Disclaimer: I don't make any money off of writing fanfiction about Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon since they're owned by large, famous corporations and I don't feel like using my piddling amount of money to try and take them down. ^_^
Dedication: To Darkness88, Firefly Princess, PhoenixMageFire, White Rose, MizzKitty9886, Spampers, sky princess, ~Jupiter's Light~, and Sailor V Light for their wonderful reviews. I wish I could name off everyone but then I wouldn't have space to write! You all mean so much to me and you encourage me to write the very best story that I can. Thank you!
A/N: It gets a lot more conflicted in this part and there will be a lot of interaction between the pilots and the Senshi, especially the couples. I won't just throw them together though; there is a method to my madness in how they pair up here. Just please be patient with me!
Ages: Inners are 17, GW boys are 18, Haruka and Michiru are 19, Hotaru is 16, Setsuna is a couple of years younger than eternal, and Mamoru is 22.
" " – Spoken
' ' – Thought
####***
"As soon as Usagi-chan and Setsuna-san have had some rest, we'll be on our way back to our dimension. We don't want to be a burden on your hospitality and good will," Minako exclaimed, standing up and bowing deeply to the pilots who were still seated on the sofas and now frozen in disbelief at her startling words.
"Nani? I can't leave! I won't leave. Haven't you heard anything we've just said, Minako-chan? There is a colossal battle going on here and the pilots and I are the only things standing between the Ravagers and the total domination and destruction of this universe. As it stands now, we're almost overwhelmed," said Rei, her face a mask of shock. She stood up from her position at the window seat and began to pace, her footsteps taking her to the sofas in the center of the room and back.
Wufei stood and stalked off to a solitary corner of the living room, unable to stand Haruka's glares any longer and wanting to get away from Rei before she trampled on him in her dazed state of mind. He had been surprised to hear Rei defy her friend and state that she was staying. He grudgingly had to admit to himself that she had honor which would shame even the most noble of warriors.
Heero held himself rigidly still, Minako's words echoing in his mind. He had been waiting for this pronouncement, but it had still hurt to hear that Rei would be leaving soon. 'I want her to leave, don't I? I don't care about anything except Wing Zero and fighting the Ravagers. I am a soldier in a war. That is all I have ever been, all I will ever be. I don't have time to care for anyone, not even someone that can keep up with me in combat and understands what it is to dedicate yourself to your purpose in life. She deserves better than me; someone who has a soul and knows what love means and can love her like she needs and deserves to be loved. She'll forget about me and I'll force myself to only think of her when I am alone and need the memory of what it was like to feel warmth again,' he thought fiercely, gritting his teeth behind tightly clamped lips. He would never betray himself to the others, but his heart cried out, 'What about your betrayal of your own heart? You need her!' He resolutely shut the inner voice away, closing his eyes briefly in pain. He heard Rei object to Minako's statement, but he knew it would only be a matter of time before she'd give in. She had missed her friends too much to want to be parted from them again willingly. He watched numbly as Quatre got up from the sofa he was seated on, his brow creased in thought, and wandered away to sit on the edge of the sofa he was on. He could feel the gentle regard of his fellow pilot, but he ignored it, not wanting to see sympathy or pity in his gaze. Duo had also left his perch on the sofa, agitatedly picking up a small crystal figurine and turning it over and over in his hands as he listened to the argument brewing around him.
"But what about Crystal Tokyo and our universe, Rei-chan? I know you're attached to your friends here, but Pluto has already seen the future without you. Crystal Tokyo will be destroyed because we don't have enough power to protect it from the Dark Moon! Can you turn your back on the lives of those people who will die because you weren't there to help protect our city, our future," asked Makoto gently, trying to not pressure her friend into doing or saying something rash. They had just found Rei again and she didn't want to lose her to Rei's sense of stubbornness.
Rei stopped and looked at Setsuna questioningly, hoping that the Time Senshi would reassure her that they could manage fine without her. 'I never thought I would ever hope to not be needed, but this is too important for me to back down. I can see in their eyes that they don't understand. They're only causing more pain for all of us,' she thought despairingly. Her hopes were dashed when she saw Setsuna close her eyes wearily and nod her head once in agreement with Makoto's declaration. Rei quietly pondered the possibilities of her choices, knowing that this would probably be the hardest decision of her young life. She opened her eyes after several long minutes, her gaze sweeping the room. "How could I live with myself in Crystal Tokyo, knowing that the peace we were enjoying was bought with the innocent blood of the people of this universe that I abandoned," asked Rei, her voice thick with emotion, her violet eyes dark with despair. "You're asking me to decide who lives and who dies. Do the people of either Crystal Tokyo or this universe deserve to suffer? This is too much! I can't make that kind of decision," Rei choked out, her slim shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs. She sank down on the plush sofa that Quatre and Wufei had abandoned and buried her face in her hands, her proud shoulders slumped with the weight of her dilemma.
Duo and Quatre were by her side immediately, each settling down and flanking either side of her. Quatre held her hand, squeezing sympathetically and silently offering his support. Duo had an arm flung protectively around her shoulders and he glared at the Senshi, upset that her friends had reduced the normally spirited Rei to this forlorn state.
"I thought that you being here would cheer Rei-chan up, not depress her and give her a guilt trip. Maybe you should go back to wherever you came from and leave Rei-chan with us. At least we took care of her and tried to make her happy," Duo bit out, his normally laughing eyes dead serious.
