AN: Arigato for all the nice reviews! So here's the next chapter, I made it longer since I haven't updated this story in a while. I've been a little sick from the lack of sleep and fatigue, if there is such a thing. Since I'm not allowed to cut school, my parents forced me to stop writing and use the computer and catch up with sleep, that's why there won't be any updates for a while until maybe my birthday on Nov. 2, I'm turning 17! If things turns out okay, and I feel better, I may update all of my stories. Just be warned, this chapter is a little dark, it contains some of Usagi's past. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Haven't done one of these for a long time. I don't own anything. You won't get anything by suing me, since I spent all my money that I earned from tutoring ungrateful little brats on the new Life House and Incubus CD s. And no one is getting my CD s ^_~.
Chapter 6
"Usagi you okay? Speak to me!" Duo cried desperately at the girl huddling on the bed. Usagi was shaking uncontrollably. Her usually clear sapphire eyes were glazed over, murmuring something over and over again.
"NO! Don't touch me! I'll do anything, just don't touch me anymore!" The braided boy flinched when Usagi backed away hugging herself when he tried to pull her into his embrace.
"Usagi-chan…" Duo whispered helplessly to himself as he watched his girlfriend rocking herself back and forth.
"Please, don't hurt them, I'll do anything. Anything…" was another whisper that fell from her trembling lips along with the tears.
Unable to bear the sight of Usagi like this, the braided boy could only pace around the room, twisting his braid in one hand as he restored to do one thing he hasn't done since his childhood. He prayed.
"Our father, who art in heaven. Hallow be thy name. Thy kingdom to come…" he couldn't help the tear that slipped from his closed eye lids. Please god, he had done many sinful things in his sixteen years. But he would not hesitate to trade his worthless life if it could bring Usagi back to normal.
"DUO!" Hiiro burst into Usagi's bedroom with the other three pilots behind. Quickly scanning the situation of the room, he pushed his best friend aside and took his place beside the girl, only to get the same results. Usagi's condition merely worsened when she realized that she was surrounded by men. For the first time, the Perfect Soldier felt lost and scared. He just found his family, and suddenly, it's all falling apart. He sat there numbly, not knowing what to do. All his life was spent on learning how to destroy, not restore. He was suddenly pushed away. In anger, he blindly stroked out at the person who dared to tear him away from his imouto, only to have his hand pinned back by Wufei.
Handing Hiiro to Trowa to hold, and telling Quatre to grab Duo, the level head Chinese pilot pushed Usagi's hands down from her head, and pushed hard on the pressure point on her neck. The blonde girl's eyes widened, before rolling back and sank into unconsciousness.
"YOU BASTARD! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?" Duo struggled to get out of Quatre's hold when he saw Usagi black out. Trowa was also having trouble with holding down Hiiro, who even though didn't express his anger verbally was glaring at the pilot of Shenlong with promises of death.
Walking up first to Duo, then Hiiro, the Chinese boy delivered two hard slaps, which served to calm the two pilots. "She's just asleep. I pressed her pressure point, she'll wake up in half an hour or so. I think that it's better for all of us to see her in peace than in shock, so snap out of it! This is no time to be weak when she needs you two. We don't even know what happened to her!"
Hiiro and Duo finally stopped struggling, as Quatre and Trowa released them. The two made their way to the sleeping girl, taking off her shoes and tucking her away under the crimson bedcovers. Hiiro sat by the bed, holding on to Usagi's hand while Duo explained what they saw in the hall way.
"So Maxwell, you are telling us that when you got there with Yuy, there was only a pile of ashes, with a rose standing in the middle? And the onna had already gone into shock? What about the guy she chased after?" Wufei asked, not knowing how to react. If it was only the braided baka, Wufei would have dismissed the whole story as another trick that the pilot of Deathscythe was pulling on him. But this time, not only Duo, but Hiiro the Perfect Soldier also witnessed the unnatural phenomena with his own eyes. Not to mention the condition the onna was in…
Both Duo and Hiiro nodded solemnly.
"Could it be…?" the Chinese pilot shook his head. "Do you think that it's possible that maybe Usagi…" He let the words die down.
"There is a possibility that she could have killed the assassin. After all, she does have strange powers," Trowa mused, keeping his visible emerald eye on the sleeping girl, ignoring the glares Hiiro and Duo sent him. "But that still doesn't explain the rose, or why and how she's in shock. It's too real to be an act to cover up for a murder."
