Chapter seventeen '
Quatre lead her to the limo, and waited till she slipped inside, before he climbed in. She glanced out the window and froze, when her eyes locked onto a pair of green ones. Her face went flushed, and she looked away.
Quatre looked at her, and noticed the man sitting silently in the tree watching them. "There's Trowa. Wave." He waved, and Usagi just shook her hand in the air. She didn't look up.
The limo drove down the driveway, and pulled out onto the highway, leading towards town. Quatre smiled, and glanced at Usagi, "I know you'll love it Usagi. They have all kinds of art, from all over the world."
Usagi forced a smile, and looked up at him, "I know I'll love it Quatre kun. Artigato for taking me, I just can't wait to see them."
Quatre flushed, but nodded in agreement, "Yes, I know how you feel. Wow, isn't that beautiful?" Curious, Usagi whipped around, and looked out the window. She pressed her face to the glass, and looked around. Her eyes fell onto the ocean, where the waves crashed along the rocks. She could faintly hear it, but it still sent a chill up through her spine. She looked up, expecting to see something, but only found the faint outlines of the moon. She frowned, and muttered, "Hai, it is lovely, like a painting."
She sat back in her seat, as they entered the Cinq Kingdom. From here, she could see the academy, being worked on with great speed. They had already rebuilt the first floor, and now working on the second.
She looked over, to catch Quatre staring at her. "Is something wrong Quatre kun?" He shook his head, and looked out the window, as they pulled up to the museum.
Peagan climbed out of the front seat, and opened the door for Quatre. He climbed out with ease, turned, and helped Usagi out.
Usagi stood, and smoothed out the yellow dress she had put on. It was one of the many clothes she bought at the mall the other day. It hugged her chest, and flared loosely from the hips, to about mid thigh. Flip flop yellow sandals on her feet, and a yellow hat with a sunflower, on her head. She looked over at Quatre.
He was dressed in ironed beige colored slacks, and a white shirt, that still smell fresh from the dryer. A blue vest pulled over the shirt, fit snug, but open on him.
Usagi took his hand, "Come on Quatre kun, I want to see the paintings!!!" She skipped into the building, dragging a flushed Quatre along with her.
Inside, Usagi stopped where Quatre paid for their way in. The building had white walls, and black tiled marble floors. Paintings covered all the walls, not leaving one large wall bare. Statues, and artifacts were held in glass cases. Usagi rushed towards the closes painting, and gasped. "Wow, it's beautiful. Oh Quatre look." She pointed at the picture of a park, where a couple was walking down the sidewalk, with a little girl at their feet, holding some kind of toy in her arms.
Usagi moved from that painting to another, "Oh look at this one. Who did this one????" She pointed to the one of a couple standing in front of each other, somewhere on the street, dressed formally. The girl held a locket in her hand that seemed to jump out at Usagi. She tilted her head to the side. The girl looked familiar, but so did the man. But it was the locket that caught her attention most.
"She was a young artist. Most of her things burned in a fire, but these one, and a few things were found in tact, in a safe. I believe her name is Penny."
Usagi nodded, "Yea that's her name..." She blinked, and turned away from the lovely painting, "Oooh what's that?" She scurried off to on of the display cases. She looked inside, "Oh?"
Quatre walked up behind her, and looked inside. "Ancient artifacts, from the 20th century. That was a long time ago. But they do still have bones of dinosaurs, and they were over 10 billion years ago."
Usagi nodded, and stared at the robes from a shrine it had stated on the card, and a pair of shoes to go with it, and what looked like a stick. "What's that?" It was red, with a gold top. Quatre studied it, "I'm not sure. It doesn't have a card either."
Usagi shrugged it off, "Oh well. Hey look at that statue near that weird painting." Usagi walked towards the statue of a couple embracing.