"We do care for Rei-chan, but we also have a duty to uphold as well; a destiny to fulfill," Ami said unhappily, her royal blue eyes filling with tears. She hated arguing like this, but she felt driven to defend herself and the other Senshi to Duo. The look of disapproval coming from him made her heart sink down into her stomach. She needed to explain to him why they were acting this way, but she felt hopeless at the enormity of the situation. She could see both sides clearly and she felt that Rei was justified in her feelings, but she couldn't help but hope that Rei would choose to come back with them.
"Destiny? There is no such thing! There is only how you choose to live your life. It is not dictated by this obscure thing you call destiny or fate. That is just a crutch used by the weak to justify not making choices with honor," Wufei spat, his dark eyes flashing with disgust. He glared at the other occupants of the room, daring them to refute his statement. He stalked over to the now occupied sofa and stood by it, gripping the armrest with controlled fury.
"How dare you?! I've seen our destiny. We all have! We know that we will live in peace in our future, but we know that we still have to work for it. It won't just come to us, handed on a silver platter like some offering. Do you think I chose to become a Senshi? To have a duty that must always come first before all else? Destiny decided that, not I! Destiny will also decide whether or not Crystal Tokyo will be created or not. My best friend will be born in that future. If we don't create Crystal Tokyo or fail to protect it, she won't be born or she won't survive the massacre that happens afterwards," Hotaru cried out passionately, her pale face flushed with conviction. She tried to swallow this feeling of desperation that was overcoming her, Chibiusa's face swimming before her eyes before disappearing. Michiru glided toward Hotaru, sinking to her knees and gathering the smaller girl in her arms to give her comfort. Haruka didn't move from her position near the fireplace but she glared venomously at Wufei, a muscle twitching in her cheek from her suppressed fury.
"Chibiusa-chan? Is she in danger." Rei asked, her certainty wavering slightly. Chibiusa had always had a special place in her heart, proof of the love that Usagi and Mamoru had for each other. She gripped Quatre's hand, needing a rock to lean on.
Setsuna sighed gustily before opening her garnet colored eyes and looking directly into Rei's amethyst ones. "Without you, the Inners are not at full strength. The barrier created by all of you during the Dark Moon's siege on Crystal Tokyo will falter without your power to sustain it because the other Inners will be too weak. They will be weak because you are not there to lend your power to the creation of Crystal Tokyo. Because of this weakness, the barrier will fall and Neo-King Endymion, Neo-Queen Serenity, and Small Lady will all perish from one of Wiseman's blasts. The rest of the Senshi, both Inner and Outer groups, will also die. I will be the only one to survive because I came back in time, but sooner or later the loop will end and I will die as well when that future finally comes to pass. After that, the Dark Moon will reign, but internal struggles for power among the Dark Moon family will escalate until everything is obliterated and there will be nothing but a void," she finished, her voice trickling into a whisper. Her eyes closed again, as if tired from her little speech. 'Forgive me, Rei-chan, but I cannot let you have your heart's desire so easily. There is a price to pay for everything and you will have to pay a very high price indeed. I wish I could help you, but my hands are tied in this manner. All of this was decreed before you were even born. You have paid again and again for your loyalty and I fear that you will have to continue to pay. Life won't always give you a happy ending. I pray that you can find your way to yours and understand that I must stand in your way until Destiny is satisfied,' Pluto thought tiredly, bitterly wishing she had never been given such a burden to carry. There were days when the Senshi of Time regretted not being able to be just Setsuna Meioh, a loving and caring friend.
Rei sat between Duo and Quatre, still as a statue. Her hand had turned to ice in Quatre's grasp and he looked at her with deep concern. Duo shot her a look from the corner of his eye, but she sat there, oblivious to all of it. She was only aware of Setsuna's voice echoing in her head, telling her she was responsible for the death of all of her friends. She gazed blankly at the room, her shell-shocked face pale and stricken. Tears swam in her eyes, but they refused to fall.
Heero and Trowa glared angrily at Setsuna before moving to stand behind the sofa Rei was currently seated upon. Heero placed his hands on the back of the sofa, gripping it tightly to hide his anger. He itched to touch her, soothe her, but Duo's arm around her shoulders and his own fierce pride wouldn't allow it. Trowa looked down at the top of Rei's head, frowning in concern as she continued to sit as if she had been frozen in time. Wufei shifted angrily by the side of the sofa, both the weight of Haruka's intense glower and Rei's reaction making him testy and eager to find a convenient outlet for his frustration. Michiru peered out at the room from above Hotaru's bent head, seeing the pilots standing around Rei like guards, aloof and protective. 'There's that sense of separation again. Rei-chan and her new friends are all clustered around one sofa and the rest of us are all on the other side of the room. We might as well draw a line right down the middle. Why can't there be a happy medium for all of us? There has to be a way we can help these young men protect their universe without leaving our own at risk,' Michiru thought wistfully, her dark turquoise eyes narrowed in deep thought.
"I don't want to put any more pressure on you, Rei-chan, but Chibiusa is my daughter. I can't help but be a little anxious at what the future may hold in store for all of us. I respect your feelings and I know your honor will not allow you to just abandon your friends here. I also know that we all just thought Crystal Tokyo would always be far off in the future. We never felt the need to worry. After all, you all looked much older in the future. But I just realized that you all look much more like how you did in the future. You were 14 when you first saw Crystal Tokyo. Three long years have passed and we've all matured greatly. There's the possibility that the future we all thought was so distant could happen any day now. We need you, Rei-chan! We depend on you," Mamoru said, his midnight blue eyes reflecting his turmoil. 'I know that Heero was your lover in the Silver Millenium, Rei-chan, and I don't want to tear you apart, but I'll admit to being selfish enough to want my Usako and Chibiusa safe. Kami, what do I do for all our sakes,' he groaned mentally, wishing Usagi was in his arms at that moment so he could feel the comfort of her embrace and the soothing presence of her gentle spirit.
