Okay, I'm well aware that I pulled a major act of idiocy and posted chapter 2 three times, but listen to my excuses! First of all, I didn't think the chapter was loading, as every time I attempted to upload it, the page told me that there was an error detected because my file wasn't the right type, which is a LIE! Grr! It was an HTML file! Okay, sorry, had to get rid of my excess computer-inspired rage there. I'm better now. Second, I had to get to my first class, and I seriously doubt my Chemistry professor would accept "Fanfiction.net was screwing up again and I had to upload my next chapter" as a satisfactory excuse for skipping class. See, my classes are small, so my teachers notice if we're gone and it counts against our grade. So anyway, I was panicking (sort of.) Third, my class was an 8 a.m. class. No one can function properly at that time in the morning. Especially not when a certain juice machine has yet to be turned on for the day, so when one presses the juice lever thingy, all one receives is slightly pinkish water. That's NOT cranberry juice! So yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. And now for another story, one that I'm sure you're much more interested in than my pitiful little adventures in college land.
*****
In Times of Peace
Part 3
*****
Driana and Quatre looked on in surprise as Isanu and Duo disappeared into the grassy hills, running at an impressive speed. Driana shook her head ruefully at her best friend's behavior. Isanu tried so hard to be nonchalant and sophisticated, but too often her temper destroyed her guise. Now she seemed more like a schoolgirl, giggling and chasing after a guy she couldn't even admit she was interested in. I'm not much better, Driana admitted to herself silently, remembering Isanu's teasing and how Quatre's gaze had heated her face so easily. He is cute, though. Just then, Quatre turned to her, and she blushed as though she was sure he could hear her thoughts.
"Will Duo be all right, do you think?" Quatre's brow furrowed in worry as he searched Driana's face for an answer. "Isanu seemed quite upset with him, and she's always had such a vicious temper."
"True, but I'm sure he'll be fine." Driana went back to work on a crown of flowers she had been making before Isanu's outburst. "He's a big boy, you know. He can take care of himself. And if he's interested in spending any amount of time with Isanu, Duo will simply have to learn either how to avoid striking her temper, or how to handle the consequences of his carelessness." Driana paused, smiling to herself softly. "It's funny. Men usually learn right away that Isanu demands a large amount of respect, and if they have any interest in her, they give her that. Duo's not like the rest of them, though." She smiled secretively at Quatre, lowering her voice slightly. "And it's really strange, but I personally think that while it drives her crazy, Isanu enjoys that."
"Really? She didn't seem too happy just now, but I don't really understand her sometimes." Quatre told Driana.
"She isn't really that complicated, you know. If you spent more time with her, you'd know that she's just as simple as anyone else." Driana explained. "She only pretends to be hard to understand. It's a woman thing."
"What do you mean by that?" Quatre asked, quirking an eyebrow curiously.
"All women hide themselves. It's natural for us, almost like breathing, you know? It's our responsibility to do that so that we can confuse you men. After all, we wouldn't really be much of an 'eternal mystery' if we just said what we meant and acted as we felt all the time, now would we?" Driana smirked slightly as she finished the ring of flowers, turning it over in her hands slowly.
"But who said you have to be mysterious?" Quatre's voice was suddenly serious. "Isn't it enough to be yourself?"
"I don't know." Driana carelessly tossed the crown aside, but Quatre caught it easily, his aqua eyes catching her deep purple orbs in a questioning gaze. "I mean, that's what guys want, isn't it? Some mysterious woman who doesn't know what she wants?"
"Who told you that?" Quatre wanted to know.
"Isanu." Driana blushed slightly, staring at her hands in embarrassment.
"I guess I can't speak for Duo, or any other guy, but I personally don't want a girl who is an enigma, or an act. I think that when you let your inner beauty shine, that's more than any man could want." Quatre opined, standing up as he gently placed the flower crown on Driana's head. "Honestly, even though I've only known you for a few hours, I feel as though you aren't trying to hide yourself from anyone." He spoke as he put the rest of the food back in the basket before lowering himself so that he could see into Driana's eyes. She was blushing terribly. What was Quatre saying? Did he think she was beautiful?
"What do you see?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. He could see her soul, she was sure. Those eyes were swimming inside of her mind, and she could feel it. It was a bit frightening, but somehow, she knew that she could trust Quatre.