Quatre came up beside her, "Awe yes this statue. This one has a story all of its own. It used to be near a lake, where the legend said a demon was held captive. The demon was a woman, whose jealousy corrupted her soul. The man she loved was in love with a princess, and the woman became a horrible being, and attacked them. But their love sent the demon into the lake, and locked her there. The princess and prince's spirits were held within the statue, to keep the demon lock away."
Usagi stared with awe at the statue, of the couple. The prince was holding onto his princess, as if she might disappear.
Usagi shifted, to see the painting behind it. She blinked repeatedly, "What's that supposed to be?" The painting was all black, with tints of red, and small tiny stars like shapes littering across the black cyclone.
Quatre replied, "The card says the Cauldron." Usagi jerked back, her movements going unnoticed by Quatre, who was interrupted by an older man.
Usagi watched, as a face seemed to form in the picture.
She felt something come over her, as if something had opened a door to her mind, and walked in.
Her eyes drew blank, and she turned her head to the side. She looked over the museum, as if she was trying to find something. Her body turned, and she stared walking, slowly, leisurely, to where something flashed from within a case.
She clenched her fists, and each step became strained. Her mind tried to force her body to stop, but no matter what she did, it wasn't enough.
She stopped in front of the case, and looked inside. She ran her hand along the glass, as the thing inside flashed again. People around her, paid her no attention, not when she had walked towards the case, or when she touched it. they didn't notice, when she raised her hand up into the air. She let a small whimper, tears slipping past her black orbs.
Her hand was brought down, and the glass shattered on the impact. Women and children screamed, men froze, and security guards rushed towards her. Usagi grabbed a hold of the red wand, and slowly it disappeared from her hand. She jerked back, as if she finally woke up, and she screamed in pain, fear and horror.
She eyes rolled up, back into her head, and she fell to the floor.
?????
They had decided to meet each other there, at the restaurant. It was late in the afternoon around 1:30, and Duo was left standing in front of the fancy café...or so she had called it. To him, it was more like a palace, where people went to wined and dined under candlelight, and ate steaks and salad for dinner.
He didn't care though, she had said casual so here he was, dressed in black jeans, and a red short sleeve shirt, that zipped up the front, from his ribs to his collar. His jacket slung over his shoulder, since the weather was a little warm out, with the sun beating down on his back.
Curious, not anxious, he glanced at his watch, only to find that two minutes went by since he checked it last. Groaning, he smacked himself on the head for acting eager for 1:30 to come around. He glanced nervously inside the restaurant, where people dined. The sliding doors opened, and laughter spilled out from within. The clang of glasses together, whispers of promises made of happiness, love, and passion floated in the air. All of it swarmed his head, and he wondered what might happen after lunch.
His cobalt blue eyes might as well have popped out of his head and onto a platter, for his trail of thoughts. He smacked his head twice, wincing slightly from the sting, but still believed he deserved the beating. He couldn't believe, he had been thinking like that. He thought...no knew, that this lunch would bomb, and he'd hate Relena, as much as he did when he was given the job to protect her. He knew, she would go on and on about peace, talking her little heart out about what she could do and such, and he would be bored out of his mind. Then they would part, and he'd find a way to dump her off his trail, and back onto Heero's before it was too late.
Liking the plan already, he nodded, and flipped his chestnut braided mane from where it rested on his shoulder, and let it swoosh the air behind him.
He shifted on his feet, putting more weight on his right leg, and cocked his hips slightly, as a girl passed him. She purred, but he barely noticed. Instead, he glanced at his watch, and blinked. It was forty minutes past one, and he wondered where the time went.
He glanced left then right, but realized he was alone. Shrugging, he stepped towards the road, ready to leave this mess behind, and forget he ever agreed to the lunch date.
He was cut off, when a bright yellow cab pulled up to the side. The windows where dark, and he took a step back, squinted to see inside, but failed. The door opened slowly, and casually she stepped out, one leg peering out, then the second. She stood slowly, her hips swaying as she did.
