Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon and am not making any profit off of the production of this story. Please ignore me if at delirious moments I say that I do.

Editors: Thanks by the bunches! Glad you guys didn't forget the story line after six months of not worrying about this fic … Lol. Happy Thanksgiving to Usagi Asia Maxwell, Lady Artemis, and Autumn Hime!

Chapter 4: Disillusions

Somehow news had leaked out, and she found herself receiving scores of calls notifying her that there would be a girl-talk session the instant she was free. Of course, the "instant she was free" simply came as a formality, and her "friends" decided that the "instant she was free" would be that night. Shaking her head in irritation, she fought to focus on the lecturing professor and disregard the dark frowns her fellow students shot her way. She had forgotten to set the cell phone on vibrate.

Heaving a sigh, she dug out her tape recorder and started recording. This wasn't a practice she was particularly fond of, but her thoughts were chaotically cluttered and there was no way the professor's ranting was going to get through them. Leaning back and adjusting her body so that she got the maximum amount of comfort out of the seat and looking right through the glares once again fired at her due to a whining creak emitted, she fell into a short catnap.

………………..

"Usa! Come on in!" welcomed her along with a friendly hug courtesy of Makoto as she smiled and stepped in, hanging her coat up. Entering the living room, she frowned at the stacks of movies in front of Ami and Rei as they chatted in low murmurs.

"You know, guys, I can't stay for long. I've got to go over my notes on parliamentary procedure … there's a major grade on the Socratic seminar tomorrow," she warned, carefully sitting on the floor as Makoto plopped down on the couch.

Rei rolled her eyes. "Lighten up, Usagi! The world doesn't revolve around studying. Besides, even Ami is here, and you don't see her studying, do you?"

The blonde grinned ironically. "Which is undoubtedly because she's already eighteen chapters ahead in all of her classes." The navy-haired girl gave a start.

"How'd you know, Usa?" she giggled.

A few minutes of edgy silence passed as the trio watched Usagi stuff herself with the packages of snacks scattered over the thick carpet. Makoto broke first.

"Oh come on, Usagi. Spill it."

Wide azure eyes glanced up at her, and the fair-headed girl cautiously replied, "Mmmph umm oof uhn?"

Her expression turned somber after the mass of dubious looks she received, and she gulped down the food. "Spill what?"

"Hiiro, Mina, airport, lilies. Ring a bell?"

Usagi's eyes widened with betrayal and then narrowed with exasperation. "It was Relena! She told you all!"

"Usagi. Talk. Now."

"No. Way."

Ami sighed. "You're turning into your roommate. I'd think that you would know by now that imprisoning your emotions will do extensive damage to your body."

Her friend made a face. "You're going to be a terrific mother someday, Ami. And that isn't necessarily a compliment." At Ami's small smile, the blonde sighed and yielded, muttering a soft, "I want to get this over with," under her breath to which all three "friends" beamed.

"It's very simple actually. I went to pick him up to confess my feelings, and I see him with another girl. And to add insult to injury, that girl was my sister." She shrugged and sat back.

"And how do you feel about this?" Rei probed.

The ebony-tressed girl received a glare. "What, are you practicing your psychology junk on me now?"

"Yes."

Rolling her eyes and twirling a strand of hair with her index finger, Usagi continued, staring indifferently at the floor. "I feel betrayed, miserable, and disillusioned. Wouldn't anybody?"

She glanced up to find Makoto's right eye twitching dangerously, Rei's violet ones narrowed and smoldering with anger, and Ami's mouth drawn in a thin line.

"I'm going to kill that bastard," her ponytailed friend snarled as Rei nodded her passionate agreement.

Liquid blue eyes widened in dismay. "No, don't! I would never forgive you if you do!"

All three blinked at her. Finally, Rei came through with her psychological knowledge. "You're still in love with him."

"I always will be."

With a groan, Makoto fell back onto the couch and brought her hands up to her temples. Suddenly, she straightened. "I have an idea."

"Do tell."

She shrugged off the half-sarcastic reply. "Remember that adorable guy we met shopping the other day? I believe he told us he was single, and you pried his number out of him, Rei," she spoke rapidly as Usagi's heart sank slowly.

Violet eyes brightened. "Oh yeah! I know I have it somewhere…" She strode off towards her room as Usagi gently banged her head against her drawn up knees.

"Got it!" In her hands, Rei clutched a business card and handed it to Makoto who gave a decisive nod.

Ami's smooth, thoughtful eyes caught her own frenetic cerulean ones. "A date. That is all we ask of you. To get your mind off of Hiiro."

Out of the blue, anger tinted her surroundings scarlet. "Who are you to ask me to go on a date? Have any of you guys even suffered love? I refuse! Absolutely not!" Stomping off, she grabbed her coat and tugged it on.

Following her, Rei's shoulders slumped. "You're right, Usagi. None of us have experienced love but … just consider it at least? And if you're still interested, you know where to reach any one of us." Her harsh cobalt orbs met three remorseful and sincere faces, and the blue softened.

"Good night," was all she mumbled before exiting the apartment and racing down the stairs.

