Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

Matsuri: Ok so this is how it is. I just found out that we're moving so starting by the end of next week I won't have a computer for a while! * NOOOOOO!!! * I'm going to try to get the chapters in faster though. I can go type it up and post it on here at my relative's houses. So pleeeeaaaase be patient with me. I know I'm frustrating you all. And now…chapter 8.

8 Chapter Eight

Usagi paced in her room, checking the clock on the nightstand every now and then. She gave a worried glance to her door. Where was Hiro? It seems that almost every night he was gone. Doing what? Usagi didn't have the slightest clue. Usagi stopped pacing at the sound of laughter. She smiled. Makoto was happier now that she's befriended Duo. They were always hanging around each other, always talking with each other, and joking with each other. Every since that day at the park they became the closest of friends. Usagi peeked outside of her door and got a nice view of the two sitting on the couch. The TV was on, but they weren't paying it any attention. They were semi- turned toward each other, chatting away. Usagi sighed before softly closing her door. She wanted to always be around Hiro to talk to him and cuddle up to him in a warm embrace just like she did with Mamo… Usagi's eyes went wide. Mamoru! She shouldn't be thinking this about Hiro when she had Mamoru, should she? 'But he's not here!' Usagi thought. 'I don't even know if he's alive!' Usagi didn't know how to feel now. She felt so confused about her feelings and she didn't know what to do. Sitting on her bed, she looked out the window and into the night sky.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"The dog wouldn't move," Duo said to Makoto. "The old man tried to push it and pull it, but the dog just wouldn't budge." Makoto nodded as she took in Duo's story that he had "supposedly" seen. She munched on a few pieces of popcorn from the bowl she held in her lap.

"So the blind man starts to kick the dog and with his cane, he beat the dog," Duo continued. "Before he knew it, the dog had decided to lie on the ground. Either that or he was dead from the beating."

"Was he?" Makoto cut in. Duo smiled.

"Let me finish. Let me finish. So anyway the old blind man, very frustrated by now, decides to just leave the dog. He starts to walk on when BOOM!!!" Makoto jumped, sending popcorn flying everywhere. Duo was chuckling now.

"You ok?" he asked with a big grin.

"Huh? Uh…yeah. I was…I just…you startled me," Makoto stuttered, trying to recover from the scare.

"I wish you two would keep it down in there!" Wufei yelled from his bedroom. "Some people are trying to sleep!"

"Oi, damare, Fei Fei! We're not bothering anyone!" Duo yelled back. Wufei seemed to let Duo's comment slide since he didn't reply. Duo turned to watch TV.

"Well?" Makoto said.

"Nan?" Duo asked.

"What happened?" Makoto asked impatiently. "What happened to the man?"

"Oh! Well he was hit by a speeding bus," Duo answered. "You should've seen it."

"A speeding bus?" Makoto made a face.

"Yeah, what did you think happened?"

"I don't know. Maybe something worse because of all the sound effects and all." She gave a playful glare.

"Ok fine," Duo said. "The dog exploded and the impact caused the old man to fall into the street and get hit by a speeding bus."

"Duo!" Makoto giggled and she threw a couple pieces of popcorn at the now laughing Duo. "That's gross!"

"But isn't that what you had in mind?" Duo asked innocently.

"I guess," Makoto said, plucking a kernel out of Duo's hair. She smiled as her green eyes floated up to meet Duo's blue ones. Duo's smile then faded as he gazed at Makoto. She was so beautiful and was so much like Hilde and yet…she wasn't. There was something about her that made his heart skip a beat. Then Duo did something that startled them both. He pulled Makoto closer and crushed her lips with his as he kissed her as passionately as he could. All the while, his heart was beating a billion times a second. 'What am I doing?' Duo thought to himself, but he didn't want to stop. He wanted to keep the feelings and emotions he was having, the feeling that filled his heart with joy. Was it…love? Makoto hesitated before pushing him away.

"What're you doing?" Makoto asked, her eyes not meeting his.

"I…uh…you know," Duo said, his heart beating faster than ever. "Gomen ne. I…I wasn't thinking." Makoto nodded.

"It's alright," she said softly. She looked towards the TV only to find that the show had gone off. "Um…maybe I should go to bed. It's getting late." She moved to get up but Duo grabbed her wrist.

"Makoto, I…I don't want this to hurt our friendship," he said. Makoto nodded slowly and began to walk to her bedroom. Duo lowered his eyes. 'What did I do?' he asked himself. 'I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have… She probably hates me now.'

"O…yasumi nasai."

Duo raised his eyes to a smiling Makoto. He smiled back.

"O yasumi nasai."

Once in her room, Makoto sat on the bed, staring at her door as two tears rolled down her face.



Usagi awoke to the sound of a door closing. She quickly sat up and went to Hiro's room. She lightly knocked on the door.

"Hiro?"

