Hi!
As promised an update a week if not more. I would like to thank the only person that reviewed. While it is motivating to get more reviews, I am glad at least someone reviewed. With that I decided to alter my writing in later chapters, to seperate the sections more, maybe the style will be appealing to more individuals... of course I already have 26 pages on my comp. that I am reviewing so that will be later. Thanks again to my reviewer and to all others please review.
Before he could answer she continued "tell me do you ever wonder what you will do when its gone?" she waved her hand carelessly in front of her as if to place the idea firmly in their minds.
Duo and Trowa lost in the entire episode remained mute as Wufie turned the Queen around to face him, his hand firmly, but gently grasping her arm as he stared into her eyes. The warmth and mirth gone, they reminded him of 'Yui's eyes,' but they were not emotionless, but the emptiness the pain he had seen that in all of their eyes before, but the detachment from it all, it reminded him of the perfect soldier or was it his own eyes they resembled so much.
'What does he know that we don't,' the thought was racing through Trowa's mind as he took in the scene. He had been aware that Wufie and the woman before him had talked on the balcony and that he soon had left to where he presumed Heero was, but what was now going on. 'Has the mission changed.' His eyes scanned the room for any difference that could have altered their task, for any sign of something wrong, but it was in a vain effort. His eyes only found the questionable orbs of the Arabian that sat entertaining the Sanq Princess.
"What do you mean onna?' The sentence had come out harsher then Wufie had wanted it to, but the woman before him seemed to take no notice.
As she slightly closed her eyes and opened them just as quickly a look of understanding and knowledge beyond her years radiating in them. "I mean, what will you do after killing me. What then." The last part seemed to be more of a statement then a question, something that she wanted to say out loud, but was not really expecting the answer to.
'She knows' the thought was perplexing to both Trowa and Duo, both trying to figure out how, and why it was that she would be confronting them. Nervously Duo reached his arm behind his head, a goofy grin plastered on his face as his braid began to sway as he took a step towards the young Queen, "Now why would you say something like that, who would want to hurt a beauty such as yourself." His smile grew, but his mind was racing.
He was going to say something else, but Wufie cut in, "There will be peace."
'He honestly believes that doesn't he,' the thought brought her back to when she was young and naïve, believing that there was truly such a thing as peace.
"For me yes" he voice was almost sing songish as she seemed to be enjoying the thought of dieing, "but for you, or for anyone else? I wonder about that." She looked at Duo shock apparent in his eyes, his smile gone, and uncertainty about the situation was apparent upon his features at least to her well trained eye it was.
Looking at Trowa she saw the little bit of emotion that was trying to escape from his eyes, but was held back by loose hair that seemed to guard it from the world. He had learned early on that his eyes could betray him, and so learned to shadow them. Then there was Wufie, his onyx colored eyes seeming to take in what she said, but not understanding it. As if loosing the hope that they would understand she sighed. Shrugging her shoulders she continued "Well I guess at least Rei will find peace, I mean she won't have to sneak behind my back to sleep with my husband."
All three were taken aback at this last comment. 'She knows she is being cheated on' was the common thought. They of course had known, they had followed both the King and the Queens guards and friends to locate any threats to their mission, but the fact that she knew was something that they had never suspected.
'So, they can be surprised. Twice in one night' she began to inwardly giggle 'hmm… they don't really know everything. Well, of course not, they don't know about me. At least not truly.' Breaking herself from her reprieve she turned back to Wufie, "I found the fifth" and with that she walked quickly back to the center of the ballroom, and before either of the three men could stop her she was swallowed up by the swarm of guests that wanted to be close to the lovely Queen.
Duo's eyes gaped from each of his team members to the parting form of the Queen in the surge of guests. "So, what now?"
Wufie never looking away from the Queen, stiffly answered "Yui, said to continue on with the mission, and that's what we'll do."
The doubt in his voice was not lost to Trowa as he began to put the nights events into place in his own head, 'are we doing the right thing, it seems as if she wants to die, and is content with it. Why doesn't she tell someone?' The questions were multiplying as the silent one went to find Heero, and find out just what it was that he was keeping from the rest of the group.
