(DISCLAIMER)
I do not own anything having anything to do with Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing,
Sunrise Inc., or anything else that could make me quite a bit of money.
Chapter 20: Crossroads
"I wasn't expecting that at all," Hilde sighs as Leo drops to one knee and opens its hand.
"Good idea," Mars exults, "We should get out of what is left of here." She takes a long look around at what used to be the northwest sector of Tokyo. Now it is a five block wide square of rubble she realizes as she climbs aboard Duo's Taurus.
"I've got DeathScythe," Wufei comments as Altron hoists the disabled Gundam over its right shoulder and blazes off to the north. The rest of the girls and Ryo climb aboard the remaining suits and they all follow Altron as if he knew where he was going. They notice the police and miltary quickly converged on the battlefield once they left knowing they don't stand a chance if they anger the monsters.
About six miles outside of the city, Altron sets down and tosses DeathScythe on the ground face first and inspects the damage. The rest set down and Heero notices this is where they originally stashed the Gundams. The Gundams and suits kneel one by one and let off their cargo. Duo is the first to get out and runs over to the Leo to make sure if Hilde is all right. As her cockpit opens, she leaps into his arms and kisses him fiercely. Duo's face originally glows in shock, but eventually he enjoys the moment and the fact he is lucky enough to have a moment like this again.
"Don't scare me like that again," Hilde scolds as they part.
Duo pulls her close and wraps his arms around her, "I told you I will always come back to you, didn't I?" Hilde closes her eyes and remains in the tight embrace until she is satisfied.
"Uh Duo," Wufei interrupts, "DeathScythe is in pretty bad shape. It will take some time to fix, so we can't follow them right away."
"Well then I'll guess he'll have to stay right here," Hilde jokes warmly. Wufei sneers and Duo smirks.
The next cockpit to open is Wing Zero. Heero slowly slides out grasping his right elbow and his hands have bandages wrapped around them.
"Oh God Heero," Mercury worries as the entire scout squad, minus one, rush over to him.
"Don't worry, rough battles like that usually leave us a little battered and bruised," Heero coldly states as if it was normal. "But I didn't have it the worst," Heero says glancing toward the badly damaged HeavyArms with Jupiter waiting anxiously at its downed knee. The hatch on HeavyArms begins to open and gets stuck just after opening.
Jupiter raced up to it and begins tugging on it, "Trowa, are you okay? Say something Trowa!"
"Please back up," a straining voice called back. Jupiter quickly returns to her position waiting nervously as a big thud is heard and the hatch swings open, with a foot sticking out of it after kicking it.
Trowa slowly emerges from the cockpit and hops to the ground. He stands up sort of straight to reveal his exhausted and painful expression. His blue- green eyes are dull and his face grimaces from obvious pain he is experiencing. Jupiter looks over at Trowa's shirt and notices the left shoulder is ripped off and a deep cut is bleeding profusely. Trowa, seemingly using a large amount of strength, turns his head to Jupiter. His eyes finally dialate and he topples over, but Jupiter catches and cradles him as she gently kneels on the ground and detransforms. Trowa weakly looks up and notices Makoto rip the bottom of her shirt and wraps it around his shoulder. His eyes flicker as he notices Makoto is tearing off her clothes and she notices the reaction.
"You jerk, cut that out," she jokes tapping him lightly on the head with her fist. Trowa returns a weak smirk.
Makoto looks back to him once more as she finishes the bandaging, "We are gonna have to get that smile out of you someday."
Trowa nods and closes his eyes enjoying silently the position he rests in at the moment.
"Okay, can someone explain what is going on?" Wufei barks as he jumps out of Altron. Hilde quickly breaks from her embrace with Duo and looks to Wufei anticipating his reaction. Duo looks on behind her with as much anticipation.
"That is your call, Sailor Moon," Heero orders as Mercury looks over his bandaging as Ryo puts her own set of bandages on her leg.
