Lunar Succession

Author: ~Heartless Spirit~

Disclaimer: I don't own SM or GW. I DO own Dederi, so no stealin'! AND IBAREN TOO!!! NOVA BELONGS TO JESS-CHAN!!!
(Youhko's my own character too, if you haven't realized that by now...) BTW, HAKAI BELONGS TO DIANE, MY TALENTED COUSIN.
If you want to read Diane's fics, her pen name on ff.net is SNAPdragon! All other villains are mine as well..yes, it is
a lot of characters. DEAL WITH IT. The other enemies are mine.

AN: Oi, minna! [Translation: Hey, Everyone!] I'm getting discouraged..why aren't ppl reading my fics? I feel so depressed.
'Tis so sad..yes it is..but for those of you who have decided to stick with my fic so far: I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!...[cough] er,
forget I said that...[looks away] Anywhoo, I'd like to warn you that, well, Dederi will be very gore-oriented in this
chapter, well, the beginning anyway. A lot of depression as well. But not to worry, Loyal Anime Readers of the Universe!
It will lighten up a bit in the second half. @_____@ And..uhm..also..uh..ehehehe...the end of this chapter is lime.
Remember: I WARNED YOU.

(Note: #...# = Memories or Visions;Dream Sequence)
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Lunar Succession
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Chapter 13-Reclamation
======

Everyone heard the demoness's evil cackle. "So you have finally shown yourself, dragon."

Sailor Uranus growled. There were many things that she did not understand for the present time, but she did realize
one single detail. Whenever anyone of them was hurt, she became despondent, but not as despondent as she was now. How
was it that such depressive emotion could be turned into energy? The evil force that emitted from the assassin still
increased, but she dared not move. Sailor Uranus felt a deep chill in her spine. A few feet away, she heard Sailor Mars
screaming in pain, which did not suprise her as much as it did the first time such evil was emitted, for the priestess
was able to sense negative vibrations. But for so much dark power to be dispersed so suddenly must have given the fire-
weilding senshi a painful headache. She, as well as a few of the other recovering senshi, looked towards Dederi's
home-dimension comrads, and noticed that Ibaren had a sad look on his face, while Hakai held a solemn expression, both
of which felt to be radiating pain as they looked at their depressed and angry friend. She soon saw the reason why Ibaren
looked to distraught. Dederi had begun crying, tears cascading down her pale human flesh. Sailor Uranus and the rest of
them held back the urge to spill a few tears of their own...for such tears must have held much pain..for her tears were
of blood.

Dederi's eyes remained silouetted as the blood spilled down her face. She no longer felt anger. She no longer felt pain.
Only bloodlust. Bloodlust for the one who had hurt her lover. But, she was no longer the one the magi called Kuroi. She
was no longer aloof. She was but a different being. She was the ancient dragon who was assimilated from the devil himself.
Her voice was still 'double', as if another spirit spoke with her in unison. The other voice was so metallic-sounding. It
was definitely a male, from which everyone could tell, and spoke so well with Dederi's more feminine voice. They listened
intently as Dederi and the other voice continued. "..You and I shall fight to the death.." Dederi's hands fell limp at
her sides, her left looked as if it was grasping something loosely, "..Your death will be the first of many..your blood
will cool to the floor as you are flensed with knives by your own victims..you must learn never to underestimate. It makes
a fool of yourself and your lord." Suddenly, Dederi's silouetted eyes flashed and began to glow a deep, blood red,
increasing the amount of evil energy in the vicinity, causing Sailor Mars's headache to worsen. Dederi's face looked up,
and her glowing eyes blinded everyone for a solid moment, everything within a five-yard radius exploding in black fire.

Everyone was engulfed in the dark flames, smoke making its way into their heaving lungs. Everyone, excluding the
Tsurideragon crew, shielded their eyes and covered their mouths, someone managing to place a peace of cloth over the
unconscious unibang's mouth and nose (AN: Don't worry. The cloth is breathable.). Wufei managed to open his
eyes long enough to take a glance at everyone to see how they were faring against the sudden blaze, and saw that they were
as he were. Confused and somewhat frightened. He looked towards Dederi, and resisted the urge to gape as the Sonodan
Snoshinda wave was utterly annihilated. Dederi was now floating about a foot away from the wrecked ballroom floor, above
the black fire which continued to destroy the Square. Her white dress was soon burned away by the flames, and was now
only clothed in it. The fire covered her entire body, but to everyone's suprise she did not scream. No gasp, no shout,
only silence. Her eyes remain open as the blood tears continue to flow. Suddenly, the dragon-shaped mist closed in on her
fire-covered body, consuming everything of her except her face. Everyone's eyes are open now, ignoring the fumes and teary
flames. They saw a metallic shine on her, and they realized she was no longer naked, but clothed with a red-black single-
shouldered breastplate. Her right shoulder was bare, but her left shoulder was covered by part of the breastplate, the
sleeve not actually covering her arm. The 'sleeve' was shaped like a claw, hanging about two inches above her shoulder.
She had also now donned pants, made from some sort of ancient cloth, which did not get singed by the flames. Over her
pelvis was an ancient form of armored plate, in a deep black color, as well as armored, knee-length black boots. But
what really caught their attention was the long armored glove which she wore on her left hand and arm. It was completely
black, and went up her arm, reaching the middle of her upper arm. It was heavily armored, though allowed her to freely
move her arm, for it consisted of thick armored links. The glove covered her hand.
Circling the whole glove, reaching to ending at her middle finger, was a dark black Demovalran-carved dragon, bearing a
striking resemblance to the mist that surrounded Dederi. It was..

"The Gauntlet of Chiosu.." Sailor Pluto realized, utterly baffled. It had finally shown itself.

"My true form, demon..." The terrifying double-voice of Dederi commented, although the male voice seemed to be louder at
the moment.

