Adventures In Tokyo
Disclaimer: No matter how many times I'd like to convince myself, Gundam Wing and all respective characters do not belong to me.
"Where are we staying anyway?" Hilde asked, trailing Heero and Relena from a good distance away. Duo shrugged. "Well, Relena and Heero are staying with Wufei's mom. I think Heero said her name was Utena."
"Boy, I never really thought about Wufei having family down here. All you pilots come off as such loners." Duo nodded, and continued strolling along, taking in the sights that downtown Tokyo offered. "So," Hilde prompted, prying her gaze off a TV appliances store that was playing reruns of her favorite anime in the window. "If they're staying with Utena, then where are we staying?" Duo grinned. "Don't worry, baby. I have just the place." Hilde groaned.
"That's just what I was afraid of."
Just ahead of them, Relena and Heero were walking arm in arm through the very heart of Tokyo, enjoying every minute of it. It sounded like any other city, with cars beeping and trains clacking along the rails. Only there were far less cars as there were bikes, the streets were lined with flowers and trees, blocking out the metal atrocity of the railway. Just around the corner, a giant wooden arch, carved intricately with many romaji symbols, clearly stated it was the entrance to the only park in downtown Tokyo.
"Oh look!" Relena gasped excitedly, pointing at the entrance to the park. Heero followed her gaze with a faraway look in his eyes and said, "You want to go in? The cherry trees are in bloom…" Relena nodded, eyes shining, and breathed in the heavenly aroma of sakura blossoms. "See, this vacation is exactly what we needed." she murmured as they entered the park.
"Duo!" Hilde cautioned as Shinigami kept right on walking past the park and down the street. "We're going to loose them! They went in there!" Duo whirled around to see the pink leafed cherry trees over the high stone wall that surrounded them. "Don't worry, Hilde. We'll catch up later. Right now we gotta book ourselves two rooms at the hotel."
Hilde did a double take. "Hotel?" she squealed, jumping up and giving Duo a hug. "Ooh, you're the best! And I thought you were going to make me sleep in the gutter!" Duo blinked and chuckled lamely, putting his arm behind his head. "Well, heh heh, here's the thing. You're going to laugh when you hear this. It's not exactly the best hotel around. I mean to say..ah, er. Oh dear."
Hilde looked deadly at him.
"But don't worry, Duo gives it two thumbs up."
"Duo….." Hilde warned through gritted teeth.
"Heh heh heh…funny, isn't it?" Duo said, backing away. "Why aren't you laughing?"
Heero and Relena entered the park and were immediately caught in the most breathtaking sight they had ever seen. All around them were the majestically haunting cherry trees, their rich oak boughs laden with pale pink flowers that swayed and swirled in the breeze. With every breath of wind, a few cherry blossoms, called sakura blossoms, would drift from the mighty trees and perform acrobatic feats on the back of the wind, before settling gently onto the ground. Relena sighed happily and caught a few in her hands, while others fell into Heero's hair. She giggled as he sneezed. Suddenly, someone tapped them on the shoulders. They whirled around in unison to see someone they did not recognize standing behind them. "It's about time you two arrived." The woman said. Heero and Relena exchanged glances.
"Do we know you?" Heero ventured, raising an eyebrow at the girl before them. The stranger's hair was as pink as the cotton candy colored sakura blossoms that swirled all around them. Her eyes were a deep crimson and they sparkled at some private joke that he couldn't read into. Her long hair blew straight up behind her as a particularly big breeze gusted through, and she struggled to adjust her cherry red kimono. "No," the girl answered silkily, extending her hand. "I'm Akira. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Heero merely stared at her outstretched hand, so Relena shook it for him.
The three stood looking each other over for a moment before Akira spoke. "I know you're still wondering who I am," she said sweetly, her voice taking on the quality of music. "Utena got tied up on business, although she desperately wanted to see her son's little friends," She paused to glance meaningfully at the two of them. "So, she sent me to house sit, and to take on the position of host family in her place. I hope we all get to be great friends!" she finished, smiling warmly.