All the pilots fell silent, each lost in his own thoughts. The room was quiet except the laboured breathing of the bunny on the bed. Even in her sleep, peace did not come to her. Instead, Usagi turned and tossed, as if trying to run away from her nightmares. Hiiro winced as his imouto's hand clamped down on his, her slim fingers were taunt with strength, that even the Perfect Soldier couldn't help but gasp in pain.
"Mamoru…NO! don't hurt them!" Usagi screamed out, snapping up into a sitting position, her eyes were wide open, but unseeing. "Please, I'll do anything," Usagi broke down, tears started to fall unheeded as sobs racked her fragile body.
Not knowing what to do, Hiiro carefully gathered his imouto into his arms, rocking her back and forth. Duo stood and watched, nearly tearing his hair out at the uselessness that washed over him, every time Usagi cried out.
"Duo," Hiiro's voice cut of the braided boy's anger as the perfect soldier beckoned the other boy. He mentioned with his free hand for the his partner to take Usagi. "Hold her. I'm going to look for Setsuna Meioh." After all, the teacher did seemed to be very close to the girl, maybe she would have some useful information. Hiiro had a feeling that the state his imouto was in had to do with her past. "Trowa, Quatre, Wufei, you guys watch out for any danger. I'll be right back." The three pilots nodded and followed Hiiro to the living room.
When they were alone again, Duo tenderly looked down at the blonde head on his chest. Sighing, he laid down on her bed, pulling Usagi close to his body, so that her head was resting against the crook of his neck. The braided boy entwined his legs with hers, and slowly stroked Usagi's back. Duo smiled gently against the silky blonde hair when he heard her breathing calmly and two arms sneaking around his waist.
~*~*~*~
"Mamo-chan! Come on! Minna are waiting for us!" an impatient blonde girl tugged the pea green sleeve of her boyfriend. It was a beautiful summer day. The girl had made plans with her best friends to go shopping together. And since her boyfriend had nothing to do, he would just have to tag along.
"Usako, why can't we spend sometime together?" the man stopped, pulling the blonde girl to a stop and leading her to a secluded section of the street, where it was isolated from the population. "You have been spending way to much time with them. I barely have you to myself anymore, it's like that they are trying to keep us apart," Mamoru complained as he looked down at his girlfriend.
The blonde girl giggled, missing the jealous light in Mamoru's dark eyes. "What are you talking about Mamo-chan? We've been spending almost everyday together since vacation started. Now let's go, I haven't seen Hotaru for ages!" The happy girl said and would have started to walk away if it weren't for the hand that grabbed her arm in a painful grip, before it slammed her against the wall of a building.
Usagi cried in pain as the bricks dug into her bare shoulders. "I mean it Usako! I don't want you to spend time with them anymore!"
The frightened bunny could only nod under Mamoru's insanely possessive stare. It was the first time she had seen him like this.
*Scene change*
"Who could it be? Don't they know that it's rude to interrupt people in the middle of the night?" the dark haired miko grumbled under her breath. It was 2:00a.m., and mad poundings on her door woke Rei from her rest. At first, the miko dismissed it as the thunder, after all, it was raining cats and dogs outside. But the pounding did not stop, forcing the fiery tempered senshi of Mars to get up, and deciding to give whoever it is a piece of her mind for disturbing her sleep.
"What the hell do you want?!" Rei yelled as she yanked opened the door. "U…Usagi-chan?" The black haired miko stared in shock at the blonde girl.
Usagi was wearing a thin shirt and shorts which were thoroughly soaked by the rain. Her teeth were clattering uncontrollably and her lips were a pale blue color. Blood stained her bare feet, which were cut from running on the gravel without shoes. But the blonde girl didn't seem to notice her injuries, as tears dripped down her bruised face before they were washed away by the cold rain.
"Oh my god! What happened to you Usagi-chan?" Rei finally found her voice as anger fired up inside of her as she took in her princess's appearance.
The wet girl didn't answer, but flew into Rei's arms, sobs shook her whole body. The miko gritted her teeth together as she felt the bones under the cold skin. Usagi had always been slender, but ever since she moved in with Mamoru, she practically became a stick figure. That bastard! After her princess started to live with the jerk, she was rarely allowed to go out, except when he was with her, watching her every move like a predator and his prey. "Is it Mamoru?"