Inabikari unconsciously backed away a few feet. She had meant for Dederi to fight her, but how was she to win a battle
against an entity that was stronger than even her lord? "Dark Incarnate.." She said its name with great fear and tremble.

"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME-" Duo shrieked while he coughed through the firey air, "-THAT DEDERI IS THE ONE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR?!"
Sailor Jupiter's voice trembled with awe and fear. "It can't...It's can't be..."

"Yesss..." Dederi said calmly, still floating in the air. Suddenly, she arched her neck and back, as if gasping in increased
pain. The place where her shoulder blades were located began to glow a dark red, and as black feathers began to emitt
from her back. Everyone stared in awe as black angel wings sprouted from her back. The feathers of her wings were black,
and her actual wing bones were a soft white, framing the top part of her wings. "I am now complete.." She said, her back
still arched as her wings waved softly through the flames, "I am the dark one you seek...Dark Incarnate..." She then
slowly moved back into an upright position. "You shall pay," She said, her normal voice long gone, "For the pain that thee
hast unleashed upon my counterpart." The Dark Incarnate's right hand balled into a fist, and out of nowhere a double-blade
sword appeared in her grip, both blades shimmering with etherial energy. The hilt ends were adorned with jingling dragon
teeth, which sounded like bells as they rung in discord, beautiful and vengeful at the same time. The sound of their
ringing was in harmony, yet more apart and distracted than more people would ever realize. The sword was completely
and utterly black, the blades a pale white, shining in unison to the discord of the etherial song. The humans found
the 'music' mesmerising, and Ibaren and Hakai found it difficult to grab their heads and scream, which confused the senshi
and pilots. "I allow you to choose death by my blade, to release you from the sorrow of this world."

"Shut up!" Inabikari suddenly appeared with her reappeared Valkyrie sabre, which would have sliced Dederi's face in half
if she had not swiftly blocked it with her double-blade. Inabikari's face was filled with incomprehensible anger. "You
don't know anything, dragon. I am not as weak as you think I am."
Dederi's eyes were still monotone and silouetted, her face deathly and calm. "As you wish." Dederi turned the grip on her
blade and pushed Inabikari's away with amazing speed, the black fire surrounding them roaring with the increased wind.
The assassin swerved to her right, landing on the destroyed floor, then with her right foot propelled herself into the
air and swung her blade upward, knocking Inabikari's sabre out of her hand. She then disappeared, and reappeared behind
her enemy.

"No.." Inabikari whispered with a raspy voice, her eyes widening. Dederi thrust her blade upward and through the female
demon's chest. Black liquid exploded from inside her, staining Dederi's pale face. Inabikari groaned, her breath very
short and ragged. Dederi pulled the blade from her body. Inabikari's face began to pale as she dropped onto the ground,
onto her knees, and her body cooled to the floor, a pool of dark blood forming under her cold body. Dederi's blade
was covered in her enemy's blood. Her face was still monotone. She lifted her double-blade, her top-blade over her head
and the bottom-blade down to her ankles. With a final swipe, Dederi brought down the top-blade, and sliced off her
adversary's head. The senshi covered their mouths in disgust and sadness, a few throwing up as they saw the bones and
innards of their enemy, her blood covering the decimated floor. Sailor ChibiMoon had begun screaming at the sight of the
blood, and she was now crying when her enemy had been beheaded, as such carnage and gore was not meant for such a pacifistic
child.

Ibaren stood still, even as the black fire continued to burn around him and the battle had ended, as did the ningyo
sorceress, Hakai. He and Hakai, by using their ki shields and powers, were not burned nor singed at all. They merely
stood, watching their despondent friend as she looked at the beheaded demoness. "So..this is the first of many.."
Hakai nodded. "Yes, magi. Should we not call the others for the upcoming battle?"
"No. We have but one objective, and we do not need help from the Light and the Chronos."
"I understand, magi." She then moved in front of Dederi, ignoring the disgusting smell of a newly dead corpse. "Dederi,
the Dark Dragon of Ancient Dragonn. I see you have manefested the Dark Incarnate, and I welcome you, although I must implore
thee..is Youhshiro alive once more..?"

Dederi's head did not nod nor shake. "He is. The demonic emperor, my creator, is alive."

Hakai nodded her head. She need not say more, for she realized that Dederi's eyes had begun to clear, no longer silouetted
nor dull. Ibaren ran to the side of his despondent friend, for she had fell to her knees. Dederi covered her mouth with
her Gauntlet-covered hand, and coughed as black and red blood escaped her mouth. She still bled red tears, even as her eyes
closed. The Gundam pilots and senshi ran over to them, Duo carrying the still unconscious Trowa, surrounding their bloody
comrad as she fell onto Ibaren's lap. They were all burned by the black fire, some having first or second degree burns
across their legs, arms, and faces. Everyone heard the distempered sobs of their despondent comrad.

"The first of many.." Ibaren whispered, stroking his bloody comrad's hair. The black fire soon ceased burning, only leaving
ashes and debris of destroyed objects. Dederi's wings disappeared, as did her armor, leaving her naked to the world, spare
the necklace which still undoubtedly hung around her pale neck. She was not unconscious, though at the seriousness of
the moment, did not care whether the others saw her this way or not.

"The first of many." Dederi echoed, bloody tears pouring down her cheeks.

"So..does this mean.." Sailor Venus began, crystalline tears forming in her eyes.

"Yes, Venus. The final battle has been foreseen. It is coming." Hakai answered before the question was even asked. "We
must get to your mansion, Mr. Winner. It seems we have a lot of explaining to do."

~

It had been precisely an hour since the Peacecraft Square had been destroyed, and everyone had gone home to Quatre's
estate. They were now in the living room, Hotaru attempting to heal everyone's wounds as they laid on the couches and chairs.
Everyone, as you could possibly imagine, was worn and tired. Everyone's faces showed distinct signs of fatigue, and it
was a miracle that they even stayed awake at all. They were eager and impatient to hear the sorceress's explanation of
all that was occuring.