"I know! I know, demo I can't just leave. You haven't seen the devastation the Ravagers have inflicted. They're an evil presence that my soul wants…needs to extinguish! I know that I make a difference here, demo I'm just another Senshi at home. I still don't see how I can make such a difference," Rei exclaimed before shaking her head sorrowfully, her long violet tinted hair falling forward to veil her distraught features.
"How can you say that? Of course you make a difference, Rei-chan! You're the Senshi of War and Fire. You're the passion that drives us. You never give up. We all have our strengths, our part to play. You complete us, just as we complete you. Could you let us leave after we all just found each other again," Makoto asked, her emerald eyes shining with suppressed tears. She was astonished that Rei felt insignificant. 'Did we do this to her or has this been hidden inside her all along?'
"They can't make you do anything you don't want to do, Rei-chan. Go with what your heart tells you. If you want to stay here with us, then stay here. If you want to go home, we won't hold you back. We," said Quatre, gesturing to the other pilots, "know what the possible price may be for what we have chosen to do. We will not cower or fear our end. We are soldiers, first and foremost, and we chose this path of our own free will. You should have that same choice. We will fight to the end against the Ravagers. We owe it to our universe and to ourselves to do no less, but we won't think any less of you if you should choose to return home with your friends." He gave a warning stare to Wufei and was pleasantly surprised when the volatile Chinese man gave him a curt nod of agreement.
Minako sat by Hotaru and Michiru, but she could only see the blonde haired young man who seemed to fill her line of vision completely. 'He's so noble, he makes my heart weep. Suddenly, I want to stay too, to help him. Can this be what Rei-chan is feeling? My heart feels torn and there's an urgency that I can't ignore, but I have to. I'm the leader of the Inners. I have to be strong for them,' she thought desperately. She curled a shining lock of blonde hair around her finger tightly, hoping to keep herself from doing anything unbecoming of a leader.
Haruka opened her mouth, ready to add her arguments when Rashid ran into the room, his normally controlled visage reflecting a panic of epic proportions. All eyes swung toward him as he blurted out, "Stratos is being attacked right now! It's a complete surprise. There hasn't been any time to warn the civilians!"
Rei snapped out of her shocked state. She jumped up without thought and ran towards the door, right behind the pilots, no words being exchanged at all. Suddenly, Rei stopped and turned back to face the Senshi who were still frozen in shock. Challengingly, she said, "Come and see what horrors are inflicted on this dimension. See why I can't come back with you." Without looking back to see if they would follow, she hurried toward the Gundam Bay.
####***
A flash of light appeared and disappeared abruptly, leaving eight young women and one lone man in the middle of absolute devastation. Buildings with huge chunks torn out leaned drunkenly amid other scattered rubble and upended trees that looked like they had been used as scratching posts for a gigantic feline. Small tremors raced up and down the barely recognizable streets, nearly knocking down the unprepared Senshi and causing new cracks to form at an alarming rate. Terror-filled screams permeated the air before being cut off abruptly; instilling an eerie feeling that was almost overwhelming. The scent of fear was heavy in the air, almost a physical presence and several of the Senshi had to hold back a feeling of nausea. A sudden movement at the corner of their eyes had Rei moving like quicksilver, her exhaustion forgotten even though she had not rested from the last battle a few short hours ago. Flames flew through the air and howls of pain were heard as the Senshi look on, too shocked to move. The majestic Gundams arrived on the scene shortly after and soon Rei was surrounded by the 5 mechs, affording her some protection from the enormous swarm of repulsive monsters. The remaining Senshi were horror stricken at the sight of the Ravagers. Never have they seen anything so monstrous, even in all of their numerous battles. Sailor Mercury turned and retched as she caught sight of a purple Ravager, his fanged maw dripping with blood and his golden eyes glowing with a maniacal violence. Each monster they saw easily topped even the tallest of them by half a body length and outweighed them by several hundred pounds.
Sandrock's curved blades whirled in a dizzying blur, slicing into the nearest Ravager with ease without ever having to break formation. Heavyarms' guns were busily riddling any hapless monster in his range with innumerable bullet holes with eagle-eyed precision. Altron's sleek dragonheads were flying through the air, piercing through one monster after another with deadly accuracy. They moved like sentient beasts with a will of their own. Deathscythe was impressive in its efficiency as its energy scythe cut a swathe through the incoming horde like a hot knife through butter. Wing Zero's calculated strategy was extremely evident in the way the beam saber and buster rifle worked in perfect harmony to eviscerate any foe that approached. Sailor Mars had taken a defensive position inside the ring, hurling her fire attacks at any Ravager who managed to make it past the Gundams.
'I've never seen so many Ravagers attack at once! How many of these things are there? Every time we destroy one, it seems like ten more take its place, and they're bigger, uglier, and more powerful than the previous ones. There must be over a hundred of them here and that's not counting the ones the guys have already blown away! I'm digging for extra power but there's not much left after the earlier battle today,' thought Rei desperately. She could feel the strain and ache in her muscles from the physical exertion, but it was the pull on her spirit, the energy within her that fueled her power, that alarmed her most. There was a quickly dwindling amount left in her and each new attack took more and more from her. Her exhaustion, coupled with the beginnings of panic, blinded her to the approach of a monstrous scorpion-like Ravager. She was dimly aware of the sounds of warning being issued from her gel-comm and she tiredly focused her eyes on the intruder a moment too late. Screams from the watching Senshi were drowned out by the horrified yells of the Gundam pilots as Sailor Mars was struck by the massive tail of the scorpion, lifted like a rag doll and flung nearly 30 feet away, landing against a crumbling brick wall with enough impact to shatter it.
