Intruder at the Gates 4:
Sweet Kiss
"What's your name there?" Duo asked the innocent looking stranger. Her purple eyes looked up into his, innocence and happiness shining. For one second, Duo saw Hilde, smile up at him.
"Uh, Usagi, but all my friends call me bunny, so, call me bunny!"
Duo smiled down at her. "Name's Duo, Duo Maxwell. I may run and hide, but I'll never tell a lie. You can call me... Duo. Yeah, Duo works."
"It's a pleasure Duo!" Usagi said curtsying. She then looked around slightly unsure. "Um, I was told by Diana that Setie-chan is here... um, Setsuna, I mean. Is she?"
Duo smiled at her again. "Yeah, I think I just heard her voice in the kitchen. Hey, you hungry?"
"Yeah! I mean, oops, Um..." Usagi stuttered, embarrassed at her ever present apatite. Duo laughed as she blushed, staring at the ground while scuffing her foot over the floor.
"Great, c'mon...
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Duo quickly swung the kitchen door wide open, startling both Trowa and Setsuna, though it wasn't Duo's presence that made Setsuna pale. She dropped her tea cup and her lips briefly parted in surprise and lack of words.
"Serenity... I... 'm so sorry for leaving my post... I—
"I don't care about that Setie-chan, I've always encouraged you to take a break. But I—"Usagi then suddenly burst into tears and flung her body forward, wrapping her arms around Setsuna. Setsuna wrapped her arms around the crying queen, further surprised, but it didn't take her long to find words.
"Serenity, what's the matter, what's hurting you?"
"Mamarou... he, I found him with another girl... in bed! The {He} broke up with me!" Usagi sobbed. Setsuna held Usagi as she cried, fully capable of understanding the world of hurt Usagi felt. That bastard, she'd kill him. Duo was then overtaking with a strong sympathy for the new girl. He walked over to the two women and rubbed Usagi's back, a look in his eyes that Setsuna hadn't seen when she was crying in Duo's arms back at the gates. A look deeper than anything Duo had given her. Then suddenly remembering what was more important, she brushed it off and soothed Usagi's tears. When Usagi eventually cried herself to sleep, Duo picked her up and carried her to a guest room, gently laying her on the bed. He then turned to Setsuna, sighing. Duo wanted to know if Setsuna wanted her own room as well, or if she would sleep with him in his bed again. He wanted her to stay with him, but couldn't find a way to ask her with out sounding perverted.
"So... I guess you'll want to go to your room now then... it is an ungodly hour of the morning. You'll want to sleep, yeah?" Duo asked. Setsuna's eyes seemed to dim after he said that. She wanted to spend time with him again. Lowering her eyes to the ground, a similar action to her heart, she wrapped her arms around herself and nodded.
"Yeah... sure..." She said simply, trying not to let her emotions through to her voice. Oops. Too late.
"You all right?" Duo asked, giving her a questioning look. Setsuna looked up and smiled.
"Yes, just tired."
Nodding Duo then led her to another guest room, told her how to get to Usagi's room, the bathroom, the kitchen, and finally his room. She nodded and disappeared behind her door, softly shutting it behind her. Setsuna leaned against the closed door for a minute, reflecting on Usagi's entrance. Then, after changing into a nightgown left on the bed for her by Quatre, Setsuna laid on her cloudlike bed, and empty feeling settling in her chest and all around her. Her heart ached as she felt how large the room was, how empty the bed was. She was spending another night alone, and there was someone she wanted to be spending it with. The room quickly grew darker and larger as she lay on the bed, alone.
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Duo fell backward onto his bed, shirt off and pants unbuttoned. When he had entered his room he had left the light off. Rolling onto his side Duo went to rest and arm around Setsuna's perfect waist. Only, she wasn't there, leaving behind only an empty space. Duo suddenly missed how perfectly Setsuna fit in his arms, how her head rested perfectly under his chin. And it was his fault she wasn't with him now.
Slowly the hours crept passed, nothing going on but the conflict inside Duo's head. Go to her, or stay put. Then, breaking the stillness Duo heard Usagi sobbing from across the hall. He got up and quickly went to her door, gently wrapped on the door and waited for a response. When nothing came, he slowly opened the door and slipped in. He wrapped his arms around her.
"Hey, Shhhh, it's all right." Duo cooed to Usagi. She had let her odangos down, her golden hair streaming down all around her light the moonlight from the open window. Her hair fell down from her head like water, her skin glowing pale under the moonlight. Beautiful like a goddess. Duo sat beside Usagi, arms around her as she cried into his shoulder. Duo was then overcome by the urge to somehow dry Usagi's tears, mend her heart and fix that bubbly smile. Son Duo too succumbed to that which was called sleep.
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Setsuna glanced out the window to the sun cresting over the horizon. She smiled, knowing it was a rare beauty that never occurred at the bleak Gates of Time. Unable to give into her dependency of Duo's comforting arms, but also unable to give into sleep, she had yet to close her eyes. By this point in Setsuna's life, she no longer needed clocks; she could just tell what time it was by feeling. Already knowing it was five thirty am she decided to get a shower and walk around. When she walked out of the bathroom, a towel around her, Quatre had already laid cloths down on her bed for her. Once dressed, Setsuna set out for Duo. When she arrived at Duo's opened door, she found that he wasn't there. {'All right, I'll go wake up Serenity.'} She thought, slightly disappointed at Duo's absence.
