Ok... here's the update! I'm sorry that it took so long, but this writer's block is killing me. Which answers your question, Usagi Asia Maxwell; sadly this writer's block looks like it's here to stay for a while.

And more bad news, I'm afraid. Well, at least it doesn't leave you off at a cliffie...

I'm going to China for a couple of weeks starting June 26. That means no more updates for a whole two weeks. Sorry, but it can't be helped. I'll try my best to get another update out before I have to leave. Also I have a weird phobia of planes... I have this awful feeling that it's going to crash. So if there aren't any updates after two weeks, then you'll know what happened.

Yes, I know. I am indeed a very gloomy person. It's in the genes.

I still don't own GW or SM.

Thanks to all of the reviewers out there, you really make my day!

Heero prayed.

He goddamned prayed for a miracle, not caring for the moment that he didn't believe in miracles. Sitting in the tree not four feet from where the brunette was standing, he had almost given up hope.

And here he thought that either Chang or Winner was going to give away the mission first. It was even kind of ironic that he, the perfect soldier, would blow their cover.

Three feet away... two... Heero was inwardly counting the seconds before she found him.

Below him, a figure came hurling out of the bushes, nearly giving him (and the brunette, it seemed) a heart attack. The familiar sight of a braided baka, of for once he was glad to see, met his eyes.

Duo. The idiot had the best timing in the world.

Letting out a breath of relief, Heero then listened to the idiot beneath him try to explain why he was in the bushes. For some reason, he didn't think that Makoto was going to believe that Duo had accidentally 'gotten lost', and found himself by the temple. Tokyo wasn't exactly the easiest place to get lost in.

But then again... the girl did look like she could swallow a lot of shit.

"Err... well, you see... I was looking for Ami." Duo lied fluently, as if he had been doing it his whole life. Wait a second... didn't Duo say that he never lies?

The girl looked dubious. "It's Duo, right?" Duo nodded, "Ami? How did you get this address?"

"Oh... I just asked around a bit. Not that hard really. You guys seem to be quite popular around the school..."

Heero tried to keep from snorting. Wow, Duo could really lay the flattery on thick. And the girl was oblivious through it all... or maybe she was just a good actress. But then, she would have to suspect something, and that was impossible, right?

After all, what could she have to suspect?

Oh god. He was becoming as paranoid as Wufei.

She had nothing to suspect except for the fact that a boy she met not two days ago came tumbling out of the bushes, claiming to see one of her friends. Without a definite source on how he got their address. And that was currently stuttering like a fool.

As inconspicuously as he could, Heero dropped a twig onto Duo's head when the girl turned around to look at something over her shoulder. Giving the American below him a sign that he was in the tree, and an unspoken message that clearly said: 'Shut up before you give us away.'

The American gave the tree a slight glare before turning back to the girl. Oh yes. This was going to be a long day.

Hakura sat in the driver's seat of her yellow convertible, eyes focused on the road. Michiru sat besides her, and Hotaru was sprawled on the back seat, asleep. The quiet sound of classical music drifted lightly around them, providing them with a sense of peace.

Peace. What a joke.

With a glance at the sleeping child behind them, Michiru spoke quietly. "How long do we give them before we have to start tracking them down?"

"We owe it to them to at least give them a week. To set their affairs into order." The reply was mechanical, automatic, as if Hakura had been thinking about it for some time already.

"Hakura... I'm afraid." Michiru said, for a second letting her defenses drop. "I don't want to hurt them. They've grown close in the years... they've almost become family."

"It has to be done. You know that."

"Yes. But that doesn't make doing it any easier." Looking out the window, Michiru fought hard to fight tears.

"It can't be helped." Hakura's face was resolute, devoid of emotion. Michiru, however, saw past her poker face.

"I know this is hurting you too."

"I'll live, Michiru." Hakura's eyes strayed from the road to give the aqua- haired woman a quick glance.

For a second, the only sound was of the classical music over the stereo. Then, Michiru replied. "If you will, then I will too."

From the backseat, Hotaru cracked open an eye, looking at Hakura and Michiru. They seemed not to realize that she was still awake. There was something wrong... and it had to do with the inners.

Resolving herself to find out what was going on, she then closed both of her eyes, thinking.

Maybe she could work out something in the end.
Upon seeing an intruder on her Mercury computer, Ami had immediately sent Makoto out, and personally went to retrieve Rei and Minako. Within a minute, she had ushered Minako out of the back door, sending Rei to go with them. She gave them hurried directions to get Minako a new place to stay, and for Rei to come back within three hours.

Seeing the Mercurian's frenzy, none of them argued, and quickly left the temple. It was located on a hill, but unlike the front entrance, the back had no steps. The pair rushed down the hill, and at the foot of it, Minako spared a glance back at the temple.

She had a feeling that she wasn't going to see it for a while. Something in Ami's voice held an urgency that she had rarely seen before.

The temple with the others... she was going to miss it.

Rei called from in front of her to hurry, that there was no time. Nodding, Minako followed. Now was not the time to get all sentimental. After all, there would be plenty of time later to reflect.

