AN: Thanks very much for the feedback minna! I'm glad there are also Wufei/Usagi fans out there! I want to thank everyone who took time to review. Especially D-chan, because I'm a major fan of her works! (Now if only she will finish her 'Ai no Zutto' series! I love that one!)

I will apologize that this chapter is shorter than the first chapter, but I need to keep this one short in order to work on the next chapter. Even though romance should develop slowly over time, most of us tend to go crazy if it's taking too long right? So hopefully by next chapter we'll see some Wufei/Usagi romance, ne? Thanks to Fate's Child for the beta!!

Reality Bites

Part 2: Duo vs. Wufei...you're kidding right?

Story by: Lady of Earth

Warning: Insanity, some Duo-moments and ultimately, Wufei rivaling Duo in getting Usagi's attention! Who gets to be the judge?

"And she was HOT too!" Boasted Duo as he told his account of the meeting with Usagi.

"Usagi? As in Tsukino Usagi?" Quatre asked. Duo nodded enthusiastically. "She goes to my school actually." Quatre commented.

"What? She does?" Duo grabbed hold of Quatre's shirt as he made the blonde face him. "Are you trying to tell me that you actually KNOW this Megami?"

"A-anno, Duo..." Quatre said uncomfortably. Definitely not good to be this close to the 'Shinigami'. Especially because the Shinigami has just ate a ton of garlic pizza...*choke, choke*

"Come on Q-man! You have to tell me every single detail! All the measurements!" Duo exclaimed. Quatre's face turned very red, very fast as the blonde Arabian protested.

"Duo!"

"No, no! Not THOSE!" He paused for a moment, a hentai smirk on his face. "Quatre, my man, I never knew you were a little hentai."

"I'm NOT a hentai! I was merely thinking that because...because..." He stuttered. Maybe he shouldn't say it. Especially not when Duo's mere inches from his face.

"Don't try to deny it!" Duo said cheekily.

By Allah, forget trying to reason with Duo. Just hit him square on the face with the truth.

"Because YOU'RE the hentai mind around here!" Exclaimed Quatre.

"That's true." Duo said, shrugging. "Anyway, back to the Goddess. I meant all the data, all the info, all the run-ins with this babe."

"Which babe?"

"Wu-man! Just the next person I want to see! Waitaminute alright? I want to talk to Q-man first." Duo said.

Wufei raised an eyebrow at how Duo was 'talking' to Quatre. "If that's how you have your little talks, no thanks. I think I'll go and polish my katana." He said, stressing the word 'katana'. He didn't need to do that, Duo wasn't even listening to him.

"Look Duo, I can't give you any information about her!"

"Why not?" Demanded Duo as he began to shake Quatre. As if shaking the information out of the blonde would make a difference...

"Because she's in another grade! She's a year younger!" Quatre said frantically.

"Oh." And he promptly released his hold of Quatre's collar. Then he walked towards Wufei.

"You're not coming anywhere near me, Maxwell." Wufei said, voice filled with warning.

"Darn. And I thought I was going to have a little fun today." He said, then he looked around the room, braid snapping at various objects.

'Damn that braided baka. Damn him and his yard-long braid!' Wufei cursed, rubbing a sore cheek where Duo's braid had 'whipped' him a few seconds ago.

"Where's Heero?" Duo asked, as he settled down on the armchair. On the, for some reason, extremely uncomfortable armchair. He then looked up to see Quatre pointing at him with jaw hanging. Eh? To him or something behind him?

Actually, it was to someone he was sitting on.

"He went somewhere." Came the muffled voice of Trowa...that came distinctively from behind his ear. Duo jumped out of the armchair, tumbling to the floor as Trowa got up from the same armchair, dusting off his pants.

Apparently, Duo had been so caught up with drilling Quatre that he had forgotten Trowa was in the room as well. And he had also overlooked the usually quiet pilot who was already sitting on the armchair, before the braided one sat down on the chair...err, on Trowa.