And as Setsuna watched Duo and Usagi sleeping serenely, her day and heart darkened despite the beautiful shining day. All the warm rays of light the sun could radiate could not warm Setsuna's heart, could not even begin to reach her; so very far away, like a distant memory of what it was like to be happy. When Duo began to stir, waking form his slumber Setsuna receded to the kitchen. Again, Trowa was already boiling some tea, sitting comfortable on the couch. When she entered the tea kettle began whistling and Trowa looked up. He saw in her eyes the darkness and cold that was suffocating her; immediately he wanted to remedy what caused her ill.
"Good morning." He said, his voice warmer than the usual. Warm enough to scathe the surface of Setsuna's heart, of her day. She looked up form her thoughts, slightly surprised, and forced a smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there Trowa. How are you?" She said, trying to sound the sweetness over her bitter.
"Fine, and yourself?"
"I'm all right, thank you."
"Help yourself to some tea."
"Sure, thanks."
Their words to each other were short lived, but to each it was their own comfort. They lapsed into silence, simply enjoying the others presence. Until, that is, a laughing Duo and Usagi bounced into the kitchen.
"I know, I could eat like, a dozen pancakes!" Usagi giggled. Her voice was sweet, yet her eyes were still sad. And Setsuna could tell Duo saw this as well. Duo laughed with her, agreeing. The two greeted Setsuna and Trowa warmly then headed fort he stove. And though their voices were warm and friendly, only Duo's warmth reached Setsuna's cold skin deeply, retrieving her soul from it's frozen hell.
Setsuna smiled back, her smile genuine. "Hello. Feeling better Serenity?" Usagi giggled again and nodded.
"Since I woke up I haven't stopped laughing!" She lied. Duo said nothing as his gaze rested on Setsuna. She had left her hair down and dressed in a blood red turtle neck knit sweater and dark blue jeans. Her violet eyes met his, softened, and then moved on.
Between the four only idle chit-chat was made. Occasionally two would have a small conversation, but it would die quickly. To such went their entire day.
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Over the next four days Duo and Setsuna drifted apart form each other. And to each their own loneliness found open arms. Duo spent a lot of time with Usagi, wanting her to smile again; Usagi had stayed depressed for two days after her arrival, but thanks to Duo she was smiling and laughing again. Usagi kept reminding Duo of Hilde, his old love whom Duo had saved from hell and lost his world, forced into the realm with Gundam pilots. Setsuna found solace in Trowa as he spent much time with her. Together they shared their wisdom and philosophy, having conversations that would last hours. And much to Usagi's displeasure she and Setsuna exchanged very few words, though Setsuna made it apparent that she was still looking after her queen.
By the end of the fourth day, Setsuna was unbelievably confused. She felt worlds apart from Duo, and it was killing her. But for an equal amount she wanted to keep talking and sharing with Trowa.
Duo too was loosing his mind. He couldn't decide whether or not he was madly in love with Usagi, who was exactly like Hilde (he had even begun calling Usagi, "Usako"), or madly in love with Setsuna, some one so unique he had never met any one like her before. He wanted them both to be happy, and as he saw Usagi's happiness grow, he saw Setsuna's wither and deplete. But every time he wanted to talk with her, Setsuna was already with Trowa.
Around four o' clock Setsuna was in the gym room with Usagi, both henshined and were training. Usagi had become much stronger as the years and battle went by; she could even defeat Haruka and Michiru, both of them teamed against her. Soon, tired and breathless the two women collapsed to the ground, their backs against each other's like a friendly wall. Usagi smiled.
"I'm so glad we're spending time together again. We've drifted apart, and I don't want us to be like that. Uh, I know this sounds... weird, maybe, but you're one of my closest friends, you know. It would kill me if we stopped talking."
"My apologies Serenity. I would love to spend more time with you. Whenever you're not with Duo, find me." Setsuna said, feeling slightly resentful that if she was one of Usagi's closest friends then why would Usagi never visit her when she was at the Time Gates? But still, the gesture gave her a faint smile; a smile that would be soon to disappear.
"Speaking of Duo... He's really hot, isn't he?" Usagi said, turning around to look at Setsuna, who was taken off guard.
"Uh... well, yeah, he is." Setsuna said after thinking for a second. Usagi giggled.
"He's been so awesome to me, always making me laugh. I don't care about Mamarou at all anymore. I think I sorta... love him."
Setsuna's heart ceased, her skin paled. She wasn't hearing this. NO.
"I think he tried to kiss me last night while we were hanging around on the roof, but he didn't. Do you think I stand a chance with him? Or do you want me to stay away from him?" Usagi rambled.
"Not at all Serenity. Why would I want you to stay away from him?" Setsuna said, her voice like a frozen wind. Her heart stuttered like an old, broken down car trying to start up. Usagi giggled.
"Well, I dunno. I didn't think you'd be interested in him, it's not like he is your type, but I just wanted to make sure I wasn't stepping on anyone's toes, you know?" Usagi said in one breath. A void settled down over Setsuna. She felt nothing, thought nothing. Slowly her mind began to function again, then it quickly picked up it's pace and her mind began to reel with thoughts and emotions. It all flooded her at once, and she needed to get away.
"Forgive me Serenity; I need to go take a shower. I'll see you around, all right?"
"Kay."
Setsuna de-henshined and stumbled out of the room and down the hall, not heading anywhere in particular. Violent thoughts streamed through and flooded into and out of her head faster than she could understand them.