"MARS," screamed Sailor Venus, snapped out of her shocked daze. The sight of her best friend being horribly brutalized made her power surge forth in an almost uncontrollable torrent. The words to her attack, Love and Beauty Shock, poured from her mouth without her realizing it. The scorpion Ravager was nothing but smoke after the impact. "Saturn, protect and heal Mars as best as you can. Mercury, I want data on these soon to be corpses yesterday. Pluto, watch over Saturn. Make sure she's uninterrupted when she heals Mars. Uranus, Neptune, you flank left and take out as many of these slugs as possible. Endymion (he's in prince form still), Jupiter, you're with me. We'll flank right and meet Uranus and Neptune in the middle. Let's go," barked Venus, instinctively slipping into her leader mode and flawlessly executing her orders. She was unused to fighting without Mars and Sailor Moon, but pushed that thought away, concentrating on helping her friend.
Saturn was by Mars' side in a flash, hoping that their Senshi enhanced strength and durability had prevented a tragedy from happening. She breathed a small sigh of relief as she felt the weak but steady beat of Mars' pulse. She looked up at Pluto, who stood over her protectively, and nodded, already preparing to heal her fallen comrade. She placed her hands tenderly on the Senshi of Fire's face and let her healing power flow from her like a wave and into her friend. She sensed where the heaviest injuries lay and immediately directed her power towards those locations first. Bones knit, tissues mended and bleeding stopped as the awesome power of the Senshi of Death and Rebirth wielded the power that was hers alone. Minutes ticked by and perspiration dotted her brow and upper lip as she continued to concentrate on her patient, unmindful of the chaos that fought around her.
Pluto watched her young charge intently, noting the signs of fatigue that were already rapidly showing. She knew that the power of healing was much harder for Saturn to wield than the power of destruction. 'Much like how it is with all things. It is always easier to destroy and hurt than it is to fix and heal,' she thought regretfully. She pivoted sharply as a Ravager approached her and whispered her attack, Dead Soul Scream, obliterating it in a wash of purplish-pink energy. She was bound and determined to watch over her two younger comrades and keep them from harm at all costs. She too was exhausted, having used so much of her power and her energy to find Rei and direct the Sailor Teleport correctly. 'I'll be damned if we come all the way here to find her and then lose her to something like this,' she thought savagely, her garnet eyes glinting with determination and an almost maternal protectiveness.
On the battlefield, things were going much better with the addition of the four Senshi and the Prince of Earth. They battled fiercely, the image of Mars slamming into the wall a rallying flag that left them filled with the need to hurt those who had hurt one who meant so much to them. Neptune and Uranus worked effortlessly, their natural partnership helping them immensely against such powerful foes. Their Deep Submerge and World Shaking attacks combined again and again, destroying Ravagers by the handful. They were shocked to notice that some monsters managed to survive; though they were horribly injured and helpless to attack. Physical attacks like roundhouse kicks and an elbow to the face were used to finish them off. On the other side, Venus and Jupiter also worked in tandem, venting their shock and pain through attacks constructed of light and lightning, simultaneously blinding and electrocuting their adversaries. Endymion worked through the crowd, his sword flashing in the night and leaving no monster unscathed. He marveled at the stamina needed to successfully destroy these Ravagers. 'How does Rei-chan do it? It's taking everything I've got to handle these things and I can tell that Venus and Jupiter are tiring quickly. We haven't had to fight anything in over a year and we're a little bit rusty. We have to end this fast or it won't make any difference that there are more of us to fight,' Endymion thought worriedly.
Mercury shook her head, aghast at the information her mini-computer was spitting out at her. "There are too many types of these things. There is no common weakness for any of them. Each one is as individual and unique as a snowflake," she said into her communicator, her visor and computer disappearing into their respective places. She took a deep breath and waded through the crowd, her ice harp flashing with each Mercury Aqua Rhapsody that issued forth. She found Venus and reported her findings, earning a grimace from the blonde and an invitation to join the party already in progress. Mercury nodded and continued attacking.
"What the heck? Do you see the lightshow happening down there? They all have different attacks," exclaimed Duo. He was still cutting through the Ravagers, but he had seen the Senshi join the fray and it had caught his attention.
"Did you think they would all shoot fire like the other onna, baka," taunted Wufei, his black eyes glittering with the opportunity to one up the braided pilot who was his nemesis.
"I don't think any of us were even thinking about it at all. Remember, they didn't attack us with magic when we first met them," responded Trowa, his eyes pinned on the targets in his sights even as he spoke.
"I wonder how many different types of magic there are," asked Quatre, his sky blue eyes wide with amazement as he watched Venus launch a Crescent Beam straight between the eyes of a grayish-green winged rhino with extendable claws and a horn dripping acid.
"Less talk, more destroying," reminded Heero tonelessly. The Zero system had him completely in its thrall, directing the pilot into executing his moves with clockwork efficiency.
Saturn slumped as she felt the last of Mars' wounds heal and disappear. She opened her eyes to see eyes unclouded with pain look into hers with gratitude. She felt the warmth of that smile and let it fill her heart with relief. Her relief quickly turned to alarm as she watched Mars sit up and begin to rise to her feet. "What are you doing? You can't fight anymore. You almost died not too long ago," she practically shouted.
