Disclaimers: I do not own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing. The story is mine.
Notes: This should explain a lot of what has been happening. I tried to edit it to some extent, but I am sure it's not error-free. Thank you so much for the outstanding reviews I received last time. I don't want people to be nit-picky over errors and such, but if you see a mistake, let me know. What I really care about is encouragement and suggestions from the readers. I see this story only one way: from inside my head. You all, however, have an outsider's perspective. I love it when you guys ask questions or make comments about things. They help me see little details. Again, thanks so much for the wonderful response!
Warnings: Angst, drama
Save My Sanity
Misty H
Chapter Five
When all was said and done, Heero Yuy reflected, more was almost always said than done. That ongoing mess with comrade 05 was a prime exhibition of the old adage. The Chinese teenager had corresponded with his fellow pilots several times within the past week, and to what purpose? Each of the soldiers had expressed a desire to get rid of the Mizuno girl, with Wufei's complaints leading the rally. And what was done?
Wufei had removed both himself and the silly chit to another safe house, instead of leaving her to find her own way back to civilization. Heero resisted the need to roll his eyes. The action wouldn't be productive in expressing the annoyance he felt. Shooting something would be the better alternative.
Duo strolled into the room, a thin stream of smoke following behind him. His chestnut hair gleamed in the soft light of the predawn hour, making the American look angelic. Then again, one could also use 'demonic' which, in this case, was a far more accurate description. Heero cut off his musings abruptly. He disliked musing.
"Duo," he intoned, "what are you doing in my room?"
The other teen shrugged and blew out another cloud of smoke. The cigarette dangled loosely from his lips. "Just wondered if you had heard from Wufei yet," he stated. He took another drag. "Have you?"
"He'll be here in five days. He's supposed to ditch the girl in Munich, catch a plane to Mexico City, and meet us at the spaceport for departure."
"We're going home so soon?" Duo asked, faint traces of surprise shadowing his eyes.
"Mission."
"I see." Amethyst eyes peered into cobalt blue, considering. "It's almost over then."
"We'll see," Heero replied abruptly. He didn't want to be hopeful. "Why are you smoking?"
Duo grinned. "One of the mechanics had a spare pack. I really needed to relax. I'm getting way too tense just hanging out here. You should understand; you're a man of action."
Heero hummed a reply. "Get that out of your mouth. You're going to decrease your body's efficiency and possibly endanger the mission."
"The mission's as good as over. One way or the other, it's over for us." Duo's face was shadowed, but Heero thought he had detected a hint of remorse in his companion's voice.
"Smoking kills," retorted the shorthaired teen. Heero couldn't stop his sniff of disdain at the American's antics.
Quirking a brow, Duo leaned against a wall. "Maybe I want to die young."
The remark triggered a reminder of the Japanese pilot's own death wish. "Give me that."
Laughing, Duo pulled out another cigarette and lit it for him. Trowa found them a few hours later, still smoking in silence.
"It's Wufei," the taller pilot said. His nose wrinkled at the smell of burnt tobacco. "He's found out something about that girl he was carrying around. It's worth looking at."
The other two got to their feet and moved with fluid grace toward the door. Trowa snatched the half-burnt cigarettes out of their mouths as they walked by. "Smoking kills," he stated and then glanced down, contemplating. Duo used the opportunity to stuff the last unused cig in Trowa's mouth. Surprising both of them, Trowa produced his own lighter and handed the two back their cigarettes.
"After the war is over, we won't be needed anymore. Might as well get a head start," Trowa replied to their quizzical expressions. Duo threw back his head and laughed.
"Guess poor Quatre is just going to have to outlive us all!"
Wufei was completely surrounded by the piles of books and research materials he had haphazardly stacked around himself. The mess was deliberate, contrived to keep the outside world away as the Chinese teenager contemplated his findings. The thick walls of one of Quatre's many homes muffled the now-familiar sounds of Cairo. Wufei was seated on the floor, his towering paper walls leaning precariously over him, and reading a Japanese legend that was almost too ridiculous to be believed.
When he had moved the unconscious Ami to their current location, he had decided to research the strange icy powers she possessed and why they were making her so ill. Though he thought he had found the answers, he wasn't sure if he was truly ready to accept them. Mizuno Ami was supposed to be some normal teenage girl, right? But then again, how many "normal" teenagers claimed deadly powers over ice and water?