Surprised, he took another step back, and forced his jaw to snap shut, before he started to drool. The face was like a portrait that belonged on the walls of a king. The face was as close to perfection as nature would allow it. Bright blue eyes smiled from beneath long eyelashes. The brows were perfectly curved, and to his relief, not penciled in like most girls he's met. Her skin, pale but held a hint of warmth, warmth that held his interest, and her nose was straight and finely sculpted.
The mouth that was hard to ignore, he thought, was curved invitingly, and looked pillow soft, but strong in shape. It was painted softly, with rose bud red, and tempted him so.
Framing her face was light looking silky to the touch, and it fell over her shoulders loose, and was missing the braids that she always wore at the temples. She wore no make-up, but the small trace on her lips.
She had beautiful curves, which surprised him the most, as his eyes swept over her. Long legs, snug in blue jeans that flared at her knees to her ankles, and white, strap sandals adored her bare feet. This was the first time he'd ever seen her in jeans. Looking at her with the jeans hugging her firm thighs, and them snug to her hips, and dipped low enough for him to see her navel, gave him crazy thoughts. Her white cotton shirt loose, but still framed her curves nicely. It was buttoned down the middle, and the top two buttons left undone, and the collar folded over, showing her flawless skin. A pair of stud earrings, not elegant, but not plain, pierced her delicate ears.
She smiled, her tempting lips forming beautifully on her face, made his heart skip. He swallowed, and tried to regain his breath, that had been knocked out of him, the second she opened the cab door.
"Duo chan." She shut the door to the cab, and it pulled away. "Gomen for being late, I got held up in a meeting." She waved her hand to the restaurant, "Ready, I hope?"
He nodded, and moved out of her way, as she stepped up to his side. "Well let's go in silly." She beamed him a smile that made all the blood rush to his loins. He inhaled deeply, and looked away slightly. He swallowed his sanity, because he knew he lost it, when he instantly thought, that Relena was breath-takingly beautiful.
He followed her inside, and they stopped at the reservation stand. A man in a black tux, walked up to them. He glanced Duo, with apprehension, before he noticed Relena. "Ah, Miss Relena. Your booth is this way." He waved his hand towards the many empty booths.
They passed three, before Duo asked, "Isn't this one, or one of those fine?" Relena glanced at the table, and nodded, "Hai, but let get the window, so the sun can hit us." Duo nodded, and stopped following the man, and sat down at a booth with a window. Relena smiled, "Artigato Duo chan, for taking me."
Duo looked up from the table, and stared at her face, "Huh?" Relena giggled, "Silly." She waved it off, and sat back, when a waiter set down the menus. "Domo Artigato." Duo nodded, and opened his menu book. He scanned the contents, found what he wanted, but didn't set the menu down.
He glanced at Relena, from the top of the menu. He just couldn't stop staring at her face. He felt like there was terribly wrong...like she wasn't who he thought she was.
"Relena..."
Relena set the menu down, "Hai?" Duo set his down, and asked, "What...I mean, why are you different?"
Relena blinked, and then slightly frowned, "Different? How so?"
Duo shrugged, "Um well...you haven't jumped Hee man, in like...uh, well since after the accident with Usagi. And you actually, went shopping with her. When she first came, you avoided her, and then wham, your spending time with her..." He sighed, "I don't know." He scratched his head, and sighed.
Relena smiled, "Well I'm glad you noticed Duo chan. It's because I'm tired of being the old me. From now on, I will fight for peace, and we will find those people who attacked my itoko." Duo's eyes widen, "F...fight? But what about that speak...taking away the guns of war."
Relena clasped her hands in front of her, "We already tried that Duo, and it didn't work. They attack my home, hurt my itoko, then threatened me, by burning down, what I built. It's time that I fight, and not leave it to the people...the people who believe in me."
