Disclaimer: They already took my sanity away! So there's nothing more to
take. Hee hee.
AN: Uh huh, I wonder where this will go. Relena is acting quite strangely! Hmmmmmmm.
In the Midst of Confusion (Chapter 2)
The morning was brilliant, radiance pouring in from the sun, melting the shadows away from my bedside. My arms and leg muscles rippled in reflex, begging me to stretch them. Before I knew it I fell out of my bed and face first into the light white colored carpeting. I grumbled, still groggy from the wine yesterday. I guess my body isn't used to a mild amount of alcohol. Frizzy hair tickled my face; I picked myself off the floor rubbing my temples to ease my pounding head.
"Duo." a feminine voice called from behind the door.
"Huh, what? Hilde?!" Surprise choking the words out of me.
"Didn't I tell you? Quatre said yesterday that I could stay for the week, I just came today with all my stuff. I wish that there was some other girls here besides Dorothy, she's coming in a few days." a sigh was apparent as she paused. "That girl is strange, she rants about war as if there still is war. I think I'll ask Quatre if it would be alright for Relena to stay, it's about time that girl took a vacation." A little light bulb in my head flickered on.
"Yeah." a sly grin curling up onto my lips. "It's about time." I opened the door, Hilde giving me a funny look; I ignored her and carried out the rest of the day wearing a grin.
I had called Relena the other night at some hotel she was staying in, it took me like an hour because her stupid secretaries was taking extra precautions.
~-*Flashback*-~
"Hey ma'am, is Relena there?" I leaned my back against the doorframe, watching Hilde swim laps under the stars and a couple dimly lit lights hanging over the pool, her body splashing up glittering waves of crystal water. I admired her grace and strength from the door, not wanting to disturb her.
"Are you inquiring about the Vice Foreign Minister Dorlain?" a squeaky voice answered after a moment of silence. "If you are, you'll have to wait, the guards are searching the area around her hotel room." I looked at the phone incredulously, an irritated look flushing my face with a mild hint of red. Before I knew it the line went dead. Impatiently, I re-punched the numbers and a different voice answered, a male voice to be exact.
"May I help you?" his tone shaky and cautious.
"Yeah, I just called a moment ago and the lady hung up on me, I want to speak with the Vice Foreign Minister Dorlain now!" I mumbled through gritted teeth.
"Um sorry," he murmured sadly. "She's busy, somebody is visiting with her, if you could hold on."
"Just give me her damn room number of which I can call her by and." I was cut off by the dial tone. I sighed, anger rising within me. I dialed one more, with all my fury I pressed some wrong numbers but I didn't notice, I probably wouldn't have cared.
"Hello?" a sweet mellifluous voice answered.
"JUST LET ME SPEAK WITH RELENA DORLAIN!" I pressed out angrily.
"This is she."
"Get Relena N.huh? Relena?"
"Yes? Is this Duo?" I turned a bright shade of red unknowably to Relena, but she could probably feel it.
"Uh huh." my mouth hanging on its hinges. "How did I get your number?"
"I don't know." her tone, matter-of-fact. "You called my cell phone number though."
"Oh, well, Q-man has invited you to stay the week with us over at his mansion, and." I was abruptly cut off.
"Oh no, I couldn't impose, certainly," she inhaled loudly. "Not." She exhaled so that no background noise could be heard besides her answer, didn't she want to see Heero?
"Duo, don't tell anybody of this call, you got me?" she asked seriously.
"I guess." The line went dead. Something was up. I called the hotel and they finally put me through.
"Hello?" Relena's soft voice firm with question.
"Hey Relena, Duo again," I replied. "I forgot to ask, why couldn't you come, I mean, I would drag you over here if I could but that'd be harsh."
"Come where?" she asked sincerely.
"I just called you on your cell."
"I don't own a cell phone, I never will because of.well I don't have one." I almost fell over in shock.
"I asked if you wanted to stay at Quatre's place for the rest of this week."
"That sounds like fun."
"Do you want to come?"
"I will make sure I do, thanks for the invitation. I have to go, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Ok, bye."
"Goodnight Duo, and take care of yourself."
"I will." I was just about to hang up when her voice call.