Haruka slammed her fist down onto the table, instantly regretting it as the impact sent a pain shock up through her arm,
but ignored it. "What the hell is going on?!"

"The events that have been occuring are going along with one of the legends of Ancient Dragonn. I suppose the magi has
told you of Tsurideragon?" She paused, then continued as she saw Ibaren nod his head. "You have then been told of the
ancient demon emperor, Youhshiro. He was the one who created Kuroi's counterpart, Dederi. He had come back, I am afraid,
to take her power and use it for the destruction of all dimensions." Hakai was about to continue, when interrupted by
another one of the senshi, who were all now in their civilian forms.

"Is Dederi truly the Dark Incarnate?" Ami asked.

A groan cut into the conversation. Everyone's heads turning to the raven-haired assassin. She was sitting on the couch,
rubbing her temples at an attempt to relieve her headache. "Yes, I am the Dark Incarnate. Youhko wants me dead because of
it. When I'm dead, all hell will break loose with the Gauntlet of Chiosu broken. With my power amplifying him along with
the Gauntlet, he will kill all of you as a sacrifice to hell, spilling your human blood across his floor in a specific
symbol. It will create a gateway to hell and the Nine Gates, and every demon and youma that has been killed will be
reborn and wreak havoc upon your dimension, soon spreading out into other dimensions, then there will be no more but
desolate ground." Through her blood-stained eyes, she saw the senshi and pilots gave her a look of disgust and remorse.
(AN: Dederi is wearing a robe!)

"But you said that Youhshiro was the one who wants your power..what does that have to do with Youhko?" Duo questioned.

"I should have told you this in the first place. Youhko is Youhshiro's human name. He and Youhshiro are one and the same."
(AN: Hey that rhymes!)

"So we'd have to protect YOU?!" Haruka exclaimed, aggravated. [I will do no such thing!]
"No. You will not protect her. You are not strong enough to do so. You will only die at your weak attempt." A voice
answered from the top of the stairs. Everyone looked up, and saw the halfling, Nova. Both of her arms had been bandaged
with sterile cloth, and from what everyone could see, her abdomen and back were bandaged as well.
"Are you all right?" Dederi asked calmly, not turning her head. She refused to allow her body to jump up and hug her
partner.
"Yes, I am fine. I see your true form has been caught at a glimpse." Nova walked down the stairs, greeted by a bawling
Duo, who began to hug her. Nova instantly winced as Duo touched her bare skin. She was only wearing a sports bra and
grey sweats. "Maxwell, get off me or I'll ki blast you." Duo instantly let go, but not before helping Nova to a couch.
"Nova, are you sure you're all right?" Hotaru asked worriedly.
A dark masculine voice entered the conversation. "Do not worry. She shall be in top physical condition by tomorrow morning."
Yukio appeared next to the gloomy Dederi, a kind expression on his face. Haruka and Makoto scowled standing up slowly. Heero
took out his gun and attempted to shoot Yukio, but he was not fast enough, for Yukio simply dodged the bullet without any
effort. "I have made sure of it, as you have instructed." Yukio looked towards Dederi, who nodded in compliance.

"What're you doing here, youkai?!" Makoto growled preparing to henshin. "Jupiter-"
"Matte." Dederi cut her off before she finished her henshin phrase. "There is no need for another battle to commence. You
would not stand a chance against him anyway."
"Why, Kuro-chan! I'm honored you decided to stick up for me!" Yukio joked, only to be reprimanded with a fist buried into
his stomach.

"I thought I told you to leave once Nova was safe." Dederi took out her fist from the demon's stomach. Yukio inhaled
and winced as the aftershock of pain coursed through his body.
"Well, I wanted to see if you were all right.." Yukio stood up straight once again. "And since you are, I guess I should
take my leave." He then disappeared, but not before turning to the senshi and pilots. "It has been nice meeting you humans.
Take good care of Kuro-chan for me." Then, he was gone.
"Well that was strange.." Duo commented.
"Kuroi, take Barton up to his room and heal the rest of his wounds." Ibaren ordered suddenly, with a deep, stiff voice.
Dederi immediately protested. "No way in hell, magi." Ibaren glared. He didn't want Dederi to be pressed with questions
from the senshi and pilots. She had been through too much in one night. Dederi caught that worried glint in his eyes and
sighed. "Fine." She grumbled, suprising everyone as she picked up Trowa with her arms and began to carry him up the stairs
with ease. Or, that's what it looked like.

Hakai nodded to Ibaren. "All right then, I suppose you people have an infinite number of questions for us to answer." She
leaned against the living room wall nonchalantly, waiting for the questions to be thrown at her and her friends.
"Why did Dederi act like that?" Minako asked, bravely being the first to ask a question. Everyone was wondering the same
thing. Hakai gripped the cloth of her right turtleneck sleeve.
"It's very painful to see her like that, Venus, as you have seen. When Dederi's emotions overwhelm her, one way or another,
she becomes an empty shell, figuratively speaking. An example would be when she has lost hope. The emptiness that she
feels causes her to enter a state of emptiness and depression. I know the magi has told you of this, but I might as well
repeat it, seeing that you still do not understand the statement's meaning. If there is enough malice or bloodlust in herself
when she becomes an empty shell, she becomes the evil which we have feared for years. The Dark Incarnate. She loses complete
control..." A tear began to flow down her cheek. She gasped inwardly and looked away, quickly wiping away the tear with her
knuckle. She cleared her thoughts then.
Everyone saw the sadness the sorceress contained in her eyes. They somehow understood how much she cared for her friend.
It must have definitely pained her and Ibaren when they saw her that way, seeing as they did know her for quite a long time.
Rei broke the uncomfortable silence after a moment. "Why did that Inabikari woman call Dederi a 'dragon'?"
"Self-explanatory, Mars." Ibaren answered. "Dederi and Kuroi are counterparts to each other, even almost the same being.
You must have heard the male voice coinciding with Kuroi's, am I right?" He saw everyone nod. "That was the Dark Dragon's
voice. Such emptiness and sorrow within Kuroi triggered the bloodlust her counterpart has, and her counterpart saw that
as the direct time to manefest himself within his counterpart, resulting in complete embodiment of personality and
strength." Ibaren was leaning against the wall, a few feet away from Hakai.

