Disclaimer: Don't own either Gundam Wing nor Sailor Moon
Depressing-ness. xD;
…………………
"I really can't imagine how those two can have anything to do with something this horrid on such a massive scale. They both seem so afraid." Quatre trailed off and looked to the side. Hiiro didn't glance up from the computer screen, still tapping away, eyes narrowed and faintly bloodshot. Wufei didn't reply either, continuing to stare fiercely at the floor.
Trowa stirred. "Famous last words, Quatre," he muttered softly.
The blonde buried his face in his hands and sighed heavily. "They're only sixteen or seventeen, not even out of high school. What can they know about making almost half of the earth's population disappear? Surely they've never even thought of such an act." His soft voice wavered, fell, and rose again, conveying pretty ideals of triumph, determination, and man's perfectibility.
Duo grinned and suppressed a yawn, sneaking a glance at the clock. "That's how all our enemies described us, Quatre. That's how everybody described Relena."
Wufei's blank, intense glare at the floor never wavered. "How grossly wrong they were." The words were a breath of air with a paucity of sound.
"Now, now, Wufei. There's no need to be morbid yet," Trowa chuckled softly and stood up from his leaning position against the closed door. "Hiiro, I'm sure you can handle the rest of the report by yourself. I'm going."
Quatre and Duo stared after him. Hiiro barely acknowledged the quiet words, deafening and echoing in the breathless silence.
Duo cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I suppose I'll go get some rest too." He hesitated and shot a questioning look at Quatre who nodded cordially. "Tomorrow will prove to be an interesting day."
"Interesting, huh?" Quatre whispered at Duo's retreating form.
"It depends on your definition of interesting, doesn't it?" Wufei finally forfeited his battle of wills with the carpet and stood up. "You'll stay with him, Winner?"
"Yes, go ahead and sleep."
Wufei's facial expression remained bland but his eyes narrowed as he headed for the door. "Who said anything about sleep?"
…………………
"Nothing like this has ever happened before," Ami pondered softly, pacing the length of the hotel-like bedroom Usagi and she were directed to shortly after their arrival. Five minutes had passed since she checked the door and scanned the security system that laced the entire building. Half an hour had passed since Usagi had spoken a word.
"In the past, Tokyo always seemed to be the only target." She bit her lip and thought harder, trying to keep her phrases and words ambiguous. There was no doubt in her mind that various, immensely sophisticated devices were planted around the room, like nodes in a information system.
"I can't imagine why the two of us were exempt from the disappearances. It would have made a bit more sense if the rest of the girls were with us." She paused and frowned. "Or was this all an accident? Should we consider ourselves lucky that the two of us remained?" Ami glanced up at Usagi and sighed noiselessly. The blonde was still sitting on the bed, in the same position as half an hour ago, arms wrapped around knees that were pulled to her chest, eyes downcast and still, proof that blue was indeed the color of mourning.
Ami struggled to continue. "This new enemy must be powerful … and clever. It knows how to turn our own world against us. Our only advantage is that it doesn't know who we are." She halted abruptly and sat on the bed. "This battle will prove to be formidable." She reached over and hugged Usagi to her, trying to calm the tremors that had afflicted the blonde for the past half-hour.
"We must be brave, Usagi. And we must make our moves carefully," she whispered. Ami narrowed her eyes at her own quivering hands and clenched them tightly.
…………………
Hiiro frowned at the computer screen, mulling over the circuitous and inconclusive report. There was so little information. But that'll change after tomorrow. He turned the volume on the headset up and thinned his lips.
"Yes, Mizuno Ami, you will have to make your moves carefully."
…………………
The room was warm, and Ami was breathing deeply beside her, lost in sleep. Usagi shuddered and breathed on her icy fingertips, not cognizant of anything other than her own world of desolate winter. She clutched briefly at the broach at her chest and tugged it off gently, willing it to open. The crystal glimmered innocently up at her, glowing faintly, as if Queen Serenity herself was smiling calmly up at her from within.
"I'm so scared," she whispered quietly. Usagi sighed and closed her eyes. The scalding truth that had been simmering ever since the day she brought home a strange, battered black cat was finally boiling ebulliently, forcing its way up her throat.