Moon walks up to the Chinese boy and offers her hand. Wufei glares at the hand in return and slowly raises his gaze to eye level. Moon withdraws her hand confused and decides to just explain it.
"Well, valiant warrior, I am Sailor Moon and these girls are the Sailor Scouts. Otherwise known as the protectors of this planet in this timeline."
Wufei just stands there speechless with the expression of shock written all over him.
"P, P, Protectors of THIS world?" Wufei stutters after quite some time in stunned silence.
"Yes, we have defended this world from those type of monsters you saw leave a short time ago," Moon informs. All the girls save Makoto and Mercury look over at the odd response Wufei has given.
"A bunch of women?" Wufei glowers, "And to think I wondered what kind of place Audric would use to store mobile suits. No wonder!" Duo belts out laughing as he falls over. Hilde face is beet red about to follow her man. Heero just glances over in silent amusement. Trowa is missing the whole thing.
"And what the hell does that mean!" Uranus demands.
"Exactly what you think it does," Wufei fires back, "Women are weak. They can't handle such trying things."
"Weak huh, I'll show you," Mars threatens as Moon steps by her side and lays a hand on her to calm her down.
"Bah, forget this. I need to get out of here as fast as I can before this world crumbles," Wufei says as he angrily stomps off toward DeathScythe.
Moon just shakes her head.
---Meanwhile (GW - Preventer HQ)---
A woman busts through the door as everyone is sitting a chatting with Mr. Tregall.
"What is it, Trisha?" Sally asks worriedly.
"We just got a report from Lamda team just outside the blackout point!" Trisha manages as she reaches for another breath.
"And?" Zechs asks annoyed.
"Fa, Forty-six transporters just emerged from there and attacked," Trisha returns revealing the source of her anxiety.
Une races up and looks over the report, "And they're headed for Earth."
"Well, what do we do?" Noin asks.
"The only thing we can do considering their speed is to deploy all of the Preventer's mobile suit forces and force the battle to the moon's facility. It should be the only defensive position we can use since DeathScythe and Altron didn't obliterate it completely last time. But the problem with that is we have more suits than pilots."
"What does that mean about the others operation?" Sylvia comments.
"Based on the smaller numbers returning, it would seem they won the fight," Quatre explains, "But the question now is why is Vanguard coming back here hostile, not to mention the Gundams whereabouts?"
"Or they defeated them, and think they can take this world anyway," Zechs points out.
Silence envelops the room like a veil.
"Well, there is one way to find this out," Une comments, "Let us meet them and find out for ourselves."
"Right," Quatre answers, "I'll go ahead and prepare the moon facility while the rest of you set up the barrier."
"Good idea, Quatre," Sally congratulates.
"Yeah, I'll come help," Sylvia happily perks.
"No, you won't," Quatre answers in a slightly firm tone, "This is too dangerous."
"But Quatre," Sylvia whine worried about him.
"You will stay with me," Mr. Tregall interrupts. Sylvia turns to him and they exchange a strange look. Sylvia sighs and walks to his side and sits down in the chair next to him.
"Fine," she sighs.
"Good," Quatre exalts, "Now, I'm off. How much time until they reach us?"
"About twenty-eight hours," Sally responds typing up the data.
"Great, and I thought I'd be rushed," Quatre says as he rushes through the door.
---Later On (SM - Hikawa Shrine)---
"And the events of yesterday are still not being released to the press by miltary or police forces," the TV blares, "Luckily no innocents were injured in the battle yesterday that flattened 22 city blocks of northwestern Tokyo. We will bring you more details on "Tokyo's Robotic Siege" on the 10 o'clock news."
"No one innoncent got injured," Rei sighs, "How very fortunate."
"That is amazing I must say, but you yourselves told us the populous is great at fleeing battles when they occur did you not?" Duo laughs.
"That is true," Usagi beams that she knows the answer.
"So where is angry Chinese woman-hater?" Minako jests.
"I believe his words were, I will fix DeathScythe by myself so the women have no reason to bother me, so go away!" Hilde giggles.