Relena returned the grin, and Heero gave a little less than a nod. Akira frowned. "What's with tall, dark and handsome? Is he shy?" she asked, flashing Heero a heartbreaking smile, who in turn, blinked. Relena rolled her eyes. "He just doesn't take to strangers, or anyone else for that matter." Heero stepped on her foot as she spoke and she yelped, whacking him on the arm. Akira laughed at their little spat, her voice sounding like melodious chimes mixed with a mysterious air of something else. "Come on you two, I'll show you where the house is. And then I can take you shopping!"
"Yeah! Shopping!" Relena echoed, and Heero groaned.
"Can't we go anywhere without you dragging me to the mall?" Heero asked.
"No." both Akira and Relena replied in unison, before dissolving into more laughter at Heero's genuinely exasperated expression.
"So," Relena began, walking down the street in her beautiful new emerald green kimono with silver kanji patterns. "How do you know Utena? I don't think Wufei's ever mentioned you before. Not that he talks about anyone from his past."
Akira smiled, adjusting the circle of sakura blossoms that were expertly weaved through her hair. "Just an acquaintance," she said mysteriously, before glancing down at her pink Hello Kitty watch. "Oh my gosh, it's getting late! We'd better head back to the apartment!" Relena nodded and looked at Heero, who was smiling to himself because he had sweet talked his way out of Relena buying him some Japanese apparel of his own.
"We had better head back then," he agreed, glancing up at the fading sun. "I doubt anything happens here after dark."
His statement initiated an audible gasp from Akira. "That reminds me! Next week is the annual Light of Hope Parade! It's really beautiful, and especially romantic." She added, elbowing Heero in the ribs. "Cool, we'll be there." Relena said happily, leaning against Heero's shoulder and yawning as the sun sank into the ground and darkness began to span across the heavens. "Perfect." Akira responded, her eyes glimmering brightly despite the dreary lighting. "Perfect."
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Duo inquired, glancing from a piece of paper clutched tightly in his hands to the matching number on the door in front of him. Hilde nodded, for seemed like the umpteenth time. "Yes, Duo. This is the apartment they're staying at. See how the numbers look alike? That's because it's the same freaking address!" Duo blinked, then looked from the paper to the door again. "OK, you're the boss. Are you sure they're out though?" Hilde nodded again. "I saw that pink haired girl drive the car away with my own two eyes. Let's go already."
"Your wish is my command." Duo said bowing, then stopped seeing the evil look in Hilde's eyes. "On second thought, I retract my statement. Duo pulled a bobby pin out of his braid and stuck it in the doorknob, then began fiddling around with it. Two turns, five twists, and a curse later, the door slowly swung open, revealing the dark apartment within. Duo cautiously stepped inside. "Geez, they're already been here a week, and some of their stuff is still in suitcases." Hilde, who was following him in, issued a quick kick to the back of his leg. "I wish I could have the luxury of unpacking. But since you booked us at Hotel Hobo, I'm afraid to take my things out of the suitcase!" Duo winced at her words and at the throbbing pain on the back of his leg. "It's not that bad Hilde-" he began but she interrupted him. "Duo, I would rather sleep in a cardboard box."
The two were silent for awhile, and contented themselves by poking around the kitchenette and family room, which were quite luxurious for an apartment. "Is this where Wufei grew up?" Hilde wondered out loud, poking her head inside one of the kitchen cabinets and sneezing. "Or did he live on the colony?" Duo shrugged. "Why are we doing this again?"
"Cause it's fun."
"Oh."
Hilde stepped out into the hallway leading to the three back bedrooms and the bathroom.
"Think we should go have a look at their room?"
