From
Behind The Glass
Part Two
Quatre arrived home just in time for dinner, just
like he said. His day at work had been more hectic than usual. More and more
work was starting to pile up on his desk. He looked more than happy to be home.
This was one of the reasons why he decided to go to work everyday instead of
doing all the work at home. Sure, he had to be on a rush every now and then,
but at least he didn't have to bring all of that stress home. He could have
easily had an office built in one of the rooms in his home but he decided
against it. After all, he also needed some time for himself and Trowa.
"Trowa" Quatre thought as he walked towards the front
door. "He must be busy with the guys right now. They must have been here since
this morning. Hmm, the house seems too quiet. Why are all the lights closed?
What …"
Just then, Quatre was distracted from his train of
thoughts as four figures jumped him from behind. It may have been because of
fatigue or it may have been because of shock that Quatre blacked out and
fainted. Suddenly, he wasn't thinking about anything at all.
As he came back into consciousness, Quatre realized
that he was laying down on the couch. Four figures were looking at him
strangely from above. He realized that these were the four same figures from
the incident in front door. The first figure was about his height with messy
brown hair descending upon deadly cobalt blue eyes. The second was just the
same size as the first. He had long thick hair, arranged in a braid that flowed
graciously behind his back. He had big, bright purple eyes that served to
accent the huge smile that was always plastered on his face. The third figure
was also the same size as the second. In fact, the three were the same size.
This one, however, had black eyes that seemed to go deep into the depths of the
soul. He had shiny black hair that was carefully tied at the back of his head
giving it that simple but majestic look. The last figure seems very familiar
though. Oh, yes. It's Trowa. He was looking worriedly at Quatre as he gently
held his hand.
After a few more blinks, Quatre sat up from the
couch.
"You could have just said 'It's nice to see you
again.'" Quatre said as he rubbed the back of his head.
So the three have arrived. It seems that they have
some guilty looks plastered on their faces as of this moment. The black haired
figure is starting to give the braided haired figure a bit of a scolding.
"Duo, you said this was a good idea!"
"Hey, How was I to know that he'd faint! And besides,
Wufei, I think that he would have really appreciated that bear hug if he
weren't too tense. I didn't see *Trowa* faint from *our* little trick."
"He did drop that mug *and* stained the floor in the
process."
"He's just a good actor, you know. He knew it was
coming."
"I think that's enough. Quatre's fine now."
interrupted the brown haired, blue eyed figure who obviously started to get
irritated.
"It's true Heero. I don't think that having your four
best friends give you a hug would be enough to cause someone to faint. Isn't
that right, Trowa?"
As Trowa started to answer, Quatre cut in.
"Thanks Duo. A hug from you is always welcome. On the
other hand, I didn't really expect three other people to show the same
enthusiasm as you usually do." A smile then lit up his face obviously
communicating something only him and the figure named Duo would understand.
"You're right. I think there are about three people
in here who need to switch to 'normal mode'." Duo added, just to go along with
the flow.
After a few moments of silence and a few annoyed and
angry faces, the figure named Heero began to laugh heartily. It was then that
the rest of the group began smiling. The smiles soon turned into uncontrollable
fits of laughter which radiated throughout the neighborhood into the darkness
of the night.
The morning at Quatre and Trowa's home was busier than usual. From the windows, five
different figures could be seen running around the place. From the commotion
going around, anybody would be certain that the people inside were planning to
go somewhere. After another ten minutes of ceaseless movement, the five figures
emerged from the house, heading straight for the vehicle waiting for them
outside. The chauffer had brought them to the airport where their plane was
already prepared. It was decided that Wufei would pilot the plane so the rest
of the passengers settled in. The flight was quite enjoyable filled with
teasing and laughter that often caused the unfortunate pilot to loose control.
As the day wore on, the plane drifted into the clear sky heading off into the
promised paradise beyond.
The sun was setting in the horizon when the five
friends, each holding an item, exited from a cottage, making their way down to
the beach not far away. The sky was filled with an orange glow that ensured a
sense of calmness to all those that would witness it. This may have been the
reason why Trowa chose this place. It turned out that his plan had become
successful. After a night's delightful chatter with old friends, it was very
easy for Duo to convince Quatre to take a well-deserved vacation. They had
planned everything that night and this time, it was Trowa who took charge of
everything.
He was, of course, prepared to do anything and
everything for Quatre. The place he chose was not a problem to anyone. A nice,
little island hidden in the vast expanse of the Earth provided more than enough
privacy and more than enough distance from the dreaded idea of 'work.' To
Quatre's dismay, his three other friends were so caught up in Trowa's idea that they decided to make
arrangements that very night. After some arrangements were made with a very
sleepy secretary, very annoyed employees, and lots of really angry sisters,
they were finally able to clear Quatre's schedule for at least four days. Four
days was too short, but it was enough time for a long awaited retreat.
So, here they were now, headed to the beach with what
seems like things they would use for their dinner picnic. Behind them was the
little cottage they would be calling home for the next few days. When the sea
was close enough, Duo, Quatre, and
Wufei dropped their things o the ground and decided to run off into the cool
waters of the sea. Being the only two left, Heero and Trowa decided that they
should set up their food before they lay down on the sand beneath them. The
glorious sight proved to be a sign of a more promising vacation.
It was on the third day, though, that the promised
vacation was proved wrong. While Trowa was swimming toward the seemingly
endless vastness of the sea, Wufei was lying in the sand watching the scene
that was presented before him. Heero, Duo, and Quatre could be seen playing
catch with what seemed to be a homemade ball constructed from old socks. Heero was certainly the one who made the
farthest throws that left his two companions with no choice but to run farther
and farther to the distance. It was Heero's seventh throw that spelled
disaster. Quatre had decided to go for the catch when he suddenly felt
breathless. Halfway through, he felt his chest ache as if asking for more air.
Not wanting to exert his lungs any further, he dropped to the ground.
The last thoughts on his head before he drifted off
into unconsciousness was "Trowa was right. I *do* need to take care of myself
more. (gasp) It's so hard to breathe. I wonder why. How foolish of me. ... What
a way to go!" and after one last attempt to take in air, he whispered into the
blowing wind "I love you Trowa."