Hey! Welcome to Chapter Nineteen- Light My Way... Well Happy New Year to all, thanks for sticking with me through all of this. There will be about two or three more chapters before it's over (sob). If you haven't already, please check out my new fic, "Not Quite 'Virtual' Reality". It's got a really cool plot, I think- But then again, I wrote it! LOL!
SHAMELESS PLUGS: Please go read Solus Nox's fics, she's a great author (and really nice, too!) . And while you're at it, check out Nariana, too! Nariana wrote a Lord of the Rings fic that got slammed with flames, but once she gets her fic posted again you guys will love it! I promise!
"Did you know that she was alive?!" Wufei demanded again. Trowa was silent. Wufei was about to start screaming and beating the pulp out of anything within reach but then he remembered something.
----Flashback----
"Are you scared of me?" he asked seriously. She thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully.
"When you get mad, it scares me because I know how good you are at fighting and how not good you are at controlling your anger." she said. Wufei looked slightly hurt.
"Gomen nasai Usagi. I just worry about you. I'm going to keep my word, though."
----Back to Reality----
Wufei visibly calmed down.
"I saw her- I think I saw her." he continued, confused as to what he actually saw. "I was outside the gym, thinking, and I could have sworn that I saw her getting in the car with this guy."
"Wufei, the chance of her being alive is slim to none." Quatre said, feeling bad that he had to lie.
"Please, Quatre. If she's alive, tell me. Please." Wufei begged. The blonde boy remained silent for a few seconds.
"She's alive." he finally answered.
"Where is she?" Wufei asked.
"We don't know." Trowa spoke up.
"How can you not know?" the Chinese one questioned. Duo sighed and began relating everything she had told them.
"She just said she would call us." Hiiro added when Duo stopped. Just then, the phone rang. Duo reached for it before Wufei could.
"Don't say anything, Wufei." he warned. Wufei nodded, and Duo hit the 'speakerphone' button.
"Hello?"
"Hi Duo!" Usagi exclaimed. Wufei went nuts. (silently nuts)
"Hey Usagi, what's up?"
"Duo, Wufei's not there, is he?"
"No, of course not."
"Wheew."
"Usagi why won't you him that you're alive?"
"Why was he making out with another girl?"
Duo didn't answer. Trowa nearly had to gag Wufei to keep him from saying anything.
"Duo if he's met someone and he loves her then that's okay. I won't hold it against him, and I don't want to make things any harder for him. He deserves to love and be loved in return."
"But you love him, Usagi! And Wufei loves you! Why can't you see that?"
This time Usagi didn't answer. Wufei began to pace the floor.
"Usagi?"
"Hai?"
"Where are you?"
"I'm... staying with a friend."
"I want to come see you."
"No Duo."
"Yes!"
"Fine, I'll meet you."
"Where?"
"The Sakura Creek Mall in the food court at noon tomorrow."
"Okay. See you there, Usagi!"
"Thanks, Duo. See ya!"
"Bye."
"Bye."
Duo hung up. Wufei slumped against the wall.
"She thinks I love Jade." he said softly.
"What happened between you two anyway?" Quatre asked. "You and Jade, I mean."
"She tripped me, and I landed on her. For a minute I could have sworn it was Usagi laying there, and I kissed her. Afterwards, I told the onna about Usagi."
"You trusted a woman you don't even know?" Duo asked. "That's something new." It wasn't meant to be an insult, the braided one truely was confused.
"I guess." Wufei sighed. Surprised that he didn't elaborate, Duo gave up and turned on his laptop to play games.
"I can't believe that she doesn't trust me enough to tell me that she's alive." Wufei said softly. Duo sighed and shut the top of his computer.
"Wufei you heard what she said. Usagi thinks you love Jade and wants you to be happy." he told the Chinese man.
"Duo, what would you do in my place?"
"It's hard to say, Wufei. I'm not in your place."
"Think, Duo, think!"
"But it hurts!"
"Come on, be serious."
"Oooohhh..."
"Well?"
"I would tell her I love her. You do, don't you? Because if I'm going to talk with her I gotta know what you feel."
"Hell yes. I love her." Wufei said firmly. Duo grinned.