No answer came so Usagi turned the doorknob. She peeked inside to see Hiro asleep on his bed. He still had his clothes on as if he had just gotten back from somewhere. His legs hung off the edge of the bed, his yellow boots tightly secured to his feet. His arms were behind his head as he lay on his back on the bed. Usagi sighed. She was hoping that she could talk to him, but she didn't want to wake him. Yawning, Usagi turned to go back to bed, but she noticed a strip of light on the bed. It wasn't coming from the door she was standing in and it wasn't coming from the window. The shades were shut tight. Usagi followed the light with her eyes to a door that was barely noticeable. Her brows furrowed. Her room surely didn't have his door, so where did this door lead… Silently Usagi crept into Hiro's room, her eyes watching him. When she reached the door, she quickly went inside and closed the door behind her. Turning around, she nearly screamed, but she quickly covered her mouth. Five huge machines stood before her. Each one was unique in color and in accessories. Then Usagi realized.

"Gundams. These are…are gundams."

Looking around, she noticed other doors leading into this circular room. 'They must lead to the others' rooms,' she thought. Slowly, Usagi walked, looking at each gundam. Her eyes then fell on the gundam she saw at the carnival.

"This one's Hiro's," she guessed, running a hand over the gundanium alloy. Then a shadow cast over her. She gasped and turned around, coming face to face with Hiro.

"Hiro! I was just…uh…hi…"

Hiro smirked and walked to a nearby key console.

"Hiro, Gomen ne," Usagi started. "I just wanted to see…I was just a little curious." Hiro turned the key on the control and held out a hand to Usagi. Hesitantly, Usagi took his hand and he pulled her up on the ramp he was standing on. They ascended up to Wing Zero's open cockpit where Usagi looked around and ran a hand over the buttons and the controls.

"You…all of you must live a hard life, fighting against Treiz Kushrenada," Usagi said and she smiled when she noticed Hiro's surprised expression. "Quatre, he explained it all to me about the gundams, but he didn't tell me that you… and the others were the pilots."

"Now that you know," Hiro said. "You can tell me a little about yourself. Like why you're here?" Usagi lowered eyes.

"I'll tell you, but…maybe…maybe now's not the time." Hiro nodded.

"Let's fly," he said. Usagi's eyes widened.

"Nani?! In this thing?"

"Why not?"

"I don't know! I just…I'm…"

"Scared?"

Usagi stiffened.

"No, I'm not scared." Hiro was still smirking and Usagi couldn't help but smile.

"Ok," she said. "I'll go."



Later on that morning, Duo walked to the kitchen to find Quatre sitting at the table. A servant was fixing breakfast. At the far end of the table sat Makoto and next to her sat Trowa. (A/N: Whoa! I almost forgot about him! Sorry Trowa lovers!! ^_^;;)

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Duo," Quatre greeted, smiling.

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Quatre, Makoto, Trowa," Duo said.

"Ohayo," Makoto said softly, her eyes lowered. Duo noticed this.

"Have a seat, Duo," Quatre said, smiling. "Machem (A/N: I made him up) is making breakfast. It should be ready any minute." Duo sat down in the seat across from Makoto, his eyes on her. Makoto stared at her hands that were resting atop the table as if she were thinking about something. She'd glance at Duo and then look at her hands once more.

"So how's everyone this morning?" Quatre asked.

"Fine," Makoto and Duo said at the same time, unintentionally. At that moment, Wufei walked in. Silently, he sat down and picked up the newspaper that was on the table.

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Wufei," Quatre greeted, but Wufei didn't say anything. With the newspaper still in hand, he looked at the people at the table.

"It's so quiet," he said.

"Hai, I've noticed," Quatre said. "Duo and Makoto aren't talking like they usually do." Quatre turned to Makoto.

"Are you guys mad at each other or something?" he asked.

"Iie," Makoto said, her eyes still lowered. Quatre looked at Duo who was staring at Makoto.

"Makoto?" Duo said. Makoto looked at Duo, but her gaze wasn't really focused on him.

"Hai?"

"Is something wrong?"

Makoto shook her head. Duo thought a moment,

"Is it about…last night?"

Makoto didn't say anything.

"Makoto…please!"

"Nothing's Wrong!!" Makoto cried, jumping up and staring into Duo's eyes, but he knew she was lying. She was trying her best.

"I…I'm not hungry right now," Makoto said, pushing her seat away from the table. "I'm going to my room." She left and Duo started to get up and follow.

"Duo, what happened between you two last night?" Quatre asked.

"I…," Duo started, but he stopped himself. Just then, his watch started to beep.

"I have a mission," Duo said. "I'll be back later." He headed toward the front door, but hesitated at Makoto's door. He sighed and walked on.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Usagi held on for dear life as Wing Zero cut through the clouds. She sat in front of Hiro as he piloted the gundam. When they were up above the clouds, Wing Zero flew in a straight line. Usagi looked out the window.

