Disclaimer: My name is not famous. I am very poor. That naturally would be assuming I don't own anything of worth…

To Be A Star!

Usagi entered. She smiled at the older man. She lowered her head as a sign of respect. "Downawki-san…"

She heard him get up and come towards her. He lifted her head and smiled back. Her smile became bigger. "Now child…there is no need for you to show respect. I already know you respect me. In fact, you might as well be my equal with your rapidly increasing reputation. My dear, you do indeed have great potential. Come, have a seat."

They headed back towards his desk and they sat facing opposite each other. Usagi tentatively spoke. "You are pleased with my progress, Downawki-san?" He leaned back in his chair and made sure to look into her eyes. "Very pleased. You are quite one of the best since Julius. I believe you will do well. However, there is that fact that you don't kill the bounties. Wasn't it that you disarm them quickly, get them to the law enforcements, make sure to have my name on there so I could collect the bounty, and leave? Well, at least you don't leave any evidence behind."

She lowered her head in shame. Usagi hadn't quite been following orders. Ever since she found out she was exceptional at shooting, she had been thinking about the requirements of the job. They didn't tell her she had to kill, that's for the assassins. Actually, all she had to do was deliver the bounty to the law.

However, she knew that it was hinted at. It was inevitable that she would be questioned on it. Of course, Usagi didn't want to be the first to touch the subject.

"Usagi. Look up. I am not that angry as I was when I first heard of this. In fact, it's all fine now. You are still innocent after just working a week into the works. The stain of death hasn't tainted you. For that I am fortunate. And I will respect your decision to continue bringing bounties in without their deaths, if you so choose so. That is of course your choice. After all, these are just bounties, you are not an assassin."

Usagi sighed gratefully and offered another smile to her employer. "Domo arigato. Anno, I need to know how I'm going to be paid and when…I mean the boost you gave me to start off was big, but it's running out and my ototo-chan is becoming sick and my mother made off with some of it to buy make-up and stuff…Gomen, but I'm trying to keep my family alive." He nodded understandingly and took out his wallet.

Her eyes widened. "Downawki-san! Iie! What are you doing?!" He looked amused and replied with a smart aleck response. "Giving you money, that's what." Usa pouted and said, "Baka! I know that! But this is your own pocket money…I can't accept that. Gomen, I shouldn't have asked anyway. I'll just leave." She turned to leave, but before she could reach the door he was at her side and grabbed her wrist. Before she knew it her hand held a lot of money. "That's all I have right now in my pocket. Come later on and I'll have more money for you if you come back. And no, don't even try to give it back."

Ignoring him, Usagi tried to give it back. She shoved the money in his hand but he closed his hand around hers. It was like the game mercy. He was squeezing her hand but she refused to give in. Finally, she winced and gave up. "Hai, hai. You win.  Why, though? Downawki-san…this is way too much. I mean this money is coming from your very own pocket."

He smiled and gave her a wink.  "Not many people know this, but I am a very generous person to people I like. I like you. Not only do you have great probable talent you have extreme determination. You have this thing that makes people like and trust you. I've been around this business for a long time and it's my luck to finally have someone like you. After all the trouble these people are and the gloominess around, I love having you here to brighten the day. I should be thanking you. Arigato, Usagi-chan."

Usagi felt better knowing that. She smiled once more and left, promising to come back. She felt gracious to him for giving her money and being kind to her like he always was.

One of these days, Usagi had to find some way to pay him back.

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It was the next day and Knives woke early in the morning. He showered and dressed before Vash was even up. 7 o'clock and he was sure Shingo would be up. After all, it was Friday and the perfect time to go out and do something. By chance he might even meet Shingo's sister…

In an uncanny event, Knives was happy. He acted happy, he felt happy, he was happy. Whatever it was it was a sort of nice change from his usual grumpy attitude.

His walk to Shingo's "holding cell" in "Death's Corner" was a quick one. (I making the place look bad…Oh well. I own it, I get to make the hotel crappy and everyone staying there miserable.)

He knocked and a woman of 34, 35, 36? came out from behind it. Knives was guessing this was the mother.

She was pretty. In the sense that it was natural. So she wouldn't have needed all the makeup piled heavily onto her face or the clothes that was disgracing her. Had it not been for that, Knives was sure she would not be here and that she would already be happy and married. 'Well she is married. She's just about to get divorced.'