"I can't do this. I can't do anything by myself," she sighed softly. "I'm not smart like Ami, brave like Rei, strong like Mako, or charismatic like Mina. I'm not noble like Mamo-chan, and Princess Serenity is nothing more than a mottled memory of perfection." She bowed her head. "I'm just Tsukino Usagi, a rabbit, not a queen or a senshi. So … so…" She gulped the tears back down, remembering her silent promise to Ami's plea for courage. "…help me, please. Help me to save these people and avoid war. You are my only source of strength now." She pressed the crystal to her cold fingertips and marveled at the slight translucency of flesh.
"Please … please help me to protect those dearest to me. This time not as Sailor Moon nor Princess Serenity but as Tsukino Usagi."
…………………
Inside the efficiently moving car, it was deathly silent. The same two men were escorting them to something that was only mentioned in vague, broad terms, but from the grim expressions and heavy silence, Ami easily inferred it wasn't going to be anything particularly enjoyable.
At least, not enjoyable for Usagi and her.
Hiiro cleared his throat, signaling left and changing lanes without glancing back. There was no need to. The highway to the airport was soullessly empty.
"There is a private plane at the airport. Trowa will be flying it," he told them briefly. Ami looked up and almost smiled. Here it comes: the nectar of information.
"We are heading for Harbin, located in the Heilongjiang province of China. It is one of the still populated metropolises. There, a short press conference will be held in which you will be asked about your involvement in the mass disappearances."
Duo picked up from there. "Afterwards, we will head to the Preventers' HQ in that city and conduct some further tests."
"I see," Ami replied softly.
"I believe it is still quite cold in Harbin this time of year. We have extra clothing for you to wear if the need arises," Hiiro added.
"That is kind of you," Usagi smiled, relieved.
Duo turned and grinned at her. "We're not trying to be kind."
…………………
The instant they stepped out into the bright lights of the stage, the crowd of reporters surged forward, barely held back by hesitant guards. Usagi flinched and shakily sat down in the seat Quatre pulled out for her. Ami situated herself to the right of her.
They were like two wounded lambs thrown into a pack of wolves delirious from bloodlust.
Trowa cleared his throat and sat to the left of Usagi, leaning forward. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we will now begin accepting questions. Please do not ask until I point to you."
There was the flurry of motion as cameras flashed and arms flailed, searching for paper and pencil, recorders and tapes.
"Miss Mizuno, Miss Tsukino. How old are you?"
Usagi meekly reached for the microphone and gulped. "Seventeen."
"Seventeen."
A general roar resonated in the room as all incredulous eyes turned from notepads to the two girls up front.
"Can you explain why you two were the only two to survive?"
Ami sighed. "No."
"If the two of you truly didn't commit the crime, can you think of somebody who did?"
Usagi bit her lip and gritted her teeth, locking away the tears that were burning at her throat. "No."
"How did the two of you commit the crime?"
The noise in the room was reduced to nil. The small shuffles of reporters and the quiet sound of cloth against cloth echoed supernaturally in the room.
"We didn't," Ami replied firmly.
The room roared back to life.
…………………
"Well, that was an entertaining show." Duo beamed at the two tired faces behind him as they headed toward the Preventers' building. "In your situations, what's left of the world would either consider the two of you heroes or villains." Duo paused. "They seem to be leaning toward the latter at the moment."
Ami pursed her lips and turned to look out the window. Usagi was silent.
"Come now, don't be depressed. They can't kill you until they get what they want out of you. And they're not even close to getting what they want." Duo turned back in his seat and shrugged at the two girls' silence. "Being depressed will simply waste what's left of your life. It's a good way to think. It makes you enjoy and cherish life, even at a time like this." He glanced at Hiiro and then out into the side mirror to catch a glimpse of the two girls in the back. "Every moment is precious. Savor it. Especially since now you might not have much of it le-"
"Quiet, Duo."
The braided Preventer looked up questioningly at his comrade and frowned. Hiiro's hands were grasping the steering wheel so tightly that the veins at his wrists stood out with sickly prominence.
"They are asleep. Let them enjoy what is left."
…………………
Whew! What a relief! xD It's depressing. :P I couldn't stop being depressing. --; [I was sleepy the whole time while typing this … haha xD] And after watching significant amounts of Naruto … angst becomes a part of you. xD This chapter was difficult … --; I haven't come up with anything beyond a very general plotline for this … and this chapter was completely unplanned and extemporaneous [to some degree … xD] I felt like I was wondering around in Siberia without a map. xD;; It's very cold in the room right now. O.O;; Another factor that led to angst. xD; That's it! Hope you enjoyed it~ Yours, Angel.