"Is he always like that?" Ami asks.
"Without fail," Trowa states as he enters the room beside Makoto looking better.
"Wow, sleeping beauty arises!" Duo jabs, "I guess eighteen hours of sleep can do someone a bit a good."
"I still don't have Heero's record of a month after he self-detonated," Trowa boringly jokes himself.
"Were you with him the whole time, Makoto?" Heero intrusively asks.
Makoto nods and Heero closes his eyes returning to conversation spectator.
"How long do you suppose it will take him to fix it?" Makoto adds.
Duo touches his chin and replies, "I think it will take until next morning before we leave, so I'd guess sixteen more hours at Wufei's normal speed.
"So, our last day together in this world, what shall we do?" Minako ponders aloud.
"I want to go shopping before I leave," Hilde chimes in much to Duo's dismay.
"Then we should all go out to eat afterwards." Usagi adds, "Maybe another picnic."
Ryo sighs, "You really want to try another picnic after what happened last time?"
"One more thing to remember everybody," Rei adds perkily, "Pictures!" She whips out a camera and snaps a picture of the entire group around the table.
---Later on (SM - Central Park)---
Duo gulps down a big bite of his sandwich, "Now Hilde, how do you expect us to take this all home?"
"Well, we are planning on taking the girls back with us, so why don't we just use the transporter they left behind," Hilde answers as if this had been planned out from the beginning.
"The girls are coming back and you found a transporter?" Duo gasps.
"I found the transporter as we were heading back yesterday," Heero states bluntly, "Antenna and everything."
"Man, Audric's recklessness is still biting him long after his unfortunate end," Duo shakes his head at. "So then the girls coming along is already a done deal?" Duo continues.
"You going to tell them they can't come?" Trowa asks definitively.
Duo drops his head in defeat, "They all are heading back at the end though and we go back to the way things were?"
An awkward silence takes a hold again. Trowa breaks the silence by getting up from Makoto's arm around his and walking towards a nearby hill. Makoto gets up and follows him after he motions her with his head. Ami looks at Heero who looks back out of the corner of his eye.
"We still haven't finished our business, Heero," Ami manages.
"Business?" Heero inquires.
"What she means Heero is that we talked about you last night," Ryo begins boldly, "Neither of us know anything about your girl back home. You mind divulging some information so we can help you in return for helping us."
"What concern is it of yours?" Heero coldly retorts.
Ami sighs and Ryo's expression become annoyed, "Frankly Heero, by Hilde's reactions to your interest in Ami, I don't think you are very convincing when it comes to your feelings for her. Which, obviously to us, runs deep."
"I think she knows," Heero returns actually somewhat unconfident, "It would probably make things easier for her and I if she didn't know."
"So, the fulfilling life you were talking about to me before was a lie?" Ami stabs.
"Not in the least," Heero snaps calmly, "My fulfilling life can't start now, just hopefully later."
"It is not a good idea to wait for anything in life," Ryo philosophizes, "You at least need to be progressing towards your goal at any given point."
"In battle, you must gauge when to make an attack," Heero preaches, "If you mistime it, bad things happen. With the importance that Relena has, I will not jeopardize her focus just to approach what I want."
"Life itself is not a battle Heero," Ami retaliates, "Also, you are not letting Relena think or chose for herself."
"Did it occur to you Heero that Relena may get more focused knowing you are by her side?" Hilde questions, "By talking to her I can tell a little focus is already being drawn away by her uncertainty of where you stand."
'Damn, I'm getting ganged up on,' Heero notices as everyone is joining in the debate, 'I should get Wufei to break this up by his woman-hater slams.'
"Well, now that everyone is involved," Heero sighs, "What do you expect me to do?"
"Heero, why don't you try living your life the way you want to and tell her how you feel," Ami continues, "If you love her, tell her. Don't make it a mystery or you may never get what you want."
'If you love her, tell her. Don't make it a mystery or you may never get what you want,' Heero replays in his mind, 'She is right, but I guess the next question is how and when.'