He forced a smile out and asked if Shingo was there. "Shingo? He's in school…why? Did he do something wrong?" She narrowed her eyes in not only a protective manner, but also one that also said that if Shingo was in trouble there was going to be a talk between her and Shingo.

"Anno, iie. I forgot he had…school. Do you know what time he'll be back?" She still had that look and she replied to his question with another question. "Who are you?"

"…Knives Millions. Are you his mother?" She pursed her lips. "Hai. Well, Millions- san…what do you want with my little boy?" Knives was beginning to grow wary of this woman as her maternal instincts started kicking in. "Nani? I'm just a friend! I really don't intend no harm to him Tsukino-san…Onegai, I was just coming over to visit him." Her eyes lit up and she grinned. "A new friend, eh? Come on in. I'll make you a cup of tea while we wait for Shingo to come home. Any friend of my children's is welcomed."

His eye brows rose and he was promptly dragged inside.

An over whelming smell of food reached her nose. Usagi looked up and saw a delicious array of food in front of her. She sighed and knew Shingo had done it. He had probably been late to school as well. As for her own school…

She groaned. She was way over the time she was usually late at. Usagi was just thinking of skipping school for today. 'No way. Baka, didn't Ju-kun teach you better than that?'

She got up and quickly ate the food. After she was done she set about washing the dishes and then getting ready for school. She was thirty minutes late already.

By time she was done, it was 8:10. Just her luck. She was really going to get from Haruna-sensei now. And she was finally getting to class on time too!

That thought was interrupted when her cell that Julius gave her started to ring. She hadn't given anyone the number to her cell yet and it was only being used for Downawki-san to call her for an assignment.

She answered it and spoke, "Downawki-san? What's wrong? You wouldn't call at this time because you know I have school. It must be an emergency."

At Downawki-san's office, he was pacing back and forth. He was worried about this new job he had for her and really, she wasn't even on duty. But he needed his best on this case and it was either Julius or her, however, the former was busy doing something else for him.

"Usagi-chan, I need a favor. I know you aren't even supposed to be working at this time, but I can only count on you for this job. I'm not one to beg, but I'm desperate. Onegai, I need your assistance."

On the other line there was only silence. And then, "Hai. I'll do it. What do I have to do?"

"You remember your last job? It turns out to be bigger than expected. The CIA just sent out a notice that they want that Diamond. The bounty is about half a billion dollars. You up for it?"

"Heck yeah, I am. Half a billion, you say? I'm definitely in."

When she came back last night for the rest of the money he was going to give her, he had explained when she gaped at the big pile of money, that with each bounty she finished, how much the bounty was counted for how much she'd get. That means if she finished this bounty then with the bounty as half a billion she'd get about $10,000,000. That's 1/5 of the half a billion.

Both sides hung up and Usagi changed her clothes to her gear. She waited at her door and listened for any noises on the outside. Nothing.

She snuck out and froze when she heard voices coming from her mother's room. She scowled and continued on. It was her mother's business to do whatever, not hers. But just the thought of it…

Her frown deepen.

Past 12'o clock, it was now lunch time at school. Usagi leaned heavily on a nearby tree. She clutched her tardy slip in her hand and closed her eyes. She clenched her teeth and then pushed herself off of her temporary support.

Usagi continued on towards Haruna-sensei's classroom. The pain in her arm was intense. Her breathing became labored, but she kept limping towards the room.

When she finally reached it, she waited a couple minutes outside to catch her breath. Quickly, she opened the door and started towards her surprised teacher, careful to not look like she was in pain. "Gomen nasai for my absence, Haruna-sensei. I will try not to be late in the future."

Usagi heard a gasp and saw Haruna-sensei staring at her arm. Hoping that it wasn't because of what she thought it was, Usagi looked down and saw to her dismay blood flowing in little streams down her arm.

Not to mention her tardy slip. Or the pain that was still in that left arm of hers. Usagi closed her eyes once more and tried to will the pain away. Her right arm reached over to cradle the left and she uttered only one word. "Shimatta…"

Haruna-sensei came towards her, ignoring the curse. Her eyes widened and she grabbed Usagi and started to lead her to the infirmary. Haruna-sensei was careful not to let any of the left over students hanging around in the hall to see Usagi's wound. Everyone who saw Usagi assumed that Haruna-sensei was taking her to the principal because Haruna-sensei had finally had it with her tardiness.

They had only stopped for Haruna-sensei to ask a janitor to clean up a mess in the room. Her story to cover up what he would see was that some student wanted to pull a prank on her and that the red stuff was paint.