Usagi nodded, face buried in Rei's shoulder. "Shingo was sick, so I snuck out to see him in the hospital. He found out. He said that I was leaving him for my family, and…" the blonde girl couldn't continue anymore.
"It's okay Usagi-chan, you're safe now," the miko gently rubbed the blonde girl's shoulders. "You're freezing! There are some robes beside my bed. Change into them, and I'll ran a nice hot bath for you. Then you can tell me what happened. Okay?"
The blonde girl nodded and went into Rei's bedroom, finding the miko robes folded neatly by the bed. She could faintly hear the splash of water against the tub in the bathroom, as she quickly took of her clothes, revealing the dark bruises that marred her creamy white skin. Usagi looked at her soaked clothes, before she flung them against the wall with a strangled cry. Sliding down to the ground, the blonde girl curled up into a ball and wept. What happened to her Mamo-chan? What happened to the man she loved? It seemed like he had changed into a completely different person. One that was a jealous and cruel animal, who locks her up in their apartment, and beats her every time she sets even one foot out of the door. She wasn't even allowed to call her parents. She was a bird locked away in its cage, only used for the pleasure of its master.
A familiar dark presence crept over her, as a shrill cry reached her ears from the bathroom. Quickly pulling a robe on, Usagi ran towards the scream. She froze when she arrived at the half opened bathroom door.
"Where is she?" Tuxedo Mask asked harshly as he tightened his hold on Rei's neck.
"I…I don't…know what you are talking about!" Rei chocked out glaring at the man who hurt her princess.
"I saw her running towards the temple. You know where she is. You are trying to take her away from me, but it's not going to work! She belongs to me only!" Tuxedo Mask cried and shook the miko in his grasp.
Rei grimaced as her head banged against the wall. A trickle of blood dripped from the slash from her head. She silently prayed that Usagi would run away before the maniac could find her. "You bastard! You don't own Usagi!"
"Ah Rei, that's where you are wrong. You see, Usagi is mine. She's my doll, and no one can take her away from me. I'll always find her. So tell me, where did you hide her?!" The masked man punched the dark haired girl.
Rei looked up, a twisted grin formed on her face, before she spate on Tuxedo Mask's face. "I'll never tell you, you son of a bitch," the miko whispered to the enraged face.
"You'll pay for that you bitch!" all evidence of sanity disappeared from the man as he formed a rose in his hand, bring the sharp tip of the stem against the pulse of Rei's throat. "Say goodbye to your precious princess, little senshi of mars!"
"STOP IT!"
Both dark heads turned towards the door, where a blonde girl stood, trembling with both fear and fury.
"Odango! What are you doing here you baka?! Get out of here!" Rei screamed in panic.
"Let her go Mamoru. I'll go back with you," Usagi said calmly to the masked man, ignoring her friend.
"See Rei? I told you that I would always find what's mine," Tuxedo Mask smirked as he released Rei. Walking up to Usagi, he tangled one of his hands into the long blonde hair, and twisted Usagi's head up to face him, taking pleasure from her gasps of pain. "Mine." was the only word he whispered before his mouth descended on hers, forcefully opening her lips with his tongue.
"You bastard!" Rei screamed when she saw the masked man raping Usagi's mouth. "Mars Star Power!" In a few seconds, Sailor Mars stood in the place of Rei, ready to attack. "Mars Flame Sniper!"
"Uh un, Mars. You won't want to burn your precious princess to death will you?" Tuxedo Mask smirked as he pulled Usagi in front of him, using her fragile body as a shield.
Mars slowly lowered her fire arrow, and let it burn out in her hand, knowing that he was right.
The man laughed cruelly as Mars lowered her head in defeat. Without hesitation, the rose in his hand flew straight at the unarmed senshi, the razor sharp tip sinking into the shocked senshi's chest.
"REI!!!" A scream tore from Usagi's throat as she struggled wildly to get free, but she was no match to Mamoru as he pined her arms by her side, laughing as blood gushed out from the fire senshi.
"Gom…gomen Usagi-chan…that I…I couldn't protect you…" the senshi whispered as her life slowly poured out from her body.
"No, that's not true Rei-chan! Don't leave me," Usagi shook her head in denial.