"Don't you notice how Trowa doesn't seem to be missing any opportunities with Makoto?" Minako joins, "He knows the importance of time, especially when we hear he isn't going to return here with her."
"So, he is grabbing every moment with her to show her that she is very important to him, right now," Rei booms, "Why he isn't returning here is a mystery to us though."
"I'm not certain," Duo joins in, "I figure it has to with either our world not being stable yet, something with his sister, or even both."
"Well, I've had about enough of this serious talk," Usagi yelps, "Where's that camera, we need to take pictures to remember all this time together!"
The girls cheer and Heero looks over to Duo who raises his eyebrow as if saying, 'I hope you heard what they were saying.'
---Meanwhile (SM - Nearby Hill)---
"Trowa, wait up!" Makoto yells as Trowa reaches the top of the hill looking into the sunset. She runs up to him and notices the beautiful sight and just stands there by his side. Without missing a beat he wraps his arm, once again, around her waist and she leans her head into his shoulder. The two stand there for a moment.
"Possibly the last time we can spend these times together," Trowa states breaking the moment.
"Mmm," Makoto mumbles in a heavily dreamy state.
Makoto shakes her head slightly breaking out of her trance and begins once again, "So, what do you suppose is awaiting us in your world?"
Trowa remains focused on the setting sun, "That Ubel probably has something up his sleeve, because if a Leo can tear through those forces, they won't stand up to the Preventers at all."
"He has already shown he has some tricks, so I wouldn't be surprised," Makoto adds, "How about what is waiting for you back home? I know you won't be following me back."
Trowa calmly points out, "My world is still in a voliatle state. Heero and I will have to be pretty active until Relena gets things situated."
"Then what?" Makoto snips obviously getting to a specific point.
"Makoto, I will not guarantee you that I will return," Trowa cutting to the chase, "Our rebuilding may never complete and probably by the time it would, things will be very different for each of us. A great woman once said on her hundredth birthday that the only constant about the world over the course of a lifetime is change itself."
"Well then, what do you plan on doing with your life?" Makoto changes the focus of the conversation, "You never told me your dreams and ambitions."
Trowa is silent as he had never even mused this question after the war had completed.
"I, like my blank past before the war, have a blank slate for my future," Trowa wiseman-like states hiding that he doesn't know.
Makoto smiles and drops one of her eyebrows, "Awfully big way to say you don't know and haven't thought about it."
Trowa laughs out loud bringing out an even bigger smile to Makoto's face, "You need to do that more, Trowa."
"And lose my wise and reliable stature?" Trowa jests.
She jabs him in the shoulder quieting him up.
"How about you, Makoto?" Trowa questions still in a light tone, "You never told me what you wanted to do after this is all said and done."
Makoto's smile goes back to normal as she returns her gaze into the fading sunset, "I always wanted to be a cook and own a restaurant."
"Wow, I couldn't have thought of anything better," Trowa acknowledges.
"But it will take some time and it is hard," Makoto informs having researched this course of life, "I will need to get a lot stronger to accomplish this."
"Don't underestimate yourself," Trowa returns, "I know you will do it. And remember, everyone has to go through tough times in their lives to get what they want and deserve it."
"Deserve it, huh?" Makoto ponders, "That is a good proverb."
"Well, with long and prosperous roads ahead of us both, why don't we enjoy this moment," Trowa says sitting down patting the ground for Makoto to follow. She sits and wraps her arm around his waist and leans into him. He in turn does the same as they gaze into the the beautiful colors of the twilight. All of a sudden a flash is seen and movement is seen down the hill. Makoto notices what just happened, stands up, and chases after the bandit.
"Duo, you idiot!" Makoto yells chasing after the assailant, "You screwed that moment up you jerk! I'm going to get you!"
Trowa stands up with a smirk and drops his hands into his pockets and strolls down the hill watching Makoto quickly gain ground on Duo.