After that they continued on to the infirmary. Reaching there was surprisingly easy. They had no problems and Haruna-sensei called the school to go absent for the rest of the day. They soon got to work on the gunshot wound in Usagi's arm. It was a bit painful, just not as much as getting shot in the first place.

Soon, they had the wound cleaned and bandaged up in no time. Usagi was then led to Haruna-sensei's car where they drove off from the school. They just drove on and on in silence until Haruna-sensei broke it.

"Usagi…are you in a gang? I mean not that you look the type it's just that - " She was cut off with a snort form Usagi. She looked over and saw Usagi giggling. "Iie! I'll tell you Haruna-sensei. But I rather we go to my place to discuss it. I have to check on something." Haruna-sensei looked skeptical, but drove to the directions that Usagi was telling her.

And once they were in the hotel, Usagi wrinkled her nose and said, "Welcome to "Death's Corner", Haruna-sensei. Don't mind the name. It's a…a nickname. One I think suits the place. Here we go!"

They entered the small room and Usagi disappeared into the bathroom for a second. Haruna-sensei looked around her and couldn't believe this room was in a hotel that looked like crap. This room was fit to be in a regular hotel.

"I fixed the place up. Not too much, mind you. I know I'm not going to live here forever." Like her mind was read, Haruna-sensei nodded to the answer to her unasked question. Although, come to think of it, why was Usagi living here in the first place? Didn't she live in a nice two-story house?

"Usagi…what happened to your house? Why are you living here?" Usagi sighed. She had been so tired of keeping everything inside. Heck, she decided that her teacher would be good enough to dump her problems on. Now though, Usagi was thinking that maybe she had made a mistake. She was just so desperate though. She wanted to speak to someone and Rei had known a lot of things about Usagi, but she didn't want Rei to know about this. She didn't want Rei to become disappointed in her.

After all, Usagi had loaded a lot of things on Rei already. It would be wrong to have Rei worry on anther one just because she couldn't handle it herself.

Besides that though, how would Haruna-sensei look at her now that she was going to know about Usagi's new life? She scowled and dropped her head to stare at the floor. She didn't really want to talk about this even though she needed to. Ugh. Now she was going back and forth on her decision to talk to her teacher.

"Uh, well…I guess we could start with my parents." And over the next hour Usagi and Haruna-sensei talked about Usagi's life over the last few months.

"Usagi, you didn't go tell anyone about this? You can get some support from the government or something. You're too young to be giving up your life like this. No, you shouldn't working, taking care of bills – Oh there's a bunch of things you shouldn't be doing!" Usagi scowled.

"I can't grab help from the government. They won't help much and with Reiji Takatori winning the election to become Prime Minister I doubt they will give any support at all. Plus, there's the war with Oz."

Haruna-sensei sighed. "Hai. Those are big problems. Usagi, I'll give you some of my money from my paycheck if you stick to just bounties. From what I understand of your work, you are doing extremely well. In fact, so well that you might get upgraded to an assassin. Because in the world of jobs, if you do good you get promoted."

All of a sudden, Usagi looked very tired and worn out. "Hai, hai. I will. I don't think I could stomach it actually. Domo arigato, Haruna-sensei." Her teacher smiled at her and Usagi smiled back. "I'm a little tired. Can you watch the T.V. for anything important and keep my phone in check? I just want to catch up on some – "

Usagi couldn't even finish the sentence. She was already asleep. Haruna-sensei closed the blinds to keep the room dark so that the light wouldn't disturb Usagi. Then she turned on the T.V. She flipped through the channel and onto one that was showing news. Reiji Takatori appeared on the screen. His brother, Shuuchi, stood beside him. Then there were Reiji's bodyguards. Lined up in order, a little ways behind him, was one with blue hair, then it was red-orange, silver, and then the last one with brown. Haruna-sensei continued to watch Reiji say his speech before she moved to change the channel. However, what he next said had her focused on the T.V. again.

"It is unfortunate that just hours ago, the famed Black Diamond of Carthraw was stolen. The terrorist these days are aiming for higher and higher things. First the legendary Diamond and soon they'll try to take over the world. However, the case was that this terrorist stole the Diamond, which had been missing for five months, from another terrorist who has been arrested. If I become the new Prime Minister, then I can guarantee that things will be in order and that these terrorist will be no more."

Haruna-sensei rolled her eyes and switched to another channel. She wondered if Reiji Takatori was in need of another bodyguard. There were a lot of them already…God only knows how paranoid that man was.