{"No. NO. This isn't happening. So what? Just because I'm quiet and thoughtful doesn't mean I'd never fall in love with some one like Duo? Just because he's more extroverted than me doesn't mean I couldn't love him. Doesn't mean He couldn't Love {ME}. She never asked if I loved him, she asked if I wanted her away from him. Two COMPLETELY different things! I WILL not loose to hear again! NO! ... no..."} Setsuna angrily thought as hot, angry tears flowed freely down her face. There was no doubt in her mind now who she loved more between Duo and Trowa. No doubt at all. Her vision soon became blurred by her tears and she bumped right into another body.
Out of sheer irony Setsuna half expected the person to be Duo, so that he could tell her how much he loved her, how much more he loved her than Usagi. Instead it was Trowa who caught Setsuna by her wrists. His eyes immediately changed, becoming concerned.
"Setsuna, what's wrong? What happened?" Trowa's level voice had become worried and concerned immediately. Setsuna raised her hands and formed them into fists, violently yanking her arms, trying to break free. Trowa's grip held firm as Setsuna then buried her face in Trowa's shirt and sobbed. Unable to tell Trowa what was hurting and angering her so deeply, she hushed her sobs and gently pulled away from him. This time he let go, her wrists turning red from how tightly he held onto her. She lowered her head and stepped around him, heading in the direction of her room. As she passed Trowa she quietly apologized.
"I'm sorry Trowa, for my outburst. Please excuse me."
Setsuna then quickly walked to her room and then out on the terrace that over looked a deep green forest. Leaning forward on the railing, Setsuna brushed some deep green hair behind her ear that had clung to her face from the tears during her struggle with Trowa. Truth be told she felt badly for her episode with him. He was probably very confused now.
{"That is, if he even cares."} Setsuna thought bitterly as she tightly closed her eyes and bit her lower lip. All her pain, hurt and rage then settled in her heart, merging into a thick coat of shrouding darkness. In this clouding darkness images of Duo appeared, the images of Usagi, then of both their purple eyes gazing into each other's. Then an image of her appeared, standing by. All alone. {"Why would Duo even want me...? Usagi's always smiling and talkative... she's always something new, something exciting."} She thought, a new stab of pain pierced through the images and Setsuna blanked her mind. If she didn't think about it, it wouldn't hurt. "Out of sight, out of mind..." Her voice whispered as she kept her eyes tight.
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Trowa winced as Setsuna shut her bedroom door behind her. He desperately wanted to know what was hurting her. He wasn't in denial about how he felt for her. Before he had never thought he would fall in love with anyone, but then he met her. And as Trowa walked, his feet decided to hunt down Wufei. As Trowa walked he passed by Duo. Duo actually seemed satisfied with something. It was five minutes before he found the guy, in the first place that came to his mind, yet the last place he looked.
"Wufei, do you know what's troubling Setsuna?"
Wufei was surprised to her Trowa speak, and to speak of another was indeed new. He set the rag soaked in a metal polishing agent and then set down his katana, yet kept it close by.
"No Bloom, I don't. What happened?" He asked.
"Wufei, my last name is Barton."
"But your sister is Bloom? Catherine Bloom?"
"Yes but—never mind." Trowa said exasperated with the Chinese man. He then explained his encounter with Setsuna. Wufei thought deeply for a moment, considering what said.
"Before I give my deduction, I have some questions. First, you don't normally care about people's feelings. You normally find them hormonal and mundane, correct?"
"Yes."
"So you then care about her deeply?"
"Yes."
"Do you know how she feels?"
"No, Wufei, what does this have to do with anything?"
"Plenty, baka. I have your answer, but you won't like it. It's better if you don't know in this case. And Trowa: Trust me." Wufei said, reclaiming his rag and Katana in his hands. When Wufei went back to polishing his Katana Trowa took a hint and took his leave, very frustrated yet understanding...
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Duo squirmed in discomfort, waiting. Even as a child Duo hated waiting. He knew, too, that Wufei was aware of his presence. After all, Duo was sitting cross legged in front of Wufei on Wufei's bed. Squirming again, Wufei then looked up, sick of Duo's distractions. Discarding the Katana and polishing rag Wufei decided to verbally acknowledge Duo.
"What's the matter with you Maxwell?"
Duo sighed again, pouted his bottom lip, and then inhaled deeply to prepare for a very, {very} long paragraph. "I... I don't know who I love anymore. Setsuna feels so cold and distant to me, and Usako is so warm, happy, bubbly, cute, talkative... everything I thought I would spend my life with. Yet, Setsuna pops into my head too. Not as a life partner, but as someone I want to hold, someone I want to see again, someone I look forward to talking to. Setsuna is strong, mysterious, beautiful, wise, insightful, solacing, cold and yet warm to those who she welcomes. She knows what she wants, and won't have anything else, unless she's inconveniencing someone. She'll do anything for anyone she cares about, yet only the people she cares about.
"Yet," Duo continued, "Usako will do anything for {anyone}, not just the people she cares about. She doesn't hide anything and is true to her words. She's open to everything, isn't judgmental or accusative. Others will think higher of themselves in a situation where someone less is chosen over them, but Usako will never think that of anyone, even if it is true that she is better. We'll talk about everything, we have things in common, help me Wufei, I don't know what to do!" Duo rambled.
Wufei sat silent for a moment. "Duo, do you want me to tell you what to do?"
Duo thought for a moment. "No, I want you to give me wise advice that makes sense, something that'll make me ponder for a while and then make perfect sense suddenly, making everything clear to me." Duo said in one breath. Wufei fell silent again.
"Duo, I don't remember if I've already told you this. When I first married Nataku, I didn't believe I could ever love such a woman. I wanted a woman who was tame, a mother and a wife. Nataku was not that. She was rambunctious, wild, and ran out to battles. But I married her anyways. Not because it was what I wanted, but because it was my family's wish, my family's name and honor.
