Chapter Nine

Heero has to admit, however grudgingly, that the girl obviously knows where she is going. Ami takes every twist and turn down the dark deserted school corridors with complete confidence. Not once does she pause, all the while movie with cat like stealth. Breaking and entering is not a new concept to her apparently. Suddenly Ami stops in front of him, Heero's quick reflexes barely saving him from running into her.

Heero curses. He hadn't been paying attention. Voice, barely audible, but coming steadily closer. He was surprised she had noticed them at all. His attention focuses back on the puzzle of a women in front of him. She turns her head back towards him, light momentarily glinting off of the strange device that covers her eyes. Some type of mini computer.

"Three ahead, coming from the left.", she whispers. "I can see there heat signatures." She adds just in case he doesn't believe her.

Heat signatures, that explained it then. She couldn't hear them yet, but her computer had registered them. Heero nods. He could take three. Suddenly he feels a tug on his arm, looking down at her delicate hand on his wrist. Bracing himself automatically Heero has to fight the urge to break her hold on his arm out of habit. Grunting he allows her to tug him forward through a door on their left. After all he had agreed to do things her way.

The door clicks closed behind him audibly.

"A supply closet."

Heero can feel Ami as she turns around carefully in the small space so that she is facing him. Tilting his head down to look at her he can just barley make out the look of chagrin on her face in the dim lighting, as she mumbles something about computers and out of date floor plans. He almost smirks but manages to control himself.

"You should have just let me shoot them."

"Now you sound like Rei…" Ami mutters, sighing deeply. Heero can feel it, she's so close. As if suddenly realizing the same thing Ami tenses, automatically trying to back up in order to create more space between them. Heero reaches out instinctively, latching onto her forearms as she knocks against a ladder propped precariously behind her. Roughly he pulls her back towards himself, growling unconsciously.

Ami winces, her face now firmly planted against Heero's chest, "Opps."

Heero breaths into her ear, "Do. Not. Move." Ami shivers.

Suddenly she hears something. Voices. Had they heard her? She sucks in a breath. After a few agonizing moments they move on. Slowly Heero's grip on her loosens. A few more minutes and he releases her completely turning abruptly towards the door.

"They're gone." He states in his usual tone, reaching for the door handle.

Ami waits awkwardly behind him still blushing, her arms still tingling where he had grabbed her. The door rattles, breaking her train of thought.

"Heero?"

She hears him rattle it again, harder this time.

"Heero?" She tries again.

"It must have locked automatically as it shut." Though the words are said calmly Ami can practically feel Heero's annoyance radiate off of him in a cloying wave. Ami gulps. They had to get out, and quickly. Time was running out, if they were to get in place in time. Quickly she went over their options.

"Move."

Heero's head twitches towards her and his shoulders tense at her command.

"Please…." Ami adds quickly noticing his reaction. He's still clearly annoyed with her, and an annoyed Heero equalled a scary Heero. Hell the man was scary even when he wasn't angry at her for something.

It takes a bit of shuffling, but they manage to trade places without Ami knocking anything else over. Finding herself facing the troublesome door, Ami becomes aware of Heero standing at her back. He is an unnerving presence, so close behind her as he waits to see what she has planned. Reaching down she grasps the handle, taking a deep breath in she concentrates. Slowly the metal of the doorknob begins to cool, then glisten as ice spreads from where Ami's fingers hold it. The temperature is dropping quickly in the small supply closet as she works. Heero suppresses a shiver stepping closer as he watches intensely over her shoulder. Suddenly there is a sharp crack and the doorknob falls from Ami's grip and bounces once on the floor once before shattering like glass. In the silence that follows Ami becomes once again uncomfortably aware of the man standing at her back. His gaze is locked on her hands where they are still frozen in place extended out towards the door. Despite the sudden frigid temperature in the small closet she feels heat radiating from where he stands, not quiet touching her.

Without a word, Heero reaches around her. His hand brushes by hers as he gives the door a shove. It swings open. The sudden brightness of the emergency lights in the hallways snap Ami back into focus. Looking down the once again deserted corridor, she steps from the closet.

"This way." Her voice confident once again, as she refocuses on the mission. "We need to hurry."

Minako can't help but tug at her long blonde hair nervously. Usagi was due to arrive any moment and they still hadn't received confirmation that Ami and Heero had made it into place. Minako stills as she feels Quatre's hand on her wrist. Gently the young man pulls her fingers from where they are knotted in her hair. Minako sighs, releasing the golden stands.

"You don't understand, its not like Ami to be late for anything, much less something as critical as a mission."

