Setsuna strode through
the door of the teahouse. A quick visual sweep of the room located two
figures sitting at a corner booth.
"Any luck?" Haruka asked,
looking up as she approached.
Setsuna sighed. "Nothing." she replied, sitting down.
"For some reason the time gate refuses to tell me where she is." she
turned to Michiru. "How about your mirror?" she asked.
"The same." Michiru
answered sadly. "I think she is lost to us forever."
Haruka slammed a fist on the
table. "I refuse to believe that!" she declared angrily. "We will find
her. We will earn back her trust."
"But how?" Michiru
asked. "Even if we do find her, the princess hates us."
Setsuna
shook her head. "No, you are wrong. The Princess' anger with us is
great, but she doesn't have it in her to hate anyone." A smile crossed
her lips. "Remember, this is the girl who cries over the death of her
enemies. Who offers salvation to the lost? This is what will make her a
great queen of Crystal Tokyo. And this is what will ultimately help us
regain her trust." The other two nodded, feeling better. "I feel foolish
sometimes," she continued sadly. "I used to think it mattered more that
she didn't have the fighting skills or cultural grace, but what are
those things? She should never have been forced into battle in the first
place. And her lack of Court skills says more of our failure than hers.
She could never truly learn if all we did was just keep telling her how
weak and worthless she was."
"Speaking of worthless."
Haruka said. "The onore called today. He 'said' he just wanted to talk."
Setsuna frowned at this. "What do you tell him?"
Haruka met her eyes with a devious smirk. "I told him
he could sit on the receiver and talk out of his-"
"HARUKA!" Michiru shouted, glaring at
her cousin, and bringing a smile to Setsuna's face. "I swear with your
attitude, what could Mamoru possibly done to seduce you?"
Haruka's
face suddenly reddened at that. She fidgeted for a moment, before she
finally spoke. "Hesadiwspirty"
"What?" the
other two blinked in confusion.
"HE SAID I WAS PRETTY, ALRIGHT?" she shouted.
" And that's what did it?" Michiru asked, astonished.
Haruka shook her head. It was
more than that.
(FLASHBACK)
The two figures circled each other on the dojo
mat. The combination of fatigue and adrenaline set their pulses racing.
Finally Haruka stepped in with a reverse punch.
'Too
easy' Mamoru smirked as he quickly sidestepped and grabbed her arm,
intending to throw her out of the practice ring. But as he halfway
through his swinging arc, Haruka suddenly shifted her weight, throwing
him off-balance, and bringing her leg up in a crescent kick. Realizing
his mistake, he tried to bring his arm up to block, but was too off
balance to correctly measure. Haruka's kick connected with Mamoru's
short ribs sending him crashing to the mat.
Haruka looked down at him. "Never
forget Mamoru," she said grinning. "A good fighter always thinks two or
three moves ahead." Mamoru looked up at her, and for a moment, Haruka
saw a flash of anger in his eyes. No, not just anger. Something more.
Something "dangerous'. Frowning, she knelt down next to him. "Listen, if
you have a problem with losing to a girl, then maybe you shouldn't have
made the suggestion to spar."
Mamoru
blinked at that, and the strange look vanished from his eyes. "Sorry
Haruka, "He said sheepishly. "I didn't mean to insult you."
Instantly the smile returned to her face. "Don't
sweat it," she said offering him a hand up. " I understand. You can't
help being a guy."
He
chuckled at that. "Thanks a lot." he replied, accepting the hand. "And
that really was a great move. You should teach it to Usako."
She smiled. "Well I have offered, but you
know how koneko and martial arts don't mix." she said.
He nodded. "Yeah, I know.
Whenever I talk to her about exercising more like you or Makoto, she
says she doesn't want to risk becoming muscle-bound, and ruining her
figure."
"Muscle-bound?"
Haruka lifted an eyebrow at that, and struck a provocative pose. "Does
this body look 'muscle-bound' to you?" she asked.
Mamoru blushed at that.
"A-actually," he stammered. "I think you look pretty good. In fact, in
your own way, you're very pretty. Even beautiful."
"Why thank you, kind sir." she grinned.
"But right now I think my beautiful body could use a shower." The two of
them glanced over at the dojo's single shower room.
Mamoru made a grand sweeping bow. "Ladies
first." he said.
"Always a gentleman." Haruka laughed,
walking by him.
As she stood under the running water, the layer of
sweat and grime running down the drain, she rubbed her washcloth over
her taut stomach. Pretty, He said she was pretty. Not muscle-bound like
Usagi thought.
She chuckled
slightly as she remembered the first time she told Usagi the truth about
her gender. The poor girls eyes looked like they were going to fall out
and roll across the floor. Eventually she got used to it, but did she?
She would get very uncomfortable whenever Haruka would start teasing
her, or get too close. Maybe she did have a problem with it.
*Stop that. You know Usagi would never treat someone like that.
Mamoru must have misunderstood. The Princess isn't like- isn't like the
others. *
The others. The ones she
grew up with. With their curious looks, and casual whispers. And the
labels they were so ready to bestow on her. 'Tomboy'. 'Butch'. 'Weirdo'.
She overheard a group of them wondering if something happened to make
her hate being a girl. No, nothing happened. She liked being a girl. She
just wanted to be her own girl. Not the kind they wanted her to be. Why
couldn't they understand that? Haruka sighed and let the stream of water
hit her face. Suddenly she was startled by the sound of whistling coming
from the doorway. She whirled around in time to see Mamoru walk into the
shower room, completely naked.
His eyes widened
as he saw her. "OHMIGOSH!" he stammered. "I thought you were finished."
Neither could say a word after that. They just stood staring at each
other; she, her body glistening with water and residue soap. And he,
covered in sweat, and giving off, much to her discomfort, a very 'male'
scent.
"Y-you
shouldn't come in here." Haruka finally whispered.
"You're right." he answered her in kind. And stepped
into the room.