Duo nodded shakily. He sat back slowly, and studied her from across the table. She had instantly changed before his eyes. Seconds ago, she had been all smile, even laughing, but now her face was as placid as a lake with no wind. Her eyes were slightly cold, and he knew where that look came from.
Suddenly, a waiter walked up to them, "do you know what you want...Miss Relena, sir?"
Relena smiled, "hai, I'd like a hamburger, and a chocolate milk shake."
Duo grinned, "Ditto."
The waiter nodded, "Alright, I'll be back soon with your orders." He took the menus with him, as he left. Duo looked at Relena, "A hamburger? I expected a salad..." Relena made a face, "Yuck, I hate lettuce, and everything else in a green salad. If you can't get a hamburger, or a shake at a restaurant, it isn't worth dinning in."
Duo nodded, "My thoughts exactly." Relena giggled. Duo slapped on a grin, liking her laugh already. "SO why'd you ask me out...I mean to lunch?" Relena tilted her head slightly, and tapped her lips. "Hmm. Maybe because, I think your cute, and funny, and daring, and I like being near you."
Duo pouted, "Just cute?" Relena burst into light laughter, making heads turn towards them. "Alright handsome, happy." Duo grinned, "You bet babe." He froze, and snapped his mouth shut. He couldn't believe what he called her that. Actually, he was revolted, that he was actually enjoying himself, and loving the fact, that she had said all those things about him.
Relena frowned, "What's wrong?"
He looked up, and studied her face. He had been right before, "Something about her face was wrong, he just didn't know what it was.
"I'm fine."
There food came soon after, and they dug in, and shared laughter, smiles, and small talk. Afterwards, they ordered chocolate cream pie, and ate that up. They enjoyed, being in each other's company. After their dessert, Duo paid for it, after a long argument, about who should pay.
And here they were now, walking down the said walk, talking small talk. Duo, had his hands stuffed in his pockets, afraid, he might put his arm around her. Relena was wearing his coat, since the sun was hidden by the clouds, and was getting lower as they walked.
"Do you think, that they're worried?"
Duo shook his head at first, but then nodded. "Yea probably. It's 5...man where'd the time go."
Relena stopped suddenly, "Artigato Duo." He stopped, and turned to look at her, "For what?" Relena smiled at him, "For such a fun time. I don't think...I've ever had this much..." she stopped, when something softly beeped in her ear. "I'll be right back." She walked into a café, and Duo watched her walk to the bathrooms.
He raised an eyebrow, slightly, but shrugged it off.
Relena shut the door, and pulled out a flip phone from her back pocket. She flipped it open, and hit a button. She pressed the phone to her, just as it was answered.
"Hai?"
"Finally you answer."
Relena scowled. "What do you want Hawk?"
She heard him chuckle, and sighed, "I can hang up you know."
"Hai you could, but you wont. She's dead."
Relena gripped the phone, "How long?"
"An hour I believe. They took her with her. Tiger is gone to."
"Kami bachiatara. You kono yaro! You were supposed to protect her!"
A sigh, "We tried ok. They came out of nowhere, with cannon blasters, and ripped the base wide open. The cameras show, that she nearly got away, until she hit the floor. The guy got her, and shot her. He took the body with him."
Relena asked, as she leaned against one of the stalls, "Do we know who they are?"
"Sort of. We have a body...and he has the same tattoo, as the one who attack the blonde girl."
"Usagi."
"What?"
Relena shook her head, "Never mind. How long will it be, before the body come up, and the case is blown wide open?"
There was a long silent pause. "I'd say a couple days. Not much I know that. They want to rule this world, and they did the right thing, killed the..."
"Fakku!"
Another pause, "Hey I'm sorry, but we tried alright we did, and we failed."
Relena shook her head, "I have to go."
Duo smiled, when Relena walked up of the café, "What's wrong?" Relena shook her head, "Nothing. But we should get back. I have a few things I need to take care of."
Duo nodded, and hailed a cab, that would take them to Quattre's mansion.