"And Duo... Hilde is dead. If you love Lady Tsikino because she is like Hilde, you love her for wrong reasons. I know you still love Hilde, though you've moved on. And if you may love Lady Meiou or Lady Tsikino, it is a different love. You'll never love either of them with the same love as you did Hilde. But you can love them differently. Ask yourself: Do you love Lady Tsikino like you did Hilde? If so, you are trying to recapture that love you lost; that dead love. You are trying to replace Hilde. If not, it is a real love. Does that help?" Wufei said slowly, thoughtfully. In return Duo thought, and then nodded.
"Yes Wufei; that was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!" Duo then sprang from Wufei's bed and darted out the door. As he walked down the hall he passed a troubled looking Trowa. Duo asked what was wrong, but Trowa had his mind set on one thing. A {mission}, you could call it. Shrugging it off until he could speak with Trowa alone, Duo then bounded into his room. {"Man, it's only seven o' clock and I'm wasted. Dinner will be soon... I'll nap. Yes, sleeping solves everything. Yes."} Duo thought, flopping onto his bed. And Nap he did...
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About nine pm Duo's door creaked open and Usagi walked in. She sat next to the napping Duo on his bed and gazed at Duo's napping form. He was absolutely adorable when he was asleep. Actually, he was absolutely adorable whether he was awake or asleep. Usagi giggled through her anxiety, pulling Duo from his dreamland. He blinked at her, slightly blurry, and then a tired, aloof smile spread on his face.
"Hey Usako, what's up?" Duo said, his voice still belonging in his dreamland. She shifted cutely, exactly the way Duo did when he wanted something. His smile grew inwardly when he realized this. Usagi giggled and pull both of them to their feet.
"Duo, you are amazing. You didn't even know who I was when I came here and yet you still were by my side at every moment, making me laugh. You helped me get over Mamarou, no questions asked. And... I couldn't help but have... fallen... in love with you Duo. Yes, I love you." Usagi said, a blush creeping to her cheeks. She then lifted up on her tip-toes and kissed him.
Duo's pounding heart suddenly ceased. This is what Duo had wanted to hear; exactly what he wanted to hear. This was his moment. Duo began to return her kiss, trying to wrap his arms around her waist. But she didn't fit, she was too small. His mind then immediately reeled to how perfectly Setsuna fit in his arms. Nope, this wasn't right at all. His heart tugged at him, nagging at him until he pulled away from Usagi. She seemed surprised, but understood. And Duo too understood; he understood the deeper meaning of Wufei's words.
"I'm sorry Usako, I don't feel that way about you. Part of me wished I do, but I don't." Duo said softly, trying to be as gentle as he could. Usagi nodded in acceptance.
"Yeah, you love Setie-chan don't you?"
Duo seemed surprised at the girl's insight, but let out a relieved sigh, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I do. Hey, I over slept, I gotta get going, so I'll see ya around?"
"Maybe." Usagi said, smiling lightly. Duo nodded and hurried out of his room and down the hall way. Turning a sharp corner Duo entered Setsuna's room. Empty. Duo then raced through the entire safe house looking for her. Setsuna wasn't anywhere inside the safe house and no one had seen her at all...
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Setsuna sighed as she stared blankly at the dark sky. Her violet eyes gazed intently on the silver moon, shimmering brightly against the black- star speckled sky. It was the source of her problems, yet she couldn't bring herself to hate it. No matter what, she couldn't hate her beautiful queen Serenity. Even if she had to suffer. Setsuna closed her eyes for a second, feeling the void in her heart. Except it wasn't a total void. There was something inside her that ached, a slow dull pain. All Setsuna knew was that she wanted to be with Duo, either in love or not, safe in his arms. Finally drawing in a deep breath, Setsuna found herself walking towards Duo's closed door. She gently opened it silently to a crack. She peered inside to see if Duo was there, and for a second time heart ache pounded against her chest with the force of a Tsunami, pushing her back a step. Duo was in his room, kissing Usagi. So it was final. She had lost to her queen, a second time. A silent darkness suddenly birthed from deep within Setsuna, enveloping her. Emptily Setsuna turned on her heel and left the mansion. She went into the forest and aimlessly wandered until her henshin wand appeared in front of her, radiating a warm dark red light. Absent mindedly Setsuna extended her arm and took it in her hand. Immediately she was cascaded in the warm light, and an uncomprehending euphoric feeling wrapped around her. She closed her eyes, fading into the light....
A.N: OKAY ALL!!!!END OF CHAPTER 4! Now, I couldn't help but notice that when I became nice about reviews, you stopped. REVIEW DAMN YOU REVIEW! YOU THINK I CAN JUST KEEP WRITING WITH OUT THE CONFIDENCE OF YOUR REVIEWS! IT SHAN'T HAPPEN! Okay, come on, I want at bare minimum ten reviews per chapters. I am falling short of that. Fix it.
Okay, new PROBLEM: This is where my story has come to a fork in the road. One side being the sweet ending I already have finished, the other being at least three more chapters ahead. Now, the problem is the plot I have set out for this extension is difficult, and if I am not careful I could botch the entire story. Walking on broken egg shells. I'll leave that up to YOU REVIEWERS! Which means, golly gee, THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO REVIEW!!!!!!
Oh, and for a further notice, I might be changing my penname. I'm thinking about the goddess Echo or Nike. Maybe Aphrodite. What do you guys think? I'll put up a notice.