"Ladies first," Duo said politely, stepping backward to let Hilde go down the hall first. Hilde grinned and pushed Duo in front of her. "Oh by all means Duo, don't deny yourself the privilege." The two of them carefully made their way down the hall, examining every nook and cranny for no apparent reason at all. Then, the nightmare occurred. They heard voices. Both Hilde and Duo froze in mid-step, and listened.
"So, what do you think of Akira?" Relena's voice asked from inside the farthest room to the right. The door was shut. Heero's voice was heard next, replying, "She's all right. You two seem to be good friends." Duo looked across the hall at Hilde and mouthed 'Who's Akira?' Hilde shrugged and they tiptoed closer to the door.
"I wonder what they're doing in there," Duo whispered, putting his ear to the crack underneath the door. Hilde blinked. "Sounds like their talking." Duo put a finger to his lips and the voices started up again.
"OK Heero, pick a letter." Relena demanded.
"T." Heero said determinedly.
A brief silence followed, broken by Heero questioning, "Well?"
"Hah! Scrabble! I win again!"
"What? You always win?"
"I know."
Duo and Hilde looked at each other and tried fretfully to stifle their laughter.
"I don't think Heero's ever played Scrabble in his life." Hilde whispered to Duo, who nodded reverently. Hilde shushed him to listen to their voices again.
"OK Heero, you lost. You know the consequence."
"Yeah, yeah. What's it gonna be?"
There was a pause.
"Um, I think let's go with the pants this time."
Following this statement, Duo turned to Hilde open mouthed, managing to gasp out, "They're playing STRIP SCRABBLE!" Hilde giggled. "I didn't know there was any such thing!" Duo, trying not to burst out laughing, clutched at his side. "I think my lungs are going to burst.." he whispered, and Hilde nodded, biting her lip to prevent herself from giggling. "Let's get out of here," she whispered, starting back towards the door. "We have just uncovered enough blackmail to last for a lifetime. Duo nodded, tears of mirth threatening to leak down his face as he exited the partment. And as Hilde closed the door, she could hear Heero cry out in triumph,
"HAH! I finally won!"
Disclaimer: No matter how many times I'd like to convince myself, Gundam Wing and all respective characters do not belong to me.
"Where are we staying anyway?" Hilde asked, trailing Heero and Relena from a good distance away. Duo shrugged. "Well, Relena and Heero are staying with Wufei's mom. I think Heero said her name was Utena."
"Boy, I never really thought about Wufei having family down here. All you pilots come off as such loners." Duo nodded, and continued strolling along, taking in the sights that downtown Tokyo offered. "So," Hilde prompted, prying her gaze off a TV appliances store that was playing reruns of her favorite anime in the window. "If they're staying with Utena, then where are we staying?" Duo grinned. "Don't worry, baby. I have just the place." Hilde groaned.
"That's just what I was afraid of."
Just ahead of them, Relena and Heero were walking arm in arm through the very heart of Tokyo, enjoying every minute of it. It sounded like any other city, with cars beeping and trains clacking along the rails. Only there were far less cars as there were bikes, the streets were lined with flowers and trees, blocking out the metal atrocity of the railway. Just around the corner, a giant wooden arch, carved intricately with many romaji symbols, clearly stated it was the entrance to the only park in downtown Tokyo.
"Oh look!" Relena gasped excitedly, pointing at the entrance to the park. Heero followed her gaze with a faraway look in his eyes and said, "You want to go in? The cherry trees are in bloom…" Relena nodded, eyes shining, and breathed in the heavenly aroma of sakura blossoms. "See, this vacation is exactly what we needed." she murmured as they entered the park.
"Duo!" Hilde cautioned as Shinigami kept right on walking past the park and down the street. "We're going to loose them! They went in there!" Duo whirled around to see the pink leafed cherry trees over the high stone wall that surrounded them. "Don't worry, Hilde. We'll catch up later. Right now we gotta book ourselves two rooms at the hotel."