She actually
took a step back. Damnit, why was she acting like this? This wasn't the
first time she was in an awkward situation. She always handled herself
before. Usually turned the tables on the situation. Why was she so
flustered this time? Pretty. He said she was pretty. Finally, her back
hit the wall, and he moved up next to her, capturing her lips in a kiss.
Oh yes, she definitely liked being a girl.
(END FLASHBACK)
"IN THE SHOWER!"
Haruka winced at the sheer volume of Michiru's outraged cry. "You two
did it in the SHOWER?"
"I'm
sorry," she mumbled. "It was just a spur of the moment thing."
"Didn't
you think about the consequences of unprotected sex?" Michiru asked,
glaring at her.
Haruka
returned the glare. "Did you?" As Michiru looked away ashamedly, she
sighed and continued. "Besides, I kinda figured with all that running
water hitting our bodies, it would all just wash away." Her face
reddened at the disbelieving stares of the others. "I know, I know. I
wasn't thinking too clearly at the time."
"Obviously not."
Michiru sniffed.
Haruka's
nerves grated on that. "Why are you being so judgmental?" she asked.
"You're in that same boat that I am."
Michiru
shook her head. "Well at least my story isn't so crude." Suddenly she
paled as she realized what she just said. "Uh, I mean- that is."
Haruka grinned in triumph. "Oh
really?" she said, setting her elbows on the table, her chin resting on
her hands. "DO tell." Michiru hung her head in defeat, and began her
tale.
(FLASHBACK)
"Thank
you again for the concert tickets Michiru" Mamoru gave her a warm smile.
"I hope Usagi likes the surprise when she gets back."
Michiru returned the smile "I'm sure
she will love it." she said.
Mamoru
shrugged and grinned ruefully. "I'm not so sure," he stated. "Remember
the first time you gave her concert tickets?" The two chuckled at the
memory. Usagi had been so anxious to prove to everyone she could be
refined and cultured. And yet, halfway through the second piece, she was
already asleep, snoring so loud she almost threw off the musicians'
tempo.
Michiru
shook her head at the memory, ashamed to be thinking such things. "Usagi
has matured a lot since then." she insisted. "She may not be as refined
as some people, but she the biggest heart anybody could ask for."
Mamoru
grinned. "And the feet to match." he said. "You can't imagine how many
times she steps on my feet when we're dancing." Michiru tried to look
outraged at that, but failed, bursting into laughter. Finally their
laughter subsided, and they stared at each other for the longest minute.
Michiru turned away first, feeling very uncomfortable. Mamoru continued
watching her for a moment, then walked over to the CD burner system
along the back wall of the music room. Selecting one of the demo discs,
he put it into the player, and turned it on. Instantly the room filled
with the soft sounds of Michiru's latest recital piece. She relaxed at
this, and turned back to him with a smile.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
Mamoru smiled back. "You know what I like about your
music?" he asked. "It makes you feel relaxed and excited at the same
time." Michiru blushed at the compliment, as he continued. "Usagi and I
were listening to the one you gave her for her birthday last year, and I
suddenly got the urge to dance with her. But," he sighed. "You know what
I said about Usagi's feet. She stepped on my feet three times. I ended
up with a broken toe, and the night was ruined." Michiru gave him a
sympathetic glance. Maybe it was hard trying to keep your patience with
Usagi.
Suddenly
Mamoru walked over. "May I have this dance?"
Michiru smiled brightly at this and curtsied. "It
would be my honor," she said.
"And
my pleasure." he answered, pulling her close.
Michiru felt her skin flush with pleasure at the
compliment. The Prince was such a graceful dancer. It was so hard to
believe with such a clumsy partner like Usagi. No, forget about her.
Just enjoy the moment.
Michiru
laid her head against Mamoru's chest. His heart beat with a strong,
insistent cadence, which almost seemed hypnotic. She felt her body start
to move to its rhythm. So mesmerizing, as it pulsed and throbbed.
Suddenly her eyes opened wide as she realized the pulse she was
following wasn't coming from his chest, but lower down. And her own body
was responding to it.
Curiously
she looked up into his eyes. They stared for a moment, and then he leaned
down to kiss her. They both felt the tempo change, and began a new
dance.
(END FLASHBACK)
"Wait a minute." Haruka
interrupted. "There's no place for 'playing' in the music room. I know,
you deliberately set it up so you wouldn't be tempted to relax and lose
your focus. Unless-" Her eyes widened and she turned to her cousin with
and accusing glare. "You didn't do it on the floor, did you?" she
demanded.
"WHAT?!" Michiru shrieked,
outraged. "Don't be disgusting."
"So what then?" Haruka asked. "Your bedroom is
on the other side of the mansion."
Michiru
suddenly blushed. "We went to the parlor room just off from the music
room." she said.
Haruka
choked on her tea. "The one with the long sofa?" She gasped. "The long
sofa I always like to take naps on? You two had sex on MY sofa?" She
leaned in close. "How long ago did it happen?" she demanded.
"What
difference does that make?" Michiru frowned.
"What 'difference does it make?" Haruka asked
incredulously. "I've been taking naps on a contaminated sofa."
Michiru sniffed at that. "If bothers you so much,
I'll call a carpet cleaner to come in and have it steam-cleaned."
"Steam-cleaned HELL! I want that damned thing
RE-UPHOLSTERED!"
"EXCUSE
ME!" The two jumped at the sound of Setsuna's exasperated yell. "If you
two are finished with your little comedy routine, can we get back to
what we are going to do about the Princess?"
Michiru
sighed. "What can we do? If the Princess doesn't want to be found, she
won't be. I guess we will just have to wait until we give birth to the
new Senshi."
"And
Koneko gives birth to Fire-fly." The three of them smiled at the
thought. "Could any of us imagine Serenity being Hotaru's mother?"
Haruka asked.
"It does make sense in a way doesn't it?" Michiru replied.
"The Princess always seemed the most affectionate towards Hotaru."
"It was always that way." Setsuna
said. "Even during the Silver Millennium."
"You
mean they were like that back then too?" Michiru asked.