Wufei snorted in laughter at the scene. Now that was something to see! Too bad he didn't have his camera. Duo's look of terror at the voice of Trowa coming out of nowhere was too good to see!





"So what are we going to do with this problem?" The man asked, voice gruff. The woman sighed softly, shaking her head.

"It shouldn't be called a problem, anata." She said softly. He snorted.

"It is a problem. And we can't ignore it."

"Hai."

"You know what to do, don't you?"

"Demo-"

"This is not to be discussed. My decision is final." She bowed her head, looking down at the floor as she bit her lower lip. Seeing the sudden change, his expression softened. Dark eyes that were stormy just a few moments ago suddenly changed into a lighter hue.

'Why does she always do this?' He thought, suppressing a sigh. But seeing the look on his beloved's face, his resolution dissolved.

"Alright, we'll give it a try." He said in defeat. She looked at him with surprise and then the happiness was back in her face as she nodded her head enthusiastically.

"You won't regret your decision, anata." She said warmly.

"I better not." He half-growled, resting his head on the wall. She smiled softly, silently moving next to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. The silent spectators were smiling knowingly at each other before nodding their heads and quietly slipping out of the room. It was time to leave the two alone.





"It looks like some difficult times ahead, Serenity-hime." Pluto warned. Usagi scowled at the use of her title, but decided not to hold it against the Guardian of Time. This was serious business. She would have to reprimand Pluto with the use of the title at a later time.

"So what do you think I should do?" She asked. Pluto paused to cast a glance at Haruka, who was watching the two carefully.

"It is in my opinion, that in order for the senshi to rethink their actions, we will need to stage a disappearing scene for you." Pluto said calmly. However, as predicted, Haruka exploded.

"WHAT? THERE IS NO WAY!" Bellowed the senshi of Uranus. Usagi sighed, sending a pleading glance at Michiru, who was having some difficulty keeping Haruka's temper in check.

"Haruka-"

"I WILL NOT ALLOW MY IMOUTO TO LEAVE MY SIDE!"

"Uranus, this is for the safety of the Princess. She is well taken care of by-"

"A GROUP OF CIVILIANS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY POWERS WHATSOEVER CANNOT-" But Haruka's tirade was cut off by one Princess who has had enough of the shouting.

"Enough." Her voice was low, but there was no mistaken of the danger in her voice. The commanding tone of a leader and the regal voice of a Princess combined. Four pairs of eyes looked at her in surprise and the room was quiet once more.

"Usagi-sama doesn't want us to fight, ne Usagi-sama?" Piped up the youngest of the senshi, the eight-year old senshi of Saturn. Usagi cast a loving gaze to the younger girl.

"That is right, Hotaru. So far, you have been the most mature out of all of us." Usagi said, then glared at Haruka. "Onee-san, is your duty not to cast an example to the new generation?" She asked dryly.

"Gomen nasai, Serenity-hime." But Usagi's glare intensified at the use of the title that Haruka immediately added, "Imouto."

"I agree with Pluto's suggestion. The others doesn't seem to understand yet that they can very well survive without my help and vice versa. I will take that leave of absence." Usagi said firmly. Haruka was about to open her mouth to protest, but Michiru jabbed her in the ribs and threw her a glare. The senshi of Uranus remained silent.

"I am pleased with the lack of protest." Usagi said with a nod. "Now we shall discuss the plot of this...disappearance of mine."

"I have no plan as of now, I apologize." Confessed Pluto.

"Neither have I." Michiru said. But a young voice spoke up,

"I have an idea."

"Do share it with us, little one." Pluto said, smiling at Hotaru.



Wufei looked ready to kill Duo by the time the braided one finished telling Quatre his plan to get Usagi to go on a date with him. But as he continued on his murderous thought, his male chauvinistic ego was starting to kick in. So while Duo was bragging about his 'foolproof plan', Wufei was having an inner battle.