Usagi was making her way to Darien, although a bit slowly 'I wish these people would stop introducing themselves to me. I won't remember who they all are anyways.' With the slightest of smirks the importance of the night cam back into her mind, so caught up with 'making nice' with the guests she some how had let the true importance of the evening escape her, 'like it matters, how stupid of me. I got so caught up with these people I forgot about…' she shifted her gaze to the two speaking with Darien, her thoughts cut-off.
The woman she knew was Relena Peacecraft, she had met her briefly on more then one occasion during the past year. While cordial Usagi found her to be too idealistic, even in comparison to her own past views of the world. However, Darien and her got along quite well, both believing and wanting an Utopian society and feeding off of each others naïve belief in the possibility of it.
'Crystal Tokyo' Usagi knew that was the society that Darien spoke of. The kingdom that they visited only once before, as brief as it was and since then he had fallen for all the stories about how grand the kingdom would be that Luna and Artemis talked about. 'It is as if he never even noticed the ruins' she shook her head to clear if of such thoughts as the group acknowledged her entrance into their inner circle.
"Queen Serenity, it's a pleasure to see you again" the young diplomat and princess in her own right bowed slightly as Usagi put her small hand upon the young woman's elbow, stopping her from further formalities. Noticing the slight of anger in her husband's eyes she continued, " Please Relena, such formalities are not needed."
Not at all taken aback at the Queens actions or lack their of, by not addressing her in her proper title, for she had met the young woman before and it was always the same, the woman turned to her companion.
"Your maj…" she stopped as crystal blue eyes darkened a bit with the formality that remained directed towards her. "This is Quatra Winner, of the Winner family and corporation a dear friend of mine."
"It is a pleasure" before he could bow or finish his sentence Usagi had taken hold of the hand that rested over hers, she knew where this was leading and she hated her hand being kissed. Shaking his hand firmly, a slight brush penetrated the young Arabian's cheeks as Usagi removed her grasp from his.
"Bowing is much too formal." 'Plus, no offense, but if my hand is kissed one more time, I might just lose it. A bow a kiss, and to think I once thought it was romantic, on the old movies.'
Relena not taking much notice of the Queen began her discussion with Darien once more.
Quatra looked on at the woman before him. He had, had a hard time accepting the mission. It had made no sense to him. The information, the surveillance they had compiled non of it fit, but he knew with or without him the mission would be completed, and so he gave in.
He couldn't help, but admire her tranquil beauty. Wearing a floor length teal dress that flowed around her, she was dressed out of all the women at the ball in the simplest manner, and yet she seemed to be the most beautiful. Her hair cascaded upon her head, as ringlets fell around her face and down her back. Her eyes catching the color of her dress and seemingly to pop out more vivid then before. He caught himself as a blush resurfaced upon his face and quickly turned back to Relena and the King who were deep in conversation. He had been staring at her, but it seemed that she took no notice as she was staring blankly at something at the far corner of the room.
Quatra followed her line of sight and scanned the area, but noticed nothing unusual that would be holding the Queen's interest. Turning back to the Queen, the slightest of movements caught his well trained eye and he looked back at the shadowed wall, there had been something there, someone and he was almost sure as to who it was. Looking back at the Queen he saw that her eyes were now downcast mesmerized it seemed on her folded hands, as if they held the answers to a question she just couldn't unravel. Pity filled Quatra as he couldn't help, but gaze at her. Her own memories seemed to be draining the life out of her, and the more he looked at her the more the image of a lost child stood before him. The steadfast Queen was, but an empty shell and he yearned to help herm to console her. Meeting his gaze, Quatra was startled at the loss that he knew all to well that shown within their depths.
"Don't you agree Quatra" Relena turned to the boy, almost challenging him to repute what she had just said.
"Yes that would be accurate"
"See everyone would be…" Relena went on as the King before her shook his head in acceptance to her every word.
'I wonder what it is, I just agreed to' Quatra looked back at the woman before him as he felt a penetrating gaze upon him. Eyes locked now, all emotion from before was gone, replaced by emptiness.
"If you don't mind I will excuse myself," her husband and Relena made a gesture of acceptance, but it was clear that her comment was directed to Quatra.