"I have to fight, Saturn. It's what I'm here for. It's what I do; what I am. Look out there and tell me the others are doing well. You can see the fatigue setting in. They're not used to fighting like this. None of you are. Daijoubu, Saturn. You've healed me and I feel my power returning even after such a short rest. Let me do what I have to," Mars said gently, reaching out and squeezing Saturn's shoulder reassuringly. She smiled as the younger girl nodded her head in resignation. She turned and saw Pluto watching her.
"Is this what your heart tells you to do," asked the eldest of the Senshi.
"Hai. It is the only thing in my heart right now. I have to make sure they're all safe. Onegai, don't make me argue with you," Mars pleaded, her eyes searching Pluto's.
She breathed a deep sigh as the other woman silently stepped to one side, dragging an exhausted and no longer protesting Saturn with her.
Mars bounded back into battle, her blood singing in her veins as she effortlessly leapt onto Wing Zero. She felt almost at home on the giant Gundam and when she reached her normal perch on the shoulder, she immediately fired a Burning Mandala as a signal of her return to combat.
The pilots all grinned crazily as they saw the familiar power signature. It had worried all of them to no end to see her thrown so brutally and have to continue to fight without knowing what condition she was in. Wufei smirked and said, "I knew you were too stubborn to go down, onna."
"It's going to take a lot more than an overgrown insect to keep me down, katana boy. You should know that by now. Oh, and Wufei? My name is Rei or Mars if we're in battle. Don't forget it again or I'll melt your blade into slag," Mars said cheerfully, her eyes twinkling with her taunt.
"Well, why don't we get rid of these Ravagers and get home so we can get some rest. I don't think your friends wanted to see our world this way, Mars," said Quatre, gently cutting off Wufei before he could continue with a response.
Rei grinned again and powered up another attack, sending a Flame Sniper to shoot through several monsters at once. Down below, the Senshi were amazed to see Mars enter into the fight again. Their amazement grew as they watched her effortlessly coordinate her attacks with the Gundams, all of them covering each other while still causing the greatest possible damage to their enemies. Before they knew it, the battle was over and Sailor Mars was leaping lightly from the Gundam in order to do her part of the perimeter check. She gave them a rueful smile as she passed them to finish her task. They continued to gape as they surveyed the destroyed landscape, but snapped out of it as they heard a small cry of distress come from Rei's area. They ran over to her immediately, followed by the pilots who had descended from their mechs and found her kneeling among the rubble and cradling something in her arms. They came closer and saw that it was the body of an old woman. Rei had silent silver streams of tears flowing down her face and her body shook with the sadness that gripped her heart.
"What's wrong, Rei-chan," asked Duo helplessly, his lavender eyes filled with sorrow. He looked around and realized that this must have been the area that the Ravagers had struck first, for bodies littered the street in scattered piles.
"We failed to protect them," Rei sobbed. She hugged the body in her arms closer to her and began to rock back and forth.
"Rei-chan, you have to let go. It's not your fault," begged Ami, her blue eyes filled with tears. In all the years they had fought as Senshi, they had never seen anything like this. The victims of attacks in their world were drained of energy, never outright killed. Her mind had a hard time of putting it all into perspective and she understood what her friend was going through. Her vision was blurred as the tears began to freely run down her face. She turned away as the sight of the bodies the Ravagers had already feasted upon turned her stomach. She distantly heard the sound of vomiting coming from someone else and knew she wasn't the only one to be affected by the grisly sight.
"You don't understand, Ami-chan! I knew her! I met her a couple of weeks ago when I came to this city to go shopping. She was so proud of the Gundams protecting the cities. Was it so much to ask that I protect her, one of the few that understood what we had to do to protect the colonies and Earth," Rei cried, her voice mournful in the night air.
"Just cry for her, Rei-chan. I'm sure she understands," Trowa murmured, bending and embracing her, letting her lean into him and feel his strength bolstering her. "I wonder how many casualties happened today," he said, his green eyes dark with remorse.
"There were too many! Even one is too damn many! Why weren't we informed of this attack beforehand? Is Intel just sitting on its butt and picking its nose," Duo raged, slamming his fist into a wall with his frustration. He looked blankly at his knuckles, the skin torn and bleeding profusely.
Ami started moving forward, wanting to bandage his injury and soothe away his pain. She checked herself abruptly and forced herself to remain where she was, biting her lip with indecision. 'It's not my place to comfort or heal him, but I feel compelled to help him,' she thought worriedly, her blue eyes trained on the blood that still flowed from his battered fist. She heaved a silent sigh of relief as she saw Quatre offer a handkerchief to Duo and expertly bandage it.
"We're supposed to know beforehand. There has to be something wrong at HQ. What happened to our contact on the other side? All of this carnage could have been avoided…," Quatre broke off, his hands shaking slightly as he finished tying up the bandage around Duo's hand.
The Senshi stood stock-still, too tired to even move. Their faces were flushed with exertion and the only sound from them was the sound of raspy breathing as they dragged in huge gulps of air to ease their burning lungs. Haruka looked up from her kneeling position and noticed the pilots and Rei huddled together and listening to something Quatre was holding out to them. She looked them over with a knowledgeable eye and realized that even though you could feel the tiredness pouring from them, they weren't in as bad shape as the Senshi were in. 'Rei-chan got whacked hardcore and she's still in better shape than the rest of us. And I know they told us that piloting those Gundams does take physical effort on their part,' she wondered silently. "Do you fight like this often," she wheezed out incredulously, her eyebrows raised up in surprise.
