Disclaimer: I do NOT own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing... But I really really really really wish I did. You can't sue me for wishing! Nyah! ;P

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Fuseiseki : Failure

Chapter Eight : Dream a Little Dream of Me

...

He noticed the small girl out of his peripheral, when the surprise of dreaming at all had gone away. She was hiding behind the man's leg, smiling shyly. "This is him, Otou-san?"

"Hai Chibi." The man said. His eyes were still upon Hiiro. "This is him."

Hiiro was speechless. Was he going insane? Were dreams always this strange?

"This is no dream, Yui-san." Mamoru smiled warmly.

"You are..." The man bowed, regally.

"Mamoru Chiba. Also known as Endymion, and Tuxedo Kamen." He patted the girl next to him fondly on the head, ruffling her hair. "And this, is Chibi-Usa."

The girl smiled, sticking out her tongue at the tall man. Then she turned her bright red eyes on Hiiro, speaking sadly. "Usa-mama hasn't told you about me." She frowned. "It still hurts." She touched the place over her heart. " She hurts a lot."

"Which is why we've come to you, Hiiro Yui." Mamoru continued. "You will be the end to that pain."

Hiiro raised an eyebrow, barely. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You do." Mamoru's voice was steady, sure.

Hiiro looked up as the edge of the plane they stood on cracked, like a piece of glass. Light shone through the darkness.

"You are waking." He didn't seem worried. Hiiro was annoyed by his coolness.

"We'll be back to see you Hiiro-san!" The small girl chirped cheerfully, her red eyes filled with laughter and just a hint of sadness. The contradiction left room for something he did not understand... something he needed to understand.

And then his eyes opened to daylight filtering into his room.

...

Usagi woke to Trowa touching her arm gently. She had fallen asleep in the lounge chair on the balcony, again, and bright sunlight was coming over the horizon. She gasped at the beauty of it. She thought she caught the hint of Trowa smirking.

"Breakfast is ready."

"Arigato Trowa-kun." She stretched her arms before she stood, smoothing out the white shorts and black tank-top she was wearing. She'd been here for two weeks now. The balcony was her favorite place. In this time, she'd grown closer to all the boys. All except for... Hiiro. She furrowed her brow. She hadn't seen much of him at all since his arrival.

She'd even spoken to the chauvinistic Wufei. She smiled lightly. It had been the hardest to get him to open up. He was still skeptical of her, and their current situation. At the very least he had stopped calling her Onna. It was an accomplishment, from what Duo told her. He even called Sally Onna. She didn't know who Sally was, but the way Wufei bristled when he heard her name gave Usagi a fuzzy feeling inside.

She traveled inside through the large bay doors and sat down at the table, smiling warmly at Quatre. "No news?" She asked. The boys had been keeping an ear out for any activity caused by Chaos, or by Tenshu. It had been relatively quiet. Too quiet for her liking. He was planning something.

Duo wandered into the kitchen with a smile, and she followed him with her eyes out of habit. He was with her the most. His cheerful spirit was intoxicating. She smiled cheerily at him as he sat next to her, tipping the chair back and setting his feet upon the table. Quatre rolled his eyes, but didn't comment. If he didn't learn his lesson by hitting his head off the floor, he certainly wouldn't heed the blond pilot's warnings now. "What's for breakfast?" He asked, but when Usgai went to answer she found her voice would not come.

There was a feeling that overcame her. A tugging at her very soul. Duo's voice broke through like a shout from the end of a long tunnel, and her eyes snapped to his. "Usa?"

"He's searching." She said quietly. The whole room had eyes on her. There was an uncomfortable silence, that Quatre broke with a simple question.

"Can he find us?" She shook her head.

"Not now." She raised a shaky hand to her heart. "But he will find a way." She couldn't help looking defeated. Mostly because the only thought that was running through her head was how powerless she felt. More powerless than she'd ever had. Chaos was winning this battle. She'd have to step it up if she wanted to win the war. She looked up at the men who had been her only company for weeks on end. She wanted to win it for them. Because they deserved to be normal. Deserved to be happy. Deserved the end to a battle they'd been fighting their whole lives. Something she, with all her grandeur, was sure she could never attain.