"We'll meet again…I promise you. I'll always pro…protect you, my…my princess," a smile graced her features as the senshi of Mars' eyes closed, and her body fell back, into the water fill tub. Crimson water spill over the edge, splashing against Usagi's bare legs.
"REI!!!!"
~*~*~*~
"REI!!" Usagi jerked up from Duo's arms screaming as tears dripped form her eyes.
"Usagi."
The girl turned to see Duo sitting beside her. Without a word, she fell into his waiting arms and cried.
"Shh, it's okay. It was just a nightmare. I'm here Usagi-chan. I'll protect you, I swear. Nothing is going to hurt you anymore," the braided boy whispered soothingly.
"It wasn't a nightmare. It was real. She said the same ting before he killed her," Usagi whispered emotionlessly against Duo's neck. "He's here. It's happening again. The cycle is going to repeat again. Everyone is going to die because of me…"
Duo clutched his jaws as his arms tightened protectively around Usagi. "I swear to you, no one is going to die!" He promised to her, before tilting her head up and covered her quivering lips with a gentle kiss, erasing away her uncertainty with his confidence.
"What happened Duo? We heard screaming inside. Are you two okay?" Quatre asked, before turning to an interesting shade of pink as his eyes fell on Usagi and Duo, who were locked in a tight embrace. "Sorry, I didn't realize that you guys were busy…No, no, that's not what I mean! That I shouldn't have interrupted…No that doesn't sound right either…" Quatre's blush burned deeper. Both Duo and Usagi wondered just how much the blond boy could blush until his head would pop from the heat.
"It's okay Q-man. Usagi-chan is back, she had a nightmare, and I was just comforting her," the braided boy winked at his friend.
"Maxwell, if Yuy ever found out how you 'comfort' his imouto, you would be living the life of a monk by now," Wufei sneered from the doorway.
"Why? Is Duo converting to Buddhism?" The said Perfect Soldier asked as he returned with Setsuna behind him. He was relieved to see that Usagi had awakened from her shock.
Wufei smirked at Duo, payback time, and opened his mouth to speak, when something was shoved into his mouth. Quickly spitting the stinky cloth out, the solitary dragon saw red as he realized that it was a pair of Maxwell's dirty socks rolled up together. The said braided pilot looked at him smugly from his position from behind Usagi, who was in the arms of Hiiro, who had his gun out.
"I swear Maxwell, I'll shave all the hair off of your body! I'll be watching my back if I were you!" The mad dragon spurted out. With the gun pointed at his head, it was better to wait for his chance, than to be shoot right now.
"All of his hair on his body Wu-man?" Usagi asked, smirking at the red faced Chinese pilot.
"Usagi-chan?" the calm voice of the Guardian of Time interrupted the teasing and brought the group of teenagers back to the problem at hand.
"Setsuna-mama," Usagi whispered before leaving her nii-chan's arms and hugging her senshi.
"Can we talk in private?"
Usagi nodded and lead the green haired woman to her bedroom, locking the door to make sure that the pilots couldn't hear their conversation.
"Setsuna-mama, he's here," Usagi went straight to the point.
"I know."
The Shinimegami looked at the older woman in surprise.
"You forget Usagi-chan, I still have my powers. And besides, when Hiiro held me at gun point earlier, I assumed that it was something to do with you." Setsuna quietly smiled as she recalled the scene when the young boy holding the gun to her head.
"But why is he here? I thought that he died? Why can't he stay dead?!" A bolt of lightening flashed outside of the window at the shinimegami's outburst.
"Usagi-chan," Setsuna pulled the girl to lie on her lap. "You have to let go of the past."
"How can I forget what happened? He murdered everyone in front of my very eyes! I'll never forget the bastard who brought so much pain to me!" Usagi hissed through her tears.
"Usagi-chan, the years have hardened you. All of us have been reborn, and we lead happy normal lives all thanks to you. Put the past behind you. There is a whole new future waiting for you that is unbounded by destiny. I know that Mamoru is back, but you can't let him take over your life for a second time. Take your destiny into your own hands. All of us will be standing with you. Break away from the chains that is keeping you in the past. Hiiro and Duo are waiting for you once this is all over. You can't fail them," the Guardian argued as she stroked the blonde head in her lap.