Tchüs!
Sweet Kiss
"What's your name there?" Duo asked the innocent looking stranger. Her purple eyes looked up into his, innocence and happiness shining. For one second, Duo saw Hilde, smile up at him.
"Uh, Usagi, but all my friends call me bunny, so, call me bunny!"
Duo smiled down at her. "Name's Duo, Duo Maxwell. I may run and hide, but I'll never tell a lie. You can call me... Duo. Yeah, Duo works."
"It's a pleasure Duo!" Usagi said curtsying. She then looked around slightly unsure. "Um, I was told by Diana that Setie-chan is here... um, Setsuna, I mean. Is she?"
Duo smiled at her again. "Yeah, I think I just heard her voice in the kitchen. Hey, you hungry?"
"Yeah! I mean, oops, Um..." Usagi stuttered, embarrassed at her ever present apatite. Duo laughed as she blushed, staring at the ground while scuffing her foot over the floor.
"Great, c'mon...
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Duo quickly swung the kitchen door wide open, startling both Trowa and Setsuna, though it wasn't Duo's presence that made Setsuna pale. She dropped her tea cup and her lips briefly parted in surprise and lack of words.
"Serenity... I... 'm so sorry for leaving my post... I—
"I don't care about that Setie-chan, I've always encouraged you to take a break. But I—"Usagi then suddenly burst into tears and flung her body forward, wrapping her arms around Setsuna. Setsuna wrapped her arms around the crying queen, further surprised, but it didn't take her long to find words.
"Serenity, what's the matter, what's hurting you?"
"Mamarou... he, I found him with another girl... in bed! The {He} broke up with me!" Usagi sobbed. Setsuna held Usagi as she cried, fully capable of understanding the world of hurt Usagi felt. That bastard, she'd kill him. Duo was then overtaking with a strong sympathy for the new girl. He walked over to the two women and rubbed Usagi's back, a look in his eyes that Setsuna hadn't seen when she was crying in Duo's arms back at the gates. A look deeper than anything Duo had given her. Then suddenly remembering what was more important, she brushed it off and soothed Usagi's tears. When Usagi eventually cried herself to sleep, Duo picked her up and carried her to a guest room, gently laying her on the bed. He then turned to Setsuna, sighing. Duo wanted to know if Setsuna wanted her own room as well, or if she would sleep with him in his bed again. He wanted her to stay with him, but couldn't find a way to ask her with out sounding perverted.
"So... I guess you'll want to go to your room now then... it is an ungodly hour of the morning. You'll want to sleep, yeah?" Duo asked. Setsuna's eyes seemed to dim after he said that. She wanted to spend time with him again. Lowering her eyes to the ground, a similar action to her heart, she wrapped her arms around herself and nodded.
"Yeah... sure..." She said simply, trying not to let her emotions through to her voice. Oops. Too late.
"You all right?" Duo asked, giving her a questioning look. Setsuna looked up and smiled.
"Yes, just tired."
Nodding Duo then led her to another guest room, told her how to get to Usagi's room, the bathroom, the kitchen, and finally his room. She nodded and disappeared behind her door, softly shutting it behind her. Setsuna leaned against the closed door for a minute, reflecting on Usagi's entrance. Then, after changing into a nightgown left on the bed for her by Quatre, Setsuna laid on her cloudlike bed, and empty feeling settling in her chest and all around her. Her heart ached as she felt how large the room was, how empty the bed was. She was spending another night alone, and there was someone she wanted to be spending it with. The room quickly grew darker and larger as she lay on the bed, alone.
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Duo fell backward onto his bed, shirt off and pants unbuttoned. When he had entered his room he had left the light off. Rolling onto his side Duo went to rest and arm around Setsuna's perfect waist. Only, she wasn't there, leaving behind only an empty space. Duo suddenly missed how perfectly Setsuna fit in his arms, how her head rested perfectly under his chin. And it was his fault she wasn't with him now.
Slowly the hours crept passed, nothing going on but the conflict inside Duo's head. Go to her, or stay put. Then, breaking the stillness Duo heard Usagi sobbing from across the hall. He got up and quickly went to her door, gently wrapped on the door and waited for a response. When nothing came, he slowly opened the door and slipped in. He wrapped his arms around her.
"Hey, Shhhh, it's all right." Duo cooed to Usagi. She had let her odangos down, her golden hair streaming down all around her light the moonlight from the open window. Her hair fell down from her head like water, her skin glowing pale under the moonlight. Beautiful like a goddess. Duo sat beside Usagi, arms around her as she cried into his shoulder. Duo was then overcome by the urge to somehow dry Usagi's tears, mend her heart and fix that bubbly smile. Son Duo too succumbed to that which was called sleep.
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Setsuna glanced out the window to the sun cresting over the horizon. She smiled, knowing it was a rare beauty that never occurred at the bleak Gates of Time. Unable to give into her dependency of Duo's comforting arms, but also unable to give into sleep, she had yet to close her eyes. By this point in Setsuna's life, she no longer needed clocks; she could just tell what time it was by feeling. Already knowing it was five thirty am she decided to get a shower and walk around. When she walked out of the bathroom, a towel around her, Quatre had already laid cloths down on her bed for her. Once dressed, Setsuna set out for Duo. When she arrived at Duo's opened door, she found that he wasn't there. {'All right, I'll go wake up Serenity.'} She thought, slightly disappointed at Duo's absence.