As she began to walk away, Quatra caught up to her, "It was a pleasure to meet you, your majesty. I hope we get the opportunity again." Until the words were uttered the nights events had not truly hit Quatra, 'or rather we won't.' they had a mission.
While his comments were the standard etiquette used, the look upon the woman's face forced him to recoil a bit. She looks as if she is patronizing a child. "We may or may not" her voice was airy as if it was a fleeting hope either way, and then as if coming to a final conclusion she looked at Quatra an ever knowing present in her eyes "But if chances fall that we do meet again, I fear it will neither be a pleasure for you or me. For guilt is such a burden and so is regret, but.." she stopped herself a small smile upon her face as if recalling a pleasant memory from the past "but then to most death isn't fun either, but its all what you make of it."
With the slightest of laughs she turned away, only to be caught by Quatra's hand as he turned her around eyes boring into her own. He knew he shouldn't do anything, say anything, but he couldn't help himself.
"What do you mean?" his eyes searched her face for some reaction some emotion, but all he saw was understanding, a knowledge that he didn't understand and it unnerved him.
'Does she know about our mission, does she know who we are?' the questions raced through his mind, and as if sensing his doubt Usagi put her hand upon his as slowly lifting it from its grasp on her arm, a comforting look in her eyes, "your friend is waiting for me."
Her comment was so calm, laced with only warmth, but the words cut Quatra as he uncharacteristically tightened his hold upon her arm. Hurt radiating in his eyes, and then anger.
"You know" it was a statement not a question and so she only tilted her head for him to continue 'of all of them, I would not have guessed you would be the confrontational one. Did I underestimate you?'
"But why not fight, tell someone?" his voice was low so no others could here, but it wouldn't have mattered the music was loud and most of the guests had already entered the dining hall. 'Why not fight, why is she giving up.' It was true that he had accepted the mission, but he had hoped although he would never admit it the others that she would find out, and that it would have to be called off. With the fact before him that she did know, and yet was going to allow them to complete their mission, anger filled his being, mixed with other emotions he couldn't place at the moment. For her words interrupted his inner struggle.
"Because Quatra" her voice stopped as if this was the only answer he needed, but it only served to have Quatra tighten his grip upon her arm, wanting more. "I" her voice faltered, it was the first time that he had ever heard it falter, he watched as she looked at her arm where his hand held her, and he unconsciously loosened his firm grip. 'why' her own thoughts were toying with the idea, but she recovered pushing back the haunting memories of her past that screamed for her to give into them.
"We" her voice faltered again, and he lifted her chin with his other arm, eyes probing her for the truth, comforting her and at the same time demanding information. "We all have duties and who am I to deny you what it is that your destined to do" her simple logic it reminded him too much of Heero's own logic towards missions, towards life. It angered him that she would just allow them to kill her, all so that she wouldn't be in the way of their mission.
"And anyways" she tilted her head as if the logic of the whole world were to surface in her words "life is cheap." and with that Quatra tightened his grasp of her arm as he led her to Heero, he had questions and he wanted answers. The fact that he was leading her straight to the slaughter house had entered his mind, but he pushed back the idea or was it fact. 'Nothing will happen to her until, I find out what is really going on. Looking at the woman he was glad that she was walking with him, no struggle, her arm resting in his hand. Although he yearned for her to struggle to runaway and get help.
"Quatra" the delicate way she sounded out his name each syllable dancing upon her lips slowed his pace as he glanced at her. "You shouldn't do this. I have seen it. I've seen it all. It will be easier if it is done tonight. For if you five wait, it will only be delaying the inevitable." Sighing she looked over at the others who had joined the precession to her bedroom, each coming from the shadows to follow the two. Each pondering her words, uncertainty in each of their heads.
'Destiny is destiny. Now or later you will kill me.' with that final thought Usagi let her mind go blank as she tried to keep her past demons at bay. Her three 'escorts' each in their own train of thought missed the flick of light that radiated from the brooch she wore at her chest as it sensed its mistresses pain.
And there it is. The next chapter will be up by next week if not sooner. Also the chapters after that one will be getting a bit juicy, so I hope you will enjoy them.
Like always please review.