Quatre lead her to the limo, and waited till she slipped inside, before he climbed in. She glanced out the window and froze, when her eyes locked onto a pair of green ones. Her face went flushed, and she looked away.
Quatre looked at her, and noticed the man sitting silently in the tree watching them. "There's Trowa. Wave." He waved, and Usagi just shook her hand in the air. She didn't look up.
The limo drove down the driveway, and pulled out onto the highway, leading towards town. Quatre smiled, and glanced at Usagi, "I know you'll love it Usagi. They have all kinds of art, from all over the world."
Usagi forced a smile, and looked up at him, "I know I'll love it Quatre kun. Artigato for taking me, I just can't wait to see them."
Quatre flushed, but nodded in agreement, "Yes, I know how you feel. Wow, isn't that beautiful?" Curious, Usagi whipped around, and looked out the window. She pressed her face to the glass, and looked around. Her eyes fell onto the ocean, where the waves crashed along the rocks. She could faintly hear it, but it still sent a chill up through her spine. She looked up, expecting to see something, but only found the faint outlines of the moon. She frowned, and muttered, "Hai, it is lovely, like a painting."
She sat back in her seat, as they entered the Cinq Kingdom. From here, she could see the academy, being worked on with great speed. They had already rebuilt the first floor, and now working on the second.
She looked over, to catch Quatre staring at her. "Is something wrong Quatre kun?" He shook his head, and looked out the window, as they pulled up to the museum.
Peagan climbed out of the front seat, and opened the door for Quatre. He climbed out with ease, turned, and helped Usagi out.
Usagi stood, and smoothed out the yellow dress she had put on. It was one of the many clothes she bought at the mall the other day. It hugged her chest, and flared loosely from the hips, to about mid thigh. Flip flop yellow sandals on her feet, and a yellow hat with a sunflower, on her head. She looked over at Quatre.
He was dressed in ironed beige colored slacks, and a white shirt, that still smell fresh from the dryer. A blue vest pulled over the shirt, fit snug, but open on him.
Usagi took his hand, "Come on Quatre kun, I want to see the paintings!!!" She skipped into the building, dragging a flushed Quatre along with her.
Inside, Usagi stopped where Quatre paid for their way in. The building had white walls, and black tiled marble floors. Paintings covered all the walls, not leaving one large wall bare. Statues, and artifacts were held in glass cases. Usagi rushed towards the closes painting, and gasped. "Wow, it's beautiful. Oh Quatre look." She pointed at the picture of a park, where a couple was walking down the sidewalk, with a little girl at their feet, holding some kind of toy in her arms.
Usagi moved from that painting to another, "Oh look at this one. Who did this one????" She pointed to the one of a couple standing in front of each other, somewhere on the street, dressed formally. The girl held a locket in her hand that seemed to jump out at Usagi. She tilted her head to the side. The girl looked familiar, but so did the man. But it was the locket that caught her attention most.
"She was a young artist. Most of her things burned in a fire, but these one, and a few things were found in tact, in a safe. I believe her name is Penny."
Usagi nodded, "Yea that's her name..." She blinked, and turned away from the lovely painting, "Oooh what's that?" She scurried off to on of the display cases. She looked inside, "Oh?"
Quatre walked up behind her, and looked inside. "Ancient artifacts, from the 20th century. That was a long time ago. But they do still have bones of dinosaurs, and they were over 10 billion years ago."
Usagi nodded, and stared at the robes from a shrine it had stated on the card, and a pair of shoes to go with it, and what looked like a stick. "What's that?" It was red, with a gold top. Quatre studied it, "I'm not sure. It doesn't have a card either."
Usagi shrugged it off, "Oh well. Hey look at that statue near that weird painting." Usagi walked towards the statue of a couple embracing.
