Quatre was not surprised when the door to his office clicked open without a knock, but the identity of the visitor surely did. The tall green- haired woman with her blue-haired companion had shown up only a few days ago while he, Trowa, and Wufei had all been out. When he returned, Duo and Hiiro had all but accepted the two newcomers, and Rei and Usagi insisted they were friends. As he thought about it, he couldn't think of a real reason letting all of these woman stay with them was beneficial, but as of yet no one had complained except Wufei, and Wufei always complained. Now in residence, her maroon eyes locked into his blue ones immediately as she sat down.
"Well, Setsuna? What brings you here?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm a soldier, and a politician, and I'm afraid that's all I can tell you."
"That's not what I meant. The five of you boys, are not like any other in this world that Mercury and I have come into contact with. Similar to those we have known in our own worlds, but different."
"That I can't tell you, not because of any wish for you not to know, but simply because I have no idea what you're talking about." Quatre was simple, and curt, without being rude.
"I didn't think so, but it was worth a try." Setsuna smiled mildly, more amusement crossing her face briefly than anything else, "But I will keep my eyes on you five."
And with that, she left the room.
Rei closed her eyes in a focusing exercise, but both the presence of the young soldier next to her and what they were trying to do stirred her mind out of its normally well-ordered patterns. Hiiro had come to her, and she was glad, because she had almost forgotten how Hiiro had seemingly absorbed the sword right into his body, just as she or another of the senshi might have done. Yet she was also perplexed at what to do. Hiiro obviously had some inexplicable potential for magic. But what to do? Hiiro had asked her to teach him, which brought her to where she was now, a dark, secluded hallway with no light but her own fire.
It was going fairly well. Hiiro was used to concentration, and she could nearly feel his brainwaves clicking into well-worn grooves of his psyche. His perfect focus helped calm her own mind and she too slipped into a deep phase of meditation. Without leaving this comforting sphere, she instructed Hiiro in something she barely understood herself.
"In this state you can look to yourself, and sense something inside of you. Something different from where you draw your strength or decisions, deeper, but still reachable."
"What should I expect?"
"I don't know. In my own world, this power inside could manifest itself in different ways, to attack, to heal, it even changed our bodies to make us faster, stronger. I don't know what the power may do for you."
Hiiro gave up and did as he was told, trying to look inside, into his mind, for something flowing or burning as he imagined. Nothing. Next he tried feeling, something perhaps warmer, or thicker, or solid? Still nothing. But a perfect soldier never quits. A perfect soldier must continue. So then he tried simply knowing. Not by any reason or common sense, by science or nature, but just plain instinct. And just as Rei had told him, there it was. More beautiful than anything else in his life had ever been. It was pure, so pure, shimmering in his knowledge, and a small smile tipped his pale lips. Rei seemed to know automatically that he had found what they were looking for, having somehow accompanied him in silence in his search. She cupped his hands in hers, transferring senses directly to him now. He could feel, nearly touch her power flowing out into her own hands, in the form of warm flames licking both her fingers and his, but not harming either. Just as she had done he opened his mind, letting the power emerge from the spirit into the realms of body and flesh, collecting and solidifying between his palms. At that point, their powers seemed to mix, and the sensation was irresistible. She was as him as he was her, retaining their individualities, sharing nothing but the moment. Hiiro reveled in the feeling that was too soon over. The image of Rei in his mind blinked her eyes open, looking at their clasped hands, with dismay, shock and horror. His eyes remained shut, confused by what was going on. He felt her magic's warmth recede, and even the warmth of her hands was gone a second later. She backed away, her devastated expression clear in his mind.
"Not again," he heard her say, sobs threatening to choke her voice, "not again."
She broke into a run, and Hiiro, now alone in complete darkness, trembled. Had he done something wrong? The world had been everything, and now it was nothing. Confused and exhausted, he fell to the ground, a perfect red rose enclosed in his fingers.
A/N: ooooooh..what does it all mean? Ok, so it turned out a little more metaphysical than I meant it too, but that's ok. It actually turned out better than I thought. I'm soooo sorry it's taken this long, but I've been really busy, and really uninspired. I haven't given up yet!
I strongly advise you to remember one thing. I am Rei/Hiiro, no matter what. So if you think you hate me, or if you think you love me, just remember those words.
To tell the truth, I know where I'm going in general, but my next few chapters are just starting to clarify, so it still might be a little while, thought not quite as long.
Firako Khushrenada