-1"I don't think you would." It was said to herself, but Trowa had heard.

Quatre exited the car hurrying to the mansion to get the rooms ready for his guests, 'prepare' being the main topic on his mind. He didn't want his place destroyed like several of the other ones just because a few of the pilots didn't know how to properly behave.

Trowa turned the girl before him around as they also exited the vehicle. He had to know and as Heero and Quatre were both heading to the mansion, one to do god knows what and the other to prepare for his guests, Trowa knew this was the time to ask.

"Why did you want to die." It came out even. No emotion apparent.

Her reply was given in the same manner. "Because, it has to happen. Why fear the inevitable. Might as well accept it." Simple. Logical. Stupid. Those were the words going through his head.

"Do you still want to?" He wanted her to answer him. To tell him no.

"Trowa, you know who I am. You all do. Death is my end." Her gaze was unsettling, and Trowa took her chin in his hands, and forced her eyes to meet his own. Startled at his actions she could do nothing, but wonder what he was going to say. But feeling a bit of shame, she stopped him, "But I will live for now. That's all I can give you." and with that Trowa released her and they walked back to the mansion.

'For now Trowa, that is all I can offer you. But don't forget now is just a fleeting moment in time.'

Down the road yells of "Maxwell!" and "Not my braid!" were heard by the many beasts of the forest as they wondered what they did to deserve such a thing as those two disturbing them.

The mansion was breath taking even to Usagi who had seen such wondrous things in her own mansion. It was elegant and familiar, a warmth was radiated from every nook as pictures of family and friends adorned walls and were an ever present fixture on shelf's.

'A sign of a home, not a house.' She recalled her own home so long ago, 'Shingo and I were everywhere, mom made sure of that.' Her smile lingered until she was awoken from her past.

"Queen Serenity" Quatre's voice faltered as the smile faded to a glare 'almost to par with Heero's' the Arabian redirected his eyes as he corrected himself "Usagi," looking back up he was rewarded with a vibrant smile 'not the same as she had a moment ago, but beautiful.' His eyes locked onto the curved lips before him, and they began to move down to her…

"Baka Yui! Baka Maxwell!" the voice roared as the door behind the figure slammed, conveniently clicking as the latter mentioned tried to come in.

Slightly red from his previous thoughts, Quatre moved to fix the situation as fast as possible, "Upstairs, forth to the left." Grumbling could be heard as the stoic soldier continued to his designation, 'at least he will be in his room before Duo comes in.'

Being escorted in by Rashid, Duo was plainly angered, although upon seeing Usagi his eyes danced. Mirth becoming present in his violet spheres. Wrapping his arm around her he grinned at the other two males before turning back to the one in his arms, "about that date?"

Usagi rolled her eyes, but the others were not amused. 'First kill me, then date me. A very interesting night this is turning out to be. Well, I should be able to play a little too.'

"We'll see."

Duo's smile got even wider, as he glanced at the others present. His grip around Usagi's waist tightening slightly as he spotted the two less then pleased individuals. 'Well, I can see you liking her Quatre, but Trowa…hmm didn't know you would have it in you.'

While Trowa didn't seem to show any emotion towards Duo's comments, his straightening of posture and eyes fixed upon Duo's hand that still was resting upon Usagi was evidence enough for Duo.

"Your bedroom is upstairs fifth down, right side."

'Trying to get me out of the room so soon.' Duo chuckled to himself at Quatre's polite if not a bit strained attempt to get the other pilot to leave.

Wiggling his eyebrows towards Usagi he winked before making what could be seen as his worst mistake of the night. "And where's Usagi's" and that was it.

"I'm going to kill you" the monotone reply came from the shadows as a click of the safety being taken off was clearly heard.

Usagi was quickly released from Duo's arms, and she had to catch herself as he almost flung himself away from her. Hands flying in the air, as if trying to show no danger present, "only kidding buddy."

Running half way up the stairs, the self proclaimed 'God of Death,' tempted death once more that night as he turned around, grin directed towards Heero as he asked a question to Usagi "So what times is our date at?"

click

bang

Laughing Duo maneuvered the rest of the way up the stairs as Heero looked ready to tempt another shot.

"Heero! My house. Not again. Remember no shooting inside." 'Why is it always my property.'

"Hnn"

A bemused smile still on her face, she eyed Quatre who was looking at the bullet hole, with fear of what he knew would soon come. Lifting her hand she put it on the slightly taller boys shoulder, causing him to turn around a blush quickly spreading across his features.