Quatre came up beside her, "Awe yes this statue. This one has a story all of its own. It used to be near a lake, where the legend said a demon was held captive. The demon was a woman, whose jealousy corrupted her soul. The man she loved was in love with a princess, and the woman became a horrible being, and attacked them. But their love sent the demon into the lake, and locked her there. The princess and prince's spirits were held within the statue, to keep the demon lock away."
Usagi stared with awe at the statue, of the couple. The prince was holding onto his princess, as if she might disappear.
Usagi shifted, to see the painting behind it. She blinked repeatedly, "What's that supposed to be?" The painting was all black, with tints of red, and small tiny stars like shapes littering across the black cyclone.
Quatre replied, "The card says the Cauldron." Usagi jerked back, her movements going unnoticed by Quatre, who was interrupted by an older man.
Usagi watched, as a face seemed to form in the picture.
She felt something come over her, as if something had opened a door to her mind, and walked in.
Her eyes drew blank, and she turned her head to the side. She looked over the museum, as if she was trying to find something. Her body turned, and she stared walking, slowly, leisurely, to where something flashed from within a case.
She clenched her fists, and each step became strained. Her mind tried to force her body to stop, but no matter what she did, it wasn't enough.
She stopped in front of the case, and looked inside. She ran her hand along the glass, as the thing inside flashed again. People around her, paid her no attention, not when she had walked towards the case, or when she touched it. they didn't notice, when she raised her hand up into the air. She let a small whimper, tears slipping past her black orbs.
Her hand was brought down, and the glass shattered on the impact. Women and children screamed, men froze, and security guards rushed towards her. Usagi grabbed a hold of the red wand, and slowly it disappeared from her hand. She jerked back, as if she finally woke up, and she screamed in pain, fear and horror.
She eyes rolled up, back into her head, and she fell to the floor.
?????
They had decided to meet each other there, at the restaurant. It was late in the afternoon around 1:30, and Duo was left standing in front of the fancy café...or so she had called it. To him, it was more like a palace, where people went to wined and dined under candlelight, and ate steaks and salad for dinner.
He didn't care though, she had said casual so here he was, dressed in black jeans, and a red short sleeve shirt, that zipped up the front, from his ribs to his collar. His jacket slung over his shoulder, since the weather was a little warm out, with the sun beating down on his back.
Curious, not anxious, he glanced at his watch, only to find that two minutes went by since he checked it last. Groaning, he smacked himself on the head for acting eager for 1:30 to come around. He glanced nervously inside the restaurant, where people dined. The sliding doors opened, and laughter spilled out from within. The clang of glasses together, whispers of promises made of happiness, love, and passion floated in the air. All of it swarmed his head, and he wondered what might happen after lunch.
His cobalt blue eyes might as well have popped out of his head and onto a platter, for his trail of thoughts. He smacked his head twice, wincing slightly from the sting, but still believed he deserved the beating. He couldn't believe, he had been thinking like that. He thought...no knew, that this lunch would bomb, and he'd hate Relena, as much as he did when he was given the job to protect her. He knew, she would go on and on about peace, talking her little heart out about what she could do and such, and he would be bored out of his mind. Then they would part, and he'd find a way to dump her off his trail, and back onto Heero's before it was too late.
Liking the plan already, he nodded, and flipped his chestnut braided mane from where it rested on his shoulder, and let it swoosh the air behind him.
He shifted on his feet, putting more weight on his right leg, and cocked his hips slightly, as a girl passed him. She purred, but he barely noticed. Instead, he glanced at his watch, and blinked. It was forty minutes past one, and he wondered where the time went.
He glanced left then right, but realized he was alone. Shrugging, he stepped towards the road, ready to leave this mess behind, and forget he ever agreed to the lunch date.
He was cut off, when a bright yellow cab pulled up to the side. The windows where dark, and he took a step back, squinted to see inside, but failed. The door opened slowly, and casually she stepped out, one leg peering out, then the second. She stood slowly, her hips swaying as she did.