"Of course," Setsuna said absently. "The Princess has
always loved her children." She frowned a little, as though
remembering
something. Suddenly she rose. "Excuse me. I have to go check on
something." She quickly exited the building and heading down the street.
It was a full five minutes after she left that Haruka and Michiru
suddenly looked at each other wide-eyed.
"WHAT DID SHE SAY?!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The Amarillo training base you were
sent to investigate was reported to house 100 squads of 50 soldiers per
squad."
*ssnnnNNKKT!*
"There were at least a hundred
LEO dolls, and almost twice as many Capricorns."
*ssnnnNNKKT!*
"OZ had invested quite a bit
of time and resource to setting up this base of operations."
*sssnnnNNNKKKT!*
LT. Noin suddenly slammed her
fist on the table. "Dammit Wufei!" she snapped. "Will you stop doing
that? You're making me nervous."
Wufei stopped glaring at
Duo for a moment to look up at the angry young woman. With a dismissive
snort, he set his katana blade down on the table. Duo started to breathe
a sigh of relief, but caught himself when he saw Wufei's fingers drumming
on the table, inches away from the blades handle.
Noin gave her own
sigh of defeat, knowing this was the furthest Wufei was willing to
relent. Squaring her shoulders, she continued. "As I was saying, all
that time and resource invested in the Amarillo base and yet they
abandoned it completely without warning." She frowned at this. "It
doesn't make any sense."
"Perhaps they knew
of our investigation, and wanted to hide their operations." Noin seemed
to consider Trowa's theory, but quickly shook her head.
"Our
intelligence network had no trouble gathering information on this base.
They were hiding nothing," she said.
Duo put in his two
cents. "Maybe they thought we were going to try a sabo job."
Wufei snorted at
this. "Use your head Maxwell," he said. "If they thought we were coming
for an attack, they would have tried setting a trap for us."
Duo
forgot his momentary fear of Wufei, and returned the glare. "Well maybe
they were hiding something they thought was more valuable than fighting
us," he said. Wufei's eyes narrowed and Duo suddenly gulped as he
remembered he was currently terrified of Altron's pilot. The others in
the room started to tense up at the expected blow-up, when a steely
voice quickly deflated the situation.
"OZ had no idea we
were coming." Everyone turned astonished at Heero's declaration. "No
military base simply leaves because of rumors of espionage or sabotage.
They had been ordered to leave before we even got there."
"We understand
that Heero." Noin replied. "What we are trying to figure out is why."
Heero rose to his feet.
"Then I suggest we all stop wasting our time with this meaningless
guesswork," he snapped, walking out the door.
"Heero come back here!" Noin gritted
her teeth in frustration. This was getting them nowhere. "Will somebody
go see what's wrong with him?" she asked.
"I'll go!" Duo replied,
quickly jumping to his feet, and racing out the door before Wufei could
react.
Heero strode angrily down the hall. Why did he allow
himself to lose control like that? He never lost his temper, never
lashed out. Even when dealing with Duo's immaturity, or Relena's
infatuations, he always kept an even keel. Until now. Until her.
Usa. Wufei's Usa. Ever since she came nothing has been
right. No, that was wrong. Everything else was the same. HE was the one
who was changed. The first time he saw her, he felt a strange longing.
And to be honest, it frightened him. No, scratch that. It scared him
shitless. The feelings were so contradictory. Part of him always wanted
to hold her in his arms. No, scratch that again. Part of him wanted
'her' to hold 'him'. To hold him, and tell him everything was going to
be all right. Yet at the same time, he felt a deep resentment towards her.
Almost hatred.
He sighed. The dreams had returned. The ones he had when Dr. J
first found him and began his training. He thought the were 'trained'
out of him. But with Usa's arrival, they returned stronger than ever.
And always the same.
(Flashback)
He is tiny, just a little babe. But he hears the voices. And he
knows. Knows they are talking about him. The words have no meaning, but
the emotion behind them is clear. There are two of them, both female.
One sounds fearful, questioning. The other slightly angry, but with a
twinge of regret. It tells the first voice that it must be done (What?
What must be done?) But the first refuses. It cries out in denial,
pleading for something. For a moment, the second voice hesitates,
uncertainty lacing its tones, and he feels a moment of hope from the
first girl. A feeling he shares for some reason. But a moment later, the
strong resolve returns, and the hope is dashed. Then a new voice enters,
one extremely self-controlled. The first voice becomes frantic,
desperate. It becomes angry and threatening. But a sharp retort from the
second quickly deflates her, and makes no more sound but a deep sobbing.
The second voice gives instructions to the newcomer but strangely, her
voice sounds like it is crying as well. Even the third voice seems to
struggle as it begins to chant. Strange words. Words that make no sense.
Yet they seem to surround him, closing in on all sides. He feels like he
is being crushed and suffocated. Fear starts to grip him and he wants
to open his mouth to scream, but he can't. If he does the Words will
enter his mouth. They'll enter his mouth, and he'll drown. He'll drown
in the Words. But oh, it's so loud. So painful. He struggles and fights
it, but he knows he can't stop it. Finally he gives in, and opens his
mouth in a piercing wail. And the Words enter him. They fill his mouth
and stomach. He gasps for breath, and they enter his lungs. He can no
longer move, can no longer breathe. All he can do is wait for death. And
suddenly the Words are silent. Everything is silent. No more Words. No
more Voices. He feels a relief, but then realizes he still can't move,
still can't breathe. A greater panic fills him. Suddenly he wants to
hear the Voices. Hear the Words. But they are gone, and he's alone. All
alone.
"Yo, Heero!"
Heero's head snaps up, startled from his thoughts. Damn, why
did they have to send Duo after him? He was not in the mood for any
stupidity. Quickening his pace, he strode down the hall, trying to get
away from his teammate.
Should I end it here?
I wouldn't be that Cruel!
Finally getting away from the braided one, he was walking down the hall deep in thought. Without looking he walked into Usagi. With reflexes born from years of training and honing, natural instincts, he caught her before she fell.