Trowa set down the plates for breakfast with a clang that broke her from her thoughts, and mechanically, she picked up a fork and started to eat. Trowa was an amazing cook, but the food turned to ashes in her mouth. 'Oh Minna.' She whispered in her mind, 'If only I knew what to do.'

...

Chaos pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing out loudly. So annoying, these human shells. Full of fluids and emotions. It had been a long time since he'd felt the need to breathe in. Not since... Dear sweet Galaxia had been his captive. He mourned her with a smooth indifference. A beautiful host she had been. So pliable. His current body was beautiful as well. He was unused to being a man, though his tendencies were masculine. He had taken this boy in the dark, and used the power of Pluto to age him to his liking. His name has been Taiyou. It meant sun. Fitting. He had been easy to take. And was so lost in himself that it was only a few weeks before his pleading voice had disappeared. Galaxia had always been with him, so fiery. He had enjoyed their internal battle. Enjoyed making her submit to him again and again. He was bored.

He sighed again. " Vega, Kione." He said it quietly. Before him appeared two dark twins. One was a gorgeous girl, her skin pale and her hair dark as night with streaks of bright white. Her eyes were lilac, and she wore a lacy black dress that hugged her chest and flared, strings of black lace trailing from the edges and wrapping her frail arms. The boy, Kione was of the same slight frame, same pale skin, with short dark hair that bordered on being dark purple, and eyes of royal purple. He wore a black tank top and baggy black jeans, with a vest decked in metal adornments. They both wore black combat boots. He smirked when they bowed. They were some of his most beautiful creations. Made from pieces of himself. They looked to be about 12 or so in age, but their voices spoke of ages beyond.

"You called master?" Kione's voice was cheerful and bright. He was a child amused by everything he did. Chaos had seen himself the destruction Kione could cause. There had been much bloodshed recently. The boy could smile regally with his hands drenched in blood.

"Is everything in order?" Vega's lip twitched. She was quiet, obedient, and rather moody. He hadn't quite seen her smile yet.

"You are currently the leader of a group of 300 men." She said. Her voice was like a church bell. He allowed himself to enjoy an invisible pat on the back. Such beautiful things, he created. "150 were lost in the takeover of the faction called Tenshu."

"Will you keep the name, Master Chaos?" Kione asked, a grin setting over his handsome features.

Chaos leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. "It amuses me. Perhaps we shall. I would also ask you call me Kuro Taiyou from now on my pets, in company. A human name shall fit my purposes better."

"A well fitting name Master." Vega complimented quietly.

He smiled. It was as beautiful as it was deadly. "Yes, Dark Sun. The complete opposite of the glorious Serenity."

"Have you found her yet, Master?" Kione looked interested. Chaos instantly darkened.

"She hides herself from me, the cunning little brat." He chuckled lightly. "But soon, we will draw her out. She will never be able to hide from me for long. As much as I detest her light... she is my other half. Oh to turn such a power to our side would be the ultimate joy."

"Did you wish us to carry a mission out for you master?" Vega asked, dipping into a curtsy that made her dress billow.

"Yes Sweet Vega. I have quite a chore for the both of you."

...

She sat on the balcony, as she had on almost every day of her stay, and stared into the ocean, hoping for a sign. For anything. It was unspoken, but she knew they did not leave the house because she was too recognizable. She ran a hand through her long silver hair, and sighed. Duo of all people, had mentioned cutting it. He had said so gently. He himself had a peculiar attachment to his hair. She supposed at one point, she had too. But it had been a long time since she'd seen the royal buns in her hair. Perhaps...

She stood and traveled into the house to find the braided goof. She found him sitting on the plush beige couch in the living room, watching some show she didn't understand. He opened an arm to her and she sat close to him, letting him pull her in close. It was a comfort to be near him. He radiated warmth.

He playfully pulled on her hair. "Something on your mind babe?"