The legend was the only explanation that made sense. But it lacked plausibility. Even if his baffled mind accepted that the girl he had lived with for the past week was a resurrected Sailor Senshi, how would he ever be able to convince the other pilots? Moreover, how could he keep Heero from shooting her?
According to what he had studied thus far, Ami's powers were not meant to be used outside of her Senshi or queen "forms." That was another hard pill to swallow. The blue-eyed girl was supposedly the Queen of Mercury. But since it was obvious to him that she was neither dressed up in the silly little costume the book called her "Senshi fuku," nor was she adorned in precious gemstones, she was not in either of the "forms" compatible for the usage of her unique abilities.
That made her even scarier.
Of course, logically speaking, it explained the weakness she experienced after her little shows. Ami's human body was not supposed to be able to handle that kind of power. When she forced herself to use it, the backlash tended to drain her. So how was she accessing the energy required for such activities?
Wufei knew that Mizuno Ami had last appeared in the 21st century. During that time she had assumed her duties as the Queen of Mercury and encouraged space exploration. She and her fellow Senshi had wanted to reestablish their former kingdoms, kingdoms that had been destroyed during their previous lives. However, the Earth was attacked before any definite plans could be made. The Sailor Senshi had died alongside their Queen and King, Serenity and Endymion, with the promise to arise again when the Earth and its solar system were in grave danger. With their dying breaths, they gave their powers to the Silver Crystal, allowing the enemy to be purged from the world.
It was a very romantic story, Wufei decided, but it was just so impossible to believe. If he hadn't seen Ami manipulate ice and water the way she did, he would snort at the foolishness of it all. But he had seen her capabilities, and now he was unsure.
If the Mizuno Ami of Crystal Tokyo had been reincarnated into this time, did that mean that the world was in danger of being destroyed? And just how exactly did she channel her powers through her human form? Was it possible that she was unable to access her other, more capable, selves? If so, why?
The more Wufei learned, the more confused he became. Questions piled on top of questions inside his mind. Since this was a new life, could Ami remember her last one? Did she know about her promise and what she had to do to fulfill it? What danger threatened the world? Why had she come to him?
None of it made any sense!
The door to the library creaked open, and a servant poked his head in. His eyes squinted in the dim light, struggling to adjust. "Master Wufei?" he called out.
Wufei observed the man's futile search for him. Finally taking pity on the man's poor eyesight, he stood and walked towards him. "Yes?" he answered, wondering if he had any news about Ami.
"Master Quatre and the others wish to speak with you immediately."
His heart beginning to race with anticipation, Wufei moved towards the library's vidphone. His muttered thanks reached the ears of the messenger, and the man departed to his other duties. He left the door cracked open in case the young master would need his services again.
The secure connection opened without resistance. It wasn't too long before Wufei was staring into the eyes of his comrades and wondering how the conversation would end. More than anything, he wanted to make sure that Ami stayed alive.
"Wufei."
"Heero. Quatre. Trowa. Duo. How are things?"
"Well enough. We received your message. What's going on?" Quatre said quickly. The Chinese pilot realized that he wouldn't have much time.
"I researched Mizuno Ami." Noticing their confusion, he added, "I've decided to keep the girl with me. She might be important."
Trowa nodded slowly. "How so?"
Wufei took in a deep breath of air and plunged in headfirst. "She's the reincarnation of a Sailor Senshi and the Queen of Mercury."
Duo regarded him seriously. "You really need a cigarette, Wufei."
The dark head shook in reply. "I've seen what she can do. She has abnormal abilities. She can control ice with her thoughts, something that only a Senshi could do. A specific Senshi, to be exact. I believe her to be Sailor Mercury."
While Duo snorted his disbelief, Heero digested Wufei's words. "Go on."
Outside the door, Ami paused. Her nightshirt swayed against the backs of her thighs. Sailor Mercury? Where had she heard that name before? She shook her head, continuing on her way.
"The Sailor Senshi lived in Crystal Tokyo. Just before its destruction, they made a promise to live again whenever the world was in danger. The Senshi and the Royal Family died fighting the enemy. If the girl is who I think she is, then she is back for a reason."