Hilde did a double take. "Hotel?" she squealed, jumping up and giving Duo a hug. "Ooh, you're the best! And I thought you were going to make me sleep in the gutter!" Duo blinked and chuckled lamely, putting his arm behind his head. "Well, heh heh, here's the thing. You're going to laugh when you hear this. It's not exactly the best hotel around. I mean to say..ah, er. Oh dear."
Hilde looked deadly at him.
"But don't worry, Duo gives it two thumbs up."
"Duo….." Hilde warned through gritted teeth.
"Heh heh heh…funny, isn't it?" Duo said, backing away. "Why aren't you laughing?"
Heero and Relena entered the park and were immediately caught in the most breathtaking sight they had ever seen. All around them were the majestically haunting cherry trees, their rich oak boughs laden with pale pink flowers that swayed and swirled in the breeze. With every breath of wind, a few cherry blossoms, called sakura blossoms, would drift from the mighty trees and perform acrobatic feats on the back of the wind, before settling gently onto the ground. Relena sighed happily and caught a few in her hands, while others fell into Heero's hair. She giggled as he sneezed. Suddenly, someone tapped them on the shoulders. They whirled around in unison to see someone they did not recognize standing behind them. "It's about time you two arrived." The woman said. Heero and Relena exchanged glances.
"Do we know you?" Heero ventured, raising an eyebrow at the girl before them. The stranger's hair was as pink as the cotton candy colored sakura blossoms that swirled all around them. Her eyes were a deep crimson and they sparkled at some private joke that he couldn't read into. Her long hair blew straight up behind her as a particularly big breeze gusted through, and she struggled to adjust her cherry red kimono. "No," the girl answered silkily, extending her hand. "I'm Akira. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Heero merely stared at her outstretched hand, so Relena shook it for him.
The three stood looking each other over for a moment before Akira spoke. "I know you're still wondering who I am," she said sweetly, her voice taking on the quality of music. "Utena got tied up on business, although she desperately wanted to see her son's little friends," She paused to glance meaningfully at the two of them. "So, she sent me to house sit, and to take on the position of host family in her place. I hope we all get to be great friends!" she finished, smiling warmly.
Relena returned the grin, and Heero gave a little less than a nod. Akira frowned. "What's with tall, dark and handsome? Is he shy?" she asked, flashing Heero a heartbreaking smile, who in turn, blinked. Relena rolled her eyes. "He just doesn't take to strangers, or anyone else for that matter." Heero stepped on her foot as she spoke and she yelped, whacking him on the arm. Akira laughed at their little spat, her voice sounding like melodious chimes mixed with a mysterious air of something else. "Come on you two, I'll show you where the house is. And then I can take you shopping!"
"Yeah! Shopping!" Relena echoed, and Heero groaned.
"Can't we go anywhere without you dragging me to the mall?" Heero asked.
"No." both Akira and Relena replied in unison, before dissolving into more laughter at Heero's genuinely exasperated expression.
"So," Relena began, walking down the street in her beautiful new emerald green kimono with silver kanji patterns. "How do you know Utena? I don't think Wufei's ever mentioned you before. Not that he talks about anyone from his past."
Akira smiled, adjusting the circle of sakura blossoms that were expertly weaved through her hair. "Just an acquaintance," she said mysteriously, before glancing down at her pink Hello Kitty watch. "Oh my gosh, it's getting late! We'd better head back to the apartment!" Relena nodded and looked at Heero, who was smiling to himself because he had sweet talked his way out of Relena buying him some Japanese apparel of his own.
"We had better head back then," he agreed, glancing up at the fading sun. "I doubt anything happens here after dark."
His statement initiated an audible gasp from Akira. "That reminds me! Next week is the annual Light of Hope Parade! It's really beautiful, and especially romantic." She added, elbowing Heero in the ribs. "Cool, we'll be there." Relena said happily, leaning against Heero's shoulder and yawning as the sun sank into the ground and darkness began to span across the heavens. "Perfect." Akira responded, her eyes glimmering brightly despite the dreary lighting. "Perfect."