'Nice times,' Trowa ponders, 'I hope I have a chance to experience these times again in my life.'
Chapter 20: Crossroads
"I wasn't expecting that at all," Hilde sighs as Leo drops to one knee and opens its hand.
"Good idea," Mars exults, "We should get out of what is left of here." She takes a long look around at what used to be the northwest sector of Tokyo. Now it is a five block wide square of rubble she realizes as she climbs aboard Duo's Taurus.
"I've got DeathScythe," Wufei comments as Altron hoists the disabled Gundam over its right shoulder and blazes off to the north. The rest of the girls and Ryo climb aboard the remaining suits and they all follow Altron as if he knew where he was going. They notice the police and miltary quickly converged on the battlefield once they left knowing they don't stand a chance if they anger the monsters.
About six miles outside of the city, Altron sets down and tosses DeathScythe on the ground face first and inspects the damage. The rest set down and Heero notices this is where they originally stashed the Gundams. The Gundams and suits kneel one by one and let off their cargo. Duo is the first to get out and runs over to the Leo to make sure if Hilde is all right. As her cockpit opens, she leaps into his arms and kisses him fiercely. Duo's face originally glows in shock, but eventually he enjoys the moment and the fact he is lucky enough to have a moment like this again.
"Don't scare me like that again," Hilde scolds as they part.
Duo pulls her close and wraps his arms around her, "I told you I will always come back to you, didn't I?" Hilde closes her eyes and remains in the tight embrace until she is satisfied.
"Uh Duo," Wufei interrupts, "DeathScythe is in pretty bad shape. It will take some time to fix, so we can't follow them right away."
"Well then I'll guess he'll have to stay right here," Hilde jokes warmly. Wufei sneers and Duo smirks.
The next cockpit to open is Wing Zero. Heero slowly slides out grasping his right elbow and his hands have bandages wrapped around them.
"Oh God Heero," Mercury worries as the entire scout squad, minus one, rush over to him.
"Don't worry, rough battles like that usually leave us a little battered and bruised," Heero coldly states as if it was normal. "But I didn't have it the worst," Heero says glancing toward the badly damaged HeavyArms with Jupiter waiting anxiously at its downed knee. The hatch on HeavyArms begins to open and gets stuck just after opening.
Jupiter raced up to it and begins tugging on it, "Trowa, are you okay? Say something Trowa!"
"Please back up," a straining voice called back. Jupiter quickly returns to her position waiting nervously as a big thud is heard and the hatch swings open, with a foot sticking out of it after kicking it.
Trowa slowly emerges from the cockpit and hops to the ground. He stands up sort of straight to reveal his exhausted and painful expression. His blue- green eyes are dull and his face grimaces from obvious pain he is experiencing. Jupiter looks over at Trowa's shirt and notices the left shoulder is ripped off and a deep cut is bleeding profusely. Trowa, seemingly using a large amount of strength, turns his head to Jupiter. His eyes finally dialate and he topples over, but Jupiter catches and cradles him as she gently kneels on the ground and detransforms. Trowa weakly looks up and notices Makoto rip the bottom of her shirt and wraps it around his shoulder. His eyes flicker as he notices Makoto is tearing off her clothes and she notices the reaction.
"You jerk, cut that out," she jokes tapping him lightly on the head with her fist. Trowa returns a weak smirk.
Makoto looks back to him once more as she finishes the bandaging, "We are gonna have to get that smile out of you someday."
Trowa nods and closes his eyes enjoying silently the position he rests in at the moment.
"Okay, can someone explain what is going on?" Wufei barks as he jumps out of Altron. Hilde quickly breaks from her embrace with Duo and looks to Wufei anticipating his reaction. Duo looks on behind her with as much anticipation.
"That is your call, Sailor Moon," Heero orders as Mercury looks over his bandaging as Ryo puts her own set of bandages on her leg.
Moon walks up to the Chinese boy and offers her hand. Wufei glares at the hand in return and slowly raises his gaze to eye level. Moon withdraws her hand confused and decides to just explain it.