"Bring her here. Send us the reports you've made during the past week. We are going to need to know everything we can about her before we make a move."
"So you actually believe me?"
Quatre regarded him with weary eyes. "Wufei, I'm tired of fighting. Once the war is over, I want it to be completely over. I want to check out her story. Then, if she is a threat, we'll decide what to do."
Duo shrugged. "In this day and age, you've got to consider everything, even the most outlandish ideas. You never know what could happen."
Wufei nodded, gratitude shining in his eyes.
Trowa leaned over the monitor, making ready to end the transmission. "We'll be in touch," he promised. The screen went blank.
Working quickly, Wufei set up the line to fax his information to the others. With the job complete, he strode to the door. Duo was right. He really needed to relax.
Catching sight of a maid, he called out to her. Within ten minutes he was ready to leave. He gave written instructions to the butler and stressed the importance of his return. "Tell Ami that I will be back," he said. The butler waved him off, muttering about young love.
He didn't know that Ami watched him from the shadows of her room as he strode to the street, pack swinging behind him, and disappeared from her life.
It had been three days, and Wufei wasn't back yet. Ami was bored out of her mind. She had explored the house thoroughly and annoyed the servants until they had thrown her out of their quarters. Now she stood in the library, listening to the silence of the books and the loudness of the market on the street below. It was quite a contrast, she mused.
At first she tried to relax and think through her situation. She was stuck in an unfamiliar place, her only friend had left her, and she had no money to get herself back home with. She forcefully shoved the bubbling panic back under her control. He would be back. The butler had said that he would come back. Ami could wait.
Her mind wandered then to the strangeness of the last few days. She couldn't truly remember anything since that day the soldiers had stormed the cabin. The last thing she recalled was the betrayal in Wufei's eyes. Then everything turned a misty blue, and she couldn't make the memories surface.
She thought back to her awakening, when she had searched for Wufei. He had been in the library, talking to someone about a person called "Sailor Mercury."
"I swear I've heard that name before," Ami said, glancing around. Surely there could be no harm in a little research. She spotted a pile of books in the far corner of the room and walked over to them. Lying a bit away from the others was a book written in Japanese. It's title boasted of ancient and modern Japanese myths, and she picked it up without reservation. Her legs carried her back to a comfortable-looking armchair, and she curled up without thinking.
The book opened itself as it settled into her lap. The page's illustration caught her eye. It was a woman, perhaps a few years older than she, who was displayed back-to-back with another woman. They looked almost identical with the exception of their clothing. The woman on the right was dressed in a long, flowing blue gown. Sapphires glittered on her ears, neck, and wrists, but it was the one in the diamond-studded tiara that caught Ami's eye. "The Mercury Crystal," she murmured, forgetting everything and becoming absorbed in the photograph.
The second woman wore a uniform vaguely resembling a Japanese school uniform. The bodice was skin-tight, as were the knee-high boots and elbow- length gloves. A golden tiara was settled across her forehead, and bows were placed on the woman's chest and on the back of the uniform, resting just above the shortest skirt Ami had ever seen. The sapphire was present in this photo too; only it sat in the middle of her chest, on the bow.
Ami gazed in shock at the identical women, then raised her eyes to appraise the room. A mirror graced the wall closest to her chair, and she stood on shaking legs to walk towards it. Her fingers whitened as she held the book up next to her face and saw what she had been dreading all along. Three pairs of blue eyes, three heads of blue hair, three pale and worn faces were reflected through the shiny glass.
She was the women in the picture.
In the back of her mind, Ami felt the tug of old memories long forgotten. She watched herself grow up in two lifetimes, watched herself die over and over, watched herself promise with her dying breath to save the planet whenever it called on her.
Neo-Queen Serenity's voice rang out in regal command as the Crystal obeyed her wish and killed the demon army. Ami remembered watching as Serenity sank to her knees, holding her pregnant belly as crimson blood spread through the white satin dress. She heard the hacking cough as the Queen took one last shuddering breath. She felt her own pain amplify as the white light receded from the battlefield.
Ami heard herself scream as death paid an extended call.
She was still screaming as her eyes focused on the mirror, still screaming as she relived the day at the cabin, still screaming as she ran out into the night, leaving everything behind her.