"What triggered that emptiness?" Heero said with a monotone voice, his bandaged arms crossed as he stared at the magi.
Ibaren remained quiet. He could not tell them about Trowa. But...[Are they still together..that's the question..after that..]
He contained his anger to annihilate Relena Peacecraft (AN: WHY CAN'T SHE DIE!?..oh yeaah..i'm the author..^^;) for the
pain she caused his close friend to have. He slammed his fist against the wall, causing a minor tremor throughout the house,
growling at the thought of Dederi's utter depression. He then disappeared in a flash of blue light. Hakai looked onwards
with sympathy.
[He is truly worried about Kuroi.] Hakai thought, cupping her chin. [Dederi has taken to that pilot. So it is true, then.
Her heart has softened once more. But I do not approve of this..I do not approve of THEM. They cannot be trusted. It will
only lead to more pain for her once she leaves this dimension.] "I cannot tell you of the cause of her emptiness. I can
tell she cares for you, one way or another." She then gave way to a small smile, suprising herself. "You must truly have
made your separate ways into her heart." The senshi and pilots were taken quite aback by that statement. All that time,
when Dederi had been mocking them, angering them, leaving them in the dark...she actually cared?
"How is that possible..?" Quatre thought outloud.
Hakai smirked at their confusion. "I don't know. She has a cold heart, a result from the past, her being the reincarnation
and counterpart of a dragon that was born of evil. But I will be truthful with you." She stared softly at each of them.
"She really is kind. The only thing that holds her back from being nice continually is her past. If you were in her shoes,
you would see that it would be nearly impossible to forget it. She only shows her kindness when you least expect it.
Trust the ningyo. Ningyos never lie, unless it's for a good reason." She winked. Hakai then began her trek up the
stairs, when one last question was thrown at her. One of which caused her to stiffen.
"Last question; what was that guy's connection with Dederi?" It was Wufei.
Hakai sighed and stopped, refusing to turn around. "Whose?"
"That demon, Yukio."
She growled slightly, causing everyone to gulp nervously. She replied in a calm voice, despite her rising anger. [Damn
him. He just *had* to bring HIM up..] Hakai closed her eyes. "They were in love." With that, leaving everyone, save Nova, in
shock, she left them, entering the bedroom corridor, towards her bedroom which had been shown to her moments ago.

Nova sighed, shaking her head. "This is getting complicated."

Dederi's hands glided across Trowa's healed chest, a soft glow of crimson trailing her hands, closing off the remaining
parts of the chest wound, his skin turning back to its regular, healthy, tan shade. Hotaru had healed his arms, but was
afraid that she wasn't strong enough to heal such a large wound. Dederi looked towards the sheet which Trowa laid on. The
pale white sheets were stained softly with blood, since she had put him on the bed to heal him and his open chest wound
had spilled blood (obviously). Some of the blood had dried, though not all of the red liquid had fully evaporated. She
turned back to Trowa, looking at his sleeping face. "You're so stupid, you know that..?" [You should have gotten out
when I told you to..otherwise you wouldn't have gotten hurt.] She held up her right hand, and closed her fingers onto her
palm, leaving her middle finger and index finger out. She put her two fingers on his eyes, softly feeling the skin of
his eyelids. Her two fingers began to glow red, as did her eyes, suddenly turning into the dreaded silouetted orbs once more.
She began to chant in the ancient language that few knew of, Trowa's dark green ki slightly glowing. Suddenly the glowing
stopped. Dederi withdrew her fingers from his closed, tired eyes. She stood up. [No wonder...] "I should have known. Why
did I miss it?" She looked monotonely at Trowa for a second, then for some unexplainable reason softened her gaze.

"Musei to Tomei."

Dederi left the room, shutting off the lights. She heard the soft, metallic 'click' of the brass as she shut the door,
leaning on it when it was stable enough to be leaned on. [I should have known..That is the reason I did not turn you away.
That is why I thought of you as having the potential to control such power..that is why I did not turn down you and Wufei's
requests to learn how to channel ki..You two are the Chosen..] She stepped off from the door as she felt her
body began to ache for rest on a soft bed. Dederi trudged to her room, leaving an unusual silence within the corridor.

It had been about two hours since the conversation in the living room. Actually, it was more like an orientation about
Dederi's history and manefestation, than an actual conversation. Quatre wondered if it was true. "Is she really kind
and gentle like Ms. Saku said?" Or was it a joke? a trap? a mind-game? Quatre didn't know for sure. He held up his
chrome watch, which delicately surrounded his right wrist. It read 11:45pm. "It's really late." A voice said in front of
him. Quatre jerked nervously as he stopped dead in his tracks. He had been walking in the bedroom corridor towards his room.
The lights in the corridor were shut off, causing Quatre to be partially blind as he wandered towards his room, though
since he had been living in the mansion for quite a long time, that wasn't a problem for him. The problem was: who was
it that said that?
"Who's there?" Quatre said forwards, into the darkness, as he reached for his handgun.
Ibaren walked forwards and stopped in front of the desert prince. "No need to worry, Winner. It's only me." Indeed, it was
the aged, yet handsome, magi. His arms were crossed and he was in his dark blue cotton pajamas.
"Oh. Sorry." Quatre put his handgun back into his khaki pocket. "Are you all right? You seemed upset a few hours ago."
Ibaren waved it off. "You needn't be troubled by that. I apologize if the wall was broken when I hit it." Ibaren
sweatdropped, rubbing the back of his head. Quatre shook his head and smiled.
"No, everything's just fine. You didn't need to apologize."
The magi took a breath of relief. "Anyway," He looked serious once more,"I was thinking about the necklace that Kuroi
was wearing, and of its significance and purpose. Then I came to realize one personal fact that we all know, and I would
like to see if one of my theories was, in fact, true. Mr. Winner, what is tonight's date?"
Quatre looked strangely at his guest. "Why, it's November 13. But what does that have to do with Ms. Dederi?"