"Thank you Heero." She said quietly.
What is this strange feeling I feel around him? It is not the same as what I feel around Wufei. It is more like the feeling that is around me when I had held Hotaru.
I looked into his eyes and I saw haunted dreams and the longing of a son for his unknown mother. The same need that I had felt since I was aware. The need I felt to hold apart of me that was taken away.
The pools of blue black so like my own and yet not, as if they were made from me and held the wisdom and pain of ages. I felt as if I knew those eyes when they were yet innocent.
My eyes widened as they swirled and I saw my memory or his it did not matter. I knew, I knew what was done. I remembered what I had yearned to forget, yearned to hold in my arms. He looked at me and I almost cried for him not yet realizing I already had tracks where they were continuing to roll down my face. His eyes now held confusion and pain mixed with unquenchable rage.
I took him into my arms, as a mother does her child.
"Yui what the hell do you think you are doing?! Get your hands off my woman and get your own."
I heard a sob from the door behind us with a look that spoke to the man in my arms to be patient; I looked to see who was behind us. I felt sorry for the poor girl, Relena, she was so much in the love with this boy that she went through hell to have him.
"Relena would you gather the rest of the guys and I will explain everything when we get to Quatre's office."
Wufei looked at me with hurt and impotent rage, clearly in doubt of what he should do.
When we reached the office I looked at all of the people in the room except for Heero and myself they all looked at us in disbelief and disappointment, and I was saddened to realize pain. Did they really trust me so little?
"What were you doing Embracing that . . .Bastard Usagi?"
"Wufei! That is not something that you call my son let alone yours!"
My words were met with disbelief and shock.
"I mean really it's bad enough that you go around chasing your half brother the way you do."
"Onna What are you talking about?"
"I've told you all about my past as sailor moon have I not?"
A chorus of agreement resounded in the room.
"I have though left out a few parts of it."
"Usa what have you not told me?"
"I never told you about the role I played in the moon kingdom did I? I glazed over that part and I thank all of you for not pressing then."
"Why is it such a touchy subject Usa?"
I put my hand over my breast and looked at him.
"He was my ex- boyfriend. He was the prince of earth; he was one of the reasons that I had to give up my son. He was what kept me from being with the one I truly loved. He was mother's replacement for Chaos. Brother to shinigami and ultimate god of the universe. He was my choice as was my right as high goddess of the Cosmos. Taken away because he was shunned as evil not only for his relationship with the family of death but for his role in life. Mother replaced him after I gave birth to my first child sending him forward in time with my first-born son, while my daughter her twin was sent to be raised by the family of death. Persephone raised her son shinigami and Hotaru, my daughter, as siblings so non would be the wiser of my, how did my mother put it, tryst."
Angry and bitter thoughts made my face turn into a glare and many in the room not able to completely process all that I had just said, connected in their mind where Heero got his glare.
Duo suddenly burst out laughing. "Oh my god, I don't believe it.
I mean, I believe it," he hastily stammered, noticing three faces
glaring at him darkly. "But this is too much. Now I enjoy bugging
Wuffers so much."
Wufei snorted at this. "And why I always want to kill you." he
muttered.
"I don't understand something." Relena said timidly. "Are you
saying Wufei was 'evil'?"
"NO!" I replied sharply but caught myself when I saw the
startled look on Relena's face. "No, that is the thinking that caused
all this trouble in the first place. So many people equate Order and
Chaos with Good and Evil. When in truth they have nothing to do with
each other. Good and Evil are about moral options. Order and Chaos are
about patterns of circumstance. Many good things come from chaotic
circumstances. A forest fire, while devastating, helps clear away old
dead growth to allow new young growth to flourish. The Universe, created
by the force of the Big Bang. Even that act of conception and birth has
chaotic elements, for no one really knows what sort of baby they're
going to have."
"Almost nobody." Kheela remarked sarcastically, causing Fei-koi
and I to start blushing uncontrolably.
"A-and evil from order?" Relena asked me softly.
My face darkened again. "They say Hitler always kept the
trains running on time." Everyone sobered at this. "So many evil
dictators in history use the promise of 'Order' to restore peace, but
what they really want is to control every aspect of their subjects
lives. A civilization cannot function this way. It cannot grow and
become stagnant and complacent." My eyes started to fill with tears.
"Sometimes I think that is why my mother's kingdom fell. I know she
thought she was doing the right thing, but it ended up destroying her."
Wufei took me into his arms to comfort me and I laid a grateful head on
his shoulder.
"Hey Heero!" Duo suddenly called out, trying to lighten the mood.
"What are you going to get Wufei for Father's day."
Heero fixed his famous glare on him. "A new sharpening stone for
his katana," he snarled, earning a nervous gulp from Duo, and a
satisfied smirk from me. The smirk fell from my face however, when he
turned his scowl to me. "I have one question," he said. "Why was I sent
through time? Why couldn't they have simply put me with another family,
like Hotaru?"
I sighed. "They almost sent Hotaru along with you, but Mother
decided she was too important as the Senshi of Silence to risk to the
Time stream. Besides, you had something more dangerous than any Senshi
powers; You had awareness." Seeing his puzzled look, I continued. "Even
as an infant, you had an ability to understand how things worked. Not in
a clinical sense, with facts and figures, but a deeper empathic sense.
When people talked about you, you didn't exactly 'know' what they were
saying, but a part of you understood why they were saying it. That's
probably why you were able to master the Zero system so quickly." My
face darkened again. "Mother considered such things dangerous. She said
it inspired too much of the wrong kind of thinking."
"Well I'll tell you what I think." Kheela said with a grin. "I
think this is the Universe's way of cleaning up your mother's botched up
way of controlling your destiny, and putting you back on track with your
true love and family." She sighed deeply, a wistful look crossing her
face. "It's soooo romantic. I gave her a grateful look. Perhaps she was
right. Perhaps this was Destiny's way of putting things right.