"Tell Hilde to stop swimming and spend some time with you watching TV and drinking coffee." the line went dead. I gawked and then gazed over at Hilde, her form gliding through the water, slicing it like melted butter. The sound of water echoed off the overhead glass panels that hovered over the pool. I called her name and water quickly consumed her as she stopped. She flipped the hair out of her face, flinging droplets of warm water in my direction. Her skin was accented by the refraction of moonlight off the glassy surface of the still liquid. She smiled and motioned for my to come closer. She swam to the wall, the smell of chlorine sticking to her skin as I neared her and crouched down. Her wet hair clumped together behind her head, eyes brightened by the bluish water.
"Relena's coming." she grinned, resting her head on her arms, legs floating up behind her, the peaceful 'swish' of water relaxing me as it lapped up onto the walls, "Come on, I'll make you some coffee." Hilde smiled brightly and took my hand. She came out, stumbling into me, water seeping into my clothes. She laughed, her body sparkled with the moisture and glowed in the faint light of the open window behind us. I smiled and laughed too, grabbing her towel and wrapping her in it.
I heard a glass shattering crash as I led her into the house. I looked behind me and gasped in disbelief. A lamp over the pool plunged into the water, electricity boiling it with hot fury and making steam rise off the surface, fogging up the glass panes above.
"Oh my God," Hilde whispered. I hugged her shaking body close and silently thanked Relena for her suggestion.
~-End of flashback-~
After that night, I had asked Quatre to turn off the power to see how the lamp had fallen. After we made sure the water wasn't, as Quatre put it, 'alive' we scooped the lamp out of the water. I examined it closely.
"Clean cut through the wires," Wufei noted as he too inspected it. I narrowed my eyes in scrutiny.
"Yeah," I added, "And the light bulb is missing." Quatre shook his head in disgust.
"Clearly, somebody had this all laid out." I rolled my eyes at Quatre's presumption.
"Duh," I chided. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes does it again, speaking of smarts, where's Heero?" I looked each pilot in the eyes, all shrugging. As if on cue another voice entered.
"I'm right here," somebody said plainly, more amusement than coldness in his voice if anything. We all turned around simultaneously, I snorted.
"Couldn't you be a tad more startling?" I exasperated. He ignored me and went to business.
"If you haven't noticed, the Relena that we just saw yesterday was different than the one we know now." I crossed my arms, this was getting interesting.
"What?" Quatre asked in disbelief.
"It was her left ear," Heero stated plainly as if we all should've noticed.
"What about it? Was it mutated of something?" I asked sarcastically.
"No," Heero spat coldly. "She had a tiny diamond stud earring in the upper fold of her left ear, barely visible, but you can see it when she turns her head," I arched an eyebrow, I never would've guessed, "The Relena on the news that we saw in the picture had no earring thus deducted from the fact her head was turned facing the right. Her left ear facing us clearly."
I thought hard, that girl I saw walking down the street before Quatre's party had earrings in the lower lobe but as I walked past, there weren't any others on her left or right ear. I rubbed my temples, the same throbbing I had felt the morning after Quatre's party coming back.
"What's wrong Duo?" Quatre asked, snapping me out of my little world. I brushed aside my thoughts and opened my mouth to say something when Hilde came out with a guest. Her friend was wearing a navy blue baseball cap covering her face, also a spicy red spaghetti strap top and a suggestive pair of khaki Capri pants.
"Hey!" Hilde called over to the group. "Relena's here!"
My jaw literally hit the floor, I could tell that the other pilots were as stunned as I was; wasn't Relena accustomed to more subtle clothing measures? 'Relena' waved to us and smiled. I waved back uncertainly; Hilde and Relena finally made their way to us.
"How's it goin' pretty gals?" for me that comment was brazen, but others took it with amusement.
"Duo." Hilde blushed "We're fine." Relena smiled and took off her hat, hair gracefully showering down from under her cap, shining in its angelic glory.
"What's up you guys?" her formal tone dropped. I heaved a big sigh and placed a hand on my pounding head, pain throbbing intensely once in a while. Relena stared at my intently and placed a hand on my cheek. I looked up, surprise washing over me. Her hand was cold and balmy, smooth as silk. I held her in my gaze, dumb-founded as to what she's was doing. A smile creeped up onto her lips, the coolness of her hand disappearing. Everybody was staring at me, I felt awkward.