Ibaren jerked nervously at that revelation. [Shimatta..] He sweatdropped once again. "Well, I guess I have some work to do.
G'night!" And with strangely increased speed, ran off, in the direction of the stairs. He left a cloud of dust swirling
in the dark corridor. Quatre scratched his head in confusion.
"What was that all about?" He shook his head and continued his trek towards his room.

Hakai appeared in front of the magi, who stopped in the middle of the living room after running out the corridor and down
the polished stairs. She had her arms behind her back in a patient manner. Hakai wore a baggy dark, dark purple sweatshirt,
which seemed a little big for her, and black flannel pj pants that had the words "MOODY ASIAN" imprinted all over. She
also wore black fuzzy slippers. She had a delicate smile on her face as Ibaren nodded towards her and Nova. The beautiful
halfling was sprawled out on one of the couches, reading a Jrock magazine that she found in the kitchen. She wore a black
sweatshirt with baggy sleeves and large, dark orange stripes and matching black pajama pants, with dark orange frog
fuzzy slippers. Both of the etherial girls' hair were down.

"And you wouldn't believe me. Always trust a ningyo, magi." Hakai sneered.
"Yeah, yeah. Damare, Saku." Ibaren glared.
Hakai grinned. "Aww, the powerful magi feels guilty. He forgot his beloved's birthday." She faked a distressed expression
as she put the back of her hand to her forehead. She giggled at Ibaren's confounded expression.

Nova looked up from her magazine, a dazed expression on her face. "Beloved?"

Ibaren growled. "What the hell ever gave you the idea that she was my 'beloved'?! I do not see her in any way more than
a friend. I feel guilty because I forgot a FRIEND'S birthday. Besides, she has already taken to that human, as you have
percieved." The magi of Dragonn crossed his arms and looked down at the floor.
Hakai put her hand to her cheek. "Oh so it's true. You're jealous!"

"I am not!" Ibaren looked up.

"BELOVED?!" Nova roared. "But YOU'RE the one who seemed most supportive of their relationship, IBAREN!" She stood up.
Hakai chuckled at Nova's aggravated expression as she attempted to choke the living out of Ibaren. "It was a fling."
"Would-you--shut-up--Hakai?!" Ibaren yelled between choked gasps. Nova finally let him go, allowing him to breathe. Nova
crossed her arms as Ibaren stood up straight, rubbing the part of his neck that Nova embedded her nails into. Ibaren
sighed defeatedly. "She's not my 'beloved'. I'm over it, okay?"
Hakai turned towards Nova and chuckled again. "Sei-chan, you should have seen him during the past four years you and
Kuroi were gone. He barely even talked to us unless it was important! Whenever anyone brought up going to an underground
club he would get all depressed! You know how we would all go as a group; everyone would go. But since you and Kuro-chan
were gone, we would have to DRAG him down there." Hakai looked towards Ibaren and smiled softly. "Why didn't you tell her
when you saw her again? Were you THAT suprised? Personally I prefer you and her to be together than that..that *human*."
"Would you stop?" Ibaren sighed and sat on the arm of one of the couches. "For the last time, I'm over it."
"Wow.." Nova looked sympathetically towards the spiky-haired, magic-weilding 'teenager'. "I never knew you felt that way,
Ibaren-chan." Nova turned to Hakai. "Trowa-kun isn't that bad, Hakai-chan."
"Eh, don't worry about it." Ibaren waved it off. "Can we please get back on the important matter at hand? We only have
a few hours."
"Right." Hakai nodded. "Let's go into the kitchen for some hot chocolate. We'll discuss the matter there." She then
turned around and walked towards the kitchen, followed by Ibaren and Nova.

"By the way, Seito." Ibaren said as he pushed open the kitchen doors. "Why were you choking me?"

Nova laughed and entered the kitchen. "Because I felt left out." Ibaren sweatdropped and followed.

Heero looked at her sleeping form as he leaned against the doorframe of her room, the soft scent of pine making its way
into his lungs. His arms were crossed as he looked on, wearing a white tank top with light blue pj pants. He didn't know
why he was here, standing at the doorframe of the one he cared for. In his eyes, she was, indeed, perfect. Her chestnut
hair flowing freely onto her face, neck, and shoulders from the usual ponytail that everyone saw every day. She seemed
so calm, so serene. She wasn't sprawled all over the bed, but just under the covers, hugging her pillow as if it was a
stuffed animal as she slept on another one. He didn't know what to think. He just..stood there, watching, guarding, for
only kami knows what reason. The only light came from the soft glow of the moon, which came through the lattice balcony
doors. The glow made everything seem calm for the moment. Nothing stirred, nothing moved but the deep breaths he and
Makoto took. Heero looked on, still leaning against the doorframe, which was about two yards away from Makoto's bed.