Ah, if only we knew how wrong things were soon going to
become.
the door of the teahouse. A quick visual sweep of the room located two
figures sitting at a corner booth.
"Any luck?" Haruka asked,
looking up as she approached.
Setsuna sighed. "Nothing." she replied, sitting down.
"For some reason the time gate refuses to tell me where she is." she
turned to Michiru. "How about your mirror?" she asked.
"The same." Michiru
answered sadly. "I think she is lost to us forever."
Haruka slammed a fist on the
table. "I refuse to believe that!" she declared angrily. "We will find
her. We will earn back her trust."
"But how?" Michiru
asked. "Even if we do find her, the princess hates us."
Setsuna
shook her head. "No, you are wrong. The Princess' anger with us is
great, but she doesn't have it in her to hate anyone." A smile crossed
her lips. "Remember, this is the girl who cries over the death of her
enemies. Who offers salvation to the lost? This is what will make her a
great queen of Crystal Tokyo. And this is what will ultimately help us
regain her trust." The other two nodded, feeling better. "I feel foolish
sometimes," she continued sadly. "I used to think it mattered more that
she didn't have the fighting skills or cultural grace, but what are
those things? She should never have been forced into battle in the first
place. And her lack of Court skills says more of our failure than hers.
She could never truly learn if all we did was just keep telling her how
weak and worthless she was."
"Speaking of worthless."
Haruka said. "The onore called today. He 'said' he just wanted to talk."
Setsuna frowned at this. "What do you tell him?"
Haruka met her eyes with a devious smirk. "I told him
he could sit on the receiver and talk out of his-"
"HARUKA!" Michiru shouted, glaring at
her cousin, and bringing a smile to Setsuna's face. "I swear with your
attitude, what could Mamoru possibly done to seduce you?"
Haruka's
face suddenly reddened at that. She fidgeted for a moment, before she
finally spoke. "Hesadiwspirty"
"What?" the
other two blinked in confusion.
"HE SAID I WAS PRETTY, ALRIGHT?" she shouted.
" And that's what did it?" Michiru asked, astonished.
Haruka shook her head. It was
more than that.
(FLASHBACK)
The two figures circled each other on the dojo
mat. The combination of fatigue and adrenaline set their pulses racing.
Finally Haruka stepped in with a reverse punch.
'Too
easy' Mamoru smirked as he quickly sidestepped and grabbed her arm,
intending to throw her out of the practice ring. But as he halfway
through his swinging arc, Haruka suddenly shifted her weight, throwing
him off-balance, and bringing her leg up in a crescent kick. Realizing
his mistake, he tried to bring his arm up to block, but was too off
balance to correctly measure. Haruka's kick connected with Mamoru's
short ribs sending him crashing to the mat.
Haruka looked down at him. "Never
forget Mamoru," she said grinning. "A good fighter always thinks two or
three moves ahead." Mamoru looked up at her, and for a moment, Haruka
saw a flash of anger in his eyes. No, not just anger. Something more.
Something "dangerous'. Frowning, she knelt down next to him. "Listen, if
you have a problem with losing to a girl, then maybe you shouldn't have
made the suggestion to spar."
Mamoru
blinked at that, and the strange look vanished from his eyes. "Sorry
Haruka, "He said sheepishly. "I didn't mean to insult you."
Instantly the smile returned to her face. "Don't
sweat it," she said offering him a hand up. " I understand. You can't
help being a guy."
He
chuckled at that. "Thanks a lot." he replied, accepting the hand. "And
that really was a great move. You should teach it to Usako."
She smiled. "Well I have offered, but you
know how koneko and martial arts don't mix." she said.
He nodded. "Yeah, I know.
Whenever I talk to her about exercising more like you or Makoto, she
says she doesn't want to risk becoming muscle-bound, and ruining her
figure."
"Muscle-bound?"
Haruka lifted an eyebrow at that, and struck a provocative pose. "Does
this body look 'muscle-bound' to you?" she asked.
Mamoru blushed at that.
"A-actually," he stammered. "I think you look pretty good. In fact, in
your own way, you're very pretty. Even beautiful."
"Why thank you, kind sir." she grinned.
"But right now I think my beautiful body could use a shower." The two of
them glanced over at the dojo's single shower room.
Mamoru made a grand sweeping bow. "Ladies
first." he said.
"Always a gentleman." Haruka laughed,
walking by him.
As she stood under the running water, the layer of
sweat and grime running down the drain, she rubbed her washcloth over
her taut stomach. Pretty, He said she was pretty. Not muscle-bound like
Usagi thought.
She chuckled
slightly as she remembered the first time she told Usagi the truth about
her gender. The poor girls eyes looked like they were going to fall out
and roll across the floor. Eventually she got used to it, but did she?
She would get very uncomfortable whenever Haruka would start teasing
her, or get too close. Maybe she did have a problem with it.
*Stop that. You know Usagi would never treat someone like that.
Mamoru must have misunderstood. The Princess isn't like- isn't like the
others. *
The others. The ones she
grew up with. With their curious looks, and casual whispers. And the
labels they were so ready to bestow on her. 'Tomboy'. 'Butch'. 'Weirdo'.
She overheard a group of them wondering if something happened to make
her hate being a girl. No, nothing happened. She liked being a girl. She
just wanted to be her own girl. Not the kind they wanted her to be. Why
couldn't they understand that? Haruka sighed and let the stream of water
hit her face. Suddenly she was startled by the sound of whistling coming
from the doorway. She whirled around in time to see Mamoru walk into the
shower room, completely naked.
His eyes widened
as he saw her. "OHMIGOSH!" he stammered. "I thought you were finished."
Neither could say a word after that. They just stood staring at each
other; she, her body glistening with water and residue soap. And he,
covered in sweat, and giving off, much to her discomfort, a very 'male'
scent.
"Y-you
shouldn't come in here." Haruka finally whispered.
"You're right." he answered her in kind. And stepped
into the room.