"We're up so high," she said shakily then she said under her breath, "Very high."

"If you're scared we can go back down," Hiro said.

"Iie! I mean…it's all right. I'd rather stay…up here…with you." Usagi then laid back, her head resting on Hiro's chest. Hiro jumped just a little at her actions, but he didn't say anything. He kept his hands on the controls. His heart thumped wildly.

"No wonder you were always gone," Usagi said. "I thought maybe you didn't want to see me."

"I always want to see you," Hiro said, wanting to reassure her. How could she even think that? Hiro thought about her all the time, wanting to see her, be near her, touch her…kiss her. Hiro felt himself tense up as Usagi lay against him. He was surprised that she didn't notice the rapid beating of his heart. It seemed that it would burst out of his chest.

"I'm glad," Usagi sighed, her eyes hung heavily as she watched the clouds roll by. It was quiet for a while and Hiro thought she had fallen asleep, until she spoke again.

"Do you only use your gundam for missions?" Usagi asked.

"Hai," Hiro answered.

"You don't use it to just…relax? Just like this…just fly above the clouds?" she asked.

"I don't have time to. Wing Zero is only for missions."

Usagi smiled.

"You're not on a mission now."

"Am I not?"

Usagi then turned around to face Hiro. He tried to keep his eyes on the sky, but he couldn't help, but look at Usagi.

"Hiro, there's," Usagi stated, trying to find the right words. "There's…someone…Mamoru." Hiro nodded in understanding. Usagi continued. "I don't know if he's alive, but…" Hiro gently cupped her cheek.

"I knew there had to be someone else," he said. "Someone as beautiful as you shouldn't be alone."

"But," Usagi cried, her eyes watering. "I don't know who I want! Don't know who I…love! I want someone to hold me and be there for me, but Mamoru's not here! And I…I don't know what I'd do if he was…was…" The tears were flowing now. "Hiro, I…I need you! To be near you! You're the only one that makes me feel content! When I'm near you, I feel safe!" Hiro understood. She was torn…torn between Mamoru and himself. She was afraid that when she got back to her time, Mamoru wouldn't be there and she would never see Hiro again.

"I want to be kissed, Hiro," Usagi whispered, her eyes locked with his now. "I…I want you to kiss me." Hiro didn't hesitate. He bent down and covered her mouth with his, their kiss so intimate that it seemed never ending. Surely, they wanted it to be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Have you seen Makoto?" Duo asked Quatre that afternoon.

"Um…I don't know," Quatre thought for a moment. "After you left this morning, she said she was going out for a walk."

"And she hasn't been back since?!!" Duo cried.

"Well…no," Quatre said. "I guess I didn't notice."

"Kuso!" Duo swore. He sat down in a chair. 'She's avoiding me,' he thought. 'I just know she is.'

"You should go look for her," Trowa said, walking into the room.

"She could be anywhere," Duo moaned.

"It's funny though," Quatre said, with a mischievous grin. "Hiro hasn't even gotten back yet and Usagi is missing also. Or maybe Hiro did come back…"

"Nan!?" Duo jumped from his chair.

"She's usually the first one in the kitchen, Duo," Trowa mumbled. "Didn't you notice that she wasn't there this morning?"

"Of course he didn't," Wufei said, coming in. He was buttoning his uniform shirt, about to report to his duty as a preventer. "Duo doesn't notice anything when it he's thinking about a certain woman." Duo didn't take it personally. It was true.

"I have to find her," Duo said turning to leave.

"Chotto, Duo," Quatre stopped him. "Why can't you just wait until she gets back. She might want a little privacy."

"I don't care," Duo said. "I need to talk to her." Duo left.

"I swear he never learns, Wufei muttered, straightening his tie.

"Maybe it's better that he doesn't," said Trowa.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Makoto stood, looking out over the city. The wind blew her hair gently so that it whipped around her face. So simple. It was so simple with Duo. They were friends, just friends, but…

"Ugh…Duo," Makoto whispered, her eyes lowering from the beautiful city she saw from atop the grassy hill. "Why did you have to make things so…difficult?"

He's caught her by surprise that night that she didn't know how to react. She hadn't known what he was doing until she had realized… She didn't know why she had acted like she did or maybe…maybe she did. She wasn't ready yet for someone to touch her in an intimate way, not ready for another kiss from another guy.

"Soon it'll be another promise, another vow," Makoto whispered. "And then…another broken heart." She just wanted another friend. Duo was supposed to be her friend not a lover…love. Love? Duo didn't love her, did he? Did he? By what Makoto understood, he was still stuck on this Hilde girl. So he possibly couldn't love her! Never!

"Never again," Makoto decided. "Duo's just a friend and nothing more. Nothing more."



Matsuri: Not much, but still tell me if you liked it or not.

Damare- (from what I understand) shut up

Chotto- Wait a minute