-chan..."
Wufei froze, his body began to prickle at the name, he loosened his grip on Usagi only a fraction of an inch. It was enough, "You're hurting me Wu- chan."
Usagi started coughing, Wufei staggered away from her, his eyes were wide open, "What did you just call me," he hissed gaining some control over himself.
Too busy coughing and massaging her throat she had no chance to reply. Wufei advanced towards Usagi, and stopped as his foot stepped on a rough object. Lifting his foot he spotted the glitter of something hidden in the hay, stooping to pick it up he recognized it immediately. "Trowa...it's the crystal."
Glancing upwards Trowa glanced at Usagi, his forest green eyes were still as hard as ever, "You don't think..."
"That she's in that body? Possibly. But it would be hard to tell." Wufei murmured.
"Morning's coming..." Quatre whispered pointlessly, as the first rays of light struck his face.
"Let's stay with her and ask." Duo said in exhaustion as he leaned against the bale of hay.
Trowa's brow lifted, "What happened to you?"
"Suzuka...I think that's her name. I had to run from her."
"She beat you?"
"NO! I just decided it was time to get going." Duo said in a clipped voice, he stared down at Usagi.
"Why isn't she...dead Wufei?"
"Look." He threw the imperium silver crystal over to the violet-eyed pilot.
Catching it on its chain he stared down at it before eyeing Usagi, "There is no way you're telling me we mistook Serena as a demon!"
Shrugging Quatre released Melfina, "I don't know. But maybe after she's fixed up we can ask her."
"ASK HER? She could be lying!"
"But we can't know that."
"What are you guys talking about?" Jim yelled angrily helping Melfina to prop Usagi into a sitting position.
"What are we talking about?" Duo glanced at Wufei before answering himself, "We're talking about the only thing that the top five, the elite, Things that go Bump in the Night-hunters would talk about."
Quatre rolled his eyes, "Idiot, he means we hunt demons, specifically evil demons. And Usagi just happens to be our next target."
"WHAT? You've got to be kidding me! Look at her!?! She's perfectly normal."
"Look kid," Duo spat, "We didn't come here to argue that, we came to kill her. "But..." Jim said in annoyance as he took in Trowa's angry glare.
"WE, might have to take another look at our victim because she had that." Pointing to the crystal that Wufei held in his fist he eyed Usagi critically, "Though I hardly doubt that all the meticulous searching just for this one particular demon we're looking for isn't Usagi! We're the best. We don't make mistakes."
"Would you shut the fuck up."
Duo looked up in surprise as Heero stepped into view wiping blood from his chin, "It is possible we could have made a mistake about Usagi, her being the demon that killed Serena but then she could have just taken the crystal from Serena already." The five turned piercing stares towards the three, "Hold, it...right there."
Jim looked to his right as Gene stumbled out of the shadows, a puncture wound in his side caused a stain of blood to appear that traveled down to his knee. Holding his caster up he fired the lethal #13, the black ball shot out towards Heero, holding his hand up Heero sent out a blue beam of light.
The black ball began to grow in size when it came in contact with the beam of light, bubbles of white burst from it occasionally as it strove to go against Heero's beam of light, Gene was panting from the loss of energy as he watched the black ball grow even larger. Lifting his caster to fire another #13 he was just able to catch Wufei sending out a beam of light. It hit him, sending him flying to hit the ground several feet away.
Heero leapt into the air as the black ball sped past him, exploding into the wall. "Heero, lets go." Quatre called out disappearing into the fading shadows...
*****************************
Gene stared up at the smooth metal ceiling tiredly, beneath him he could hear Usagi's calm breathing with the occasional cough.
"Gene?" Melfina called out hesitantly as she closed the door, "Gene, I brought you some soup." Melfina sighed at the lack of response, setting the tray down she popped her head into Gene's view, "C'mon, if you don't eat anything we'll have to stop here, Jim's not sure if he can handle the Kei pirates territory."
"I can't believe it Mel..."
Startled by his outraged tone she remained silent, "I mean, I tell her I'm going to protect her against those bastards and what happens? The first NIGHT she's in my care she gets choked!"
"But Gene, no one was expecting it." Melfina added quietly
"Yeah, well I should have. I wouldn't be surprised if she's scared to go outside the rest of her life."
"Why don't you ask Usagi that?"
"Mel," Gene paused for a minute, "Do you think I could have done anything more?"
"No." she answered truthfully.
Propping himself up on his arm he stared down at Melfina, sliding off the bed as if the matter had never been discussed he dressed quietly. Melfina handed him the warm bowl of soup suggestively, taking it he sat down on the edge of Usagi's bunk.
"Tell Jim I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Right...It's good to see you up again Gene." Melfina smiled worriedly.
As the room was cloaked in semi-darkness again Gene set the bowl of soup down onto the floor. Turning he looked at Usagi he bit his lip, 'Damn...how old is she anyway Gene? 15 at the most...' Rolling his eyes he picked up the bowl of soup again, 'too bad...two years older and I could try to,' His thoughts were cut off as the mobile suit of Gilliam entered the room, "Gene, Jim needs your assistance now."
