AN: Wow! Thanks for all the supportive reviews. They really help me get these chapters out faster. ^_^ I still don't own these shows, but that's just fine with me. Suggestions on situations you'd like to read about would be welcome. I'd like to know what the audience is thinking. Only about the fic, people, nothing naughty! *giggle*
Where Do We. . . Uh-Oh.Slowly but surely the day wore on and, after the sun had passed its scorching peak, the afternoon oozed in with its balmy air. The sounds of splintering rocks, trees being vaporized, and out and out chaos that had ruled the early morning tapered off as each couple exhausted their energy stores, and soon everyone stopped their training for the day and collected beneath the bungalow's shaded patio. The ladies politely exited to refresh themselves with baths while the guys collectively collapsed onto the patio loungers to compare their experiences.
"You mean you actually have to say, 'Heart,' in your attack?" The undiluted amazement in Quatre's voice made Duo wince. He tried to keep his answer from sounding huffy and was pleased when his words came out as cool as you could please.
"What can I say? I guess I'm the God of Love these days." The once confessed God of Death changing his spots so completely sent the rest of the guys into a tailspin of laughter. Whether it was from their exhaustion making them giddy or the fact that Duo had turned eight shades of red despite his laughter, the guys kept laughing until their sides felt like splitting.
Makoto was the first girl to return from upstairs, and she was only half-surprised to find all of the men sleeping sprawled in their loungers still wearing their dirty Senshi uniforms. They could de-transform later when Rei had their baths ready for them. Wufei still held the uncapped Snapple he'd been drinking earlier and Makoto managed to save him from a sticky waking by placing it on the ground next to him. She was straightening from her bent position when an icy pulse flowed up her spine.
"You felt it too." Usagi stepped from inside the house and slowly joined Makoto to stare at the sky over the ocean. A faint hint of menace seemed to radiate from something hidden behind the sun's rays. The knowledge that the menace was growing stronger as the sun slowly began to reach for the horizon was understood, and as the other girls returned from the baths each one came to the same conclusion.
"It hates us. It wants to destroy all life." Rei's whispered declaration was greeted with nods. "The question is what is it." Ami's mini-computer did a satellite-assisted scan and could only determine that a meteorite would soon be visible when night descended.
"We've got twelve hours before it comes into 'contact' range." Contact range was the estimated range for teleportation, as the Scouts knew it, to take place. With a deep sigh, Usagi turned to stare at the men who slept on despite the new crisis.
"Let's give them another hour, then we've got to prepare them," she hesitated, but her voice was firm when she spoke again. "This could be the evil Pluto reactivated the Princes to fight." As the menace grew stronger, the world grew quieter, and the men slept on, their loves felt fear grow cold in their hearts.