She laughed, pulling her hair from his fingers. "Duo." She said it warmly, with love. He was like the brother she'd thought Shingo would grow to be. The person she'd hoped he'd grown to be without her. She tried to push the thought away, but he saw it there, in her eyes. He didn't let it go as she had hoped he would.

"What's wrong?" Would it hurt to tell him? Maybe it would hurt less to let it go.

"I had a family, back on Earth. In my time." She said quietly, the noise of the TV in the background was gone. Duo had shut it off. "Shingo. My little brother, And Okka-san and Otou-san." She sighed. "I never got to say goodbye."

He rubbed her shoulder and allowed her to lean into him, so that she could feel his voice rumbling in his chest when he spoke. "I never knew my real parents. I was on the streets as far back as I can remember. I stole to survive. The leader of the gang of orphans I ran with died young. He was like a brother to me. Solo." He looked pained for a moment. "I named myself Duo to honor him. He'd never be Solo, if we were a Duo, ya know?" Usagi nodded, unsure what to say. "After his death, the rest of the group was taken into a church. I remember a girl quite like you. Blonde, happy. They all got adopted. Except me. But it was alright in the church with Father Maxwell and Sister Helen. When I wanted to grow my hair long, she braided it for me. And they were like my parents. They tried so hard to get me to believe in God. But I told them all I believed in was Shinigami. Because all I'd ever seen was death." She looked up at him, surprised to see the look on his face. It was somber, uncharacteristic of the sunny pilot. "One day a rebel group took over the church as a hideout. It was the very beginning of the wars. To get them to leave, I said I'd steal a mobile suit from Oz. I succeeded, but came back to burning rubble. Sister Helen died in my arms. 45 others died before I arrived. It was the called the Maxwell tragedy. So I took the surname Maxwell to honor them."

"And that's why you started fighting." Usagi said. he nodded. "I'm sorry Duo."

The smile was on his face again. "Don't be. I may not have been able to say goodbye, but I know they're watching me, proud. I know they loved me. I bet your family was the same way. If you asked, I bet Hiiro could find their records for you. He's a master on that laptop of his. Sometimes I think it was his only friend as a child."

"Did you all have hard childhoods?" Usagi asked softly. Duo shook his head, his hair ghosting over her arm as he did so.

"Not my stories to tell Usa." He said seriously. She smiled. "But I doubt it will be long before we all spill our deepest secrets to you. You seem to have that effect on people."

They sat in companionable silence for a moment, until he spoke again. "What made you fight Usa? Forgive me for saying, but you don't seem like the type."

She shrugged. "I guess I didn't think too much of it, at the time." She laughed a bit. "I was young. Only fourteen. I thought the prospect of being a superhero was exciting. I wanted to be like Sailor V."

"The babe from England?" Duo asked. She smiled at him.

"Yeah. Minako." She giggled at a random memory of the Princess of Venus. "We didn't like each-other at first. None of the scouts thought I had the power to lead. And when they found out I was the princess..." She laughed again, and saw him smile warmly at the noise. "Rei was so mad." She grew quiet, awash in memory. When he spoke, she turned to his voice.

"They really loved you." He said softly.

She couldn't help it. The tears came to her eyes without hindrance. "I really loved them." She said. "So many times, they walked into the fire for me. So many times I watched them give their lives for what I believed in. To help me achieve the peace I wanted so badly. In the end I guess we all fought for peace. Fought to be normal again. We fought because no one else could." She sighed. "None of us chose this. To be burdened with our former lives. But we fought... I fought, because I loved life. Because I wanted to protect them. And they followed me to the very end. So there's your answer. Love. I fought for Love."

Duo raised the hand that was over her shoulder to her head, and ruffled her hair. " I don't wonder why they followed you." He said strongly. "The same reason any guy in this house would. Even Hiiro." His smile was something that was so beautiful it broke her heart and mended it all over again. " You are the most unique person I've ever met Usa. Especially in a world like this. Even with all you've seen, and all you've been forced to do... You don't give up. You wholly believe that your hope will save the world. And it brings along with it a force that could propel you anywhere, and take anyone with you. I can honestly say I'm honored to be around it. Honored to be a part of it, And you have my loyalty as you had theirs."