Surprised, he took another step back, and forced his jaw to snap shut, before he started to drool. The face was like a portrait that belonged on the walls of a king. The face was as close to perfection as nature would allow it. Bright blue eyes smiled from beneath long eyelashes. The brows were perfectly curved, and to his relief, not penciled in like most girls he's met. Her skin, pale but held a hint of warmth, warmth that held his interest, and her nose was straight and finely sculpted.
The mouth that was hard to ignore, he thought, was curved invitingly, and looked pillow soft, but strong in shape. It was painted softly, with rose bud red, and tempted him so.
Framing her face was light looking silky to the touch, and it fell over her shoulders loose, and was missing the braids that she always wore at the temples. She wore no make-up, but the small trace on her lips.
She had beautiful curves, which surprised him the most, as his eyes swept over her. Long legs, snug in blue jeans that flared at her knees to her ankles, and white, strap sandals adored her bare feet. This was the first time he'd ever seen her in jeans. Looking at her with the jeans hugging her firm thighs, and them snug to her hips, and dipped low enough for him to see her navel, gave him crazy thoughts. Her white cotton shirt loose, but still framed her curves nicely. It was buttoned down the middle, and the top two buttons left undone, and the collar folded over, showing her flawless skin. A pair of stud earrings, not elegant, but not plain, pierced her delicate ears.
She smiled, her tempting lips forming beautifully on her face, made his heart skip. He swallowed, and tried to regain his breath, that had been knocked out of him, the second she opened the cab door.
"Duo chan." She shut the door to the cab, and it pulled away. "Gomen for being late, I got held up in a meeting." She waved her hand to the restaurant, "Ready, I hope?"
He nodded, and moved out of her way, as she stepped up to his side. "Well let's go in silly." She beamed him a smile that made all the blood rush to his loins. He inhaled deeply, and looked away slightly. He swallowed his sanity, because he knew he lost it, when he instantly thought, that Relena was breath-takingly beautiful.
He followed her inside, and they stopped at the reservation stand. A man in a black tux, walked up to them. He glanced Duo, with apprehension, before he noticed Relena. "Ah, Miss Relena. Your booth is this way." He waved his hand towards the many empty booths.
They passed three, before Duo asked, "Isn't this one, or one of those fine?" Relena glanced at the table, and nodded, "Hai, but let get the window, so the sun can hit us." Duo nodded, and stopped following the man, and sat down at a booth with a window. Relena smiled, "Artigato Duo chan, for taking me."
Duo looked up from the table, and stared at her face, "Huh?" Relena giggled, "Silly." She waved it off, and sat back, when a waiter set down the menus. "Domo Artigato." Duo nodded, and opened his menu book. He scanned the contents, found what he wanted, but didn't set the menu down.
He glanced at Relena, from the top of the menu. He just couldn't stop staring at her face. He felt like there was terribly wrong...like she wasn't who he thought she was.
"Relena..."
Relena set the menu down, "Hai?" Duo set his down, and asked, "What...I mean, why are you different?"
Relena blinked, and then slightly frowned, "Different? How so?"
Duo shrugged, "Um well...you haven't jumped Hee man, in like...uh, well since after the accident with Usagi. And you actually, went shopping with her. When she first came, you avoided her, and then wham, your spending time with her..." He sighed, "I don't know." He scratched his head, and sighed.
Relena smiled, "Well I'm glad you noticed Duo chan. It's because I'm tired of being the old me. From now on, I will fight for peace, and we will find those people who attacked my itoko." Duo's eyes widen, "F...fight? But what about that speak...taking away the guns of war."
Relena clasped her hands in front of her, "We already tried that Duo, and it didn't work. They attack my home, hurt my itoko, then threatened me, by burning down, what I built. It's time that I fight, and not leave it to the people...the people who believe in me."