"At least twice a week, usually more. What's the matter? Tired? Fire onna over there can hold her own, especially the last few times," Wufei said tauntingly, his smirk relaying how much he enjoyed cutting the sandy-haired Senshi down to size.
"Wufei, urusai (shut up)! Don't talk to my friends that way and don't call me onna…but, thanks for the compliment," Rei said, changing from angry to pleased within seconds.
"Are you okay? You haven't had a chance to rest since the last battle," Heero directed at Rei, completely shutting everyone else out. He felt better knowing that the recovery force would be coming soon from HQ and they could leave them to count the casualties and help the wounded. They had done their job and had almost lost Rei in the process, a thought he didn't like to dwell upon for too long. He wanted to get away and return home as soon as possible, even though he knew it meant that she would be that much closer to leaving him.
"I'm fine, Heero. I'm getting used to this pace. Hota-chan healed me so I'm probably better off than you are. My energy is a little low, but that's to be expected after all the fighting. You shouldn't have to worry. I can be as strong as you," Rei teased, her tears having dried up in Trowa's comforting hug and the knowledge that there was nothing she could do to bring the old woman back to life. 'How ironic. I've been reborn so many times that I have begun to resent it, but I can't give that gift to someone who should have a second chance,' she thought wistfully, her violet eyes sweeping the smoking landscape.
"Hn," was Heero's only reply. He deliberately kept his face blank and pretended to be looking at something else.
The Senshi watched in amazement as Duo whipped out a red and black book out of nowhere (A/N: Remember this?) and flipped through it rapidly, landing on a page and exclaiming, "That means I can't help but be aware of your every breath since you're always in my thoughts.." The book then returned to whatever mysterious place it appeared from and Duo smiled angelically at the crowd of gaping Senshi. Mamoru coughed suddenly, hiding his amused smile and turning away. Makoto, Minako and Michiru giggled, feeling the tension ebb away with the chestnut-haired pilot's antics. Hotaru grinned and watched Rei intently, trying to see if there would be any more telltale signs from her usually impassive friend. Haruka rolled her eyes at the dramatics and smirked. Setsuna remembered times in the past when Duo would do the same thing to Heero and wondered how he had gotten hold of that book. Ami laughed softly as well, appreciating his quick wit and skill.
"Omae o korosu, Duo," Heero said flatly, outwardly showing no sign of reacting to Duo's outrageous statement. Inwardly, however, was a completely different matter. 'How the hell does he know,' was the utmost thought in Heero's mind. He almost sighed in relief as he heard Trowa interrupt.
"Duo, stop teasing Rei and Heero. You're making things uncomfortable," Trowa rebuked softly. His eyes were hidden beneath his bangs and if anyone had looked under them, they would have seen the shining eyes conveying a sense of pleasure. He wanted Rei and Heero together as much as Duo or Quatre, but he felt Duo's lack of subtlety would drive Heero away, like a skittish animal.
"That braided baka is too dense to realize that those two would never be attracted to each other in that way," Wufei snorted, crossing his arms across his chest and scowling fiercely.
Minako watched this interchange between the pilots and Rei with narrowed eyes. It intrigued her to watch how they all reacted to one another. 'Which one does Rei-chan like? I can tell she likes someone. My powers tell me that, but Rei-chan has always been good at hiding details from me, especially when it concerns her love life. I thought she liked Heero-san earlier because she stared at him the longest, but she seems to be on friendlier terms with Quatre-san, Trowa-san and Duo-san. But then again, Wufei-san…nah, it's not him. There are a lot of sparks between them, but it's not the attraction kind. Hmmm, I just have to find out. Of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that I find Quatre-san extremely good-looking. Yeah, you just continue telling yourself that,' Minako mentally taunted.
"Minako-chan, are you okay? You zoned out for a while," Rei said worriedly, concern filling her eyes. She brushed back her friend's golden bangs and studied her face intently, looking for the slightest thing wrong.
"I'm okay, just tired. That fight took a lot out of me. Maybe we should head back and get some rest before we talk anymore. I think I have a lot to think over," Minako said softly, her light blue eyes turning unsure as she thought about what had happened earlier before the battle with the Ravagers.
Rei nodded and looked for agreement from the others. She received a nod in response from everyone and they headed back to the stationary Gundams. They checked in with the recovery team and forwarded all the information they knew that would help them. Quatre reported back to HQ via Sandrock's communication systems before arrangements were made again for the Senshi's transportation back to the Winner home. Everyone was silent as they rode home, thoughts of the battle still laying heavily on their mind.
####***
On board a massive ship out in space, a lone figure with bright glowing green eyes cried silently, sliding down the wall in abject despair. Shoulders shook as the information of the surprise attack the Ravagers had sprung on Stratos was revealed. "I was too late," were the quietly whispered words that seemed to echo in the still regions of the creature's heart.
####***
The house was still and silent, the skies dark with the coming of night. Earlier, there had been bustling activity when the Senshi and pilots had returned from the attack on Stratos. Exhausted and bone-weary in both body and spirit, the dispirited group had wandered the enormous mansion like lost sheep searching for their shepherd. The Maganacs had bustled in like overactive bees and had quickly shoved, pulled, carried, dragged, bullied and cajoled all 5 pilots, 8 Senshi and Prince Endymion up the stairs and into their respective rooms under Rashid's stern yet watchful eye. Rooms had been prepared in advance for Rei-sama's visitors and they were gently steered into them without any mishap except for one when Haruka had resisted going into a separate room from Michiru. Even tired and groggy, the Senshi of Wind had been belligerent and intimidating. Even so, it was only after they received a nod of agreement from Rashid that the Maganacs let Haruka into the same room. Quiet descended upon the house like a blanket, the inhabitants letting their worries dissolve under the hand of Morpheus, the god of sleep.