'Kill Duo...Kill Duo...Find a way to kill baka Maxwell...' He thought, practically fuming.

Why kill him? It's his business to go out with the onna! >

'Kami-sama, not YOU again!'

Hey! I'm your conscience you weakling! >

'I am NOT weak! YOU are weak!'

Hah! You're the one who's getting jealous over a weak onna! >

'She's not weak! You saw it yourself!'

So what if she can kick some weak-ass guy's ass? An onna is an onna! They're all weak! > The other side of him shouted. But the real Wufei frowned.

'Meiran wasn't weak.' He pointed out.

Meiran was different. This is onna is not Meiran. >

'But there will never be another Meiran.'

That's why, from now on, you will not like girls! >

'WHAAAAT??? I'm not turning gay!'

Ack! Baka! You've been spending too much time with Maxwell, now you're starting to sound like him! >

'You're living a dangerous life. First you're telling me to turn gay and now you're telling me I'm like Duo.' He narrowed his eyes in anger.

I don't mean for you to turn some shounen-ai feelings! All I meant is that you won't love any other girl after Meiran. >

'You mean to live alone?'

You are the solitary dragon. Live with it. >

'My conscience is a bitch.'

Watch it weakling! >

'You watch it, onna!' And so the 'weak' bickering went on in Wufei's head, unnoticed by his fellow pilots.



"Are you absolutely, positively certain this will work?" Usagi asked Pluto. The Guardian of Time smiled with amusement at her antics.

"Usagi, don't you have faith in your senshi?"

"Well yes...no...I mean, yes....I mean...Oh we'll see!" She said, waving her arm around in anxiety. She was pacing around the room again. Hotaru's plan seemed innocent enough and convincing. To fool the senshi.

The problem with staging Usagi's disappearance is that it can't be an abduction because the senshi will go haywire and destroy half of Tokyo to find the 'evil doers' that kidnapped their Princess. There was also no way they can stage an argument scene with Usagi and one of the senshi and make her leave in a huff, there's bound to be one senshi or more following her. Hotaru's plan was simple and straight forward.

The young senshi confessed that she had seen it on television just a few days before. If a magician can cover his tracks, why not the Moon Princess, who possess powers beyond anyone's imagination? Surely they can work something up. Now all they need is the audience. And they've got the perfect audience and the perfect place.

Usagi had suggested herself that the disappearance takes place right in the middle of the arcade with the audience of the usual crowd of people that goes there. If Usagi can slip by them unnoticed, she'll be home free for three weeks. Three whole weeks without an overprotective sibling, worrying senshi and a stalker of an ex-boyfriend on her back. Freedom.

But Usagi can't help but worry. After all, if this trick doesn't work, if the senshi even senses that she teleported, she'd be in deep trouble. So she has to rely on the team work of Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, Pluto and one special friend. (That friend's identity will remain a secret until further notice, which is probably pretty soon.)

"Usagi?"

"Hai?"

"I think they're ready." Pluto said. Usagi nodded, taking in a deep breath. Pluto handed her a small key, which she took with shaking hands. "You will be fine, Princess." Usagi managed a shaky smile.

"H-hai."

"I've transferred your belongings. Your friends in the Kamiyakashin dojo knows of your arrival and will be waiting for you." Usagi nodded again. Pluto paused for a moment, then sighed. "Usagi, everything will be alright. You'll see."

"Aa. I know." She said, giving a shaky smile. "But the idea of not being home for some time...however exciting it may be, I'm a little scared too." She confessed.

"Although you trust Kenshin, Kaoru and the others, you still have other concerns too. About your identity, am I correct?" Asked Pluto.

"Hai. Good observation, Pluto."

"Actually, I had listened in to the conversation between Kaoru, Kenshin and Sanosuke, a couple of days ago."

"I was wondering why you were suddenly so observant." Teased Usagi. Pluto shook her head but smiled at the light tease.





Weak. >

'Hn.'

Oh, so you're copying Yui now? >

'Shaddap.'