And so it goes! Please leave reviews. Don't be shy!
Notes: This should explain a lot of what has been happening. I tried to edit it to some extent, but I am sure it's not error-free. Thank you so much for the outstanding reviews I received last time. I don't want people to be nit-picky over errors and such, but if you see a mistake, let me know. What I really care about is encouragement and suggestions from the readers. I see this story only one way: from inside my head. You all, however, have an outsider's perspective. I love it when you guys ask questions or make comments about things. They help me see little details. Again, thanks so much for the wonderful response!
Warnings: Angst, drama
Save My Sanity
Misty H
Chapter Five
When all was said and done, Heero Yuy reflected, more was almost always said than done. That ongoing mess with comrade 05 was a prime exhibition of the old adage. The Chinese teenager had corresponded with his fellow pilots several times within the past week, and to what purpose? Each of the soldiers had expressed a desire to get rid of the Mizuno girl, with Wufei's complaints leading the rally. And what was done?
Wufei had removed both himself and the silly chit to another safe house, instead of leaving her to find her own way back to civilization. Heero resisted the need to roll his eyes. The action wouldn't be productive in expressing the annoyance he felt. Shooting something would be the better alternative.
Duo strolled into the room, a thin stream of smoke following behind him. His chestnut hair gleamed in the soft light of the predawn hour, making the American look angelic. Then again, one could also use 'demonic' which, in this case, was a far more accurate description. Heero cut off his musings abruptly. He disliked musing.
"Duo," he intoned, "what are you doing in my room?"
The other teen shrugged and blew out another cloud of smoke. The cigarette dangled loosely from his lips. "Just wondered if you had heard from Wufei yet," he stated. He took another drag. "Have you?"
"He'll be here in five days. He's supposed to ditch the girl in Munich, catch a plane to Mexico City, and meet us at the spaceport for departure."
"We're going home so soon?" Duo asked, faint traces of surprise shadowing his eyes.
"Mission."
"I see." Amethyst eyes peered into cobalt blue, considering. "It's almost over then."
"We'll see," Heero replied abruptly. He didn't want to be hopeful. "Why are you smoking?"
Duo grinned. "One of the mechanics had a spare pack. I really needed to relax. I'm getting way too tense just hanging out here. You should understand; you're a man of action."
Heero hummed a reply. "Get that out of your mouth. You're going to decrease your body's efficiency and possibly endanger the mission."
"The mission's as good as over. One way or the other, it's over for us." Duo's face was shadowed, but Heero thought he had detected a hint of remorse in his companion's voice.
"Smoking kills," retorted the shorthaired teen. Heero couldn't stop his sniff of disdain at the American's antics.
Quirking a brow, Duo leaned against a wall. "Maybe I want to die young."
The remark triggered a reminder of the Japanese pilot's own death wish. "Give me that."
Laughing, Duo pulled out another cigarette and lit it for him. Trowa found them a few hours later, still smoking in silence.
"It's Wufei," the taller pilot said. His nose wrinkled at the smell of burnt tobacco. "He's found out something about that girl he was carrying around. It's worth looking at."
The other two got to their feet and moved with fluid grace toward the door. Trowa snatched the half-burnt cigarettes out of their mouths as they walked by. "Smoking kills," he stated and then glanced down, contemplating. Duo used the opportunity to stuff the last unused cig in Trowa's mouth. Surprising both of them, Trowa produced his own lighter and handed the two back their cigarettes.
"After the war is over, we won't be needed anymore. Might as well get a head start," Trowa replied to their quizzical expressions. Duo threw back his head and laughed.
"Guess poor Quatre is just going to have to outlive us all!"
Wufei was completely surrounded by the piles of books and research materials he had haphazardly stacked around himself. The mess was deliberate, contrived to keep the outside world away as the Chinese teenager contemplated his findings. The thick walls of one of Quatre's many homes muffled the now-familiar sounds of Cairo. Wufei was seated on the floor, his towering paper walls leaning precariously over him, and reading a Japanese legend that was almost too ridiculous to be believed.
When he had moved the unconscious Ami to their current location, he had decided to research the strange icy powers she possessed and why they were making her so ill. Though he thought he had found the answers, he wasn't sure if he was truly ready to accept them. Mizuno Ami was supposed to be some normal teenage girl, right? But then again, how many "normal" teenagers claimed deadly powers over ice and water?