####***
A lone figure rose from his bed, feeling restless. The sheets are crumpled and wadded into a lump, proof of the struggle to find release in sleep. His messy brown hair was rumpled and his face was stoic and hard. He looked out the big bay window in his bedroom and silently surveyed the grounds, satisfied to see that all was peaceful. Heero glances over at the clock on his black lacquered nightstand. It is 4:17 a.m. He grunts in dissatisfaction and lets his thoughts run free. 'There's no point in going back to bed now. I wouldn't get enough sleep to make it worthwhile. We've got a training session at 6:00 and it's going to take us at least half an hour to get Duo out of his bed. I might as well go check on Wing Zero and make sure the Maganacs repaired everything,' he thought to himself. Not bothering to put anything else on besides the pajama pants that rode low on his hips that he was already wearing, Heero opened his door silently and walked out into the hall. He looked down the hall towards the west wing of the house, where a certain fire Senshi slept and debated with himself internally before ignoring his urge to check on her and continued padding down the stairs on silent feet. 'Everyone should be asleep by now. It was a long, hard battle even for those of us who are used to fighting Ravagers. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for the uninitiated. It wasn't that hard for Rei though. She jumped right in like she was born to it. Hmph, I can't stop thinking about her for even a minute. I've been having this same damn conversation with myself over and over again ever since her friends showed up. Maybe it would be better if she left as soon as possible so I can return back to normal and exorcise her from my mind,' Heero thought testily. He walked from the bottom of the grand stairwell towards the Gundam Bay, passing the living room. He stopped suddenly, sensing that the room was occupied. Stealthily, he walked back to the doorway, staying in the shadows and keeping an observant eye out for any unwelcome intruders. His Prussian blue eyes scanned the area intently, falling upon a very feminine figure ensconced in the window seat. Rei sat in her favorite spot, her knees drawn up under her chin. Her hair flowed like an inky river down one side, the strands clinging to each other. Her eyes were fastened on the night sky, looking at something only she could see. Her slim arms were wrapped loosely around her knees, her fingers idly plucking at her nightgown. The white gauzy material of her gown gave her an ethereal look, almost angelic until one noticed the lacy straps that held the gown up. One strap had fallen down her shoulder, bringing attention to the subtle curve and the pale skin gleaming under the starlight like a luminous pearl. Now she resembled a fallen angel, a woman who beckoned alluringly to touch her flawless skin. She was a sad fallen angel though, a slightly poignant look that spoke of a life that was not always fun and games.
Heero watched her hungrily, his icy blue eyes roaming over her figure like a hot caress. The shadowy presence lingering in the doorway would have been surprised if he could see his face at that moment, for there was a hunger and yearning there he had never seen before. His eyes, so used to noting details while on military missions, were busy noting each meticulous detail of her appearance and filing it away efficiently into his memory, to be taken out and savored later. "What are you doing up? You should be sleeping," he said huskily.
Rei turned her head, staring unerringly at his exact position in the shadows. She wasn't surprised to see that he was there. He had been in her thoughts so much that it seemed natural, even expected, for him to be there with her. "I couldn't sleep. I have all these thoughts that are jumbled and pounding in my head, wanting to get out. I decided to come down here and clear my thoughts in the quiet of the night. What are you doing up," she asked, her head still resting on her bent knees. Her eyes were fixed on him, a question lurking in the depths.
"I was restless," he whispered into the quiet hush of the room. He pushed himself away from the doorway and walked over to her. The soft light pouring in from the window played over his face and bare chest, highlighting the angles and planes. "What were you thinking about," he asked, silently cursing himself as the words left his mouth. 'I'm getting drawn in further and further into her, but I just can't seem to resist her allure anymore. I've never felt this way about anyone. I'm not like Wufei; I don't hate women. I've just never felt the need for one. I'm kidding myself if I think nothing has changed, but I still don't want to let her in. Is it a matter of pride,' he asked himself mentally as he continued to get closer to her.
Rei watched Heero come closer, stalking like a sleek jungle cat, his muscles rippling under smooth tanned skin. She observed the controlled movements that enticed her to break through his reserve. She wanted him to feel the same heat she was. Finally, she tore her eyes away with great effort. "I was thinking of the irony of life. When I first came here, I wanted nothing more than to be back with my friends at home, laughing and playing like we used to, but now I don't want to leave. After everything I've seen here, my previous life seems so trivial, so empty. Even the obstacles, the enemies we fought back there seem like pale shadows next to the Ravagers. Part of me is upset that they're here, trying to tear me away from this life that I've made. Everything seems more vibrant, more real here and I want that. I know I'm being selfish, but I didn't realize how important you…all of you had become to me until Minako-chan said we'd be leaving," she admitted, blushing slightly at her slip of the tongue and grateful that the starlight wasn't bright enough to reveal the wash of color heating her cheeks.
His heart leaping painfully in his chest before settling uncertainly, Heero sat down on the window seat across from Rei. He watched as the starlight caressed her face, leaving it almost translucent. His husky voice broke through her embarrassment. "You're very important to us too. Who would have ever guessed how important you'd become to…us in such a short time, when you first appeared out of nowhere. But you've become one of us," he finished softly. Rei shifted slightly, pleased to hear those words coming from Heero's lips. Her hair drifted slowly down her arm, fanning slightly with the motion and releasing the heady fragrance of jasmine. Heero inhaled the sweet scent greedily, the fragrance triggering feelings he would swear he had never felt before, but which felt so right.