"RIGHT! I'll be there!" he threw the bowl at the pink suit.
Just barely dodging the bowl it crashed against the wall, "Oh dear. Gene who's going to pick that up?"
Sighing Gene barged out of the room closely followed by Gilliam.
Onyx black eyes followed by Prussian blue ones constantly ran through her mind, 'where have I seen them before?' Groggily opening her eyes she blew back her bangs, 'Where am I?' She ran her hand on her throat, 'it doesn't hurt as much anymore...how long have I been asleep?' A tumult of thoughts bounced around in her head.
Sky blue eyes searched the dim interior room for an answer, 'I'm not dead am I?' Rising from the bed she wobbled for a few agonizing minutes before she fell to the ground.
Gene's hand froze from turning the doorknob, "Usagi?"
Looking up she grabbed the bed sheet as Gene walked in, blinking in surprise he swore inwardly. 'Shit, too bad she's too young!' sighing in frustration he kneeled down and grabbed Usagi into his arms. "Hey, you okay?" Nodding her head she blushed from the closeness, and bareness of the situation, Gene paused to search her face. Starting in surprise she nodded her head, "Yeah, I'm fine."
Setting her down on the top bunk she stared down into his silvery blue eyes. (I hope that's his eye color tell me if it isn't) "Say, Usagi how old are you?" he asked casually tensing for the answer
"18."
"WHAT?!"
Startled again by surprise she stared at him, "Yea. 18."
"I thought for sure you were 15." He smiled inwardly, 'this is good...'
"Oh..." shrugging her shoulders she jumped down, only a few inches smaller then Gene she gave a crooked grin, "Lots of people say that, when they don't know me."
His eyes widened in silent surprise, Usagi blushed, trapped between Gene's hands, which leaned against the bunk.
Kissing Usagi on the forehead he winked, "I'll tell the others to wait for you, dinner's ready." Nodding her head she could feel her cheeks burning as he walked away, 'oh god, I should have said 14.'
Joining the rest she glanced around, "Where are we?"
"In space."
"Really?"
"Yea! We're on the Outlaw Star." Aisha added between a bite, "Don't tell me you haven't heard of us."
Melfina sighed, "Aisha, nobody knows that we were the first to go in and out of the Galactic Leyline."
"What's that?"
"Well..." Aisha chimed in happy to say something productive.
Gene watched Usagi closely, '18...that's just wrong to look that young.' Shoving his plate away he walked away silently, Jim watched him silently before turning to Usagi. Watching her also he shrugged, 'what ever is wrong between Gene and Usagi I can't figure it out'
Looking up he met eyes with Suzuka, "Hey. I didn't see you at dinner."
"I was training."
"Where the hell do you go when you train?"
Seating herself down next to the still figure she shrugged, "Anywhere."
Rolling his eyes Gene took another chug of the beer, "Did you know that Usagi's 18 years old?"
Blinking in surprise Suzuka shook her head, "I thought she was 15."
"Same here."
Glancing at Gene she shook her head, "You shouldn't take advantage of Usagi."
"WHO SAID I WAS GOING TO DO THAT?" Gene yelled splashing beer on the floor.
"Well it's pretty obvious Gene Starwind that you weren't planning to do anything with her in the first place because of her age. But now that you know she's 18, 2 years younger then yourself you're probably going to get her in bed with you." Suzuka calmly replied, Gene looked horrified before looking away, "I get it now. You're jealous!"
Suzuka blushed at the comment, "JEALOUS? Of what??? Having some idiot try and make moves on me? I think not!" Standing up she walked stiffly away, Gene smirked, 'that shut her up'
Taking another sip from the mug of beer he sighed, 'but she does have a point. I shouldn't take advantage of Usagi...unless of course, oh god help me' raking a hand through his hair he stood up and headed towards his room.
Slamming the door open he came face to face with Heero, outrage blew up in his face.
Grabbing for his caster he realized that he had put it down earlier on his bed, which the boy blocked him from getting. Heero fingered his caster before glancing up, Trowa checked the hallway a second time and then closed the door silently, Duo glared at the 20 year old, "WELL, look what the cat dragged in."
Rubbing his head in annoyance Gene stared at the sparkling violet eyes, his eyes widened as a sharp pain emitted from his shoulder, looking down he blinked in surprise as his vision began to blur he could just make out the needle filled with sedative. With lightning fast reflexes Quatre gently set Gene down on the bottom bunk.
"That shut him up. Now, on to the happier matters."
"You really like this mission don't you." Duo quipped in annoyance.
"Well of course, we're not killing anyone."
Wufei rolled his eyes, "To think..."
"Shut up already, we have to spread out and find her. Once we find her you know what to do..." There was silence at the commanding question.
review, toodles- Qt~chan