"You're beautiful, but you can't see that, can you?" he spoke slowly, thoughtfully. He leaned in closer, peering at her face searchingly. "Maybe that's what makes it so true. But there's something…wrong. You do have something hidden, very deep. Something painful. It's so well covered that it makes me wonder. Can you see it?"
"H…how…did you see all that?" Driana gasped, all the blood draining from her face in shock.
"You just have to know how to look." Quatre shrugged, pausing before quirking his head at Driana. "You really don't see it, do you?" Driana shook her head miserably and Quatre's brow furrowed in thought before he spoke softly, almost to himself. "What could have hurt you so much that you couldn't bear to remember it anymore?" Driana lowered her head in shame. Why couldn't she remember? Why couldn't she just live in some semblance of normalcy? "I'm sorry," Quatre's voice interrupted her thoughts, his hand reaching out to cover her own, "I can see that it hurts you. I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, it isn't your fault. Don't apologize." Driana lifted her head, letting a forlorn smile touch her lips. "I wish I knew…what it was that I'm missing, but there's so much gone from my mind. The war, my parents' deaths, nothing. What little I do know of that time are the things that Isanu and Sukon have told me."
"Sukon?" Quatre repeated the name in question.
"My bodyguard. Also my head advisor. He's basically the brother I never had. Sukon's been with me since I was born." Driana explained. "He…tells me that I was brave during the war. He said that I saved my country. But…I just can't remember any of it. It's so frustrating!" she tossed the flowers on her head away angrily. Realizing that Quatre was still there, Driana suddenly felt a blush rise on her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I just wish I could remember."
"Maybe you're trying too hard." Quatre suggested. "If you stop chasing your past, maybe it will find you on it's own." He shrugged before continuing. "And maybe you'll be able to build some new memories. Perhaps something to tide you over?"
"You're right, Quatre." Driana smiled warmly at the kind young man. "I should just try to focus on the present. After all, this is my vacation. I'm glad I came here too. This place seems very special. It's a little silly, but I had this feeling…as soon as I came here. I feel like my life is going to change because of this place. When I sit here with you, I think that maybe it's true." Driana squeezed Quatre's hand as he blushed terribly.
After a moment, Driana released Quatre's hand and stood up, stretching slightly. "We should head back, don't you think?" she suggested. Quatre stood up as well, helping her fold up the picnic blanket.
"I don't know if we should leave just yet. Where do you think Duo's at right now?" Quatre asked worriedly.
"Oh, from the way Isanu was eyeing that boy, I'd guess somewhere around first base." Driana joked, causing Quatre to redden as much as he had before.
"You really think…they're?" Quatre didn't finish his question, and Driana burst into laughter, patting him on the back reassuringly.
"Oh, don't worry about Isanu. She's got everything under control." She told him confidently.
"I know, but she's still my sister." Quatre leaned over to pick up Driana's flower crown, still whole, from where it had landed. He looked it over before offering it to Driana shyly. "Did you want this?"
"No, I was just playing around, you know." She waved a dismissive hand. "I've made dozens of those things."
"Oh, I was just wondering." Quatre shrugged, setting it on top of the basket before he lifted it, blanket and all. "Let's go, then." He smiled broadly at her and she returned it, giggling slightly before skipping ahead of him. I'm being so foolish she thought, but it feels good.
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"Wow, this food tastes great." Duo commented over the dinner he was happily devouring. He turned to the girl seated next to him. "Did you help make it, Isanu?"
"You know I did!" Isanu growled irritably, stabbing a piece of lettuce with her fork. "You were hovering over me the whole time. I could barely get anything done."
"Hey, I was just trying to make conversation, babe. Loosen up." Duo casually draped an arm over her shoulder, and she promptly stabbed his hand with her fork. "Ow!" he jerked away in pain, rubbing his hand tenderly. "What did I do?" Duo pouted.
"Try that again and I'll use my knife." Isanu brandished the piece of cutlery with a threatening glare. Wufei let out a malicious chuckle. This crazy onna seemed to offer a lot of entertainment value, and she must have some brains as well, to not be fawning over Maxwell like most of the floozies that idiot usually went for. Quatre shifted uncomfortably in his chair and cleared his throat.
"So, ahem, what did everyone do today?" Quatre smiled brightly at the others, hoping to change the subject before dinner became more violent.