"Well, valiant warrior, I am Sailor Moon and these girls are the Sailor Scouts. Otherwise known as the protectors of this planet in this timeline."
Wufei just stands there speechless with the expression of shock written all over him.
"P, P, Protectors of THIS world?" Wufei stutters after quite some time in stunned silence.
"Yes, we have defended this world from those type of monsters you saw leave a short time ago," Moon informs. All the girls save Makoto and Mercury look over at the odd response Wufei has given.
"A bunch of women?" Wufei glowers, "And to think I wondered what kind of place Audric would use to store mobile suits. No wonder!" Duo belts out laughing as he falls over. Hilde face is beet red about to follow her man. Heero just glances over in silent amusement. Trowa is missing the whole thing.
"And what the hell does that mean!" Uranus demands.
"Exactly what you think it does," Wufei fires back, "Women are weak. They can't handle such trying things."
"Weak huh, I'll show you," Mars threatens as Moon steps by her side and lays a hand on her to calm her down.
"Bah, forget this. I need to get out of here as fast as I can before this world crumbles," Wufei says as he angrily stomps off toward DeathScythe.
Moon just shakes her head.
---Meanwhile (GW - Preventer HQ)---
A woman busts through the door as everyone is sitting a chatting with Mr. Tregall.
"What is it, Trisha?" Sally asks worriedly.
"We just got a report from Lamda team just outside the blackout point!" Trisha manages as she reaches for another breath.
"And?" Zechs asks annoyed.
"Fa, Forty-six transporters just emerged from there and attacked," Trisha returns revealing the source of her anxiety.
Une races up and looks over the report, "And they're headed for Earth."
"Well, what do we do?" Noin asks.
"The only thing we can do considering their speed is to deploy all of the Preventer's mobile suit forces and force the battle to the moon's facility. It should be the only defensive position we can use since DeathScythe and Altron didn't obliterate it completely last time. But the problem with that is we have more suits than pilots."
"What does that mean about the others operation?" Sylvia comments.
"Based on the smaller numbers returning, it would seem they won the fight," Quatre explains, "But the question now is why is Vanguard coming back here hostile, not to mention the Gundams whereabouts?"
"Or they defeated them, and think they can take this world anyway," Zechs points out.
Silence envelops the room like a veil.
"Well, there is one way to find this out," Une comments, "Let us meet them and find out for ourselves."
"Right," Quatre answers, "I'll go ahead and prepare the moon facility while the rest of you set up the barrier."
"Good idea, Quatre," Sally congratulates.
"Yeah, I'll come help," Sylvia happily perks.
"No, you won't," Quatre answers in a slightly firm tone, "This is too dangerous."
"But Quatre," Sylvia whine worried about him.
"You will stay with me," Mr. Tregall interrupts. Sylvia turns to him and they exchange a strange look. Sylvia sighs and walks to his side and sits down in the chair next to him.
"Fine," she sighs.
"Good," Quatre exalts, "Now, I'm off. How much time until they reach us?"
"About twenty-eight hours," Sally responds typing up the data.
"Great, and I thought I'd be rushed," Quatre says as he rushes through the door.
---Later On (SM - Hikawa Shrine)---
"And the events of yesterday are still not being released to the press by miltary or police forces," the TV blares, "Luckily no innocents were injured in the battle yesterday that flattened 22 city blocks of northwestern Tokyo. We will bring you more details on "Tokyo's Robotic Siege" on the 10 o'clock news."
"No one innoncent got injured," Rei sighs, "How very fortunate."
"That is amazing I must say, but you yourselves told us the populous is great at fleeing battles when they occur did you not?" Duo laughs.
"That is true," Usagi beams that she knows the answer.
"So where is angry Chinese woman-hater?" Minako jests.
"I believe his words were, I will fix DeathScythe by myself so the women have no reason to bother me, so go away!" Hilde giggles.
"Is he always like that?" Ami asks.