…………………

Love. She hated the word almost as much as she hated the emotion. Love was foolish, was pathetic, was nothing but a synonym of misery. But still … love brought hope, brought euphoria when that hope was fulfilled. She shook her head and sat up in the dark. Wryly, she berated herself – If I analyze love this much, maybe I should have gone into psychology like Rei…

Did she love Hiiro? Yes. Did she love Minako? Of course. And that left her stuck right where she started. Gently, she shifted her weight and moved her pillow so that she could comfortably lean against the headboard of the bed. Drawing warm covers up around her, she pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees, navy eyes peering into the darkness of her room.

Why was she even worried? It wasn't as if she had never been down this road before. It wasn't as if he hadn't been with anyone else prior to Minako.

But … the fact that she was her sister stung. Carefully, she bent her head until her forehead now laid on her knees and subdued her tears with the darkness.

Moments passed before she experienced the crawling sensation that somebody was watching her. Shuddering inwardly, she hushed herself and suspiciously looked up. Blazing blue eyes at her doorway made her jump.

"What's wrong?" came gruffly as he stood from his leaning position against the doorframe.

"Nothing," she replied robotically.

A soft snort answered her. "Truthfully."

"Nothing."

Dim indigo eyes glared into hers, but he was the first to look away, shaken but only showing it by the almost inaudible, shuddering breath he breathed out. "Look, you're crying. I'm sure you don't think that I am so big of an emotional idiot that I wouldn't realize crying equates to sadness," he said ruthlessly.

"I never asked for your help." She sniffed and looked away.

"Okay then. I'm sorry," he apologized derisively and began to turn around before stopping. "You realize that this is difficult for me, and you're purposely exacerbating it?"

The jagged retort that answered his question caught him off guard. "Of course I realize it! That's why I never ask for your help! So let's just make it easier on you and leave me alone!"

He closed the door as he exited mutely. Closing his eyes, he leant against it and ran a hand through his hair out of frustration and bewilderment. The conversation left him with a pounding headache. What was her problem? Involuntarily, his eyes glanced sideways to the door down the hall. Minako…

On the opposite side of the door, Usagi leaned over and grabbed a few tissues out of the box at her bedside table wiping the tears off. Minako, not two rooms down the hall… Angrily, she tore up the tissues and resigned herself to the onslaught of tears that followed.

…………………

"Morning Usa! My turn to cook!" her sister gleefully chirped as she bounced down the stairs. Usagi nodded groggily and yawned before bumping into a closed door. Scowling, she pounded on it and yelled an incensed, "Hurry up already, Hiiro!"

Only then did wakefulness catch up with her, and she sorted through the events that had happened when she had only been half-awake. Her heart stopped, and she rushed to the stair rail. "Minako! Don't you dare touch that stove!" The memory of the kitchen curtains going up in flames was excruciatingly clear.

"Bathroom," reached her ears calmly as she started and turned back. Hiiro glowered at her briefly before avoiding her eyes and walking downstairs, ready to assist with the cooking.

"Took you long enough," she frowned down at him before marching into the bathroom and slamming the door shut after her with a thunderous bang.

"What's with her?" Minako questioned him puzzledly after pecking him on the cheek. He shrugged and pulled out the half-empty carton of eggs from the fridge.

Twenty minutes later, the three were assembled at the table. Minako chattered while Hiiro read the newspaper. Usagi picked at her food, shoving it around on her plate to create the illusion that she had eaten something.

"Oh yeah, Usa! Hii-chan and I are going out to eat tonight. Don't wait up." Usagi's head snapped up as she gaped at her sister.

"Okay?" dragged her out of her reverie. Swiftly deciding, she nodded and replied, "Don't worry – I have a date tonight anyway."

Minako gave an enthused squeal. "Really? With who?"

Usagi simply smiled at the blonde, reminding herself that Mina truly meant no harm. It wasn't as if she was dating Hiiro out of spite towards her.

Neither of the girls seemed to notice Hiiro's jaw impulsively clench and the hold on the newspaper tighten until the paper crinkled in protest. Ignoring Minako's perplexed glance, he berated himself for the actions and briefly wondered why anger seemed to bubble in his stomach.

"Well, I have to go. 9:00 class!" Usagi optimistically called out, grabbing her keys off of the counter and strolling off towards the front door.

…………………

"Mako? Usagi here," she greeted on the cell phone as she easily maneuvered the car into the parking lot closest to the building where her class was located with one hand on the steering wheel.

"I've decided to take you guys up on your offer after all … mm-hmm. Yeah." Spotting an available space, she moved towards it. "So who is this guy exactly?"

Parking and turning the ignition off, she leaned over the passenger seat to grab her purse. "Okay, fine. No hints at all? …Fine. Yeah, sure. 7:00 tonight at … where? Okay … of course. Mako, I'm going to be late." She laughed. "Talk to you later."

…………………

Wow that was dull. Lol. ^^ Nothing much happened … a few emphases and the whole date thing introduced. Not much action but I tried to keep the stream of consciousness to a minimum, thank goodness. ^^''' I'm interested in you guys' opinions on who this mystery guy should be though I think I have already decided. ^^ Review please!