"Maxwell at your service!" he exclaimed, then the two began talking.
"Yum that was great!" Usagi complimented, putting her plate in the sink.
"Considering you're Japanese I didn't think you'd like pizza." Sean replied.
"We eat pizza in Japan, and besides- I lived in California for nearly half a year, and neither Ben or Mike is a very good cook. They can grill like crazy but they couldn't make cereal. They loved it when I was well enough to cook for them."
"I've tasted their grilling and it's great but I've also had their cooking and it sucks." Sean joked. Usagi laughed but the laugh turned into a huge yawn.
"Tired?" he laughed. She smiled and nodded.
"I think I'm going to hit the sack if you don't mind." she said.
"Me too. I probably won't be here in the morning when you wake up. I get up at six and head off to work." Sean replied.
"That's okay. You mind if I use your shower in the morning?"
"No, go right ahead."
"Thanks."
"I've said it a thousand times now- It's no problem. Good night!" he called as he went into his room.
"Night!" she called back, blushing. Usagi crept into the bathroom to change into her sweatpants and tank top, then crawled under the thick comforter that Sean had laid out for her. In no time at all she was sound asleep.
True to his word, Sean was nowhere to be found the next morning when she awoke. Glancing up at the clock, she groaned.
"Ben and Mike got me used to getting up at this ungodly hour and now I do it on my own. Grrrr." Usagi growled as the digital clock blinked 7:30 at her. Yawning and stretching, she got up and made her way into the kitchen. After she had devoured a few rounds of toast she was feeling much more awake and ready for the day.
It didn't take her long to find the shower and figure out how to use it. In no time at all she was clean and dressed in an azure crushed velvet sleeveless sundress that only reached to her midthigh and was edged in white. She wore the black leather jacket that Ben and Mike had given her and her hair was done up in its usual odangos. Usagi sighed as she looked at her picture of Wufei before tucking it into her pocket and heading towards the front door. There was a note taped to the door from Sean. A set of keys was taped next to it.
Usagi- (it read)
I thought you could use a ride- the black motorcycle out front is for you. It's just a loan, don't get any ideas! Take good care of her for me, and enjoy yourself!
-Sean
"He reminds me of Wufei in a way." Usagi said aloud to herself before grabbing the keys and going outside. She gasped as she saw the only black motorcycle around. It was a Suzuki Katana with airbrushing done on the sides in a silver/blue color. (AN: Okay, just imagine a really cool bike- but NOT a Harley! I hate those! Sorry to any Harley dealers out there- I just don't like the things, okay?)
Grinning, she climbed on and revved the engine and took off at a pace that would make even Wufei pee in his pants.
"Wufei I still don't know why you're following me." Duo commented as they entered the Sakura Creek Mall.
"Because I want to see Usagi even if she doesn't want to see me." Wufei replied. "You got the cell phone?" he asked.
"Yes!" Duo exclaimed.
"Leave it on the table. It's a list-"
"Listening device so you can hear what she's saying. I know!"
"Okay I'm going to go change."
"I still can't believe you're going to use Usagi's disguise pen thingy to make yourself some other guy."
"Get over it."
"Fine!"
Usagi walked into the food court and found Duo sitting at a table in a corner near the bathrooms where there weren't many people. He immediately rose to hug her. Neither noticed as a brunette, blue-eyed man exited the bathrooms and took up a seat at a table not far from them. He stared at Usagi for minutes on end.
"Usagi I can't believe that you're alive!" Duo exclaimed once they sat down again.
"I owe Ben and Mike my life." she replied.
"Do you have something going on with one of them?" he asked. Usagi giggled a bit, then looked around to make sure no one was watching. In her haste, she didn't notice the stranger and he saw as she pulled the photo album out of her subspace pocket.
"Nope!" she replied as she set the heavy book onto the table. "Ben and Mike are kinda like uncles to me... They're really kind." Usagi opened the album and showed him the pictures of the five months she had spent with them.
The pictures began with a picture of Usagi in the base, trapped under the slab of concrete. The next few dozen pictures showed Usagi in a bed being cared for by two older men. Eventually the pictures showed her awake and laughing as she got to know her saviours more. Then the pictures changed to show things like Usagi playing cards with them, shopping with them, cooking, and generally being her happy self.
