Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and Sailor Moon = Not Mine. If they were, I would have sponsored or started a project that made these two a crossover. If they were, there would be a channel that plays them over and over and over … If they were, I wouldn't be writing this, dang it! :D

Happy Note: This chapter is happy!!! YAY!! :D I don't think it gets really depressing from now on…but there're still a few twists left. ^^ (Can't wait until this is done … groans)

Chapter 19: Welcome to the "Real World"

Quatre started as a key in the lock turned and the front door creaked open, exposing the entire house to echoes of the crickets chirping in the late evening. He tensed and got up quickly to examine the sound as Duo and Trowa shot each other questioning looks.

"Hiiro!" Quatre's eyes widened. "Are you all right? What happened? You were behind schedule and we suspected the worst but…"

"Usagi … is she all right?" The words came out with difficulty, almost as a croak, as he stared at Hiiro's tired and battered form.

"Usagi … we'll get back to that later. You look like you went to hell and back, Hiiro." By then, Duo, Trowa, and Relena were already behind him as Quatre ushered Hiiro through the door like an anxious mother hen.

"In a way, I have. But where is Usagi?"

Quatre shook his head to himself. There was no way Hiiro could be deterred. He glanced at the others for help but received nothing more than blank looks. Some friends they were. "She … she's gone, Hiiro."

"Gone?" The blonde started at the half-crazed gleam in Hiiro's eyes and covertly edged back an inch.

"She went back to her own wo-" He didn't get to finish before Hiiro was gone, sprinting up the stairs. Shrugging defeatedly, his shoulders slumped as he turned back to the three good-for-nothings. Before he could come up with a sarcastic barb, Relena beat him to it.

"Do you think he'll be all right?" she asked uncertainly, craning her neck to glance up the stairs.

"Great. Just great. Now that Quatre's back to normal, we've got an insane Hiiro."

"Take that back, Trowa. That was both rude and inconsiderate," he admonished severely.

"Well at least we're more considerate than Wufei."

Duo winced and swallowed hard. "He's probably still upstairs and suffering after that feast of bananas." He shrugged briefly. "All I've got to say is that your cook is very creative, Quatre. Can't we just sell them again?"

Trowa rolled his eyes. "Give me a break. By the end of the week, all of them will be close to rotting. Nobody would be willing to spend anything on them."

"So? We'll pay them then!"

"Nope," Trowa muttered while shaking his head, "Not going to happen. Just get used to eating bananas, dreaming bananas, and breathing bananas."

"Trowa! Duo!" Quatre looked exasperated. "How can you two talk about bananas at a time like this?"

"We could always talk about cucumbers if you want," Duo offered sincerely.

…………………

She stared blankly at the gift shops around her and gulped. This was it. She was back. Forever.

"C'mon Usagi. Let's get you home," Luna said maternally, wrapping an arm around her slack shoulders. "You must realize that this is for the best."

"For the best," Artemis echoed emphatically.

She looked aside but didn't show any other indication of opinion as the trio headed down the sidewalk.

I promised you forever, Hiiro, but forever ended today.

…………………

His wide eyes took in the soullessly fluttering curtains, pale against the dark night outside. His ragged breathing was the only sound in the room and in his head as a warm, night breeze swept through the room and the gentle melody of crickets reached his ears.

"Usagi…"

He walked slowly into the room, almost reverently, pacing its width and length. "I should have told you…"

A flash of silver caught his eye, almost blinding him for a second and putting his devastated mind into a state of confusion. He walked towards it and frowned as he realized what it was – gundanium.

His fingers reached out and brushed against the cool metal, still wet from water-

His eyes widened as another, far brighter burst of light blinded him and there was nothing more.

…………………

Her breath hitched in her throat as she stared up at the mansion-like house. Oddly enough, no happy, relieved, or disappointed tears came though she was somewhat relieved and somewhat disappointed. Everything seemed dulled around her, including any emotions that coursed through her veins, poisoning her. She wished it would stay like that forever.

Luna took the initiative and rang the doorbell. Artemis was long gone, after explaining some insane story about posing as a police officer and not wanting to get in trouble.

"Usagi! My Lord!"

She smiled softly at the wide, surprised, and elated eyes of her mother, not given the chance to answer before being swept into a fierce hug.

"Oh, honey. Thank God you're back…" the middle-aged woman whispered before kissing her briefly on the cheek. Dad and Shingo appeared behind her and Usagi let go of a genuine smile and short squeal before rushing towards them. Shingo caught her and swung her around, grinning at her delighted face and flushed cheeks as Ikuko rushed to thank Luna.

"Oh, what can I ever do without you?" Luna simply smiled and shook her head. "But really … Usagi! Where were you this whole time?"