The legend was the only explanation that made sense. But it lacked plausibility. Even if his baffled mind accepted that the girl he had lived with for the past week was a resurrected Sailor Senshi, how would he ever be able to convince the other pilots? Moreover, how could he keep Heero from shooting her?
According to what he had studied thus far, Ami's powers were not meant to be used outside of her Senshi or queen "forms." That was another hard pill to swallow. The blue-eyed girl was supposedly the Queen of Mercury. But since it was obvious to him that she was neither dressed up in the silly little costume the book called her "Senshi fuku," nor was she adorned in precious gemstones, she was not in either of the "forms" compatible for the usage of her unique abilities.
That made her even scarier.
Of course, logically speaking, it explained the weakness she experienced after her little shows. Ami's human body was not supposed to be able to handle that kind of power. When she forced herself to use it, the backlash tended to drain her. So how was she accessing the energy required for such activities?
Wufei knew that Mizuno Ami had last appeared in the 21st century. During that time she had assumed her duties as the Queen of Mercury and encouraged space exploration. She and her fellow Senshi had wanted to reestablish their former kingdoms, kingdoms that had been destroyed during their previous lives. However, the Earth was attacked before any definite plans could be made. The Sailor Senshi had died alongside their Queen and King, Serenity and Endymion, with the promise to arise again when the Earth and its solar system were in grave danger. With their dying breaths, they gave their powers to the Silver Crystal, allowing the enemy to be purged from the world.
It was a very romantic story, Wufei decided, but it was just so impossible to believe. If he hadn't seen Ami manipulate ice and water the way she did, he would snort at the foolishness of it all. But he had seen her capabilities, and now he was unsure.
If the Mizuno Ami of Crystal Tokyo had been reincarnated into this time, did that mean that the world was in danger of being destroyed? And just how exactly did she channel her powers through her human form? Was it possible that she was unable to access her other, more capable, selves? If so, why?
The more Wufei learned, the more confused he became. Questions piled on top of questions inside his mind. Since this was a new life, could Ami remember her last one? Did she know about her promise and what she had to do to fulfill it? What danger threatened the world? Why had she come to him?
None of it made any sense!
The door to the library creaked open, and a servant poked his head in. His eyes squinted in the dim light, struggling to adjust. "Master Wufei?" he called out.
Wufei observed the man's futile search for him. Finally taking pity on the man's poor eyesight, he stood and walked towards him. "Yes?" he answered, wondering if he had any news about Ami.
"Master Quatre and the others wish to speak with you immediately."
His heart beginning to race with anticipation, Wufei moved towards the library's vidphone. His muttered thanks reached the ears of the messenger, and the man departed to his other duties. He left the door cracked open in case the young master would need his services again.
The secure connection opened without resistance. It wasn't too long before Wufei was staring into the eyes of his comrades and wondering how the conversation would end. More than anything, he wanted to make sure that Ami stayed alive.
"Wufei."
"Heero. Quatre. Trowa. Duo. How are things?"
"Well enough. We received your message. What's going on?" Quatre said quickly. The Chinese pilot realized that he wouldn't have much time.
"I researched Mizuno Ami." Noticing their confusion, he added, "I've decided to keep the girl with me. She might be important."
Trowa nodded slowly. "How so?"
Wufei took in a deep breath of air and plunged in headfirst. "She's the reincarnation of a Sailor Senshi and the Queen of Mercury."
Duo regarded him seriously. "You really need a cigarette, Wufei."
The dark head shook in reply. "I've seen what she can do. She has abnormal abilities. She can control ice with her thoughts, something that only a Senshi could do. A specific Senshi, to be exact. I believe her to be Sailor Mercury."
While Duo snorted his disbelief, Heero digested Wufei's words. "Go on."
Outside the door, Ami paused. Her nightshirt swayed against the backs of her thighs. Sailor Mercury? Where had she heard that name before? She shook her head, continuing on her way.
"The Sailor Senshi lived in Crystal Tokyo. Just before its destruction, they made a promise to live again whenever the world was in danger. The Senshi and the Royal Family died fighting the enemy. If the girl is who I think she is, then she is back for a reason."