And as Setsuna watched Duo and Usagi sleeping serenely, her day and heart darkened despite the beautiful shining day. All the warm rays of light the sun could radiate could not warm Setsuna's heart, could not even begin to reach her; so very far away, like a distant memory of what it was like to be happy. When Duo began to stir, waking form his slumber Setsuna receded to the kitchen. Again, Trowa was already boiling some tea, sitting comfortable on the couch. When she entered the tea kettle began whistling and Trowa looked up. He saw in her eyes the darkness and cold that was suffocating her; immediately he wanted to remedy what caused her ill.
"Good morning." He said, his voice warmer than the usual. Warm enough to scathe the surface of Setsuna's heart, of her day. She looked up form her thoughts, slightly surprised, and forced a smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there Trowa. How are you?" She said, trying to sound the sweetness over her bitter.
"Fine, and yourself?"
"I'm all right, thank you."
"Help yourself to some tea."
"Sure, thanks."
Their words to each other were short lived, but to each it was their own comfort. They lapsed into silence, simply enjoying the others presence. Until, that is, a laughing Duo and Usagi bounced into the kitchen.
"I know, I could eat like, a dozen pancakes!" Usagi giggled. Her voice was sweet, yet her eyes were still sad. And Setsuna could tell Duo saw this as well. Duo laughed with her, agreeing. The two greeted Setsuna and Trowa warmly then headed fort he stove. And though their voices were warm and friendly, only Duo's warmth reached Setsuna's cold skin deeply, retrieving her soul from it's frozen hell.
Setsuna smiled back, her smile genuine. "Hello. Feeling better Serenity?" Usagi giggled again and nodded.
"Since I woke up I haven't stopped laughing!" She lied. Duo said nothing as his gaze rested on Setsuna. She had left her hair down and dressed in a blood red turtle neck knit sweater and dark blue jeans. Her violet eyes met his, softened, and then moved on.
Between the four only idle chit-chat was made. Occasionally two would have a small conversation, but it would die quickly. To such went their entire day.
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Over the next four days Duo and Setsuna drifted apart form each other. And to each their own loneliness found open arms. Duo spent a lot of time with Usagi, wanting her to smile again; Usagi had stayed depressed for two days after her arrival, but thanks to Duo she was smiling and laughing again. Usagi kept reminding Duo of Hilde, his old love whom Duo had saved from hell and lost his world, forced into the realm with Gundam pilots. Setsuna found solace in Trowa as he spent much time with her. Together they shared their wisdom and philosophy, having conversations that would last hours. And much to Usagi's displeasure she and Setsuna exchanged very few words, though Setsuna made it apparent that she was still looking after her queen.
By the end of the fourth day, Setsuna was unbelievably confused. She felt worlds apart from Duo, and it was killing her. But for an equal amount she wanted to keep talking and sharing with Trowa.
Duo too was loosing his mind. He couldn't decide whether or not he was madly in love with Usagi, who was exactly like Hilde (he had even begun calling Usagi, "Usako"), or madly in love with Setsuna, some one so unique he had never met any one like her before. He wanted them both to be happy, and as he saw Usagi's happiness grow, he saw Setsuna's wither and deplete. But every time he wanted to talk with her, Setsuna was already with Trowa.
Around four o' clock Setsuna was in the gym room with Usagi, both henshined and were training. Usagi had become much stronger as the years and battle went by; she could even defeat Haruka and Michiru, both of them teamed against her. Soon, tired and breathless the two women collapsed to the ground, their backs against each other's like a friendly wall. Usagi smiled.
"I'm so glad we're spending time together again. We've drifted apart, and I don't want us to be like that. Uh, I know this sounds... weird, maybe, but you're one of my closest friends, you know. It would kill me if we stopped talking."
"My apologies Serenity. I would love to spend more time with you. Whenever you're not with Duo, find me." Setsuna said, feeling slightly resentful that if she was one of Usagi's closest friends then why would Usagi never visit her when she was at the Time Gates? But still, the gesture gave her a faint smile; a smile that would be soon to disappear.
"Speaking of Duo... He's really hot, isn't he?" Usagi said, turning around to look at Setsuna, who was taken off guard.
"Uh... well, yeah, he is." Setsuna said after thinking for a second. Usagi giggled.
"He's been so awesome to me, always making me laugh. I don't care about Mamarou at all anymore. I think I sorta... love him."
Setsuna's heart ceased, her skin paled. She wasn't hearing this. NO.
"I think he tried to kiss me last night while we were hanging around on the roof, but he didn't. Do you think I stand a chance with him? Or do you want me to stay away from him?" Usagi rambled.
"Not at all Serenity. Why would I want you to stay away from him?" Setsuna said, her voice like a frozen wind. Her heart stuttered like an old, broken down car trying to start up. Usagi giggled.
"Well, I dunno. I didn't think you'd be interested in him, it's not like he is your type, but I just wanted to make sure I wasn't stepping on anyone's toes, you know?" Usagi said in one breath. A void settled down over Setsuna. She felt nothing, thought nothing. Slowly her mind began to function again, then it quickly picked up it's pace and her mind began to reel with thoughts and emotions. It all flooded her at once, and she needed to get away.
"Forgive me Serenity; I need to go take a shower. I'll see you around, all right?"
"Kay."
Setsuna de-henshined and stumbled out of the room and down the hall, not heading anywhere in particular. Violent thoughts streamed through and flooded into and out of her head faster than she could understand them.