In fact, Usagi grew a little sad looking at the pictures. A tear slipped down her cheek, which didn't go unnoticed by Duo.
"What's the matter Usagi?" he asked. She sighed and wiped the tear away.
"I missed Wufei so much while I was with Mike and Ben... I bought a watch and set it to Sanq time so I could look at the time and think about what he would be doing. Then I came back and find him happily making out with another girl. When I was beat by those men it hurt more than I thought I'd ever hurt again. But I was wrong- The mere idea that Wufei doesn't love me anymore hurts me more than any physical wound ever could."
"Usagi I don't think you understood what happened. Wufei isn't in love with any other girl... He loves you." Duo tried to convince her.
"Explain the redhead." Usagi said as she lent back in her seat and crossed her legs and arms. For the first time Duo noticed what she was wearing under the jacket. After his eyes returned to normal size, he continued speaking.
"That was an accident. He told us about it when he got home. This girl named Jade showed up and challenged him to a game of basketball. She tripped him and he took her down with him. He thought she was you, for some reason. Usagi, Wufei really does still love you!" Duo told her. At the other table, Wufei crossed his fingers.
"I want to believe you, Duo. I really do. But if our roles were reversed, what would you do?" Usagi replied after a few moments. Duo sighed.
"Honestly? I wouldn't have even worried about him loving another girl in the first place because I've seen you two and I have faith that your love is strong. If I was you, though, I would at least talk to him- give him a chance to express his feelings." Usagi was silent for quite a while before speaking.
"Make sure everyone's home this afternoon at four o'clock."
"Everyone? Does that mean?" Duo asked. For a moment, Usagi was silent- her heart pulled one way, but her mind pulled the other...
Duo: Accck! Evil!
Aka: I know, I know.
Wufei: *glares*
Aka: Actually, I was considering breaking my usual routine and making this one NOT have a happy ending.
Wufei: *glares harder*
Aka: Yeah, I think that's a good idea... Most fics online have happy endings...
Wufei: *begins to sweat*
Aka: *mind working hard* Owww...
Wufei: *passes out*
Duo: Go Aka!!!
Aka: *takes a bow* But I'm actually considering it...
Duo: *faints*
SHAMELESS PLUGS: Please go read Solus Nox's fics, she's a great author (and really nice, too!) . And while you're at it, check out Nariana, too! Nariana wrote a Lord of the Rings fic that got slammed with flames, but once she gets her fic posted again you guys will love it! I promise!
"Did you know that she was alive?!" Wufei demanded again. Trowa was silent. Wufei was about to start screaming and beating the pulp out of anything within reach but then he remembered something.
----Flashback----
"Are you scared of me?" he asked seriously. She thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully.
"When you get mad, it scares me because I know how good you are at fighting and how not good you are at controlling your anger." she said. Wufei looked slightly hurt.
"Gomen nasai Usagi. I just worry about you. I'm going to keep my word, though."
----Back to Reality----
Wufei visibly calmed down.
"I saw her- I think I saw her." he continued, confused as to what he actually saw. "I was outside the gym, thinking, and I could have sworn that I saw her getting in the car with this guy."
"Wufei, the chance of her being alive is slim to none." Quatre said, feeling bad that he had to lie.
"Please, Quatre. If she's alive, tell me. Please." Wufei begged. The blonde boy remained silent for a few seconds.
"She's alive." he finally answered.
"Where is she?" Wufei asked.
"We don't know." Trowa spoke up.
"How can you not know?" the Chinese one questioned. Duo sighed and began relating everything she had told them.
"She just said she would call us." Hiiro added when Duo stopped. Just then, the phone rang. Duo reached for it before Wufei could.
"Don't say anything, Wufei." he warned. Wufei nodded, and Duo hit the 'speakerphone' button.
"Hello?"
"Hi Duo!" Usagi exclaimed. Wufei went nuts. (silently nuts)
"Hey Usagi, what's up?"
"Duo, Wufei's not there, is he?"
"No, of course not."
"Wheew."
"Usagi why won't you him that you're alive?"
"Why was he making out with another girl?"