"But I'm scared Setsuna-mama. What if I'm not strong enough to fight him? Everyone will die again because of me. I don't know if I can bare it if it all happens one more time. The pain and loneliness hurts so much. I don't want minna to go through the same curse as before, and the gundam pilots too, and nii-chan and Duo-chan…" a crystal tear slipped down. "All I want is to be normal; a boyfriend, a family, and friends. Is that so much to ask?"
"Usagi-chan, you have to fight for all of this. If you just sit back and lament about the past, the cycle is going to repeat itself, like before. But if you take the reins of destiny into your own hands, you will find your happiness. Think about it," with that, the green haired guardian walked out, leaving the Shinimegami to reflect over the words.
"Well?" Duo demanded as the history teacher walked out of Usagi's bedroom. The braided boy had almost worn out the plush carpet with his pacing around. Hiiro wasn't much better off either. Displayed in font of the Perfect Soldier, were at least twenty guns, and the pilot of Wing Zero was dissembling them and then putting them back together with rapid efficiency.
"I can't tell you that much without Usagi's permission, but I'll tell you the basics. The person who killed the assassin was Usagi's ex-boyfriend. He was also responsible for the death of her family. The man is mentally unstable. He as the notion that Usagi belongs only to him. To Mamoru, Usagi is like a living doll, his to play with and to put away anytime he wants. He is also extremely dangerous. Please protect Usagi!" Setsuna pleaded as she bowed in front of the five astonished pilots.
"That bastard! How could he?! No wonder Usagi was screaming like that in her dreams!" Duo immediately recognized the name. It was the same name that Usagi had whispered in fear when she was in shock. "Just wait till I get my hands on him, I'll show him what it will feel like to treat Shinigami's beloved like that!" Amethyst eyes glowed with hatred, there was no doubt what Mamoru would go through if he ever crossed path with the furious pilot.
Setsuna secretly smiled when she heard Duo referring himself as the Shingami. She couldn't wait to see his face when Usagi reveals her true identity.
"HN." Hiiro agreed, a click was heard as he loaded the last of his guns, before hiding it in his spandex. When he gets his hands on Mamoru, he would use the man as target practice before giving him to Relena.
"The onna may be weak, but no one deserves to be treated like a piece of object. The man has no honor to prey on someone weaker than him. I will right wrongs, and triumph over injustice!" Wufei cried out as he pulled out his katana, waving it in the air as he poised sailor moon style. (AN: I just can't resist ^_~.)
Everyone sweat dropped at the outburst from the walking justice.
"I will protect Usagi-chan because she is my friend," Quatre said to Setsuna. Trowa silently nodded in agreement with the blond boy.
"Arigato, you don't know how much this means to m…" Setsuna's words were cut off when someone knocked on the front door. Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, she carefully walked to the door, the gundam pilots each took out their guns and aimed it at the door, nodding to Setsuna to open.
The Time Guardian yanked open the door…
There was no one there outside, or in the hallway. There was only a bouquet of flowers that marked the rude visitor's presence. Ignoring the nagging feelings inside of her, Setsuna carefully picked up the dozen of blood red roses as if the were cobras ready to strike. Reaching into the blossom, the history teacher plucked out the small card. There was only one word written in a familiar bold handwriting.
Dropping the card as if it burned her, Setsuna raced out the door, to try and find the person who delivered the flowers.
It was Trowa who picked up the roses and the card from the floor. Opening up the card, his green eye widened at the message. "Mine" the word was written in black ink. So this was the warning.
"What does it say?" Duo asked curiously, trying to look over the tall pilot's shoulder.
Wordlessly, Trowa passed the card around, watching the reactions on his friends' faces.
"Why that bastard!" Duo clutched his fist, body trembling with barely controlled rage.
Hiiro took the flowers and the card from Trowa before leaving the dorm, to the shock of Duo, Quatre, and Wufei.
"What…Where?" the braided pilot was wordless when the Perfect Soldier disappeared. "Where does he think he was going? This isn't the time for a midnight stroll! Especially when Usagi-chan is in danger!"
"Duo calm down. Hiiro just went to the lab. He's going to run a test and try to find a finger print of the person who wrote the card and delivered the flowers. This way, we can run a data check with the Preventer's computers and pin point and arrest the exact individual who sent the flowers.