{"No. NO. This isn't happening. So what? Just because I'm quiet and thoughtful doesn't mean I'd never fall in love with some one like Duo? Just because he's more extroverted than me doesn't mean I couldn't love him. Doesn't mean He couldn't Love {ME}. She never asked if I loved him, she asked if I wanted her away from him. Two COMPLETELY different things! I WILL not loose to hear again! NO! ... no..."} Setsuna angrily thought as hot, angry tears flowed freely down her face. There was no doubt in her mind now who she loved more between Duo and Trowa. No doubt at all. Her vision soon became blurred by her tears and she bumped right into another body.
Out of sheer irony Setsuna half expected the person to be Duo, so that he could tell her how much he loved her, how much more he loved her than Usagi. Instead it was Trowa who caught Setsuna by her wrists. His eyes immediately changed, becoming concerned.
"Setsuna, what's wrong? What happened?" Trowa's level voice had become worried and concerned immediately. Setsuna raised her hands and formed them into fists, violently yanking her arms, trying to break free. Trowa's grip held firm as Setsuna then buried her face in Trowa's shirt and sobbed. Unable to tell Trowa what was hurting and angering her so deeply, she hushed her sobs and gently pulled away from him. This time he let go, her wrists turning red from how tightly he held onto her. She lowered her head and stepped around him, heading in the direction of her room. As she passed Trowa she quietly apologized.
"I'm sorry Trowa, for my outburst. Please excuse me."
Setsuna then quickly walked to her room and then out on the terrace that over looked a deep green forest. Leaning forward on the railing, Setsuna brushed some deep green hair behind her ear that had clung to her face from the tears during her struggle with Trowa. Truth be told she felt badly for her episode with him. He was probably very confused now.
{"That is, if he even cares."} Setsuna thought bitterly as she tightly closed her eyes and bit her lower lip. All her pain, hurt and rage then settled in her heart, merging into a thick coat of shrouding darkness. In this clouding darkness images of Duo appeared, the images of Usagi, then of both their purple eyes gazing into each other's. Then an image of her appeared, standing by. All alone. {"Why would Duo even want me...? Usagi's always smiling and talkative... she's always something new, something exciting."} She thought, a new stab of pain pierced through the images and Setsuna blanked her mind. If she didn't think about it, it wouldn't hurt. "Out of sight, out of mind..." Her voice whispered as she kept her eyes tight.
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Trowa winced as Setsuna shut her bedroom door behind her. He desperately wanted to know what was hurting her. He wasn't in denial about how he felt for her. Before he had never thought he would fall in love with anyone, but then he met her. And as Trowa walked, his feet decided to hunt down Wufei. As Trowa walked he passed by Duo. Duo actually seemed satisfied with something. It was five minutes before he found the guy, in the first place that came to his mind, yet the last place he looked.
"Wufei, do you know what's troubling Setsuna?"
Wufei was surprised to her Trowa speak, and to speak of another was indeed new. He set the rag soaked in a metal polishing agent and then set down his katana, yet kept it close by.
"No Bloom, I don't. What happened?" He asked.
"Wufei, my last name is Barton."
"But your sister is Bloom? Catherine Bloom?"
"Yes but—never mind." Trowa said exasperated with the Chinese man. He then explained his encounter with Setsuna. Wufei thought deeply for a moment, considering what said.
"Before I give my deduction, I have some questions. First, you don't normally care about people's feelings. You normally find them hormonal and mundane, correct?"
"Yes."
"So you then care about her deeply?"
"Yes."
"Do you know how she feels?"
"No, Wufei, what does this have to do with anything?"
"Plenty, baka. I have your answer, but you won't like it. It's better if you don't know in this case. And Trowa: Trust me." Wufei said, reclaiming his rag and Katana in his hands. When Wufei went back to polishing his Katana Trowa took a hint and took his leave, very frustrated yet understanding...
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Duo squirmed in discomfort, waiting. Even as a child Duo hated waiting. He knew, too, that Wufei was aware of his presence. After all, Duo was sitting cross legged in front of Wufei on Wufei's bed. Squirming again, Wufei then looked up, sick of Duo's distractions. Discarding the Katana and polishing rag Wufei decided to verbally acknowledge Duo.
"What's the matter with you Maxwell?"
Duo sighed again, pouted his bottom lip, and then inhaled deeply to prepare for a very, {very} long paragraph. "I... I don't know who I love anymore. Setsuna feels so cold and distant to me, and Usako is so warm, happy, bubbly, cute, talkative... everything I thought I would spend my life with. Yet, Setsuna pops into my head too. Not as a life partner, but as someone I want to hold, someone I want to see again, someone I look forward to talking to. Setsuna is strong, mysterious, beautiful, wise, insightful, solacing, cold and yet warm to those who she welcomes. She knows what she wants, and won't have anything else, unless she's inconveniencing someone. She'll do anything for anyone she cares about, yet only the people she cares about.
"Yet," Duo continued, "Usako will do anything for {anyone}, not just the people she cares about. She doesn't hide anything and is true to her words. She's open to everything, isn't judgmental or accusative. Others will think higher of themselves in a situation where someone less is chosen over them, but Usako will never think that of anyone, even if it is true that she is better. We'll talk about everything, we have things in common, help me Wufei, I don't know what to do!" Duo rambled.
Wufei sat silent for a moment. "Duo, do you want me to tell you what to do?"
Duo thought for a moment. "No, I want you to give me wise advice that makes sense, something that'll make me ponder for a while and then make perfect sense suddenly, making everything clear to me." Duo said in one breath. Wufei fell silent again.
"Duo, I don't remember if I've already told you this. When I first married Nataku, I didn't believe I could ever love such a woman. I wanted a woman who was tame, a mother and a wife. Nataku was not that. She was rambunctious, wild, and ran out to battles. But I married her anyways. Not because it was what I wanted, but because it was my family's wish, my family's name and honor.