Duo didn't answer. Trowa nearly had to gag Wufei to keep him from saying anything.
"Duo if he's met someone and he loves her then that's okay. I won't hold it against him, and I don't want to make things any harder for him. He deserves to love and be loved in return."
"But you love him, Usagi! And Wufei loves you! Why can't you see that?"
This time Usagi didn't answer. Wufei began to pace the floor.
"Usagi?"
"Hai?"
"Where are you?"
"I'm... staying with a friend."
"I want to come see you."
"No Duo."
"Yes!"
"Fine, I'll meet you."
"Where?"
"The Sakura Creek Mall in the food court at noon tomorrow."
"Okay. See you there, Usagi!"
"Thanks, Duo. See ya!"
"Bye."
"Bye."
Duo hung up. Wufei slumped against the wall.
"She thinks I love Jade." he said softly.
"What happened between you two anyway?" Quatre asked. "You and Jade, I mean."
"She tripped me, and I landed on her. For a minute I could have sworn it was Usagi laying there, and I kissed her. Afterwards, I told the onna about Usagi."
"You trusted a woman you don't even know?" Duo asked. "That's something new." It wasn't meant to be an insult, the braided one truely was confused.
"I guess." Wufei sighed. Surprised that he didn't elaborate, Duo gave up and turned on his laptop to play games.
"I can't believe that she doesn't trust me enough to tell me that she's alive." Wufei said softly. Duo sighed and shut the top of his computer.
"Wufei you heard what she said. Usagi thinks you love Jade and wants you to be happy." he told the Chinese man.
"Duo, what would you do in my place?"
"It's hard to say, Wufei. I'm not in your place."
"Think, Duo, think!"
"But it hurts!"
"Come on, be serious."
"Oooohhh..."
"Well?"
"I would tell her I love her. You do, don't you? Because if I'm going to talk with her I gotta know what you feel."
"Hell yes. I love her." Wufei said firmly. Duo grinned.
"Maxwell at your service!" he exclaimed, then the two began talking.
"Yum that was great!" Usagi complimented, putting her plate in the sink.
"Considering you're Japanese I didn't think you'd like pizza." Sean replied.
"We eat pizza in Japan, and besides- I lived in California for nearly half a year, and neither Ben or Mike is a very good cook. They can grill like crazy but they couldn't make cereal. They loved it when I was well enough to cook for them."
"I've tasted their grilling and it's great but I've also had their cooking and it sucks." Sean joked. Usagi laughed but the laugh turned into a huge yawn.
"Tired?" he laughed. She smiled and nodded.
"I think I'm going to hit the sack if you don't mind." she said.
"Me too. I probably won't be here in the morning when you wake up. I get up at six and head off to work." Sean replied.
"That's okay. You mind if I use your shower in the morning?"
"No, go right ahead."
"Thanks."
"I've said it a thousand times now- It's no problem. Good night!" he called as he went into his room.
"Night!" she called back, blushing. Usagi crept into the bathroom to change into her sweatpants and tank top, then crawled under the thick comforter that Sean had laid out for her. In no time at all she was sound asleep.
True to his word, Sean was nowhere to be found the next morning when she awoke. Glancing up at the clock, she groaned.
"Ben and Mike got me used to getting up at this ungodly hour and now I do it on my own. Grrrr." Usagi growled as the digital clock blinked 7:30 at her. Yawning and stretching, she got up and made her way into the kitchen. After she had devoured a few rounds of toast she was feeling much more awake and ready for the day.
It didn't take her long to find the shower and figure out how to use it. In no time at all she was clean and dressed in an azure crushed velvet sleeveless sundress that only reached to her midthigh and was edged in white. She wore the black leather jacket that Ben and Mike had given her and her hair was done up in its usual odangos. Usagi sighed as she looked at her picture of Wufei before tucking it into her pocket and heading towards the front door. There was a note taped to the door from Sean. A set of keys was taped next to it.
Usagi- (it read)
I thought you could use a ride- the black motorcycle out front is for you. It's just a loan, don't get any ideas! Take good care of her for me, and enjoy yourself!