"Promise me." She said it so suddenly that he jumped a bit.

"Anything Usa." He recovered with a cool smile.

"That you won't die for me." She said with tears in her eyes. "Promise that you won't be reckless. That you'll think before you act. Because really and truly Duo. I love you. I love this Earth you brought me to. The world I was dropped in. If you believe in me, if you love me like I love you, loved them. You won't put me through losing you."

"Oh Usa." He wrapped her in his arms then, close to his chest, and the steady beat of his heart helped to stop the tears. "I promise." He said softly in her ear, and through her tears she smiled. Pulling up so she could look at him, she showed him the smile, wiping away the tears with the palm of her hand.

"Duo-chan. I think I'm ready to cut my hair."

...

Hiiro rolled over in his bed again. He had spent hours researching this man Mamoru and the tiny girl called Chibi-Usa. It was said that in Usagi's time, he was her fiance'. It was written in both their obituaries. And he had said himself he was also Endymion and Tuxedo Kamen. It added up. But there was little more information than the fact that he had died in America, whilst becoming a doctor, of unknown and gruesome causes. Just before Usagi and her friends disappeared. Chibi-Usa was more of a mystery. There were some records he had dug up that said she was in third-grade elementary in Juuban, Japan for a year. But then the trail disappeared, and before that, nothing existed.

The girl had called him father, and called Usagi her mother. Puzzling. Usagi hadn't mentioned a daughter. Had she died too? And when had they had her? The record of Chibi-Usa at 8 years old put Usagi at seventeen by the year. Had she had a child so young? His head hurt again. That would have made her eleven. Not impossible, but highly improbable. This was something he'd have to go to her for himself. The answers could not be displayed on his trusty laptop screen. He stared angrily at the far wall of his bedroom.

If he could just sleep, and stop thinking. He'd been doing so a lot to keep her off his mind. When he was awake, he followed any lead he suspected as Chaos. He had to talk to the pilots about the recent information he had found. It seemed Chaos had infiltrated Tenshu. The fact that he had a new army on his hands worried Hiiro in a way. But he reminded himself they were only human. He'd done this before. This WAS what he did.

The news could wait, however. The takeover was messy. The leader they had previously did not surrender easily, and many had died. Chaos would need time to regroup. Hiiro shoved his head into the pillow and pulled the blanket over his head. Just a nap. It was all he needed.

He didn't remember falling asleep. Only realized he was suddenly standing before the hulking figure of Mamoru Chiba once more, Chibi-Usa dancing behind him in a void of light and shadow.

"Hiiro." He said warmly, with a smile. "Welcome back."

...

"You're sure about this Usa?" Duo was paused with the scissors in his hand. "There's just so much..."

"Duo you've asked me that like 20 times." Usagi closed her eyes. "If you don't do it now we'll never get it done." He sighed. And with a wince that she couldn't see, took the first scissor cut. Masses of silver hair fell to the floor, and he continued. When he was finished, he backed away from the chair, and watched as she opened her eyes.

"Usa?" She raised a hand to her hair, and ran her fingers through it. It was just past the small of her back. She hadn't let Duo take too much off, but it was shorter than she'd had it in a very, very long time.

"Let me see it Duo." He tentatively handed her the mirror he had set on the table next to him. They were cutting her hair in the kitchen, so it could be swept up easily. The other boys were out for the day. Wufei training on the beach, Quatre and Trowa food shopping, and Hiiro Gods knew where, so the haircut was to be a surprise. And it wasn't over yet.

She gasped as she surveyed it. He had cut it in long layers, keeping her short, heart shaped bangs in the front, and layering it from there. It was curling more now. Soft waves of silver fell over her shoulders.

"My head feels lighter." She broke the tension with this, and he couldn't help it. He laughed heartily, dropping the scissors to thee floor and grabbing his stomach with the power of it. She laughed with him, and when they were out of breath, she spoke again.