Corrections:
1. Ayakashi sisters … not Akayashi sisters like I said last chapter. --; I don't know what I was on. xD;; [I typed it that way three times!!! ;-;]
2. According to the wonderful people that helped me/gave me sites, Ken is Shinozaki, Chad is Yuuichirou, and Melvin is Umino. :D Not that I think they'll be mentioned again anytime soon … but it feels so much more official. xD Thank you!
Ashika: Thanks for the website. :D Get on aim more often!!! xDxD
Sailor Grape: Yes … work … ::stabs the word:: xD Thank you!! You're so encouraging … ;-; Actually … I don't think any of the senshi/Mamoru would have sat still had there been a fire and they'd been at the fire station. xD; And the highlighting and hitting "d" for the definition is so convenient. xD;;; Ingenious! How does it work? O.O;; I hope I continue to surprise you. ::cackles:: xD And happy a-month-too-late New Year to you too! xDxD
ProjectGenesis: Lol. The name Shinozaki was completely unfamiliar to me too. xD I've never read a fic in which Ken was called that. --; [shows how well-read I am… :3]
Lady in Red1: Yesyes … it's kind of annoying when that happens … to be mild. xD;; And my hands feel as if they're about to fall off … not that I can feel them anymore … xDxD
LiLSeReNiTiE: Lol. Thank you! xD I still don't know for certain if it'll work … o.o;; [romance progresses so slowly … --;] And if I feel like I'm about to fail the experiment, I think I'll definitely hand it off to somebody more talented. xD;;
Transcendent: Heh heh … describing Ami as being a brunette was a strange habit I picked up from reading mind-numbing amounts of Crystal Heart [she's a SM author from … wow … so long ago … ^^;] I don't know … after that it seemed kind of strange to say "blue-haired girl" xD;; It's a strange habit. As for "indigo" … I have a tendency to use the various blues as all synonyms for blue. xD;; But … is indigo more of a blue-violet? O.O;; And Zacariah … O.O;;; Wow. I want to read it now. xD Thanks for your interest despite the coupling~ :D
Dark Universe: O.O;; Mysterious? xD;; Thanks for the review. :D
Adrelliehs: Lol … I really hope I do keep surprising people … o.o;; [not going to happen … but worth a shot. :D]
Datajana: Happy New Year to you too! xD;; [that was so long ago! What happened to all the time? ;-;]
Sunshine Fia: The TV show where everyone's weird? Lol. Everything will be explained … hopefully … just … perhaps in the veryvery distant future. xD;; And I'm striving to bring Mamoru back … lol … because I don't think it'd be being very true to the experiment if I didn't. xD;
Lethargic Gackt Camui: [you changed your penname again! O.o;;] Yesyes, in a way, I truly agree with you. I'd always imagined that making a couple or relationship work was more so based on the author's ability to manipulate circumstances or accentuate certain aspects of a character's personality. O.o;; And, yes, I can see Hiiro with almost anybody. xD; I don't know … I feel like I've never given much in-depth thought to the possibility of Hiiro/Usagi. xD;; And Vash is very cool. Lol.
Koldy: LOL! Reading your reviews amuse me so much. xD;;
Liquid Ice: Lol. Yupyup. Like I said to Gackt-san. xD I've always imagined making a couple work as the author's job … and shows the author's ability to manipulate/create settings and situations for the two that will work out credibly. xD;; And yes, I am obsessed with Trigun. Lol. As for choosing Ami … ::rubs hands together:: But I don't think any true explanation will be presented for a looooonnng time. :DDD
Heero's Bunny: Lol … you sound hyper. :3 Thanks for the names. :D And for the … theories. xD;;
Tenshi-Hotaru: Thank you for Ken's name! :D Andand … thank you in general! xD
Twiggirl06: Lol. It's an attempted Hiiro/Usagi fic. :D
Darlana: Is a month considered "forever"? :3
Dark-spiritwolf: Thanks for the name~ :D
Remember~!: Feel free to criticize me about my characterization of various characters whenever you see the need!!! That is the point of the experiment! They MUST be in character! xD;; Somehow I feel as if … Usagi's character isn't as great as it could be … and neither is Ami's … nor Hiiro's for the matter … ::grabs head in frustration:: The three main parts … and I mess those up the most. ;-; Suggestions pleasepleaseplease!!! :D