Whispering a good bye, Minako hurried after the raven-haired girl that seemed intent on leaving as soon as possible.
Wufei had been grocery shopping with Duo and Trowa when they had all gotten the 'distress' signal from Heero. Duo had immediately run off to find the Wing Zero pilot, and Trowa dashed off muttering something about finding Quatre. Leaving Wufei by himself in the middle of a grocery store. At least he was currently dressed as a man...

A man that was currently shopping for food, which he considered a very womanly job. Sighing, he quickly dropped whatever caught his attention into the basket, and in great amounts. He didn't want to be doing this again if he could help it.

Looking over a stall of fruit, he froze. Instincts taking over, he ducked out of view, and then cautiously checked to make sure. What was she doing here?

Standing not ten feet away was Miss Relena Darlien, former Queen of the world, shopping with her bodyguard. It seemed that he had ducked at exactly the right moment... they hadn't caught sight of him yet.

Oh dear gods, she was here. Stalking Heero, most likely.

Wufei frowned. This was not good for the mission. Why couldn't that idiot Heero just take the girl out a few times? That might just keep her from stalking them instead.

Or, it might just encourage her. Setting down the basket of groceries, he quickly and subtly got out of the store. He needed to consult with the others about this.

Heero was not going to be pleased.
Setsuna glared at the mirror in front of her, displeased with what it revealed. This twist of fate left many things unclear, so that she couldn't even guess at the outcome.

Whoever was controlling fate was doing a messy job of it, and that would lead to disaster. Not that she could do anything to prevent it.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. Being the mistress of time, she could easily intervene, and change fate again. She just wasn't sure that it was the best method... messing with time usually had dire consequences. Consequences that she wouldn't be able to meet.

Only one thing was clear at the time. Whatever happened, whatever path was chosen, it would end in death. Whose death, she couldn't be certain. But in every outcome she could see, it would be inevitable.

This was not a pleasant turn of events, but she still wasn't sure if she should step in. If someone besides her had the power to change time, she wanted to know who they were before acting. Power like that could not go long without being unchecked, and if it had gotten past all of her defenses, then it was strong.

Much stronger than her alone. Maybe stronger than them all.

But who would want to change the lives of the scouts? Who would want to lead them to doom? An old enemy? A new one?

So many questions, and for once, she didn't know the answers.

And she couldn't act until she found out.

All she could do was sit there and glower at the foggy future, and that was exactly what she was doing. Glowering, and hoping that it would all end in peace.
"Mamoru!" Rei called to the retreating figure in the busy streets. The tall person stopped, and slowly turned around. Recognition sparking in his eyes, he smiled.

"Hello Rei. Minako. What are you doing here?" Genuine curiosity was in his voice. "And what are you running for?"

Minako and Rei both emitted a fake laugh, looking sheepish. "Oh... never mind. We were just wondering if you knew of somewhere Minako and I could stay for a while."

"Why?" His voice grew serious, "What's wrong?"

"Oh... nothing. We just got into a little fight with the other scouts," Rei deliberately didn't say which scouts, "and we think it'll be good to distance ourselves for a while."

"That serious?"

Minako blinked innocently. "What makes you think that it's serious?"

Looking suspiciously from Rei to Minako, Mamoru answered, "Because Rei would never leave her temple unless it was."

Waving it off, the Fire-priestess replied, "Oh... I trust them to take good care of the place. They know that I love the place"

"I think the whole thing will blow over in no time at all," Minako added quickly, tried to quell Mamoru's fears. At least he didn't seem to have seen them on the news yet...

Briefly, Minako wondered what would happen if he did. Would he side with them, or for the outers? Most likely he would just blame himself for not being more helpful in paying the bill... sending him even deeper into depression.

Hopefully he wouldn't find out.

"Well... I guess you guys can stay with me at Usagi's place. It's empty but for me. Or do you prefer an apartment? I think I have a friend that can help with that..." He said, momentarily brushing his doubts aside.

Rei met Minako's eyes, and silently they both decided. "Uh... Mamoru," Rei said quietly, "staying at Usagi's place would be great... but I think we'll need a place of our own for a while. Plus, it would feel like we were intruding."

"You know that you wouldn't be intruding... but if you really want to gat an apartment, then I suggest to go to this gal." He pulled out a scrap of paper from his pocket, and scrawled down a name. "She owes me from a long time ago, and she happens to have just gotten into town. Just tell her that Mamoru sent you, and she'll do anything she can to help."

Looking at the piece of paper that Mamoru had just handed to her, Minako smiled. "Thanks, Mamoru. We owe you."

"Nonsense. If anything, I owe you."

Glancing at the paper, Minako muttered the name out loud. "Relena Darlien..."
See? No cliffie. Well, not really anyways.

So Minako and Rei are going to meet Relena. And possibly live with her as well, whilst she stalks Heero. Interesting... things are slowly beginning to pull together.

Poor Heero. And you guys can't even guess at what horrors I'm going to put Wufei through. Don't worry, you'll get a laugh out of it if nothing else.

Reviews please!

Love,

Inverse-chan