"You're really good at cutting hair Duo." He grinned, and clutched his braid.

"I don't trust anyone with mine. Had to learn to cut it myself." She giggled and stood, reaching out to tug on his long braid. He eeped, and chased her about the room for a moment, before they both fell on the floor in a fit of giggles.

"It's nice to hear you laugh Usa." He said, out of breath. "To see the smile in your eyes."

She grinned. "As it is to see the smile in yours. I'm bound and determined to see you all smile like that. Even Hiiro."

"A tough task you set for yourself." He said. "But I have faith in you. If anyone can pull it off, you can." And he meant it. There was nothing better for his stoic friend than this ray of light. Nothing better for all of them. At the eve of a war that could end the world, she was the ever shining moon. "Are you ready for phase 2?"

She looked at the four boxes of hair dye that sat on the counter and smiled. "Yeah. It's now or never. And I quite like living in now."

...

"Are you a ghost?" Hiiro Yui did not believe in Ghosts. But then again, most of the things he didn't believe in had dropped in on them in the past few weeks, on the heels of a certain steely eyed girl.

Mamoru laughed. Hiiro didn't know if he should be angry or not. The guy was just so...likable. So smooth. He radiated charisma. "Not a ghost. An after image. Technically Chibi-Usa and I don't have souls or bodies any longer. But we still have the will to protect what we love."

"That being?" He already knew the answer. But he wanted to keep Mamoru talking.

"Usagi of course." The love in his voice was so evident that a pang of an unfamiliar emotion struck Hiiro's chest. He couldn't put his finger on it...

"Jealousy." Mamoru said with a smile. "You're feeling jealousy. As any man so close to her would. She is like no other." Hiiro had to agree to that. She was so perfect it was frustrating.

"Can you all read minds?" Mamoru shook his head.

"Usagi is the only one privy to that power. I don't doubt Rei would have developed it, in Crystal Tokyo... but ah, that is another story entirely. I can hear your thoughts because this is your dream. In a dream, everything is broadcast. Your hopes and fears, everything you think of. But I have not come her to analyze you. I have come to ask that you protect the one I love."

"What makes you think I can?" Hiiro asked.

"I know you can." Chibi-Usa was wandering back in their direction. He noticed around her neck hung a gold locket. She had not been wearing it in the previous dream. She wrapped her arms around Mamoru's leg, and he lifted her into his arms with a smile that was filled with the purest love.

"We know you have questions." The girl sounded far beyond her age. He looked into her red eyes as she continued. "Especially about me."

He nodded, unsure how to start. She did not hesitate.

"I was the daughter that would have been borne of Neo King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity. My full name, is Serenity Usagi the Second." She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "My future was destroyed, but my love for my mama has sent me here to you."

She took the locket from around her neck. It hung on a long gold chain. With the smile still on her lips, she dangled it before him, enticing him to reach for it. He did so, and the locket was warm in his hands. It was shaped like a star, pure gold with a bright white crystal set in the middle. He watched in mild awe as it popped open, and from the spinning mechanism under the top, came a soft song.

He looked back up at Mamoru and Chibi-Usa, and they were both smiling, with tears in their eyes. "That is yours now." Mamoru said. And the void began to fade, as if blown away by a wind. "Take good care of it, and her."

When Hiiro opened his eyes he way laying on his bed, in the humid air of his room. He lifted his hand, and with it came the star locket and chain. It was open, but no music played. He understood just a bit more about Usagi. But what this locket was for... Every-time he thought he'd had her figured out, a new mystery appeared.

Carefully, he brought it to his computer desk and set in next to his laptop. Sitting down, he started yet another search on the mystery that was Usagi .

...

Another chapter finished! Yay! This was a long one. Wanted to end it on a little more of a cliffhanger, but it was getting ridiculously long, so here it ends. The romance will heat up soon! The story will really be moving now, and you will find out what the twins, Vega and Kione have been up to while Chaos was claiming his stake on the earth. Please Review! Ja, .