"Without fail," Trowa states as he enters the room beside Makoto looking better.
"Wow, sleeping beauty arises!" Duo jabs, "I guess eighteen hours of sleep can do someone a bit a good."
"I still don't have Heero's record of a month after he self-detonated," Trowa boringly jokes himself.
"Were you with him the whole time, Makoto?" Heero intrusively asks.
Makoto nods and Heero closes his eyes returning to conversation spectator.
"How long do you suppose it will take him to fix it?" Makoto adds.
Duo touches his chin and replies, "I think it will take until next morning before we leave, so I'd guess sixteen more hours at Wufei's normal speed.
"So, our last day together in this world, what shall we do?" Minako ponders aloud.
"I want to go shopping before I leave," Hilde chimes in much to Duo's dismay.
"Then we should all go out to eat afterwards." Usagi adds, "Maybe another picnic."
Ryo sighs, "You really want to try another picnic after what happened last time?"
"One more thing to remember everybody," Rei adds perkily, "Pictures!" She whips out a camera and snaps a picture of the entire group around the table.
---Later on (SM - Central Park)---
Duo gulps down a big bite of his sandwich, "Now Hilde, how do you expect us to take this all home?"
"Well, we are planning on taking the girls back with us, so why don't we just use the transporter they left behind," Hilde answers as if this had been planned out from the beginning.
"The girls are coming back and you found a transporter?" Duo gasps.
"I found the transporter as we were heading back yesterday," Heero states bluntly, "Antenna and everything."
"Man, Audric's recklessness is still biting him long after his unfortunate end," Duo shakes his head at. "So then the girls coming along is already a done deal?" Duo continues.
"You going to tell them they can't come?" Trowa asks definitively.
Duo drops his head in defeat, "They all are heading back at the end though and we go back to the way things were?"
An awkward silence takes a hold again. Trowa breaks the silence by getting up from Makoto's arm around his and walking towards a nearby hill. Makoto gets up and follows him after he motions her with his head. Ami looks at Heero who looks back out of the corner of his eye.
"We still haven't finished our business, Heero," Ami manages.
"Business?" Heero inquires.
"What she means Heero is that we talked about you last night," Ryo begins boldly, "Neither of us know anything about your girl back home. You mind divulging some information so we can help you in return for helping us."
"What concern is it of yours?" Heero coldly retorts.
Ami sighs and Ryo's expression become annoyed, "Frankly Heero, by Hilde's reactions to your interest in Ami, I don't think you are very convincing when it comes to your feelings for her. Which, obviously to us, runs deep."
"I think she knows," Heero returns actually somewhat unconfident, "It would probably make things easier for her and I if she didn't know."
"So, the fulfilling life you were talking about to me before was a lie?" Ami stabs.
"Not in the least," Heero snaps calmly, "My fulfilling life can't start now, just hopefully later."
"It is not a good idea to wait for anything in life," Ryo philosophizes, "You at least need to be progressing towards your goal at any given point."
"In battle, you must gauge when to make an attack," Heero preaches, "If you mistime it, bad things happen. With the importance that Relena has, I will not jeopardize her focus just to approach what I want."
"Life itself is not a battle Heero," Ami retaliates, "Also, you are not letting Relena think or chose for herself."
"Did it occur to you Heero that Relena may get more focused knowing you are by her side?" Hilde questions, "By talking to her I can tell a little focus is already being drawn away by her uncertainty of where you stand."
'Damn, I'm getting ganged up on,' Heero notices as everyone is joining in the debate, 'I should get Wufei to break this up by his woman-hater slams.'
"Well, now that everyone is involved," Heero sighs, "What do you expect me to do?"
"Heero, why don't you try living your life the way you want to and tell her how you feel," Ami continues, "If you love her, tell her. Don't make it a mystery or you may never get what you want."
'If you love her, tell her. Don't make it a mystery or you may never get what you want,' Heero replays in his mind, 'She is right, but I guess the next question is how and when.'