"Bring her here. Send us the reports you've made during the past week. We are going to need to know everything we can about her before we make a move."
"So you actually believe me?"
Quatre regarded him with weary eyes. "Wufei, I'm tired of fighting. Once the war is over, I want it to be completely over. I want to check out her story. Then, if she is a threat, we'll decide what to do."
Duo shrugged. "In this day and age, you've got to consider everything, even the most outlandish ideas. You never know what could happen."
Wufei nodded, gratitude shining in his eyes.
Trowa leaned over the monitor, making ready to end the transmission. "We'll be in touch," he promised. The screen went blank.
Working quickly, Wufei set up the line to fax his information to the others. With the job complete, he strode to the door. Duo was right. He really needed to relax.
Catching sight of a maid, he called out to her. Within ten minutes he was ready to leave. He gave written instructions to the butler and stressed the importance of his return. "Tell Ami that I will be back," he said. The butler waved him off, muttering about young love.
He didn't know that Ami watched him from the shadows of her room as he strode to the street, pack swinging behind him, and disappeared from her life.
It had been three days, and Wufei wasn't back yet. Ami was bored out of her mind. She had explored the house thoroughly and annoyed the servants until they had thrown her out of their quarters. Now she stood in the library, listening to the silence of the books and the loudness of the market on the street below. It was quite a contrast, she mused.
At first she tried to relax and think through her situation. She was stuck in an unfamiliar place, her only friend had left her, and she had no money to get herself back home with. She forcefully shoved the bubbling panic back under her control. He would be back. The butler had said that he would come back. Ami could wait.
Her mind wandered then to the strangeness of the last few days. She couldn't truly remember anything since that day the soldiers had stormed the cabin. The last thing she recalled was the betrayal in Wufei's eyes. Then everything turned a misty blue, and she couldn't make the memories surface.
She thought back to her awakening, when she had searched for Wufei. He had been in the library, talking to someone about a person called "Sailor Mercury."
"I swear I've heard that name before," Ami said, glancing around. Surely there could be no harm in a little research. She spotted a pile of books in the far corner of the room and walked over to them. Lying a bit away from the others was a book written in Japanese. It's title boasted of ancient and modern Japanese myths, and she picked it up without reservation. Her legs carried her back to a comfortable-looking armchair, and she curled up without thinking.
The book opened itself as it settled into her lap. The page's illustration caught her eye. It was a woman, perhaps a few years older than she, who was displayed back-to-back with another woman. They looked almost identical with the exception of their clothing. The woman on the right was dressed in a long, flowing blue gown. Sapphires glittered on her ears, neck, and wrists, but it was the one in the diamond-studded tiara that caught Ami's eye. "The Mercury Crystal," she murmured, forgetting everything and becoming absorbed in the photograph.
The second woman wore a uniform vaguely resembling a Japanese school uniform. The bodice was skin-tight, as were the knee-high boots and elbow- length gloves. A golden tiara was settled across her forehead, and bows were placed on the woman's chest and on the back of the uniform, resting just above the shortest skirt Ami had ever seen. The sapphire was present in this photo too; only it sat in the middle of her chest, on the bow.
Ami gazed in shock at the identical women, then raised her eyes to appraise the room. A mirror graced the wall closest to her chair, and she stood on shaking legs to walk towards it. Her fingers whitened as she held the book up next to her face and saw what she had been dreading all along. Three pairs of blue eyes, three heads of blue hair, three pale and worn faces were reflected through the shiny glass.
She was the women in the picture.
In the back of her mind, Ami felt the tug of old memories long forgotten. She watched herself grow up in two lifetimes, watched herself die over and over, watched herself promise with her dying breath to save the planet whenever it called on her.
Neo-Queen Serenity's voice rang out in regal command as the Crystal obeyed her wish and killed the demon army. Ami remembered watching as Serenity sank to her knees, holding her pregnant belly as crimson blood spread through the white satin dress. She heard the hacking cough as the Queen took one last shuddering breath. She felt her own pain amplify as the white light receded from the battlefield.
Ami heard herself scream as death paid an extended call.
She was still screaming as her eyes focused on the mirror, still screaming as she relived the day at the cabin, still screaming as she ran out into the night, leaving everything behind her.
And so it goes! Please leave reviews. Don't be shy!