"What?" I asked loudly at their apparent musings. Quatre blushed shyly and looked at the pool behind me.
"How's your headache Duo?" Relena asked me quietly. I gawked finally noticing that the terrible pain my head was causing had diminished into an airy feeling.
"It's.better," I replied, tumbling over my words with a hidden awe.
"That's good, so what do you guys want to do, I didn't come here to stand around and gape at each other." pointing her statement towards me. I glared at her mockingly, Hilde giggling at me. It reminded me that time in the United States when I.Yeah, yeah, I know I'm from the colonies but I am better suited to the U.S.
"I suggest that we don't go swimming, not after last night!" Relena nodded her head, as if she knew what I was talking about. I analyzed her face and set a grim line on my lips.
"It was horrible what happened yesterday," I looked away.
"Yeah I know, that was a close call," Relena murmured. I felt Hilde tug at the back of my shirt, I looked into her eyes.
"I didn't tell her about what happened," she hissed quickly into my ear. My eyes expanded, words disappearing from my throat. I glanced over at Heero, his Prussian blue eyes ireful. I cringed and dragged my thoughts back to Relena.
"Well." I commented while scratching my head. Relena shot a nervous glance at Hilde, then at me, then at Heero. I saw her involuntarily shudder, her eyes still somewhat drawn to Heero's.
"Relena." her eyes jumped back to mine, somewhat anxious and edgy.
"Yes Duo?" It felt like everyone was leaning in silently listening to what I had to say. "I have a prediction," I whispered. Ears strained to hear me.
"You are going to be very soaked very soon." I turned to Hilde. "You too." I winked and took Hilde by the waist, I also did the same to Relena, she gasped in realization and struggled. Quatre smirked and hoisted up their legs, Trowa, surprisingly, helped out also. So, I am carrying two screaming girls with Quatre and Trowa holding their legs still when I feel a push from behind. The girls were projected into the pool, Trowa and Quatre had let go. I stumbled, laughing hysterically the whole time, Quatre not controlling his laughter either. The girls came out, water dripping off their noses and eyelashes, clothes clinging to their bodies, a look of revenge plastered on their faces. That tickled my laughter trigger even more. I turned to see Wufei smirking, Heero calmly watching the calamity around him. Was it Wufei of Heero who pushed me? Hmmm. Probably Wufei, Heero would never take part in that, it's too much 'fun' for him. Wouldn't want to overload you with too much 'fun' in one day!
"Duo," Hilde muttered vehemently under her breath. I shot a wide puppy eyed stare at her and whimpered playfully. Hilde snorted and proceeded towards me, Relena following close behind. She glowered unprofessionally and let a smirk quirk up the corners of her mouth.
"You are so going to be shown the true meaning of justice," Relena mumbled. I shrugged nonchalantly and started to walk away. A wet hand clamped firmly on my shoulder. I kept walking, but the hand persisted, unusually strong for the owner. I looked behind me and saw Relena's hand and stern face.
"Huh?" I suddenly was flung backwards and found myself stumbling towards the pool. I regained my composure, my eyes bulging from their sockets, Relena standing a few feet away from me examining her nails. Surprise was apparent on everybody's faces, even Heero looked interested. I growled good-naturedly and walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. Without warning I flung her back. She also stumbled but back flipped into the air and to the other side of the pool. I was at a loss for words. She calmly stood there, as if nothing had happened. I watched her back some distance away from the pool and take a running start.
"No way she's gonna make that," I breathed out. What she did next made me want to fall flat on my ass (I ended there anyway); I should've sat down in the first place. She gracefully dove into the air as if diving into the pool, but she tucked in her legs and spun. She effortlessly landed in front of me, legs poised in perfection, arms in a fighting like stance.
"You shouldn't mess with me mister," she sneered playfully. Before I knew it I was on my butt confused as to how I got there.
"Nice move Lena, you're so quick!" I heard Hilde cry out happily, awe in her voice.
"Thanks," she chuckled, I felt my ears become red with heat.
"That was quite a move," Quatre approved, placing a hand over his mouth to politely hide his laugh. Trowa glared at Relena, his Emerald eyes burning with recognition.