Actually, what if he could add Usagi to his team of Loyalists? Nah…pays probably bad. Come on! This is Reiji Takatori here! He's a cheap old man.

But what Haruna-sensei did keep in mind was the Black Diamond…

An hour later, Usagi finally woke up. It was 2:15 and she felt refreshed and ready to go out and do something. "Usagi…?" She looked up and saw Haruna-sensei staring down at her. "Huh? Oh yeah! Kon'nichi wa, Haruna-sensei." Her teacher smiled. "Hello to you too. How was the sleep?" Usagi smiled brightly up at her. "It felt good! I feel reenergized."

"That's good. Anyway, do you know anything about the Black Diamond of Carthraw? It's all over the news! Even the "Mighty Reiji Takatori" said something about it. There was even Relena Peacecraft, Treize Khushrenada, and a whole lot of other people mentioning it."

Usagi winced. Well, she didn't know anything about it actually…she just stole it. "Anno…I don't know anything. It's probably something for the richer people to know about and not us common people. Although…" Usagi got up and walked to the bathroom. Haruna-sensei wondered what was so important in the bathroom. She knew earlier on that Usagi didn't go when they arrived because there was no indication of her doing so.

Usagi came back with something in her hands, hidden behind her back. "Haruna-sensei…I present to you the Black Diamond of Carthraw…" Haruna-sensei couldn't believe it. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "U-U-Usagi…" Haruna breathed out. "No way…you were the one to steal it?" Usagi's lips quirked upwards. "Yeah…my boss will probably explain later on why I had to grab it. Because the job I did before that was when I had to get verification on the guy who had it. And as you heard, he's in jail…Saa what time is it? I have to hide this thing before Shingo comes home. I usually pick him up, but he said he wanted to walk today." The other woman nodded and said, "2:30. He's probably coming home right now."

Usagi nodded and hid the diamond in a niche under her bed. That was when Shingo came home. He looked surprise to see Usagi's teacher there, but said nothing. "Usagi, I'll see you later. Take next week off. I'll be sure to tell the school that you need some bed rest. Ja ne." Soon enough it was only Shingo and Usagi left in the room. "So 'neesan…how come you didn't go to school today?" Usagi suddenly became uncomfortable and muttered out any excuse. "Anno, I didn't feel very well today." Shingo didn't quite believe her, but didn't say anything on it. Shingo heard a familiar voice next door and forgetting that he was still grounded and that he could only sneak out ran next door, leaving his sister bewildered.

Usagi closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. It was very tiring to move. Later, she'll give the Diamond to Downawki-san later. She needed another chance to sleep.

Shingo hurried over next door to his mother's room to meet his new friend. He didn't know Knives was actually serious to visiting him. He grinned.

Inside his mother's room, he was met with a strange sight. His new friend and his mother were…playing charades. Right now it was currently Knives turn to act out.

"Nani? 'kaasan? Knives? What's going on here?"

The other two occupants of the room turned to Shingo. "Ah, Shingo, darling! I met your new friend here when he came to visit you this morning. We've been playing charades to past the time by 'til you came home." Knives nodded.

"Er…okay…" Shingo still looked a bit weirded out. "So, you want to play?" Good job Knives!

And that started another round of charades.

Usagi still felt tired. Her arm felt sore too. Then she had a big headache. Not to mention her entire body didn't want to function right.

She groaned and carefully packed the Black Diamond into a bag and suited up to go meet Downawki-san. Although, she wished she could just sleep on it until the next day. But no, it has to be done today! Besides, she slept enough already.

She trudged through the mansion once she had arrived. Damn Downawki-san. Why did he just have to have his office so far away from the freakin' door!?

She saw the door and smiled gratefully. She straightened her posture and made sure the bandages were on all right. Then she entered.

"Usagi! It's about time. I was beginning to think something had happened to you. What happened?" were the words that greeted her. Usagi discreetly rolled her eyes and opened her bag to retrieve the Diamond. "I have it right here. And nothing happened with the mission. It went fine. I just had to go through school." She handed him the diamond and he took it from her. He smiled gratefully at her and said, "Arigato Usagi. This is really going to be some big bucks. Now, what was that you were saying about school?"

"Anno…I went to school and finished my homework. That's why I didn't get to come and give you the Diamond after the mission had been finished." Downawki-san nodded. "Really. Because I found out that you had come in late, but was quickly sighed out earlier by your teacher. Tell me about that."

