AN: Right, last chapter was short. Oops. Here we are, the fifth chapter. And to you --- people who decided to read my story and NOT review, go kill yourself, you stinking free loading mooches. Monkey Poo on you and your afterlife. But to you 53 who did review, I love you. And I will see this story to its end if, and only if, I get over sixty reviews for this fifth chapter. I was sorely disappointed in the small amount for this past chapter. So sad indeed. So, you reviews are like currency. The more you give me, the more I give you.

Truly Alone

Duo sighed. Europe wasn't bad. It wasn't where he wanted to be, but it wasn't bad at all. Hilde had left twelve angry messages on his cell phone already. Duo was almost hurt by such a low number. Laughing, Duo readdressed his last thought with sarcasm. Clutching his cell phone tightly, Duo then hurled it off the side of the boat. He watched it disappear into the Rhine River and bitterly smiled. Only two people had that particular phone number. One was Hilde Schbeiker, the other was the Director; the creepy guy who called him and used a voice scrambler to tell him his next mission. Surely enough Duo would have to head off again. It didn't take the Director long to figure things out. He probably already knew. Turning around and leaning on the railing as the boat rocked and swayed Duo waited for his comrade in arms to pass by.

Soon a blonde Arabian in a beige trench coat walked up and stood next to Duo for a second.

"Duo... you've put me in a very, VERY bad place. Do you know where that is?" The young man looked tired and frustrated. Or that he was trying to.

Duo half hearted grinned. He was aware of how much he was being a burden. "In Europe?" His joke received an icy look.

"Right between my best friend, also my best partner... and my Director."

Silence passed between them, allowing the words to sink into Duo's conscience. He heaved a heavy sigh and turned to face his partner.

"Quatre..."

Quatre simply smiled and shook his head. "Would I have come if my answer was no?" His voice was very soft and young. His blue eyes were innocent and naive. This innocent man Duo stood next to also happened to be the underworld's leading assassin. It was rather creepy Duo found, but it made him like the guy even more.

Usagi sighed. Spring cleaning was always bad, but even worse when there was something on your mind. Or someone. Duo Maxwell had just dropped off the face of Tokyo. It had been weeks since she had seen him last. Since he kissed her... Plus, Mamoru's information had been scanning through her brain. Duo a serial killer? The idea gave her a weight in her stomach but also vaguely enticed her. It made Duo all the more mysterious.

"Usa, you've been vacuuming the same spot for a while now, how 'bout the rest of the rug?"

Usagi darter her head up. "Oh, sorry mum." Usagi mumbled out. Her mother glanced at her suspiciously, then moved into another room filled with viscous dust bunnies. Her mother disappeared, leaving Usagi alone again. Duo's disappearance left Usagi feeling many things. It left her feeling used, naïve, angry, foolish, but above all... it made her feel alone. Her friends kept pushing her about why her giddy mood suddenly took a long dive, but Usagi couldn't bring herself to tell them. She had found a strength, an independence in not telling them, in taking on her problems alone.

'Or... have I found my strength in Duo?' She thought suddenly. This thought sent a rigid shock through her body. 'So I really am weak? Validating myself through a man?' Now feeling disturbed Usagi yanked the cord to the vacuum from the wall and abandoned it.

Once she was outside and free again Usagi's head began to clear. The sun was out, the air was dry and cool, and the sidewalk stretched on for what seemed like and endless time. It wasn't until a hand gently touched her shoulder did Usagi look up to find herself in the park. Her mind immediately flashed to Duo and Usagi jerked around. Her eyes winced when it wasn't her violet eyed man. It was some woman. Usagi turned to go, but the woman didn't let up her grip and held her there.

"Usagi Tsukino?" was all she said. Usagi nodded slowly. The woman the pulled a gun out and placed it right between Usagi's eyes. "I'm Schbeiker. Duo's woman. He left because of you. My Duo went all the way to Switzerland because of you! The director doesn't know you're still kicking around here, so I'm going to bring Duo back. He still has a chance. But you, not you."

"What?" It was all Usagi could stammer out. The woman seemed infinitely frustrated at Usagi's ignorance. "Duo didn't kill you. So now I'm going to too—" having been carried away in speech, Usagi saw her one opening. She ducked out of the woman's grip by falling onto her hands. Usagi then kicked the gun away from Schbeiker and shouldered her in the stomach. Now free, Usagi tore off and away.

When Usagi made it home, she couldn't even begin to process everything. Switzerland? Why in the hell? Killing? Switzerland? The house was vacant and dark, and oddly so. The answering machine blipped a few times. Usagi hesitated, not sure she wanted to truly understand everything right away, but a sudden urgency hit her. Something was definitely off. She hit the play button and held her breath.

"You have one new message"

It was Chibi Usa's voice. Her voice was quiet and frail, sounding coldly terrified, dazed, and much like she was trying to be okay. Which was precisely when you knew things were horribly awry. Usagi tore her gaze down to the return phone number. Chibi Usa was calling from the hospital...