Can't. Not unless you stop being weak! >

'GO. TO. HELL.'

I'd have to take you with me. >

'I've had enough of you! Yes, women are weak! But I am not about to spend the rest of my life all by myself without no one to entertain me but YOU!'

Get a hold of yourself, Chang. You're arguing with yourself. >

'Well thankfully, that's something I don't have to do anymore! No more arguments, if Maxwell wants that onna...He'll have to go through me.'

@_@ Nande kuso? Have you lost it completely? >

'I'm feeling great as of now, so you can get lost.' Wufei had a triumphant smirk on his face after winning the battle between his real self and his stupid honor-bearing conscience. Duo can get some things, but the onna is the ONLY thing Maxwell will not get his hands on.

"Not if I can help it." Wufei muttered, getting out of his seat. Duo and Quatre had left for the arcade, where they know Usagi would go to. They had asked Wufei whether he wanted to come along, but the Chinese was growling to himself that Quatre decided for both Duo and himself that it's best to leave him there with his 'thoughts'.

"To hell with my conscience." He muttered, walking to the arcade. "Doesn't mean that I'm going to tell the onna what I feel though. I don't have a clue in hell what the heck I'm feeling."



"Cross your fingers." Murmured Michiru as she and Hotaru waited patiently outside the arcade for any signs of Usagi. The Inner senshi were sitting around their usual table and even the Gundam pilots were there, two of them anyway. Michiru frowned slightly. From what she had seen in her Aqua mirror, the third should be there as well.

Her silent query was answered when she saw the muttering assassin. She raised an eyebrow as he paused just a block before the arcade, barely making out the words, "Here we go." coming out of his mouth.

"Michiru-mama, isn't that the one?" Hotaru asked, tugging lightly on Michiru's skirt. Michiru nodded, sea-green hair moving along with the slight breeze.

"Hai, Hotaru-chan."

"So...is Usagi-san going to..."

"Hotaru, we'll leave that to the Princess." Michiru said firmly, a hint of warning in her voice at the young senshi. Hotaru nodded and kept quiet, knowing she shouldn't ask any more question. Not concerning this one pilot anyway, the very person who would determine their future. Whether or not the Crystal Tokyo that they knew would be created now depends on Wufei.

That doesn't seem to be a comforting thought, now does it?



"I'll be absolutely fine," whispered Usagi as she approached the arcade. "Have faith in Hota-chan's powers. She'll get you out of this without anyone noticing." Then, taking a deep breath, she stepped into the arcade. But no sooner did she step inside, she was greeted by a mass of chestnut hair.

"Nani?"

"Tsukino-san! Just the person I wanted to see!" The wide grin on Duo Maxwell's face simply refused to be ignored. Usagi suppressed the urge to groan.

'Oh no! What does he want?' She thought to herself.

"What is it that you want, Maxwell-san? A shield from Chang-san again?" Usagi said with a wry smile. She stole a glance at Wufei, who was standing behind Duo, an unreadable and stormy expression on his face. She blinked, puzzled at the look on his face.

"No! Nothing like that Usagi...Can I call you Usagi?"

"Sure, you can." She paused, eyes resting on the blonde standing next to Duo. "You're Quatre Winner aren't you?" She asked him. The blonde nodded.

"Hai, Tsukino-san. I'm in your joint-music class."

"Aa. I thought you looked familiar."

"Anno, Usagi?"

"Gomen Duo, what is it?"

"Saa, I wanted to ask you whether or not-" He didn't even finished his sentence when Wufei cut him off completely.

"Do you want to go out with me." Quatre's jaw dropped to the floor. Duo didn't seem to notice and started to nod.

"Yes, I-Hey!" He turned and glared at Wufei, who glared defiantly back. Usagi stared with a look of wonderment on her face. By this time, the whole arcade was looking at them. The Inner senshi fast approaching the group. They had heard the whole conversation. The look on Rei and Makoto's faces promised certain deaths to the three male.