Usagi looked up guiltily from where she was staring down at the floor. "I had felt sick and my teacher drove me home. Since I wasn't sure my mom was home or not, Haruna-sensei took care of me for a while. I think I may be coming down with the flu or something."

"She's lying. There is truth to her words, but there is also lies. She has also sugar-coated her story." Julius suddenly came out from the shadows and freaked out Usagi. She blinked and realized she had to do something. However, Julius beat her to it and he flashed forward and grabbed her wounded arm. She tried not to cry out in pain when he twisted it around her back.

But she gave a small cry and Julius let go. "She's wounded." Those simple words were like a confession in her ears to how much she failed that day at the mission.

She winced and searched for Downawki-san's eyes.  She saw nothing revealed in them and she became even more nervous. "Let me see it." She blinked and began to look very surprise. "Nani?" Downawki-san rolled his eyes. "Let me see your wound."

"Anno…"

"No umms. Let me see it." She sighed and lifted her sleeve and he began to inspect it. Julius continued to stay in the back while critically looking at the wound from where he was at. "It's…not that bad. You're lucky it's not so critical that we'd have to go do something drastic to it. Yes, lucky indeed."

Julius nodded. "You need to be more careful. I taught you to be better than that." Downawki-san frowned at him. "Please Julius, it's fine. She's done a fine job. You and I need to talk later."

"Usagi, I'll talk to you later. Julius and I have some business to attend to. Arigato again for completing this mission."

Usagi nodded and hurried out of there. She was ashamed that she got shot and thought she could take care of it by herself. Obviously not, since Haruna-sensei had to clean and bandage it up for her and she couldn't even lie about it correctly.

Oh, God. Any job was a pain in the ass. She just got the suckiest one.

It was about 8 o'clock, 2 hours from the time when she had given the Diamond to Downawki-san. She was at a local café. It fact, it was the same one she had met Downawki-san at. They had some real good pastries as she had remembered. She also got a hot chocolate.

She talked with the same guy who had tried to help her the first time she went there. He was funny and she had a great time laughing with him. However, she soon felt like she wanted to be alone to deal with her problems. So, she was glad that he had to get back to work. Although, she wouldn't mind talking to him again.

She saw a white-blond man come in and she watched him for a while. Usagi saw him glance over at her and he look surprised for a moment and then delighted. He walked over to her and he introduced himself. "Hello. My name is Knives. Are you by any chance related to Shingo?" At first, she was surprised.

She smiled. "Hai. He's my brother. How do you know him?" Knives knew he'd have to go through the same questioning with her like he did with Shingo's mother if he didn't say good things soon.

"I'm his friend. You know, he has told me a lot about you." Usagi raised an eyebrow. "He did, did he? I hope he didn't say anything bad…" Knives smiled and said, "No, he said quite a lot of good things."

She smiled too. "Hey, want to join me for a bit of a drink? I got some pastries too."

"I'd love to."

Over the next hour and a half, they talked and joked around. Of course they ate, what with Usagi being there. All in all, she had a lot of fun. Despite the stress earlier, Knives had managed to get her to really lighten up.

"Domo arigato. I had a lot of fun. Are you coming by tomorrow?"

"I had a lot of fun too. Yeah, I'll be coming by. See you!"

"Ja ne!"

They went their separate ways. The day was going to a close. When Usagi went home, she immediately fell asleep. Knives fell asleep as well, ignoring his brother's questions as to where he had been. All was now quiet.

Back to where Julius and Downawki-san was. They had just finished meeting with the CIA and they had the money all ready. Now all they had to do was have that talk Downawki-san had promised they would have.

"Julius, what is your problem? You gave positive reports on her, told me she would make it, and now you are acting like a complete pompous! Do not tell me you aren't. I have been observing how you act. Ever since you had train her, you have this jittery and pissed off attitude. Tell me, are you in love with her?"

Julius gaped like a fish. He kept opening and closing his mouth. "NANI? Where did you get that idea?!" Downawki-san grinned. "You forget I am a great observer of things and people. And I know you. There's no way I wouldn't be able to figure it out. Just admit it."

They stared the other down until…

"Don't you dare tell her. Besides, nothing could ever come of it. Nothing."

A/n: Right, you people want couples. Eh heh, this is going to be very long. For now the only men (or women because I want to include all pairings even odd ones) going to be with Usagi is from Trigun and Gundam Wing. In the sequel, it'll have people from Weiss Kreuz and Sailor Moon itself. Then the sequel to that will have Fushigi Yuugi.