Disclaimer:
Don't own gundam wing, got it? LoL alrite…
Chapter 4
As we came down the grand staircase the ballroom hushed. Stopping halfway we were to meet by our parents. Mother was in her gown that showed she was queen and daddy wore an uncomfortable looking suit. As we started down the staircase again we were formally announced.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Heero Yuy, Queen Relena, Princess Rinoah, and Princess Lana",
Lana and I pasted on our public smiles. When we finally got to the end of the staircase our guests surrounded us. But Lana and I had a mission. Slipping past mother and daddy we headed towards the music room. Sure enough there were our honored guests.
"Uncle Zechs, Aunt Nion!" I cried jumping up and hugging them.
"Well hello their Rinoah!" Uncle Zechs said picking me up for a bear hug.
Meanwhile…
"Trista!!" yelped Lana running over to her very best friend. I turned to Aunt Nion.
"Where are Uncle Quatre, Wufei and Aunt Dorothy and Sally?"
Aunt Noin smiled and pointed towards the door were they had just entered. I ran towards my best friend Rini.
"Rinoah!" she cried. Uncle Quatre smiled.
"Rini! It's been so long since I've last seen you!" Rini and I started dancing around in the excitement.
"Good evening, Rinoah," said Wufei's son Li. I stopped dancing and ran to him giving him a big hug. He smiled and hugged me back twirling me around.
Giving him a peck on the check and grabbing his hand I said, "Li, I'm so glad you came! It's been positively boring around here,"
Just then daddy popped into the room gave a nod to his friends and turned to us.
"Girls, the press wants to take a couple of photos and the rest of your guests are waiting for you". With that he disappeared. Turning apologetically to Rini and Li, I slipped back into the crowd along with Lana. Before the press could reach us Lana leaned over and whispered in m ear.
"So what tricks you wanna play this time? Is there a secret scandal in our house or a murder in our backyard?" I scowled and again put on my public smile.
"Princess Lana is it true that your father has planned to rebuild the gundams?"
"Miss, Rinoah over here!"
"Over this way Princess Lana"
"Princess Rinoah smile!"
I really hated these stupid reporters. But if mother could deal with them so could I. And the worst part was no one seemed to notice we had switched lockets. I could tell Lana felt the same way so with faked politeness we made our way to the buffet table. Low and behold there was Uncle Duo and Aunt Trista, chowing down. Lana and Trista snuck off to a nearby table with plates of food to talk about their next scheme. Looking around for Rini I finally found her huddled against her father.
"Excuse me sir but I have other guests," I said to the pushy reporter.
"Rinoah, over here! I wanted to show you what daddy got me!" I smiled. She held out her wrist and showed of a tiny emerald bracelet. Rini was blonde like her parents and taller then me. One of her eyes was green and the other was blue. I thought it was cool but people often teased her about it. Lana's friend Trista had blue hair all the way to her ankles that her dad insisted she braid. Her violet eyes were flaming with rebellion, and every word dripped with sarcasm. After about two or three hours of mingling with the public the only guests left were our friends. The grown-ups went of to the sitting room to talk, while the rest of us sat on the staircase wondering what to do.
"I wonder were Uncle Trowa is. Didn't he say he'd come?" wondered Lana aloud. Just then there was a knock at the door. Pagan opened it and in came Uncle Trowa, Aunt Catherine; baby Kari, Cousin Josh, and…Cousin Yaten!
"Yaten!!" the whole mob of us kids raced towards her.
"Looks like we've been out shined!" laughed Aunt Catherine. Lana turned away from Yaten and smiled at Uncle Trowa.
"The grown-ups are all in the sitting room," Uncle Trowa and Aunt Catherine nodded, leaving us with Josh.
Two seconds later Uncle Zechs came running out grabbing Yaten in a big bear hug.
Yaten was Zechs and Nion's daughter. She was way older then us and after finishing college had joined the Preventers. Her silvery hair was put in an amazon's ponytail, and she wore a short black dress that showed of really, really, really long legs that she inherited from her parents. She was one of our favorite cousins but we rarely saw her.
"You said you couldn't make it!" Aunt Nion said yanking Zechs away and taking his place giving Yaten a hug.
Yaten smiled. "Here I am!" Chatting and hugging she and her parents went back to the grown-up room. Making our way back to the staircase Li turned to Lana.
"You look like you've gotten stronger!" Lana beamed.
"Yeah, and I bet I could beat you anytime, anywhere!" she was referring to kung fu.
"Oh, yeah!" Li exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Lana grinned.
With that she raced upstairs and changed into short shorts and a tank top. Then they raced over to the training room, followed by Josh and Trista.
Rini and I looked at each other and shrugged. We really weren't into the whole fighting for pride thing.
"Can we go see Luna and Libra?"
"Sure" and we raced up to their room. Mostly it was just like a big birdcage. Big plants hung from the ceiling and the floor was tiled with really beautiful mosaics. Making little chirping sounds I summoned Luna. She came down and landed on my shoulder. Rini made some chirping noises and Libra came to her. Going out on the balcony we let them of so they could fly around.
"So tell me the truth. When are you and Li going to get married because I want to be the maid of honor!"
"Rini!!!"
"Just kidding," and we started to laugh. When Luna and Libra came back we set them inside and went up to my room.
"Can you wait just a minute? I want to change." Rini nodded and I went into my closet. Slipping out of the ball gown I changed into my outfit that I had worn earlier in the day. When I came out Rini was sitting on one of the inflatable chairs, flipping through a book. I sat down on the bed and was immediately welcomed by Keero.
"Keero, get off of me you big lug!" Rini started to giggle. Just then the door opened and Lana, Li, Trista, and Josh came in.
"Hey, can we come in?"
"Why don't you go to Lana's room?" Whenever they came in my room it turned into a mess.
"Geez! Well sorry, just wanted to keep you company and all." Lana retorted and quickly left the room, Josh and Trista right behind her. Li decided to stay and sat down next to me and began petting Keero. Rini stood up and went to my cd player, turning on my Beethoven cd.