"You, know" here voice eased into the tone of a Queen, or a diplomat. "I am beginning to think that, that thing should be removed from Heero." The mirth in her eyes betrayed her unemotional voice as Quatra chuckled softly, causing a few twinkles of laughter to come from Usagi's own mouth before it ended all too soon in his opinion.

Heero's eyes shifted from the two blonds to Trowa as he felt the taller mans gaze fixate upon him. The slightest corners of his mouth twitched before returning to a neutral state. Eyes confronting Heero's own 'You better be careful Barton. We didn't kill her.' 'I' he corrected himself, 'didn't kill her, but that doesn't mean she is in the clear.' Eyes turning back to the blonds he let his eyes wonder over Usagi's body before his mind slapped him back into perfect soldier mode.

The two were in a quiet discussion about previous incidents that the other pilots had been involved with that ended up doing some damage to one of Quatre's homes.

'There are too many questions. I want answers.' Not being able accept the fact that he had failed his first mission, and failed it willingly the no longer quite so perfect soldier wanted all the facts, a way as it were to clear himself of the blame of not killing her.

'Not now Yui, its too soon.' Trowa's eyes remained on Heero as he glanced every once in a while at the other two who had seemed to slip into their own world. 'It's remarkable how she can change her moods so easily, or rather hide one and replace it with another.' It was an act he was sure of it. The laughter all though angelic to his own ears was forced. While the humor in her eyes was real as far as he could tell, there was something stopping her from truly feeling, or showing emotion.

'What do you expect, you guys did try to kill her just a few hours ago' his inner conscious reminded him, as his mind began to play devils advocate 'it was our mission and she was willing to die' 'then why didn't Heero kill her, or one of the others? Or you.' His mind raced to find a logical answer to the final part of his consciences accusation. It wasn't a question though, it was a fact, he hadn't killed her. 'I couldn't' and there it was the truth, a woman who he had never met, the one he was assigned to terminate he couldn't harm. 'It's because of who she is.' His mind laughed at his inadequate defense the fact that he went to her room to confront Heero prior to knowing who she truly was, countered his own logistics. Sighing, within in his own mind he succumbed to the fact, there was just something he couldn't resist about her.

Eyeing Heero again he moved to Usagi's side, "I will take her to her room." Quatre taken aback not only be Trowa's bold actions, but by the fact that he was actually using full length sentences only shook his head. Excusing himself to attend to some further preparation business for his guests.

"Barton"

'Not now Heero, its too soon. She is not ready.' He didn't stop walking as he felt Usagi stop at the stair case. His hand reaching for her arm, he felt the warmth of her flesh and had to suppress his own blush as she made questioning eyes towards him.

'I can handle myself Trowa. You do not need to protect me from Heero.' Glancing in the latter's direction, she made eye contact with those unemotional eyes that drifted from burning holes in his fellow pilots back to her own.

Sensing her hesitation, and determination to stay, as well as Heero's want to speak to her Trowa made a decision he never thought he would make. He chose to ignore logic, to ignore the perfect soldiers reasoning and logic. To ignore the mission, 'well I already did that… we all did' and to continue upstairs, Usagi's arm gripped loosely, but securely in his grasp.

'Her eyes, her hidden emotion its too much like mine' and this fact scared him, and intrigued him. 'Yui, I need to know first.' With that they disappeared upstairs, Usagi being led to Trowa's room.

'This is only going cause more trouble,' she walked to the window, the resounding click of a door being locked causing her to wince slightly. 'Trowa, I don't want to hurt you or anyone again. Please, don't follow this path.'

Downstairs a less then pleased Heero stared in the direction that Trowa and his mission had moved from. 'How dare he. He's becoming attached, and he doesn't even know her.' The thoughts raced as Heero's anger at failing the mission shifted to Trowa ignoring him, and keeping Usagi from his questioning.

He could have stopped him, 'but if I did that I might not get all the answers I need. You need or want?' his mind countered his soldiers logic. Ignoring that part of his brain he came to the only conclusion possible, 'I will have to get her alone. Away from Barton, Winner or Maxwell. Chang could be of some use.'

Looking out the window his eyes shifted to the sycamore that was being covered in a blanket of snow. No longer lightly cascading down, the snow and wind was ripping through the sky. 'A storm' his mind unconsciously acknowledged as he was working out a way to keep three of his fellow pilots away long enough from Usagi to question her.

'Duo and Quatre can be dealt with. I could easily just threaten them.' He smirked slightly at this as the other name came to mind 'Trowa… on the other hand he would aim a gun right back …' Heero didn't like to admit it, but Trowa was good. Unlike the others he was at Heero's level, maybe not fully, but he could hold his own. 'This could prove difficult.'