The blonde stared at her, dumbfounded, before Luna jumped in quickly. "Usagi walked into my office, almost as if on instinct, and told me she couldn't remember any of what happened. I'm not sure if in the future she'll remember it or not and share with you. It's up to her, really." She shot Usagi a meaningful look, indicating that it was completely up to her when and where to tell her family what had happened.

"Oh … I see," Ikuko replied puzzledly. "Well … we really can't thank you enough, Miss Tsuki. If you want, do you wish to stay for dinner? We're going to hold a celebration here and-" She trailed off as she caught sight of Luna shaking her head politely.

"No, that's quite all right. I need to get back to work."

As Luna's diminishing form disappeared, Ikuko quietly muttered to herself, "Such an odd woman…"

…………………

By the time Hiiro had caught his breath, the world around him had already changed. He gulped and looked around himself curiously. The hurrying passerby ignored him completely as he carefully investigated a nearby shop and shook his head no when a salesperson asked him if he needed assistance. He quickly left the shop, relieved that the world spoke his language, at least.

He glanced around and mentally groaned to himself. How was he ever going to find Usagi in such an urban place with no clues but her voice, her name, and her face?

Welcome to the "real world", Hiiro Yui, he thought sardonically to himself.

…………………

She walked along ponderously, deep in thought and unaware of anything else around her. Lita had called a while back, promising to come to the Tsukino dinner along with all twenty-nine of her cousins. She half-smirked to herself. Quatre's twenty-nine sisters were something of a parody of her own brood of "sisters".

Lita had sounded excited on the phone, ready to show her something phenomenal. She claimed that her artistic skills had improved immensely over the time that Usagi had been gone. Usagi didn't doubt it. Everything had changed, including the people she had missed extensively while in Gundam Wing. Shingo had grown up and gotten a girlfriend. He had even matured enough to come into her room and ask her for advice. And she was pretty sure he didn't burp the ABCs to impress Mika.

Mother still acted her cheerful self but Usagi could see the tired bags under her eyes that spoke of many sleepless nights. Daddy's previously stern and strict posture had deteriorated. He looked years older than when she had last seen him. Grandmother aged too. The physically healthy and fiery woman was still sarcastic and comical but there was a tired gleam in her eyes as if, just hours ago, she had been ready to give everything up.

She was brought of her reverie by the sounds of excited squeals and animated talking. Blinking around bemusedly, Usagi's eyes rested upon a mob of girls flocked around a something. Frowning, she headed that way, ready to get in on the action if that something was a famous movie star. Something akin to her former childlike behavior returned as she edged closer and tried to push through the crowd.

"Excuse me, pardon me. Coming through!" The crowd budged but unwillingly as she pushed her way through and finally caught glimpse of the person in the center. The fangirls around her quieted as one girl beside her recognized her and cried out her name.

"Hiiro…?"

He got a hold of himself and turned to her. Her famous golden hair, too good to be natural though it was, was mussed and her eyes shone like bright sapphires.

"Usagi." He reached out for her and for the first time that Usagi could remember, Hiiro Yui smiled a smile that was far better than the ones she had experimented with in the studio.

"Hiiro!" She rushed to him and he caught her, enveloping her slight form in a sweet embrace as the dumbfounded girls around them finally collected themselves and surrounded the two, begging each for their autographs.

Hiiro growled and glared while Usagi laughed. The fangirls found it adorable.

…………………

I know: the world has ended. A happy pause … heh … no cliffhanger either … I'm getting soft. ^^ Thanks for reading! Yours, Angel.

Firefly Princess: Your reviews are so motivating! That in itself must be an art … lol. ^^;;; Hiiro's always okay … I don't believe he'll die of anything other than old age. And maybe not even that! O___O But … hmmm … it's not just the typing errors that make me a dork … heh.

SakuraMona: Sniff I miss Kurama! ;__; Mona: Oh no … you're even worse than Sakura!

Unspoiled Rini: That happens a lot with me too … find a story, love it to death, and not see it for a year.

Serena Yuy: Heh heh heh heh heh … that's all I have to say. :D

Cheska: Heh … @_@ No actually I haven't seen Hikaru no Go but I've heard that it's awesome … sooo .. that's on my to-do list. :D And what a nice brother to download it for you! Not fair…

The Desert Fox: Rini? Ha. I hated her before too but … shrugs. I needed somebody else and she came to mind.

Sunshine Fia: Lol. Every time you panic about Hiiro dying think this: Does Hiiro ever die in a mission? And I'm sure you'll feel better. :D

News regarding my pathetic life: I missed YYH today! (Tuesday) Anybody interested in keeping me up to date? Lol…And does anybody know whether or not they're going to show all 112 episodes? Sniff. I've already had my heart broken when they refused to move on to the second arc of Kenshin and now that I know Inuyasha isn't going to be finished either … sob. Lol. If I'm not a dork, what am I?

Thanks to everybody for reviewing! :D