Silence answered Quatre. The only noise in the room was the scraping of forks on plates.
"Well, Duo and Isanu and Driana and I went on a picnic." Quatre volunteered. Driana, sitting beside him, held back giggles that threatened to spill over at the prevailing silence. But Quatre was not ready to give up. "Wufei, what did you do today?" Silence. "Wufei?"
"I cleaned Nataku." Wufei replied in a begrudging tone. Duo laughed, squirting juice all over his lap. Isanu raised an eyebrow and sneered at Duo in disgust, eyeing his pants with distaste.
"What?" Wufei glared at Duo.
"Oh, nothing." Duo looked intensely at his plate. "I was just wondering. Does Nataku get jealous if you pilot other mobile suits?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Wufei slammed down his fork and leaned toward Duo threateningly.
"Just forget it." Duo hurriedly shoveled food into his mouth and Isanu rolled her eyes.
"You take very good care of your Gundam, Wufei." Isanu smiled at the black-haired young man who looked back at her in surprise. "That's very admirable. Once they have something, most men lose interest in it. All they care about is the hunt for something new, you know?" Duo gave Isanu a pitiful look before glaring daggers at Wufei.
"Yes, I do." Wufei finally answered, cautious to tread lightly with Quatre's unpredictable sister. "To me, Nataku is more than a possession. It is more of a gift, a great honor."
"That's really wonderful." Isanu smiled warmly at Wufei, who was extremely confused and slightly disappointed by this turn of events. Why did the woman stop attacking Maxwell? She was much more interesting when she stood up to his disgusting behavior. Duo's face was red with anger and jealousy. He couldn't let this go on.
"What about you, Heero?" Duo suddenly turned to the quiet young man seated across from him.
"Hm?" Heero looked up as he swallowed a mouthful of food.
"What did you do today?" Duo asked, grinning mischievously. He'd have Isanu's attention back in no time now.
"Nothing." Heero muttered, looking intently at his napkin.
"Oh, don't tell me you just slept all day, Heero." Duo continued to smile. Antagonizing Heero was one of his special skills. "Come on. Did you wake up today?"
"Yeah." Heero replied quietly.
"Then what?" Duo looked at Heero with intense interest.
"Shower." Heero answered.
"Good plan, good plan." Duo nodded, "You don't wanna stink all day. So what happened after that?"
"Breakfast." Came the one word reply.
"Yep, I was there for that." Duo commented. "And after breakfast?"
"I went…somewhere." Heero replied.
"Where, exactly?" Duo leaned in, his chin resting in his hand.
"Nowhere."
"Oh, come on Heero." Duo persisted, "You had to go to some place."
Heero mumbled inaudibly under his breath.
"What was that, buddy?" Duo wanted to know.
"rlmrmspl" came the barely audible murmur.
"Where?" Duo asked again.
"Relena's!" Heero shouted. "I…I was there to check the security system."
"But Heero, I thought that there were maintenance men to do that. Why would a high level Preventer bother with maintenance work?" Duo wanted to know.
"Wow, that dinner was great, but I'm really full." Driana rose just then, sensing the tension at the table was ready to explode violently. "So, if you would all excuse me. Uh, Isanu, aren't you also done?" Driana shot her friend a pleading look.
"No, I still—Oh, wait." Isanu caught Driana's look and stood up as well. "I am done, now that I think of it. So I'll just leave you boys here by yourselves. Later."
"Wait for me!" Duo called out, shoving as much food as possible into his mouth before he dashed after them. He caught up to Driana first.
"Slow down a second." She spoke as he caught up to her.
"What is it?" he asked, more interested in talking to Isanu than in her quiet friend.
"You want to get with Isanu, right?" Driana asked. She didn't have to wait for an answer. "Well, you're doing okay. She's definitely intrigued by your approach, although I don't know how wise it is of you to continue infuriating her. May I offer a suggestion?"
"Yeah, you're her friend. What should I do?" Duo was interested now.
"Use some charm. Or at least some wit. Dropping weak lines isn't going to get you anywhere with a smart girl." Driana explained.
"I'll see what I can do." Duo nodded seriously before passing Driana. The redhead rolled her eyes hopelessly after him.
"He'll never be able to catch her." She muttered. "Not Isanu."
*****
The End (Of Part 3, That Is)