"Reclaiming your humanity, Yuy?" A deep, feminine voice softly asked. Heero turned around slowly, regretting that he
didn't have his handgun with him. He instantly calmed when he saw his rival for the title of 'Perfect Soldier', leaning
against the shadowed wall across from him, her arms crossed. The raven-haired assassin wore dark red flannel pj pants,
along with a matching long-sleeved shirt, although it was unbuttoned, and underneath a white camisole was visible to the
human eye. She had a placid expression on her face as she softly looked at Heero's glare, unintimidated by his menacing
look. Dederi stopped leaning on the wall, and casually walked over and leaned against the side of the doorframe opposite
of Heero. She looked at the Jovian's sleeping form. She put her fingers to her chin, as if contemplating something.
"You love her, don't you?"
Heero stared at his rival. [Love?] He, suprising himself, shrugged and crossed his arms. Dederi turned to Heero, the same
placid expression on her pale face. "It's true, isn't it? You have begun to reclaim your humanity that you lost long ago."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Heero grunted, glaring at her.
Dederi suprised Heero with a soft smile. "I want to give you some advice, even if you won't listen." [And..even if I don't
follow it myself.] Dederi thought sadly, but continued as she saw Heero's confused expression. "I advise you to reclaim
your humanity, Heero Yuy. Try as hard as you can. I'm not necessarily the right person to tell you this, but I suppose
I'm the only one besides Maxwell to tell you off. Heero, humans are social creatures, as much as I hate to say it. You can't
live alone your whole life. What I mean is, you may live with a lot of people in this mansion, but you always think that
you're alone. You're not, Heero, whether you like it or not." Her smile continued on as she spoke. "You should trust what
I say, Heero, to avoid heartbreak. You should reclaim your humanity, because it is something that I am not able to do."

Suprising Dederi, Heero spoke. "You have reclaimed your humanity, Dederi. You have reclaimed it for quite some time.
Otherwise, you wouldn't have friends. And you wouldn't be with Trowa." Dederi jerked and stared at her rival for a few
seconds, then retorted.

"How do you know?!" She glared and said in a deadly whisper.

"It's easy to notice." Heero smirked. "You have smiled more often and been more open, if not nicer, to everyone else.
How else could anyone explain why you were in the kitchen with Trowa at 6:30 in the morning? I'm very perceptive of my
surroundings, as Perfect Soldiers would." He said that last part with a sense of sarcasm, which caused Dederi to chuckle.
"Well, my rival. It seems you know me more than I know myself." Dederi chuckled. "I trust you won't tell anyone about
the truth between me and Barton, even if we are at some sort of conflict at the moment. Us Perfect Soldiers must keep an
air of secrecy about ourselves."
Heero grinned menacingly at her. "I won't if I trust you won't tell anyone about our conversation tonight."
Dederi grinned back at the prussian-eyed young man. "Deal." They shook hands. "I must ask you one more question, Heero."
"What is it?" He asked.
The girl smirked. "Would you consider me a friend or an enemy? For I must know what everyone thinks of me, to know of
their perspective. Tell the truth. Otherwise I'll have to beat the truth out of you." She said the last part in a chuckle.

Heero thought of it for a moment, then gave a small smile. "Friend." He paused, then added with a laugh, "And a rival."
The young woman laughed along with him. "Well, it's nice to see friends smile, Heero. Do it more often."
"And now I have a question for you." Heero chuckled. "Do you plan to keep the truth away from everyone for a long period
of time?"
Dederi stared, then smiled. She turned around, her back now facing Heero, and began to walk away. "That, my friend, is
unknown, even to me. Be sure to tell Makoto of how you feel, Heero. I bid you a good night. Or early morning." As he looked
at her, he laughed once more. He had to admit, it was nice to have a friend who understood how a 'Perfect Soldier' felt. She
had actually managed to make him smile, something that no one had ever been able to do. [Good night, my friend. Maybe I will
tell Makoto.]

As soon as Dederi saw Heero go into his room to sleep, and had shut the door, she breathed a deep sigh of relief, or
understanding. "It's very strange." Dederi whispered to herself. "Strange that my rival would be the one to convince me
to reconcile with Trowa. Very strange. I don't even really know why I'm doing this." She gripped the bronze handle of
Trowa's closed door, the metal feeling cold in her hand. She turned the knob and opened the cherrywood door, suprised that
there was no creak as she held the door ajar. Her dark orbs immediately adjusted to the soft light in the room, given off
by the moonlit glow which shined through the glass door windows of his balcony. She looked at his sleeping form, and
judging by how smoothly he breathed, he was back to his normal, healthy state. Dederi involuntarily sighed in relief and
contentment. She had to admit, she did care for him deeply. Dederi silently walked over and gently at on the bed at Trowa's
left side. From what her eyes saw, the Latin pilot wore a white, long-sleeved unbuttoned shirt, his well toned muscles
shown. He also wore his black and red thin-striped pajama pants, something that his sister Catherine had given to him
last Christmas, as well as a small dogtag necklace. (AN: I based this from a picture, okay?)

Dederi slowly took her right hand and used her fingers to softly trail the side of his face, his tanned skin feeling
soft and feathery under her pale touch. Her slender fingers then trailed back upwards and stroked his right cheek, as if
inspecting for any sign of illness like a nurse would. "I know I must seem strange, Trowa," Dederi said to him in a soft
whisper, thinking that he was asleep and would not hear her, not knowing that Trowa was indeed awake and was now listening
to her quiet words, "I apologize. If I had never come to your dimension, Youhko and his minions would have left without
any noticable harm, and you would not have been so deeply hurt by Inabikari's attack upon you. I apologize for me being
so stupid, to not think that Inabikari's empathic powers would have detected my feelings for you. I know you must now
hate me..and I don't blame you, Trowa." She said these words with a sad tone. Trowa's eyes remained closed, although his
heartbeat increased dramatically as she began to softly stroke his hair. He had heard the door open, but had not bothered
to get up and ask who it was. A midnight conversation did not necessarily appeal to him, so he feigned sleep. But when
he had heard her soft whisper, he hesitated opening his eyes to face her. Trowa felt ashamed: ashamed for not pushing
Relena away from him, ashamed that he had not been able to help everyone in the fight against Inabikari, and ashamed
that HE was the cause of most of her tears.