-Sean
"He reminds me of Wufei in a way." Usagi said aloud to herself before grabbing the keys and going outside. She gasped as she saw the only black motorcycle around. It was a Suzuki Katana with airbrushing done on the sides in a silver/blue color. (AN: Okay, just imagine a really cool bike- but NOT a Harley! I hate those! Sorry to any Harley dealers out there- I just don't like the things, okay?)
Grinning, she climbed on and revved the engine and took off at a pace that would make even Wufei pee in his pants.
"Wufei I still don't know why you're following me." Duo commented as they entered the Sakura Creek Mall.
"Because I want to see Usagi even if she doesn't want to see me." Wufei replied. "You got the cell phone?" he asked.
"Yes!" Duo exclaimed.
"Leave it on the table. It's a list-"
"Listening device so you can hear what she's saying. I know!"
"Okay I'm going to go change."
"I still can't believe you're going to use Usagi's disguise pen thingy to make yourself some other guy."
"Get over it."
"Fine!"
Usagi walked into the food court and found Duo sitting at a table in a corner near the bathrooms where there weren't many people. He immediately rose to hug her. Neither noticed as a brunette, blue-eyed man exited the bathrooms and took up a seat at a table not far from them. He stared at Usagi for minutes on end.
"Usagi I can't believe that you're alive!" Duo exclaimed once they sat down again.
"I owe Ben and Mike my life." she replied.
"Do you have something going on with one of them?" he asked. Usagi giggled a bit, then looked around to make sure no one was watching. In her haste, she didn't notice the stranger and he saw as she pulled the photo album out of her subspace pocket.
"Nope!" she replied as she set the heavy book onto the table. "Ben and Mike are kinda like uncles to me... They're really kind." Usagi opened the album and showed him the pictures of the five months she had spent with them.
The pictures began with a picture of Usagi in the base, trapped under the slab of concrete. The next few dozen pictures showed Usagi in a bed being cared for by two older men. Eventually the pictures showed her awake and laughing as she got to know her saviours more. Then the pictures changed to show things like Usagi playing cards with them, shopping with them, cooking, and generally being her happy self.
In fact, Usagi grew a little sad looking at the pictures. A tear slipped down her cheek, which didn't go unnoticed by Duo.
"What's the matter Usagi?" he asked. She sighed and wiped the tear away.
"I missed Wufei so much while I was with Mike and Ben... I bought a watch and set it to Sanq time so I could look at the time and think about what he would be doing. Then I came back and find him happily making out with another girl. When I was beat by those men it hurt more than I thought I'd ever hurt again. But I was wrong- The mere idea that Wufei doesn't love me anymore hurts me more than any physical wound ever could."
"Usagi I don't think you understood what happened. Wufei isn't in love with any other girl... He loves you." Duo tried to convince her.
"Explain the redhead." Usagi said as she lent back in her seat and crossed her legs and arms. For the first time Duo noticed what she was wearing under the jacket. After his eyes returned to normal size, he continued speaking.
"That was an accident. He told us about it when he got home. This girl named Jade showed up and challenged him to a game of basketball. She tripped him and he took her down with him. He thought she was you, for some reason. Usagi, Wufei really does still love you!" Duo told her. At the other table, Wufei crossed his fingers.
"I want to believe you, Duo. I really do. But if our roles were reversed, what would you do?" Usagi replied after a few moments. Duo sighed.
"Honestly? I wouldn't have even worried about him loving another girl in the first place because I've seen you two and I have faith that your love is strong. If I was you, though, I would at least talk to him- give him a chance to express his feelings." Usagi was silent for quite a while before speaking.
"Make sure everyone's home this afternoon at four o'clock."
"Everyone? Does that mean?" Duo asked. For a moment, Usagi was silent- her heart pulled one way, but her mind pulled the other...
Duo: Accck! Evil!
Aka: I know, I know.
Wufei: *glares*
Aka: Actually, I was considering breaking my usual routine and making this one NOT have a happy ending.
Wufei: *glares harder*
Aka: Yeah, I think that's a good idea... Most fics online have happy endings...
Wufei: *begins to sweat*
Aka: *mind working hard* Owww...
Wufei: *passes out*
Duo: Go Aka!!!
Aka: *takes a bow* But I'm actually considering it...
Duo: *faints*