Frustration brimming Heero went to his room. He was going to find out all he could about, Seiya and Usagi, 'it might come of some use in interrogating her.' A loud shut of a door echoed in the hall, the only sign of his still fuming anger towards the actions of his fellow pilot.

Trowa unconsciously smirked as he heard and felt the door next to his own jolt shut. 'Angry Heero.'

"You know who I once was, who I guess you could say I am" her hand moved up to make a gesture, but as if not possessing such power fell limp beside her. "Yet, here you are deciding not to kill me." Her face remained steadfast towards the falling snow, 'You would kill the Queen, you would kill the simplistic Usagi, but you refuse to kill the killer, it just doesn't fit.'

"Why?"

'How can she ask such a thing? Is she so much like us that she cannot see the value in her life?'

"There is no value left Trowa, your asking, wanting something from me I can no longer give." 'Why make this more difficult then it has to be. I know what you are thinking, I know why you all didn't kill me. I know I said I would live, but tell me Trowa do you wish for me to live, or for me to serve.' She traced a crescent moon into the moisture that had accumulated on the window, wiping it away as she felt the closeness of the man behind her.

'So silent' She continued to look at the window eyes reflecting back towards the image of the boy, 'no man' she corrected herself behind her. 'So close, to be so close to another man again' she tilted her head to shake herself of such thoughts, 'stop it Usagi, what are you thinking. He tried to kill you tonight, they all did.' An inner voice tried to reason, 'you were going to allow them to kill you.' She couldn't deny it, the closeness was getting to her, but reality was a stronger power, 'at least it is now.'

"What do you think I am going to ask?"

'Straight to the point.' Her lips smirked slightly, "The same as the others. To bring about the peace that you think you want. To fight again."

"Your wrong" he turned her around to face him, there faces mere inches apart, as his emerald eyes met the purest of blue depths. There breaths were in sync, each reading the emotion that was pouring from the other.

"No I am not." Then it was broken.

"We are not asking you to fight. I have not asked anything from you."

"Except to live." Her voice was soft, and almost to placid for Trowa. Who ironically was speaking in monotones. 'Shock, I can read it so easily in your eyes, you are not hiding it too well Trowa.'

"You came tonight to kill me. To kill the Queen. The fact that I am also another person, the fact that I have differences in my personality, that I am not solely a Queen does not take away from the fact that I am also that. And yet, you didn't do it, because you realized what I was in my past. Why else keep me alive if not to use my past for your own gain."

Anger radiated Trowa's being, not because what she said was dead wrong, but because he knew it was right. 'I was going to kill her, we all were. We saved her, no we didn't kill her, we saved her from ourselves.' "I will not use you." His hands made there way to her own, and he felt her body relax a bit at his touch. 'Why do I care so much?'

"Trowa, you know who I am. For the most part all of what I am, who I am. With that said you should know that I know what is suppose to take place, and this" She glanced around her, at her hands, then to him "is not suppose to happen. I cannot fight anymore, I will not fight anymore. So tell me what use I am to you."

'I don't want you to fight.' Trowa battled with his thoughts, he was losing it all over a girl. Yes an attractive girl that had gained not only his bodies attention, but also his minds, but the fact was they had brought her here to fight. 'If she won't fight then what?' He knew the answer, they had no use for her, and yet his mind continued to remind him, 'I don't want her to fight.'

"What the others want is not my decision. You could live." 'Why not live?'

"Trowa, I said I would, but tell me why should I begin to, when in the end it is death that seeks me." Her voice was faint, and demanding. A tear slid from her eye, and before he could stop himself he kissed it. Her body tensed, but he took no heed to the fact and then moved his lips to her own. He was not rough, but his lips were far from feather soft. They were demanding, and strong, as if willing her to live, forcing life within her.

She was too weak to try to push him away, and as much as she wanted to deny the fact it felt good to have human contact again. Her hands were still in his, as she began to respond back ignoring the thoughts of what she was doing and just taking in the moment.

'What are you doing, if she won't fight you will have to kill her. You cannot get attached.' His thoughts fought against his actions, but his body took no notice of it. He was yearning for some contact, and he could feel the same from her.

Separating for breath, the impact of what had just happened, hit them. The briefest of moments had just secured it.

'I can't kill her, even if she won't fight. I won't allow the others to either.' With that he fell to the ground, as memories of a life he never lived slammed into his head