"Chang-san, you asked Maxwell-san to ask me out for you?" Usagi asked, hiding the amusement from her voice. Wufei growled, seeing the teasing glint in her eyes.

"Baka onna." He muttered. "He was going to ask you out, but I...don't think he deserves you. So I asked your first." He said, flushing as he finished his sentence. Usagi smiled, unable to hide her amusement any longer. Things sure have turned interesting all of a sudden.

"So that's the only reason you're asking me out?" She asked.

"N-nani? Wu-man! What the hell?" Protested Duo, who was obviously not amused with the exchange between the two. Although he was oblivious to the attraction between Usagi and Wufei.

"Wufei...y-you..." Stuttered Quatre, unable to form a sentence, too deep in shock at the words coming out of the male chauvinist of the group. The person infamous for his "Women are weak!" comments and his strong ideas of "honor".

"What the you mean 'what the hell'?"

"I was going to ask her!"

"Well I asked her first." Wufei bit back.

"But this was suppose to be MY moment! I was finally going to ask this megami out on a date after three weeks of not even knowing her name!" Usagi blushed at the use of 'megami', which caused Wufei to turn slightly green with envy.

"So? Do you have a point?"

"Yes I do! There's no way you can go out with her!"

"Really? And who are you to stop me?"

"What the hell is going on?" A monotonous voice interrupted the quarrel.

"Heero!" Exclaimed Quatre. "Can you please stop these two? They're both trying to take Usagi-san on a date and neither wants to back off!" The blonde seemed distressed, seeing the tension between his two friends. Having Wufei trying to kill Duo countless of times is bad enough, but having both men trying to kill each other...disaster.

Heero looked at the two skeptically, before turning to look at Usagi. The girl met his gaze and there was a challenge that flashed in Heero's eyes for a moment. Usagi met it with a determined glare. After a long staring match between the two, some sort of understanding seem to have reached Heero's eyes and he looked away from her.

"You're both trying to ask her out?"

"Yes!" Exclaimed Duo. Wufei snorted, but nodded.

"Who asked her first?"

"Wufei did, but he knew I was going to ask her out today!" Protested Duo. Heero's eyes widened slightly at the revelation, but he quickly regained his 'Perfect Soldier' mask.

"And neither of you wants to back off?"

"No way." Duo said, shaking his head. Wufei's answer was to fold his arms to his chest and gave Heero a pointed glare.

"There's only one way to settle this." Heero said, then shifted his gaze to Usagi. "Wait for her reply." All eyes were directed to Usagi at this moment. Not even her senshi spoke up. All of them were curious as to what Usagi would say.

"Well?" Heero said. Usagi swallowed.

"I have no idea how I got myself into this mess." She muttered to herself, then cleared her throat. "I don't know what the real situation is between Duo-san and Wufei-san...but to be absolutely honest, having two men ask me out at almost the same time..." She paused. "Do you really want to know the answer?" She asked.

"Hai." Duo said with a nod.

"Tell us, onna." Wufei said, earning him an accusing glare from the women around the arcade. But Usagi, however, smiled at his words. If there is one thing she can do very well, is reading someone by the looks in their eyes. And currently, Wufei's words doesn't match his eyes. Though his tone might be rude and his choice of words crude, there was an emotion there that he wouldn't say in front of everyone in the room.

"Right now, in front of all this people?" Usagi asked again. "It'll definitely deflate someone's ego." She remarked. There was a collective snickering from the group. But the two men seemed to be anxious to know her answer. "Alright then."

She looked at Duo. "Thank you for asking, Duo." Duo's grin widened and there was a brief flash of hurt in Wufei's eyes, before replaced by the cold, honorific look once more. But were they ever surprised to hear her next words. "But I think I'd rather go out with Wufei."

(And that brought the whole house down. ^-^ )

Love me? Hate me? Tell me. Review!!

More of Rurouni Kenshin characters next chapter.