She actually
took a step back. Damnit, why was she acting like this? This wasn't the
first time she was in an awkward situation. She always handled herself
before. Usually turned the tables on the situation. Why was she so
flustered this time? Pretty. He said she was pretty. Finally, her back
hit the wall, and he moved up next to her, capturing her lips in a kiss.
Oh yes, she definitely liked being a girl.
(END FLASHBACK)
"IN THE SHOWER!"
Haruka winced at the sheer volume of Michiru's outraged cry. "You two
did it in the SHOWER?"
"I'm
sorry," she mumbled. "It was just a spur of the moment thing."
"Didn't
you think about the consequences of unprotected sex?" Michiru asked,
glaring at her.
Haruka
returned the glare. "Did you?" As Michiru looked away ashamedly, she
sighed and continued. "Besides, I kinda figured with all that running
water hitting our bodies, it would all just wash away." Her face
reddened at the disbelieving stares of the others. "I know, I know. I
wasn't thinking too clearly at the time."
"Obviously not."
Michiru sniffed.
Haruka's
nerves grated on that. "Why are you being so judgmental?" she asked.
"You're in that same boat that I am."
Michiru
shook her head. "Well at least my story isn't so crude." Suddenly she
paled as she realized what she just said. "Uh, I mean- that is."
Haruka grinned in triumph. "Oh
really?" she said, setting her elbows on the table, her chin resting on
her hands. "DO tell." Michiru hung her head in defeat, and began her
tale.
(FLASHBACK)
"Thank
you again for the concert tickets Michiru" Mamoru gave her a warm smile.
"I hope Usagi likes the surprise when she gets back."
Michiru returned the smile "I'm sure
she will love it." she said.
Mamoru
shrugged and grinned ruefully. "I'm not so sure," he stated. "Remember
the first time you gave her concert tickets?" The two chuckled at the
memory. Usagi had been so anxious to prove to everyone she could be
refined and cultured. And yet, halfway through the second piece, she was
already asleep, snoring so loud she almost threw off the musicians'
tempo.
Michiru
shook her head at the memory, ashamed to be thinking such things. "Usagi
has matured a lot since then." she insisted. "She may not be as refined
as some people, but she the biggest heart anybody could ask for."
Mamoru
grinned. "And the feet to match." he said. "You can't imagine how many
times she steps on my feet when we're dancing." Michiru tried to look
outraged at that, but failed, bursting into laughter. Finally their
laughter subsided, and they stared at each other for the longest minute.
Michiru turned away first, feeling very uncomfortable. Mamoru continued
watching her for a moment, then walked over to the CD burner system
along the back wall of the music room. Selecting one of the demo discs,
he put it into the player, and turned it on. Instantly the room filled
with the soft sounds of Michiru's latest recital piece. She relaxed at
this, and turned back to him with a smile.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
Mamoru smiled back. "You know what I like about your
music?" he asked. "It makes you feel relaxed and excited at the same
time." Michiru blushed at the compliment, as he continued. "Usagi and I
were listening to the one you gave her for her birthday last year, and I
suddenly got the urge to dance with her. But," he sighed. "You know what
I said about Usagi's feet. She stepped on my feet three times. I ended
up with a broken toe, and the night was ruined." Michiru gave him a
sympathetic glance. Maybe it was hard trying to keep your patience with
Usagi.
Suddenly
Mamoru walked over. "May I have this dance?"
Michiru smiled brightly at this and curtsied. "It
would be my honor," she said.
"And
my pleasure." he answered, pulling her close.
Michiru felt her skin flush with pleasure at the
compliment. The Prince was such a graceful dancer. It was so hard to
believe with such a clumsy partner like Usagi. No, forget about her.
Just enjoy the moment.
Michiru
laid her head against Mamoru's chest. His heart beat with a strong,
insistent cadence, which almost seemed hypnotic. She felt her body start
to move to its rhythm. So mesmerizing, as it pulsed and throbbed.
Suddenly her eyes opened wide as she realized the pulse she was
following wasn't coming from his chest, but lower down. And her own body
was responding to it.
Curiously
she looked up into his eyes. They stared for a moment, and then he leaned
down to kiss her. They both felt the tempo change, and began a new
dance.
(END FLASHBACK)
"Wait a minute." Haruka
interrupted. "There's no place for 'playing' in the music room. I know,
you deliberately set it up so you wouldn't be tempted to relax and lose
your focus. Unless-" Her eyes widened and she turned to her cousin with
and accusing glare. "You didn't do it on the floor, did you?" she
demanded.
"WHAT?!" Michiru shrieked,
outraged. "Don't be disgusting."
"So what then?" Haruka asked. "Your bedroom is
on the other side of the mansion."
Michiru
suddenly blushed. "We went to the parlor room just off from the music
room." she said.
Haruka
choked on her tea. "The one with the long sofa?" She gasped. "The long
sofa I always like to take naps on? You two had sex on MY sofa?" She
leaned in close. "How long ago did it happen?" she demanded.
"What
difference does that make?" Michiru frowned.
"What 'difference does it make?" Haruka asked
incredulously. "I've been taking naps on a contaminated sofa."
Michiru sniffed at that. "If bothers you so much,
I'll call a carpet cleaner to come in and have it steam-cleaned."
"Steam-cleaned HELL! I want that damned thing
RE-UPHOLSTERED!"
"EXCUSE
ME!" The two jumped at the sound of Setsuna's exasperated yell. "If you
two are finished with your little comedy routine, can we get back to
what we are going to do about the Princess?"
Michiru
sighed. "What can we do? If the Princess doesn't want to be found, she
won't be. I guess we will just have to wait until we give birth to the
new Senshi."
"And
Koneko gives birth to Fire-fly." The three of them smiled at the
thought. "Could any of us imagine Serenity being Hotaru's mother?"
Haruka asked.
"It does make sense in a way doesn't it?" Michiru replied.
"The Princess always seemed the most affectionate towards Hotaru."
"It was always that way." Setsuna
said. "Even during the Silver Millennium."
"You
mean they were like that back then too?" Michiru asked.