"And Duo... Hilde is dead. If you love Lady Tsikino because she is like Hilde, you love her for wrong reasons. I know you still love Hilde, though you've moved on. And if you may love Lady Meiou or Lady Tsikino, it is a different love. You'll never love either of them with the same love as you did Hilde. But you can love them differently. Ask yourself: Do you love Lady Tsikino like you did Hilde? If so, you are trying to recapture that love you lost; that dead love. You are trying to replace Hilde. If not, it is a real love. Does that help?" Wufei said slowly, thoughtfully. In return Duo thought, and then nodded.
"Yes Wufei; that was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!" Duo then sprang from Wufei's bed and darted out the door. As he walked down the hall he passed a troubled looking Trowa. Duo asked what was wrong, but Trowa had his mind set on one thing. A {mission}, you could call it. Shrugging it off until he could speak with Trowa alone, Duo then bounded into his room. {"Man, it's only seven o' clock and I'm wasted. Dinner will be soon... I'll nap. Yes, sleeping solves everything. Yes."} Duo thought, flopping onto his bed. And Nap he did...
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About nine pm Duo's door creaked open and Usagi walked in. She sat next to the napping Duo on his bed and gazed at Duo's napping form. He was absolutely adorable when he was asleep. Actually, he was absolutely adorable whether he was awake or asleep. Usagi giggled through her anxiety, pulling Duo from his dreamland. He blinked at her, slightly blurry, and then a tired, aloof smile spread on his face.
"Hey Usako, what's up?" Duo said, his voice still belonging in his dreamland. She shifted cutely, exactly the way Duo did when he wanted something. His smile grew inwardly when he realized this. Usagi giggled and pull both of them to their feet.
"Duo, you are amazing. You didn't even know who I was when I came here and yet you still were by my side at every moment, making me laugh. You helped me get over Mamarou, no questions asked. And... I couldn't help but have... fallen... in love with you Duo. Yes, I love you." Usagi said, a blush creeping to her cheeks. She then lifted up on her tip-toes and kissed him.
Duo's pounding heart suddenly ceased. This is what Duo had wanted to hear; exactly what he wanted to hear. This was his moment. Duo began to return her kiss, trying to wrap his arms around her waist. But she didn't fit, she was too small. His mind then immediately reeled to how perfectly Setsuna fit in his arms. Nope, this wasn't right at all. His heart tugged at him, nagging at him until he pulled away from Usagi. She seemed surprised, but understood. And Duo too understood; he understood the deeper meaning of Wufei's words.
"I'm sorry Usako, I don't feel that way about you. Part of me wished I do, but I don't." Duo said softly, trying to be as gentle as he could. Usagi nodded in acceptance.
"Yeah, you love Setie-chan don't you?"
Duo seemed surprised at the girl's insight, but let out a relieved sigh, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I do. Hey, I over slept, I gotta get going, so I'll see ya around?"
"Maybe." Usagi said, smiling lightly. Duo nodded and hurried out of his room and down the hall way. Turning a sharp corner Duo entered Setsuna's room. Empty. Duo then raced through the entire safe house looking for her. Setsuna wasn't anywhere inside the safe house and no one had seen her at all...
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Setsuna sighed as she stared blankly at the dark sky. Her violet eyes gazed intently on the silver moon, shimmering brightly against the black- star speckled sky. It was the source of her problems, yet she couldn't bring herself to hate it. No matter what, she couldn't hate her beautiful queen Serenity. Even if she had to suffer. Setsuna closed her eyes for a second, feeling the void in her heart. Except it wasn't a total void. There was something inside her that ached, a slow dull pain. All Setsuna knew was that she wanted to be with Duo, either in love or not, safe in his arms. Finally drawing in a deep breath, Setsuna found herself walking towards Duo's closed door. She gently opened it silently to a crack. She peered inside to see if Duo was there, and for a second time heart ache pounded against her chest with the force of a Tsunami, pushing her back a step. Duo was in his room, kissing Usagi. So it was final. She had lost to her queen, a second time. A silent darkness suddenly birthed from deep within Setsuna, enveloping her. Emptily Setsuna turned on her heel and left the mansion. She went into the forest and aimlessly wandered until her henshin wand appeared in front of her, radiating a warm dark red light. Absent mindedly Setsuna extended her arm and took it in her hand. Immediately she was cascaded in the warm light, and an uncomprehending euphoric feeling wrapped around her. She closed her eyes, fading into the light....
A.N: OKAY ALL!!!!END OF CHAPTER 4! Now, I couldn't help but notice that when I became nice about reviews, you stopped. REVIEW DAMN YOU REVIEW! YOU THINK I CAN JUST KEEP WRITING WITH OUT THE CONFIDENCE OF YOUR REVIEWS! IT SHAN'T HAPPEN! Okay, come on, I want at bare minimum ten reviews per chapters. I am falling short of that. Fix it.
Okay, new PROBLEM: This is where my story has come to a fork in the road. One side being the sweet ending I already have finished, the other being at least three more chapters ahead. Now, the problem is the plot I have set out for this extension is difficult, and if I am not careful I could botch the entire story. Walking on broken egg shells. I'll leave that up to YOU REVIEWERS! Which means, golly gee, THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO REVIEW!!!!!!
Oh, and for a further notice, I might be changing my penname. I'm thinking about the goddess Echo or Nike. Maybe Aphrodite. What do you guys think? I'll put up a notice.
Tchüs!