Duo nodded shakily. He sat back slowly, and studied her from across the table. She had instantly changed before his eyes. Seconds ago, she had been all smile, even laughing, but now her face was as placid as a lake with no wind. Her eyes were slightly cold, and he knew where that look came from.
Suddenly, a waiter walked up to them, "do you know what you want...Miss Relena, sir?"
Relena smiled, "hai, I'd like a hamburger, and a chocolate milk shake."
Duo grinned, "Ditto."
The waiter nodded, "Alright, I'll be back soon with your orders." He took the menus with him, as he left. Duo looked at Relena, "A hamburger? I expected a salad..." Relena made a face, "Yuck, I hate lettuce, and everything else in a green salad. If you can't get a hamburger, or a shake at a restaurant, it isn't worth dinning in."
Duo nodded, "My thoughts exactly." Relena giggled. Duo slapped on a grin, liking her laugh already. "SO why'd you ask me out...I mean to lunch?" Relena tilted her head slightly, and tapped her lips. "Hmm. Maybe because, I think your cute, and funny, and daring, and I like being near you."
Duo pouted, "Just cute?" Relena burst into light laughter, making heads turn towards them. "Alright handsome, happy." Duo grinned, "You bet babe." He froze, and snapped his mouth shut. He couldn't believe what he called her that. Actually, he was revolted, that he was actually enjoying himself, and loving the fact, that she had said all those things about him.
Relena frowned, "What's wrong?"
He looked up, and studied her face. He had been right before, "Something about her face was wrong, he just didn't know what it was.
"I'm fine."
There food came soon after, and they dug in, and shared laughter, smiles, and small talk. Afterwards, they ordered chocolate cream pie, and ate that up. They enjoyed, being in each other's company. After their dessert, Duo paid for it, after a long argument, about who should pay.
And here they were now, walking down the said walk, talking small talk. Duo, had his hands stuffed in his pockets, afraid, he might put his arm around her. Relena was wearing his coat, since the sun was hidden by the clouds, and was getting lower as they walked.
"Do you think, that they're worried?"
Duo shook his head at first, but then nodded. "Yea probably. It's 5...man where'd the time go."
Relena stopped suddenly, "Artigato Duo." He stopped, and turned to look at her, "For what?" Relena smiled at him, "For such a fun time. I don't think...I've ever had this much..." she stopped, when something softly beeped in her ear. "I'll be right back." She walked into a café, and Duo watched her walk to the bathrooms.
He raised an eyebrow, slightly, but shrugged it off.
Relena shut the door, and pulled out a flip phone from her back pocket. She flipped it open, and hit a button. She pressed the phone to her, just as it was answered.
"Hai?"
"Finally you answer."
Relena scowled. "What do you want Hawk?"
She heard him chuckle, and sighed, "I can hang up you know."
"Hai you could, but you wont. She's dead."
Relena gripped the phone, "How long?"
"An hour I believe. They took her with her. Tiger is gone to."
"Kami bachiatara. You kono yaro! You were supposed to protect her!"
A sigh, "We tried ok. They came out of nowhere, with cannon blasters, and ripped the base wide open. The cameras show, that she nearly got away, until she hit the floor. The guy got her, and shot her. He took the body with him."
Relena asked, as she leaned against one of the stalls, "Do we know who they are?"
"Sort of. We have a body...and he has the same tattoo, as the one who attack the blonde girl."
"Usagi."
"What?"
Relena shook her head, "Never mind. How long will it be, before the body come up, and the case is blown wide open?"
There was a long silent pause. "I'd say a couple days. Not much I know that. They want to rule this world, and they did the right thing, killed the..."
"Fakku!"
Another pause, "Hey I'm sorry, but we tried alright we did, and we failed."
Relena shook her head, "I have to go."
Duo smiled, when Relena walked up of the café, "What's wrong?" Relena shook her head, "Nothing. But we should get back. I have a few things I need to take care of."
Duo nodded, and hailed a cab, that would take them to Quattre's mansion.