Hey, people. Sorry it took so long for an update, I've been seriously uninspired.

A Planet We Not Know Of

By: M-Shadows

Chapter Two

Minako fought restlessly, kicking, flailing, punching, and biting. Anything to loosen her captor's grip on her already bruised arm. She could tell his patience was wearing thin---if he had any in the first place. "Take me back." she demanded.

The boy ignored her, pulling open the cockpit door to his Gundam. He didn't even flinch as her fist connected with his jaw, when she kicked him in the shin, pounded her fists at any exposed flesh. He just stood there, looking at her with those infuriatingly emotionless eyes. "No." he grunted, dragging her inside.

"Where are you taking me?" she demanded.

"Gundam." he said, not bothering to look at her as he worked the machine's controls. "My home planet."

Duo was putting off his visit to the King. He found random jobs around the castle, needing an alibi for his tardiness. Though, Duo hardly thought King Yui would find scrubbing the bathroom floors a plausible reason to put off business matters. But he'd already dusted himself in to an asthma attack, burnt every one of his cooking attempts in the kitchen and polished every sword in the armory, so what other excuse was he supposed to use?

He wasn't exactly looking forward to facing King Yui. He had a hotter temper than that infernal son of his. And there was the damning fact that he'd let slip Minako Aino's true identity. Not that he saw what the big deal was. Hiiro was going to find out sooner or later, right?

He sighed deeply, hating the idea of keeping secrets from the closest person he could call a friend. Yet, at the same time, he hoped that Hiiro never found the truth behind those secrets...

"Hiiro!" Minako called, lifting the skirts of her orange dress to run through the gardens. "Hiiro, where are you?" The white stone pathway felt cold under her bare feet. "Hiiro! Come on, this isn't funny!" Flowers surrounded her, vivid colors that she ordinarily would have stopped to admire. Today, however, the beauty of the garden was lost on her, for she was seeking something far more beautiful.

Her lip jutted in to a pout, ready to turn around and go back to the castle. Then she saw him.

Sitting on the lip of the marble faerie fountain, his hair seemed a richer brown, his eyes a brighter blue and his lips more full and desirable as he took in the garden's serenity. With a squeal of delight, she ran to him, nearling knocking him off the fountain as she leaped in to his arms.

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist. His eyes held a rare kindness---a look of adoration that he saved especially for her. "Hiiro," she said with a huff. "I looked everywhere for you."

"Sorry, Minako." he said, resting his cheek on the top of her head.

"Come on," she said, jumping to her feet and grabbing his hand. "I've something to show you."

As she squeezed his hand and smiled, the garden seemed to disappear beneath her feet. The stone path turned to harsh dirt as new surroundings came in to her view. Hiiro was still by her side, his fingers intertwined with hers, but they were no longer in the peaceful garden. They were on a battlefield.

Bodies littered the ground, blood pooling around them. She turned her gaze to the castle on her left. The magnificent, elegant beauty of the Moon Kingdom could awe one even in the midst of a battle.

"Oh God," Minako whispered, running frantically for the castle. "Serenity! Hiiro, we have to save Serenity!" She ran faster than she thought herself physically possible.

When they reached the palace gates, she stifled a cry. The Negaverse had wreaked havoc on the Kingdom. Leaving hundreds of lifeless bodies strewn, the palace slowly crumbling under the war. And soldiers boring green and black uniforms fought alongside the Negaverse. Green and black---Hiiro's soldiers.

She spun around, glaring at the boy behind her. Her gaze was torn between fury, hurt, and a deep look of betrayal. "Hiiro, you bastard," she spat. "I'll never forgive you for this!"

Minako jolted awake, sweat pouring off her face. It took her a moment to realize where she was, and who was sleeping lightly in the seat in front of her.

She sighed, wiping her forehead on her shirt sleeve. That dream always left her shaken. Except, it was worse this time, because the boy in the garden had never had a face before---never had a name.

She shook her head. She was stressed, that was all. God knows she had reason to be. She was kidnapped by this boy---Hiiro---and in all her confusion and strain, she had incorporated him into an existing nightmare.

This made her resentment for him grow. In the garden, she had shared such a deep, passionate love for that boy, and Hiiro had no right to intrude. Whether it was his fault or not.

It took her a moment to realize that all of her huffing had awoken Hiiro. She lifted herself to her feet, gazing out the window to see an odd spec in the distance. As they got closer, it steadily grew until she realized it was a planet. "Planet Gundam." Hiiro said, gesturing to the nearing orb.

Minako gulped, suddenly engulfed by a growing sense of unease that she couldn't seem to shake.

"Damn that Yui!" Wufei grumbled, punching the pass-code in to the hangar's door with more force than necessary. The keypad blinked "invalid" for what seemed like the hundredth time. "He's always changing the locks!"

"Prank safety." Trowa replied simply, leaning against the wall next to Wufei.

It was a well-known fact among the castle that Hiiro hated Duo being in the hangar. Duo's knack for creating havoc was something Hiiro had no tolerance for; especially when his beloved Zero was the root of the jokes.

He changed the hangar's password a few times a week, in a vain hope that Duo would finally be locked out…

Fat chance there.

The door slid open to reveal a bemused Duo lugging a bag full of God-knows-what. "Hey dudes!" he said enthusiastically.

"You!" Wufei said, glaring at the braided pilot over his shoulder. "I hate you."

Duo blinked in confusion. "Huh? But I haven't done anything yet."

"Yui locked us out of the hangar again." Trowa replied calmly.

"Oh. Don't worry about it." Duo beamed, dragging the bag over to the door with some difficulty. He punched in a five-digit code and with a sick creak, the door slid open. "Gina---the hot mechanic---has a thing for me." he said, as if that explained everything.

Wufei scowled at Duo's retreating back as he made his way in to the hangar. "I hate him."

R/R please! And check out: animeexodus-dot-com