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Duo inquired, glancing from a piece of paper clutched tightly in his hands to the matching number on the door in front of him. Hilde nodded, for seemed like the umpteenth time. "Yes, Duo. This is the apartment they're staying at. See how the numbers look alike? That's because it's the same freaking address!" Duo blinked, then looked from the paper to the door again. "OK, you're the boss. Are you sure they're out though?" Hilde nodded again. "I saw that pink haired girl drive the car away with my own two eyes. Let's go already."
"Your wish is my command." Duo said bowing, then stopped seeing the evil look in Hilde's eyes. "On second thought, I retract my statement. Duo pulled a bobby pin out of his braid and stuck it in the doorknob, then began fiddling around with it. Two turns, five twists, and a curse later, the door slowly swung open, revealing the dark apartment within. Duo cautiously stepped inside. "Geez, they're already been here a week, and some of their stuff is still in suitcases." Hilde, who was following him in, issued a quick kick to the back of his leg. "I wish I could have the luxury of unpacking. But since you booked us at Hotel Hobo, I'm afraid to take my things out of the suitcase!" Duo winced at her words and at the throbbing pain on the back of his leg. "It's not that bad Hilde-" he began but she interrupted him. "Duo, I would rather sleep in a cardboard box."
The two were silent for awhile, and contented themselves by poking around the kitchenette and family room, which were quite luxurious for an apartment. "Is this where Wufei grew up?" Hilde wondered out loud, poking her head inside one of the kitchen cabinets and sneezing. "Or did he live on the colony?" Duo shrugged. "Why are we doing this again?"
"Cause it's fun."
"Oh."
Hilde stepped out into the hallway leading to the three back bedrooms and the bathroom.
"Think we should go have a look at their room?"
"Ladies first," Duo said politely, stepping backward to let Hilde go down the hall first. Hilde grinned and pushed Duo in front of her. "Oh by all means Duo, don't deny yourself the privilege." The two of them carefully made their way down the hall, examining every nook and cranny for no apparent reason at all. Then, the nightmare occurred. They heard voices. Both Hilde and Duo froze in mid-step, and listened.
"So, what do you think of Akira?" Relena's voice asked from inside the farthest room to the right. The door was shut. Heero's voice was heard next, replying, "She's all right. You two seem to be good friends." Duo looked across the hall at Hilde and mouthed 'Who's Akira?' Hilde shrugged and they tiptoed closer to the door.
"I wonder what they're doing in there," Duo whispered, putting his ear to the crack underneath the door. Hilde blinked. "Sounds like their talking." Duo put a finger to his lips and the voices started up again.
"OK Heero, pick a letter." Relena demanded.
"T." Heero said determinedly.
A brief silence followed, broken by Heero questioning, "Well?"
"Hah! Scrabble! I win again!"
"What? You always win?"
"I know."
Duo and Hilde looked at each other and tried fretfully to stifle their laughter.
"I don't think Heero's ever played Scrabble in his life." Hilde whispered to Duo, who nodded reverently. Hilde shushed him to listen to their voices again.
"OK Heero, you lost. You know the consequence."
"Yeah, yeah. What's it gonna be?"
There was a pause.
"Um, I think let's go with the pants this time."
Following this statement, Duo turned to Hilde open mouthed, managing to gasp out, "They're playing STRIP SCRABBLE!" Hilde giggled. "I didn't know there was any such thing!" Duo, trying not to burst out laughing, clutched at his side. "I think my lungs are going to burst.." he whispered, and Hilde nodded, biting her lip to prevent herself from giggling. "Let's get out of here," she whispered, starting back towards the door. "We have just uncovered enough blackmail to last for a lifetime. Duo nodded, tears of mirth threatening to leak down his face as he exited the partment. And as Hilde closed the door, she could hear Heero cry out in triumph,
"HAH! I finally won!"