"Of course," Setsuna said absently. "The Princess has
always loved her children." She frowned a little, as though
remembering
something. Suddenly she rose. "Excuse me. I have to go check on
something." She quickly exited the building and heading down the street.
It was a full five minutes after she left that Haruka and Michiru
suddenly looked at each other wide-eyed.
"WHAT DID SHE SAY?!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The Amarillo training base you were
sent to investigate was reported to house 100 squads of 50 soldiers per
squad."
*ssnnnNNKKT!*
"There were at least a hundred
LEO dolls, and almost twice as many Capricorns."
*ssnnnNNKKT!*
"OZ had invested quite a bit
of time and resource to setting up this base of operations."
*sssnnnNNNKKKT!*
LT. Noin suddenly slammed her
fist on the table. "Dammit Wufei!" she snapped. "Will you stop doing
that? You're making me nervous."
Wufei stopped glaring at
Duo for a moment to look up at the angry young woman. With a dismissive
snort, he set his katana blade down on the table. Duo started to breathe
a sigh of relief, but caught himself when he saw Wufei's fingers drumming
on the table, inches away from the blades handle.
Noin gave her own
sigh of defeat, knowing this was the furthest Wufei was willing to
relent. Squaring her shoulders, she continued. "As I was saying, all
that time and resource invested in the Amarillo base and yet they
abandoned it completely without warning." She frowned at this. "It
doesn't make any sense."
"Perhaps they knew
of our investigation, and wanted to hide their operations." Noin seemed
to consider Trowa's theory, but quickly shook her head.
"Our
intelligence network had no trouble gathering information on this base.
They were hiding nothing," she said.
Duo put in his two
cents. "Maybe they thought we were going to try a sabo job."
Wufei snorted at
this. "Use your head Maxwell," he said. "If they thought we were coming
for an attack, they would have tried setting a trap for us."
Duo
forgot his momentary fear of Wufei, and returned the glare. "Well maybe
they were hiding something they thought was more valuable than fighting
us," he said. Wufei's eyes narrowed and Duo suddenly gulped as he
remembered he was currently terrified of Altron's pilot. The others in
the room started to tense up at the expected blow-up, when a steely
voice quickly deflated the situation.
"OZ had no idea we
were coming." Everyone turned astonished at Heero's declaration. "No
military base simply leaves because of rumors of espionage or sabotage.
They had been ordered to leave before we even got there."
"We understand
that Heero." Noin replied. "What we are trying to figure out is why."
Heero rose to his feet.
"Then I suggest we all stop wasting our time with this meaningless
guesswork," he snapped, walking out the door.
"Heero come back here!" Noin gritted
her teeth in frustration. This was getting them nowhere. "Will somebody
go see what's wrong with him?" she asked.
"I'll go!" Duo replied,
quickly jumping to his feet, and racing out the door before Wufei could
react.
Heero strode angrily down the hall. Why did he allow
himself to lose control like that? He never lost his temper, never
lashed out. Even when dealing with Duo's immaturity, or Relena's
infatuations, he always kept an even keel. Until now. Until her.
Usa. Wufei's Usa. Ever since she came nothing has been
right. No, that was wrong. Everything else was the same. HE was the one
who was changed. The first time he saw her, he felt a strange longing.
And to be honest, it frightened him. No, scratch that. It scared him
shitless. The feelings were so contradictory. Part of him always wanted
to hold her in his arms. No, scratch that again. Part of him wanted
'her' to hold 'him'. To hold him, and tell him everything was going to
be all right. Yet at the same time, he felt a deep resentment towards her.
Almost hatred.
He sighed. The dreams had returned. The ones he had when Dr. J
first found him and began his training. He thought the were 'trained'
out of him. But with Usa's arrival, they returned stronger than ever.
And always the same.
(Flashback)
He is tiny, just a little babe. But he hears the voices. And he
knows. Knows they are talking about him. The words have no meaning, but
the emotion behind them is clear. There are two of them, both female.
One sounds fearful, questioning. The other slightly angry, but with a
twinge of regret. It tells the first voice that it must be done (What?
What must be done?) But the first refuses. It cries out in denial,
pleading for something. For a moment, the second voice hesitates,
uncertainty lacing its tones, and he feels a moment of hope from the
first girl. A feeling he shares for some reason. But a moment later, the
strong resolve returns, and the hope is dashed. Then a new voice enters,
one extremely self-controlled. The first voice becomes frantic,
desperate. It becomes angry and threatening. But a sharp retort from the
second quickly deflates her, and makes no more sound but a deep sobbing.
The second voice gives instructions to the newcomer but strangely, her
voice sounds like it is crying as well. Even the third voice seems to
struggle as it begins to chant. Strange words. Words that make no sense.
Yet they seem to surround him, closing in on all sides. He feels like he
is being crushed and suffocated. Fear starts to grip him and he wants
to open his mouth to scream, but he can't. If he does the Words will
enter his mouth. They'll enter his mouth, and he'll drown. He'll drown
in the Words. But oh, it's so loud. So painful. He struggles and fights
it, but he knows he can't stop it. Finally he gives in, and opens his
mouth in a piercing wail. And the Words enter him. They fill his mouth
and stomach. He gasps for breath, and they enter his lungs. He can no
longer move, can no longer breathe. All he can do is wait for death. And
suddenly the Words are silent. Everything is silent. No more Words. No
more Voices. He feels a relief, but then realizes he still can't move,
still can't breathe. A greater panic fills him. Suddenly he wants to
hear the Voices. Hear the Words. But they are gone, and he's alone. All
alone.
"Yo, Heero!"
Heero's head snaps up, startled from his thoughts. Damn, why
did they have to send Duo after him? He was not in the mood for any
stupidity. Quickening his pace, he strode down the hall, trying to get
away from his teammate.
Should I end it here?
I wouldn't be that Cruel!
Finally getting away from the braided one, he was walking down the hall deep in thought. Without looking he walked into Usagi. With reflexes born from years of training and honing, natural instincts, he caught her before she fell.