"I feel like I'm one of you," she admitted softly, lifting her eyes to meet his. A thrill ran down her spine as she noticed that his eyes were concentrating on her, the brilliant blue glowing in the dim light. 'He's looking at me like he did that night in the shooting range. I was beginning to think I had imagined all of it, like a sweet dream I didn't want to ever wake up from. I could spend all night looking into his eyes like this,' she thought hazily. She unconsciously parted her lips and licked them, her small pink tongue darting out to wet her suddenly dry lips. Her heartbeat increased as she noticed his eyes drop to watch her mouth. He looked up from the tempting sight, his hungry gaze making her inhale sharply.
Heero leaned forward and brushed her face with the backs of his fingers. His eyes narrowed as he noticed her eyelids droop briefly, her long, dark lashes fanning out against the pale porcelain cheeks before rising again, revealing her eyes. He was mesmerized as he saw her eyes light with an inner fire. He brought his face closer, wanting her fire to warm him. "Funny, you don't feel like one of us. You're much…softer," he rasped out, his breath fanning her cheek. 'She's leaving, most likely tomorrow. I'll regret it if I don't at least feel the fire in her just this once,' he rationalized to himself, already more than halfway seduced by the romantic setting they were in. That, coupled with their intense attraction to each other, was rapidly breaking down his barriers.
"Am I," she asked, not even aware of what she was saying, so caught up in his spell was she. She leaned closer, her knees unbending and sliding so that her feet rested on the floor. She was sitting, her body turned towards him and they were only an inch apart, the heat they were radiating like a small sun. All she could see was him. He filled her vision completely. Her heart was racing, the blood coursing through her veins screaming how much she wanted him.
"Yes. You're infinitely soft," he breathed, his hands rising to intertwine in her hair. He closed his eyes at the feel of the silky strands slipping through his fingers, opening them when he heard her shallow breathing speed up slightly. The look that met his eyes was one he was sure to remember for years to come. Her eyes were burning like molten lava, the desire evident and captivating in its intensity. He was awed to see so much desire directed at him, for him. 'Has anyone ever wanted me so much? She doesn't care that I've killed. She's seen what I do and she still wants me. Just once, I want to lose myself in the emotion I see blazing so fiercely in her. Just once,' his mind tempted. The Perfect Soldier then did what no one would ever imagine he would do: he gave in. He leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers once, twice, before settling with absolute certainty against her mouth.
Rei felt her bones liquefy at the first touch of his mouth on hers. It was everything she had ever dreamt of in a kiss. She had been kissed several times before by other men, Jadeite, Yuiichiro, and Kaidou among them. She had felt something for each of those men, but it paled in comparison to what was currently burning through her veins right now. The world seemed to stop and everything in her life seemed to come into sharp focus. Being in his arms felt completely right, like she had come home after a long journey. She returned his kiss fervently, half-afraid this would all be just a dream or that it would be interrupted again. His lips were firm against hers, the perfect complement to her softness. She slowly brought her arms to twine around his neck, her fingers running through his chocolate-colored hair.
Heero shuddered as he felt her fingertips slowly massage his scalp. He slanted his mouth against hers, deepening the kiss insistently. He felt an almost primal surge as he felt her open to him, allowing him access to the moist inner sweetness of her mouth. He swiped his tongue through the sweet cavern, reveling in the feeling of possession, of belonging, that swept through him. His arms tightened, desperately seeking to deepen the contact. Her slim form was crushed against him, but she made no sound of protest, snuggling even closer. 'Just for tonight, she's mine. All that she is, all the heat, passion, and energy that is her, belongs to me. If only this could last forever, but I'll have to give her up when day finally comes,' he thought hazily, his thoughts swirling together into a kaleidoscope of emotion.
Rei responded to the urgency in Heero's embrace, clutching him tighter, not wanting to ever let go. She had instinctively opened her mouth under his persistent probing, letting him possess her in a way she had never dreamed possible. 'I never imagined it could be like this. It's like I was waiting for this moment all my life. Is this the connection I felt when I first saw him,' her mind wondered, her senses swamped with rioting emotions. The couple continued to kiss, drawing apart only to take a quick breath before being drawn inexorably back to each other, not wanting to be parted for more time than was necessary to draw breath. The only sounds in the room were soft sighs and the stars overhead beamed down benevolently on the engrossed couple, their silhouette dancing softly against the wall.
####***
Upstairs, a young woman with long blond hair smiled dreamily in her sleep and murmured, "Love…" She turned onto her side gracefully, her hands curled under her pillow. Dreams of happiness and contentment drifted through her subconscious, a young man with fair hair playing a prominent role. The stars in the ever-lightening sky played gently over the red ribbon draped over the nearby nightstand, making it seem like it pulsed with vibrant energy.
Further down the hall, a stately, dignified woman looked out the bay window of her own room with eyes that seemed to flicker from sadness to triumph with every blink. She gripped the heavy maroon drapes and leaned her forehead against the cool panes of glass, letting it cool her feverish brow. "It's beginning again. Kami, let it turn out all right this time," she prayed, her knuckles turning white with the force of her grip.
####***
A/N: I did it! I wrote a kissing scene without having Duo interrupt! (Scuffling noise in the background reveals a bound and gagged Duo under the heel of a smugly smirking Wufei while a distraught Ami looks on, wringing her hands with anxiety.) Whew! I thought I'd never get that done. Well? Do you like it? Too mushy? Not mushy enough? Let me know, minna!
Next chapter: Separation? Misunderstanding?