The pilot of Deathscythe nodded. Understanding drawn on his face. "You guys should go and rest now. It's pretty late, and I'm sure that you are tired. Byakko and I'll take care of Usagi-chan now." Duo petted the head of the white tiger at his heels.
The three other pilots nodded, before leaving for their own room down the hall. Duo looked around the room, before going into his and Hiiro's room, and took out several guns and hidden cameras. Quickly getting to work, hiding the guns away in the room, and installing the cameras outside their dorm room.
After almost one whole hour of hard work, the braided boy fell on the couch panting, his shirt was taken off, and he fanned himself with his black shirt. He turned his head when he heard Usagi's bedroom door open. The blonde girl appeared from the dark room wearing sweat parts and a black tank top. In her hands, she carried her new laptop and a roll of duck tap, held in her mouth was a CD.
"Where are you going Usagi-chan?" Duo asked looking at his girlfriend.
"I'm going to go and relieve some stress."
"Do you want me to come with you?" the braided boy asked as he tried to get up from his comfy position on the cushions.
Giggling, Usagi placed a kiss on his pouting lips. "Don't worry, I can take care of myself Duo-chan." Usagi pulled away and made her way to the gym. She didn't need to look back to know that even though she told Duo to stay, he still followed her.
When she got to the gym, there was already a punching bag hanging from the ceiling. Putting her laptop down on the floor, she took out the CD from its case and putting it between her mouth as she pulled out the duck tape, wrapping it roughly around one hand and then the other. When she finished, Usagi turned up her laptop and inserted her CD into the computer and walked to the pushing bag, fully aware of the amethyst eyes that watched her from the shadows.
The shinimegami gave the 500Ibs. punching bag a few practice punches, before immediately delivering a round house kick at the bag when the first bar of the song started. The kick itself was enough to break the neck of a man, as the guitar opened the song. Duo watched in shock as the sand bag swung wildly under the continuous attacks made by the small girl. He recognized the song easily, the band who was playing was one of his favourites. He never paid attention to the lyrics before, but this time, he listened carefully, as the song was repeated over and over again.
If shame had a face
I think it would kind of look like mine
If it had a home would it be my eyes?
Would you believe me if I said I'm tired of this?
Well here we go, now, one more time...
'Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low
I could get down to the ground
And I tried to earn my way
I tried to tame this mind
You better believe that I have
Tried to be this
When will this end?
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keeps spinning around
I know that it won't stop
'Til I stand down from this for good
I never thought I'd end up here
Never thought I'd be standing where I am
I guess I kind of thought that it would be easier than this
I guess I was wrong, now, one more time...
'Cause I tried to climb your steps
I tried to chase you down
I tried to see how low
I could get down to the ground
And I tried to earn my way
I tried to tame this mind
You better believe that I have
Tried to be this
When will this end?
It goes on and on
Over and over and over again
Keeps spinning around
I know that it won't stop
'Til I stand down from this sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle, yeah
Sick cycle carousel
This is a sick cycle, yeah
When will this end?
It goes on and on
Over and over and then over again
Keeps spinning around
I know that it won't stop
'Til I stand down from this for good
Tired after her intense workout, Usagi wiped one of her hands across her forehead. Her hair was matted with sweat, and she didn't even notice the blood that seeped through the duck tape from the pressure she exerted from her hands. Without warning, just before the last note of the song died down, she delivered a back hand to the punching bag, not even flinching as the impact sent her hand through the material of the bag, the sand slowly trickled out onto the wooden floor. Finally feeling free of her burden, the shinimegami stumbled back, and slumped against the wall by Duo, who immediately took her bleeding hands in his own.
"You shouldn't have punched so hard Usagi-chan!" the braided boy frowned at the red liquid staining the white hand. "It's going to hurt a little." Duo warned as he started to remove the duck tape from the bleeding hands.
Usagi winced when the sticky material pulled at the little cuts on her hands, and focused her eyes on the long braid of chestnut hair that pooled on her lap.
Finishing his task on the precious hands, Duo scowled at the sight of blood on his beloved's hands. Without thinking, he bend down and let his tongue traced a trail of blood, noting the shivers that ran through the body of the girl in his arms at the intimate contact.
"Let's go home," Duo whispered before he picked Usagi up in his arms, and left the empty gym. Usagi tucked her head under Duo's head and closed her eyes, hearing the song once again in her head as her arms snaked around his neck, playing with his long braid.