"Don't you notice how Trowa doesn't seem to be missing any opportunities with Makoto?" Minako joins, "He knows the importance of time, especially when we hear he isn't going to return here with her."
"So, he is grabbing every moment with her to show her that she is very important to him, right now," Rei booms, "Why he isn't returning here is a mystery to us though."
"I'm not certain," Duo joins in, "I figure it has to with either our world not being stable yet, something with his sister, or even both."
"Well, I've had about enough of this serious talk," Usagi yelps, "Where's that camera, we need to take pictures to remember all this time together!"
The girls cheer and Heero looks over to Duo who raises his eyebrow as if saying, 'I hope you heard what they were saying.'
---Meanwhile (SM - Nearby Hill)---
"Trowa, wait up!" Makoto yells as Trowa reaches the top of the hill looking into the sunset. She runs up to him and notices the beautiful sight and just stands there by his side. Without missing a beat he wraps his arm, once again, around her waist and she leans her head into his shoulder. The two stand there for a moment.
"Possibly the last time we can spend these times together," Trowa states breaking the moment.
"Mmm," Makoto mumbles in a heavily dreamy state.
Makoto shakes her head slightly breaking out of her trance and begins once again, "So, what do you suppose is awaiting us in your world?"
Trowa remains focused on the setting sun, "That Ubel probably has something up his sleeve, because if a Leo can tear through those forces, they won't stand up to the Preventers at all."
"He has already shown he has some tricks, so I wouldn't be surprised," Makoto adds, "How about what is waiting for you back home? I know you won't be following me back."
Trowa calmly points out, "My world is still in a voliatle state. Heero and I will have to be pretty active until Relena gets things situated."
"Then what?" Makoto snips obviously getting to a specific point.
"Makoto, I will not guarantee you that I will return," Trowa cutting to the chase, "Our rebuilding may never complete and probably by the time it would, things will be very different for each of us. A great woman once said on her hundredth birthday that the only constant about the world over the course of a lifetime is change itself."
"Well then, what do you plan on doing with your life?" Makoto changes the focus of the conversation, "You never told me your dreams and ambitions."
Trowa is silent as he had never even mused this question after the war had completed.
"I, like my blank past before the war, have a blank slate for my future," Trowa wiseman-like states hiding that he doesn't know.
Makoto smiles and drops one of her eyebrows, "Awfully big way to say you don't know and haven't thought about it."
Trowa laughs out loud bringing out an even bigger smile to Makoto's face, "You need to do that more, Trowa."
"And lose my wise and reliable stature?" Trowa jests.
She jabs him in the shoulder quieting him up.
"How about you, Makoto?" Trowa questions still in a light tone, "You never told me what you wanted to do after this is all said and done."
Makoto's smile goes back to normal as she returns her gaze into the fading sunset, "I always wanted to be a cook and own a restaurant."
"Wow, I couldn't have thought of anything better," Trowa acknowledges.
"But it will take some time and it is hard," Makoto informs having researched this course of life, "I will need to get a lot stronger to accomplish this."
"Don't underestimate yourself," Trowa returns, "I know you will do it. And remember, everyone has to go through tough times in their lives to get what they want and deserve it."
"Deserve it, huh?" Makoto ponders, "That is a good proverb."
"Well, with long and prosperous roads ahead of us both, why don't we enjoy this moment," Trowa says sitting down patting the ground for Makoto to follow. She sits and wraps her arm around his waist and leans into him. He in turn does the same as they gaze into the the beautiful colors of the twilight. All of a sudden a flash is seen and movement is seen down the hill. Makoto notices what just happened, stands up, and chases after the bandit.
"Duo, you idiot!" Makoto yells chasing after the assailant, "You screwed that moment up you jerk! I'm going to get you!"
Trowa stands up with a smirk and drops his hands into his pockets and strolls down the hill watching Makoto quickly gain ground on Duo.
'Nice times,' Trowa ponders, 'I hope I have a chance to experience these times again in my life.'