"Thank you Heero." She said quietly.
What is this strange feeling I feel around him? It is not the same as what I feel around Wufei. It is more like the feeling that is around me when I had held Hotaru.
I looked into his eyes and I saw haunted dreams and the longing of a son for his unknown mother. The same need that I had felt since I was aware. The need I felt to hold apart of me that was taken away.
The pools of blue black so like my own and yet not, as if they were made from me and held the wisdom and pain of ages. I felt as if I knew those eyes when they were yet innocent.
My eyes widened as they swirled and I saw my memory or his it did not matter. I knew, I knew what was done. I remembered what I had yearned to forget, yearned to hold in my arms. He looked at me and I almost cried for him not yet realizing I already had tracks where they were continuing to roll down my face. His eyes now held confusion and pain mixed with unquenchable rage.
I took him into my arms, as a mother does her child.
"Yui what the hell do you think you are doing?! Get your hands off my woman and get your own."
I heard a sob from the door behind us with a look that spoke to the man in my arms to be patient; I looked to see who was behind us. I felt sorry for the poor girl, Relena, she was so much in the love with this boy that she went through hell to have him.
"Relena would you gather the rest of the guys and I will explain everything when we get to Quatre's office."
Wufei looked at me with hurt and impotent rage, clearly in doubt of what he should do.
When we reached the office I looked at all of the people in the room except for Heero and myself they all looked at us in disbelief and disappointment, and I was saddened to realize pain. Did they really trust me so little?
"What were you doing Embracing that . . .Bastard Usagi?"
"Wufei! That is not something that you call my son let alone yours!"
My words were met with disbelief and shock.
"I mean really it's bad enough that you go around chasing your half brother the way you do."
"Onna What are you talking about?"
"I've told you all about my past as sailor moon have I not?"
A chorus of agreement resounded in the room.
"I have though left out a few parts of it."
"Usa what have you not told me?"
"I never told you about the role I played in the moon kingdom did I? I glazed over that part and I thank all of you for not pressing then."
"Why is it such a touchy subject Usa?"
I put my hand over my breast and looked at him.
"He was my ex- boyfriend. He was the prince of earth; he was one of the reasons that I had to give up my son. He was what kept me from being with the one I truly loved. He was mother's replacement for Chaos. Brother to shinigami and ultimate god of the universe. He was my choice as was my right as high goddess of the Cosmos. Taken away because he was shunned as evil not only for his relationship with the family of death but for his role in life. Mother replaced him after I gave birth to my first child sending him forward in time with my first-born son, while my daughter her twin was sent to be raised by the family of death. Persephone raised her son shinigami and Hotaru, my daughter, as siblings so non would be the wiser of my, how did my mother put it, tryst."
Angry and bitter thoughts made my face turn into a glare and many in the room not able to completely process all that I had just said, connected in their mind where Heero got his glare.
Duo suddenly burst out laughing. "Oh my god, I don't believe it.
I mean, I believe it," he hastily stammered, noticing three faces
glaring at him darkly. "But this is too much. Now I enjoy bugging
Wuffers so much."
Wufei snorted at this. "And why I always want to kill you." he
muttered.
"I don't understand something." Relena said timidly. "Are you
saying Wufei was 'evil'?"
"NO!" I replied sharply but caught myself when I saw the
startled look on Relena's face. "No, that is the thinking that caused
all this trouble in the first place. So many people equate Order and
Chaos with Good and Evil. When in truth they have nothing to do with
each other. Good and Evil are about moral options. Order and Chaos are
about patterns of circumstance. Many good things come from chaotic
circumstances. A forest fire, while devastating, helps clear away old
dead growth to allow new young growth to flourish. The Universe, created
by the force of the Big Bang. Even that act of conception and birth has
chaotic elements, for no one really knows what sort of baby they're
going to have."
"Almost nobody." Kheela remarked sarcastically, causing Fei-koi
and I to start blushing uncontrolably.
"A-and evil from order?" Relena asked me softly.
My face darkened again. "They say Hitler always kept the
trains running on time." Everyone sobered at this. "So many evil
dictators in history use the promise of 'Order' to restore peace, but
what they really want is to control every aspect of their subjects
lives. A civilization cannot function this way. It cannot grow and
become stagnant and complacent." My eyes started to fill with tears.
"Sometimes I think that is why my mother's kingdom fell. I know she
thought she was doing the right thing, but it ended up destroying her."
Wufei took me into his arms to comfort me and I laid a grateful head on
his shoulder.
"Hey Heero!" Duo suddenly called out, trying to lighten the mood.
"What are you going to get Wufei for Father's day."
Heero fixed his famous glare on him. "A new sharpening stone for
his katana," he snarled, earning a nervous gulp from Duo, and a
satisfied smirk from me. The smirk fell from my face however, when he
turned his scowl to me. "I have one question," he said. "Why was I sent
through time? Why couldn't they have simply put me with another family,
like Hotaru?"
I sighed. "They almost sent Hotaru along with you, but Mother
decided she was too important as the Senshi of Silence to risk to the
Time stream. Besides, you had something more dangerous than any Senshi
powers; You had awareness." Seeing his puzzled look, I continued. "Even
as an infant, you had an ability to understand how things worked. Not in
a clinical sense, with facts and figures, but a deeper empathic sense.
When people talked about you, you didn't exactly 'know' what they were
saying, but a part of you understood why they were saying it. That's
probably why you were able to master the Zero system so quickly." My
face darkened again. "Mother considered such things dangerous. She said
it inspired too much of the wrong kind of thinking."
"Well I'll tell you what I think." Kheela said with a grin. "I
think this is the Universe's way of cleaning up your mother's botched up
way of controlling your destiny, and putting you back on track with your
true love and family." She sighed deeply, a wistful look crossing her
face. "It's soooo romantic. I gave her a grateful look. Perhaps she was
right. Perhaps this was Destiny's way of putting things right.
Ah, if only we knew how wrong things were soon going to
become.