"Trowa...I know that I am, indeed, the cause of this whole mess. Youhko only want my power and the destruction of all the
dimensions, and I apologize for coming into your world, dragging you and the other Gundam pilots into it." Dederi continued,
spilling out the pain and sorrow in her heart in a whisper. "You don't deserve to die, and neither do the senshi or the
other pilots, and neither do my friends. I understand if you never want to speak to me again. I was unable to protect
you and the others, and did exactly the opposite. By becoming my true form I put everyone's lives in danger..I could have
killed anyone..I didn't want to kill you or the others..I was somehow able to concentrate solely on Inabikari, and
succeeded in annihilating her..I felt like a was avenging you, but I knew somehow that it wasn't right, that it only
increased the amount of blood in my hands." She paused, still looking at Trowa's 'sleeping' form, then continued. "You can't
hear me, I know that. I suprised myself by coming into your room and actually telling you this. I honestly don't know
about how I feel about you, Trowa. It's strange to me..it's strange that whenever you're near me my heart seems to warm.
When I first came into realization that I was the reincarnation and counterpart to the ancient black dragon that was formed
by the devil's energy, I thought it would've been best to just go accept it and regain my humanity so as to not become
my true form, but..when I first became my true, original form..I killed mercilessly. I had no trouble killing
my enemies before, as you have noticed, but when I was in that state, I killed so cruelly that I couldn't even think about
anything else besides satisfying my bloodlust. I then decided to stay away from people, save my few friends. I began to doubt
human emotions, and I thought I'd never be able to reclaim my humanity, so I just stopped." She chuckled nervously.
"But a friend told me that I had already reclaimed my humanity by being with you, which I was strangely suprised at.
But I guess it's true. Sometimes.." Dederi looked at the moonlight reflecting onto her pale hands. [Sometimes I feel
as if I am in love with you.] She shook her head slowly, then slowly got up to leave, taking one last look at her 'sleeping'
lover. She turned around and began to leave, when something grasped her right wrist. The assassin's eyes widened for a
second.

"Did you mean that?"

Dederi turned to look at him again, and found that his hand had, indeed, grasped her right wrist, and his face was turned
away from her. His eyes were open, his expression stoic yet..[Hopeful?] Dederi thought, then snapped out of her daze when
she felt Trowa's grip on her tighten a little. "Of course I did." She said in a low voice. "I would not willingly lie
about that." She looked at Trowa's calm expression. He seemed to be contemplating something. Something of much importance
that he seemed to be so deeply perplexed to solving it. She felt his grip loosen slowly, but he would not let go of
her hand so easily, that Dederi realized. Trowa, in the meantime, asked another question.

"What is Yukio to you?"

Dederi looked down slightly, as if afraid of Trowa's reaction. "He was an old friend..from when Tsurideragon first began.
When the original Dark Black Dragon, Dederi, was assimilated, Yukio was his comrad, as well as his commanding officer.
I recieved his memory when Dederi combined with my spirit. As soon as the bastard demon king sensed Dederi's presence, he
sent his sisters to 'retrieve' me, so to speak. They failed. A few months had gone by, many more battles did as well. Then
Ten'no Youhshiro sent his mercenary right-hand demon into the fray. And that was how I met Yukio for the first time, and
how Dederi met up with him again. We hated each other for our differences. Later on I was required to go back to the
original Dragonn Temple because of a destiny alteration. While I stayed there, I was confronted by him again. As you
could have told by tonight, we became friends. But that's all we were, and all we are. I now even question our
friendship, not knowing whether or not he is just using me to get the Gauntlet of Chiosu." Trowa still looked away,
his eyes holding deep meaning of revelation and remorse. He felt even more guilty now.

"Is that all you have to ask?" She questioned him softly, turning back to him.

Trowa then sat up from his bed, finally looking at her with his mysterious emerald orbs. "You didn't need to say sorry."
Dederi then stared at her lover in confusion, wondering if she had mistaken what he had just said. "Of course I did.
It's all my fault that you and the others got into the mess." At that moment, Trowa softly pulled her to him, making
her sit beside him on the bed. Trowa slowly put his lips to hers as he cupped her cheek, allowing the soft smell of
lavender to once again flow into his newly-healed lungs. They parted. Trowa smiled slightly.

"It's not your fault. I willingly agreed to help you and the senshi, and that is what i plan to do. Besides, I have
done my share of mistakes and wrongdoings, if you do not remember."

Dederi gave that some thought, then a slight wave of anger washed over her mind. A question appeared in her head, one
that caused her hands to turn into her fists. "Why did you kiss her?" Trowa expected her to ask as much.

"I suppose it was because I only expected Relena to force herself on Heero and not on me." Trowa answered. "Actually,
with complete honestly, I don't really know. Mostly it was from shock."

Dederi looked at him in all seriousness and asked with a growl, "Did you enjoy it?"

Trowa stared blankly at her. "Of course not."

The female assassin relaxed slightly, but not fully. She sensed a feel of uneasiness about him as he stared at her with
his eyes. But, she being a thirdling with heightened senses and confused emotions, sensed another feeling. [Is he telling
the truth? Or..] "Would you do it again if you had the chance?"
"Dede-chan, you know I wouldn't. You must realize that I do not wish to hurt you [intentionally] and that every time
tears fall from your cheek it pains me to see you in that state." Trowa said that from his heart and his soul, something
that took him a while to get up the courage to actually say. Dederi realized that fact as well, upon seeing that his
eyes were so deeply shining with..

[Love...] Dederi thought of that word in her mind. [He..does mean it..] She smiled softly once again, leaning against his
hand which was still cupping her pale cheek. She brought her face closer to his again, their lips meeting. His words
and his lips on hers made her feel warm and happy inside, something that had never happened in her home dimension. He
made her feel wanted, like she had a distinct purpose in her dark existence. Her friends, all of them, had made her feel
the same way, but nothing like this. Nothing compared to how she, or Trowa, felt now. They parted again, looking into
each others eyes. They smiled to each other, and met again, only this time with much more passion and fervor than the
last. Dederi opened her mouth slightly, allowing Trowa to enter her mouth. They embraced each other as they kissed.
Trowa softly pulled away from her, and began to kiss her pale neck, causing her to moan softly.