Her hand still in his, Quatre's serious eyes search her face. "I know, but trust me. Heero will keep her safe."

Minako nods distractedly, eyes still searching the court yard. So much counted on this mission going right.

Giving her hand a squeeze he lets go. Squaring his shoulders he turns his attention back to the mission…just then Minako gasps, "She's here."

Quatre spares a quick glance in her direction before scanning the darkened court yard for any signs of movement. Suddenly the creak of the old iron gates shatters the sillence, then, the click of heels on cobble stone as shadow moves up the walkway. She was right, they were out of time, Usagi had arrived.

"Kunzite!" she bellows.

Usagi's voice echo's in the court yard as she stops just shy of the steps that lead to the main building impression oak doors. Suddenly a strong gust of wind whips through the courtyard. A deep chuckle answers her. Fighting the urge to look spin around to locate it's source Usagi remains focused on the doors.

"Kunzite. Show yourself." She commands.

Another gust of wind and Kunzite appears on the top step in front of the school doors. The three other Generals appearing in a semi circle behind her.

"Where is he." Usagi focuses on keeping her voice level, no need to let them know how worried she is.

"Tsk tsk no need to be impatient princess." Kunzite chuckles. Motioning with a hand casually, the heavy oak doors behind him swing up with unnatural ease.

There standing in the open doorway is a dark figure. Swathed in shadow as he is, Usagi still knows him immediately.

"Mamoru!" Usagi can't keep his name from spilling from her lips in relief.

"That's right, though he may not be quite as you remember him." Smirks the confidant General.

Unease spreads through Usagi as she focuses on Mamoru, who stands so close but seem still so far from her reach. "What have you done to him?" He stands shrouded in shadow, still as a statue.

Kunzite chuckles deeply again, "Lets just say he has…a new prospective."

"No…" Usagi feels as though the word sticks in her throat as horror washes over her. Not again. Never again.

The laughter is booming now, echoing all around Usagi as the other General join in. True horror sinks in as Mamoru finally steps forward into moon lit courtyard. His eyes meeting Usagi's, he smirks. Usagi feels herself break. There is no other word for it. Tears unbidden fall from her eyes.

"Mamoru."

Kunzite takes a few moments to enjoy the look of utter hopelessness on Sailor Moons face before he looked beyond her to his fellow Generals.

"Kill her."

Usagi can feel them draw their power behind her. She can sense the dark energy as it swirls around them ready to destroy her…but all she can see is Mamoru's face as he stars impassively down at her from atop the steps.

"Princess! Move!" Minako shouts, moving from her cover behind the fountain. She glows the golden orange of a sunset as she pulls on her power, her hair writhing around her.

Despite having seen Minako's powers once before Quatre is transfixed, the women before him is truly a goddess.

Usagi doesn't even blink, but for a second the Generals attention is split.

"Now!" She shouts again as the other girls appear. Makoto drops suddenly out of the sturdy oak lightening striking the ground as she lands, Trowa lands lightly beside her.

Rei steps gracefully from behind the bushes that had concealed her, flames seem to lick at her skin. Wufei pulls his katana from its sheath across his back, as he does the same.

"You actually know how to use that?" Rei mutters, covering her surprise in her usual layer of sarcasm.

"Of course, Onna." Wufei scoffs.

Rei is unable to reply with yet another caustic remark when Kunzite draws there attention.

"Ah…ladies I was wondering when you would arrive." Kunzite laughs coldly. "No matter. Generals take care of them. Mamoru can take care of his princess personally." Still laughing Kunzite turns to strides back into the school. The doors slam shut behind him.

"Not so fast Kunzite." Ami says softly. She's positioned herself in his path on the far side of the schools entrance way, Heero behind her.

A look a displeasure spreads across the silver haired General's face transforming it into a sneer.

"Sailor Mercury." Noticing the man behind her Kunzite tilts his head. The Sailor scouts always worked alone. "Who's your friend?" Careful to keep his surprise from showing, Kunzite continues to sneer condescendingly at the slight blue haired woman before him.

"What have you done to Mamoru?" Ami is standing with her hands at her side, her clenched fists her only sign of tension

Kunzite can see she already suspects the truth, he can see the anger of it in her eyes. It's oddly fulfilling seeing the calmest, shiest sailor scout so riled up. He takes a step towards her. "I've just reminded the Prince of where his true place lies that's all…"

The temperature in the entrance way suddenly drops dramatically. Frost creeps across the tiles.

Kunzite laughs. "Hit a soar point did I?"