"Mum has... brain cancer?" Usagi mumbled weakly as her body slowly lowered into a chair. The doctor looked sympathetic to the Tsukino family, then turned and went back into the patient's room. Mr. Tsukino was focused entirely on his beloved, Sammy and Chibi Usa hung back together, looking sad and dark. Usagi felt her head spin. Strong arms suddenly wrapped around Usagi. She jerked her head up and regretted it. Mamoru was there. Returning her head back to her mother's hospital bed Usagi couldn't feel a thing. Her mouth went autopilot.

"She was with Chibi Usa... grocery shopping... and she just collapsed. And now... she's going to..." That was it. Usagi buried her face into Mamoru's chest and cried.

Mrs. Tsukino's passing was painless and drugged. As the weeks passed Chibi Usa stopped talking all together. Sammy became a violent torrent of rage, and Mr. Tsukino didn't acknowledge his offspring. Usagi now understood the true feeling of alone. The glue had dissolved, leaving limbs flailing in the breeze. Usagi had cried, felt guilty, felt angry, and now felt nothing. She took the rest of the semester off from school and dropped communications with the world. Mamoru kept trying to contact her, but he was dead to Usagi. It was a bleak world of nothing until she remembered one word:

Switzerland.

And with that word came the realization she didn't have to be alone. Duo was out there, somewhere. The woman Schbeiker said he was supposed to kill her, but he didn't. Simply put, he didn't. As Usagi packed her duffel bag of clothes she couldn't fathom why he didn't, but there had been a reason. And even the smallest reason was fine enough for Usagi. Slipping out of her room around four a.m. Usagi headed to the bank. Her meager job at crown arcade during her sophomore and junior year had amounted up, but Usagi wouldn't be spending it on a plane ticket. The Sailor Teleport was faster.

As she stood on the bridge Usagi gave a brief glance back to say goodbye to anything she might have had left. 'Good bye for now...' It was also a vow to come back. The gravel around her rose in the air slightly, then dropped to the ground. An empty wind blew across the now empty bridge...

Duo glanced around his new room. Or, technically his old room. It was barren. No photos hung on the walls or sat on the dresser, no posters, nothing remotely decorative or personal. "The true room of an assassin." Duo scoffed in childish voice. Sighing he dumped his travel bag onto the floor and dug through it. He pulled out his wallet and removed a picture. It was of Usagi, the first time he saw her truly smile. Yeah, it was sneaky, but his profession did have bonuses. He had slipped a picture of himself into her purse, but he had he distinct feeling that his action was two things. Very stupid and undiscovered. But did it matter anymore? 'No' His mind decided.

None of this was new to Duo. Every five years or so, usually less, he had to pack up and shove off. He had to leave everything behind, so eventually Duo learned not to have anything. But Usagi, his Usako, was something so wildly different Duo couldn't help but become attached. After all, isn't the nature of humans to find companions? The nature of humans wasn't to be alone. Unless you're Duo. Or Quatre, or Heero, or Trowa, Wufei. Sighing, Duo plopped down on his bed and dug through his duffel bag. Finding a small, square shaped velvet bag.

Tarot Cards. Duo shook his head at himself as he pulled the deck out and began shuffling them. His mind reeled with questions as his hands quickly went over the cards. Slowly he began his spread. First was the Tower, positive. Then on top of the tower was the Death, also positive. Above these to cards Duo set down another card. The Princess (page) of Cups in positive position, and on top of that card was the Queen of Disks, negative position. Then below the Tower and Death Duo lay down the Lovers, and on top of the Lovers the Nine of Swords (Cruelty) in negative. To the left of the Tower and Death was The Fortune, positive. And finally to the right of the Tower and Death was the Chariot, positive. Duo glanced down and winced. Stating:

Summerized:

Tower Distance

Death The End and Beginning, Sudden Death

Princess of Cups A young woman, the earth of water

Queen of Disks An older woman, the water of earth

Lovers Beloved people

Nine of Swords (cruelty) Quarreling

Fortune Fate is at hand

Chariot Victory

Duo grimaced again. Some one he was distanced with was going to die. Two people he loved were quarreling. The two people, both females, were exactly the same and complete opposites at the same time. There is nothing he could do to stop any of it, but in the end it would be all right. Sighing Duo cleared away his spread and fell back onto his bed. He wasn't really sure why he played the game; it was always so vague and gloomy. And this time he couldn't do a thing about it. Duo began to thumb through his deck until he came across the Princess of Cups. The Earth of Water. This girl was very emotional, but in control. Humble in nature, down to earth. She was fluid in her thoughts and words, generally generous and kind to a fault.

"Kind of reminds me of Usako—shit!" Duo jumped up right to his feet, heading full speed for the door.

A.N: Cackle. Mwaha. Another short chappie! Sorry guys, I need time to retreat, regroup, and really get this story going. One: The Rhine River branches off into Switzerland. I used a map for this too, so if you doubt, screw you. Also, I use a Tarot Deck called Thoth, which has some cards under different names. For instance, the princess' are really the Page. Remember, if I don't get over sixty reviews (even if it's only sixty one) I am discontinuing this story. I understand that my chapters are becoming a bit rushed and much shorter, but I'm juggling some stuff in my life right now, so back off!

Review your love!