And with another kiss, they lowered each other to the bed, Dederi's flannel shirt dropping onto the floor.

~

#She found herself at ease for some reason. Her mind was calm, serene, as if all of her troubles and distempered thoughts
had just..disappeared. Dederi merely sat there, not even thinking about how the hell she got under a large cherry blossom
tree which was surrounded by endless miles of grassy plain. She leaned on the bark of the young tree, watching the
falling pink petals float onto her lap and the ground. But the peace was, in Dederi's opinion, shattered in an instant
as a figure appeared in front of her. The figure was a woman, Dederi could tell, wearing an elegantly made white silk
gown, reaching the floor and flared around her like rose petals. She had golden-yellow ankle-length hair, tied up in
two buns at the sides of her head, while the rest of her hair flowed down around her. She had serene blue eyes, both
of which were shining with kindness and love. The woman had an etherial glow about her as she stood, causing Dederi to
cross her arms and close her dark eyes. "Sere-baka. What are you doing here?"

The princess merely chuckled. "My, you haven't changed at all, Dederi-san."

"Get to the damn point." Dederi growled indignantly. "I suppose you sent me here, to this place?"

Usagi nodded. Her hands were folded in front of her modestly, like any princess would. "Yes, it is true. I have sent
you here. You recognize this place now, don't you?" Dederi merely continued to lean on the trunk of the cherryblossom tree.
"Yes, I do. It is a part of the royal gardens from your old palace. It spans out endlessly as an illusion. My only
place to be alone." She answered monotonely. "But WHY have you sent me here?"
The Lunarian princess sighed. "You will never change. But I guess I must get to the point. Dederi-san, Youhko has
killed me by lack of soul, as you and the others have known. Mamoru has disappeared without a trace for that reason, and
even his soul is not at ease. And since I am dead, there is no future successor to the Lunarian throne, and without
the successor the Silver Millenium will cease to exist."

Dederi nodded, her eyes still closed. Her usual black trenchcoat waved softly along with the passing wind. "So you now know.
I am not the true successor. But what do you want me to do about it? What do I have that would save your dimension? I have
my own dimension to take care of. I refuse to return to your dimension to merely serve as a queen. You know of my
responsibilities. My past. Since you are dead, you now hold the key to eternal remembrance."
Usagi merely looked on. "You know much more than what is percieved, Dederi-san. That is why I suggested you as the
successor to Luna and Artemis. And that is also why I met with you tonight."
"You still haven't told me why I am here." Dederi growled.

"Dederi-san, have you ever wondered why Chibiusa appeared?"

"Simple. She is from the future." Dederi answered. "But you are dead, which genetically makes it impossible for her to
be your daughter. That is what I continue to ponder about."

"Good, you noticed. Dederi-san, I did and do not want my dimension to be in complete ruin. The Silver Millenium must take
place in its timeline for it to continue to coexist with other dimensions. I know you realize that. I have told you that
there must be a Lunarian successor for the Millenium to take place, but since I am dead, there will be no successor
unless Chibiusa is still born."
Dederi was getting impatient. "I know all of that crap already. But what does it have to do with me?!"
"Dederi-san, please. Have patience and be calm for what I am about to tell you." Usagi encouraged with a serene smile.
"Chibiusa must be alive for the Silver Millenium to take place, so I have assimilated your spirit with her own."

Dederi's eyes flashed open, and she stood up ferociously as she glared at the deceased princess. "NANI!?"

Usagi kept calm (AN: SHE KEPT CALM? AM I SERIOUS?). "You are with child, Dederi-san. Do you not realize that? Why
do you think you are so calm with Chibiusa? Why do you think you cared for her when she first arrived to the Gundam Era?"
These questions seemed to bore into Dederi's mind like daggers piercing into flesh. It now made sense to her, but still...

"Don't you think you should have asked me before you did such a thing, baka hime?" Dederi said in a deadly tone.

"It was needed, Dederi-san. And I know you would not turn down such a request. I know deep inside your heart that you do,
indeed, care for my daughter. I know that you would not hesitate to give your life in order to save her." Dederi had
to sigh in defeat as she heard these words escape her old superior. She couldn't deny that she did feel protective
of the small pink-haired girl. Dederi closed her eyes at the princess.
"Is there anything else you need me to do?"
Usagi smiled kindly at her old bodyguard. "I am sorry that you must carry such a burden, Dederi-san. But I know you will
succeed. Since you are of another dimension and are a thirdling, and since Chibiusa's genes shall be different from
before, she shall look different. You will see tomorrow how she has changed. And I'm guessing you also know that the
father is Trowa Barton." Usagi grinned slightly as Dederi blushed. "I will not pry into your life anymore than I already
have Dederi-san. You need not worry about me asking about your 'activities'." Usagi had to giggle.
Dederi blushed even more at that statement. She growled at her. "Are we done, bakemono?"

Usagi laughed softly as she nodded. "Yes, Dederi-san. We are done. But, I must ask you not to tell anyone, not even
Trowa or Sets-chan, about this. They must not know just yet, for it might jeopardize everyones, especially your's, futures.
Do you understand, Dederi-san?"

Dederi nodded as everything around her began to mist into oblivion. "Hai. Mission accepted."#

======
AN: FINALLY!!! I'm finished! I apologize that this chapter is..WAFFY. I also apologize that there is not much Heero/Makoto
and Nova/Duo in here. But there will be a lot of couplings in the next chapter, so sit tight, ne? Also, I must clear this
up: Heero and Dederi/Kuroi are just friends! Same goes for Ibaren! I just had to put that one part about Ibaren because,
well, it had something to do with the original series and someone-whose-name-will-not-be-mentioned requested that I
clear it up. Get the picture? If you have any questions, requests, comments, etc. please review [if on ff.net] or
simply email me!

AN2: Please tell me in your review whether or not I should raise the rating from "PG-13" to "R".

Email: ketsekiburade@hotmail.com