"Do you want to know what I did?" she asked me, extending her hand to help me up. I brushed away her hand and rubbed my sore hip.
"Yeah," I muttered in defeat.
"I." she pulled Quatre to her side and displayed it in front of me. "First you." she got down on her knees, one leg extended the other bent, her hands touching the ground. While in her crouch she kicked up her leg that was on the ground and swept them quickly beneath Quatre who fell over with a shout. She landed in her original crouch but her next move fascinated me. She then took her hands and rubbed her temples briefly. She closed her eyes and when she opened them she appeared behind Quatre and caught him.
"If I had been fighting for real, I would've kneed him in the back, but I don't want to hurt him," Relena chimed. "Too badly." A laugh was heard deep within her, maybe it was her heart.
"You did all that to me?"
"Yup." I turned my gaze to Quatre who nodded.
"Oh brother!" I muttered.
It was late afternoon, the sun rising to meet the mid-center of the sky, booting out all clouds that dared to defy it. Calm had finally set over the mansion, Relena settling into her room and taking a quick nap. Hilde and I made some hot chocolate and sat on the couch watching some weird science fiction movie. Heero had disappeared, duh! What did you expect? Quatre had to go run an errand somewhere, hmm, wonder what the guy is up to.Trowa went to go visit his sister for the day, probably to bring her back with him and let her stay. Wufei was down in the basement, I think he was working out by the grunts and the loud bangs. But, whatever he was doing he was doing a good job of making a lot of noise. It almost sounded like he was talking to himself!
"WHAM!" for a second the room shook, a groan was heard, then a raging cry. Clanging again. The TV shuddered and went blank. I checked behind it and found that the plug had fallen out. Hilde snickered and watched in amusement as I struggled to get behind the TV. After just about five minutes or so, ok maybe six, I managed to slide it back in.
I grunted and went to the entrance of the kitchen where the basement door was held. I heard running up the steps and out came Relena and close behind her was Wufei, both holding fencing foils but no masks or protection. Relena was giggling and Wufei red, kind of funny if I do say so myself. She ran to the cupboard and pulled out a glass lightning fast. Wufei thrusted hastily at her with which she parried. She dropped the foil to her right hand and grinned wickedly.
"You were just fighting with my left hand," she snickered. Wufei snorted and attempted a series of attacks, which she all blocked. She moved over to the refrigerator and poured a glass of juice. With one gulp, she drank it. A bigger smile spread across her face as she set the glass down with a loud bang and sighed with satisfaction.
"It's go time!" she cried. Wufei thrusted, she parried, she attacked and he parried, she thrusted again but crouched low to the ground, he bent to give the finishing blow thinking that his quarry was right below him but he stopped when he felt a light tap on his back. He turned to see Relena tapping him on the back with her foil.
"I've won," her tone matter-of-factly. My jaw literally fell through the floor. When did Relena learn to fight this well? Wufei bowed his head and gave her a look of deep admiration.
"You are strong, I will never speak of." Wufei started.
"Wow!" I whispered, both turned and stared at me in shock.
"D.Duo, when did you get here?" Relena asked her voice wobbly.
"I saw the whole thing in the kitchen, um, weren't you taking a nap?" I asked her.
"Oh," she smiled quickly, "Yeah.I woke up and Wufei needed a fencing partner so.did I do good?" Wufei glowered at me, I gulped and stiffly turned and walked away.
"Duo? What was happening?" Hilde asked me as I entered the entertainment room again.
"Oh nothing." I replied promptly falling next to her on the over-sized and over-stuffed couch. I sighed and continued to watch TV with Hilde, silence resonating through my ears.
I was walking up to the bathroom after finishing the movie with Hilde when I saw Relena through the crack of her bedroom door, her eyes glistening in the glow of the moon. She sat on the windowsill, staring absent-mindedly at the stars.
"And the strong have fallen, she dies.as do I along with her." My brow furrowed, I guess curiosity took the best out of me this time. "I should tell them soon, but destiny has its own course to run. Damn it!" I heard her cry. Then it was silent.
"If only he had told her sooner! Damn you Yuy! I hope that you die without her love!" I gasped mentally. This was getting stranger by the moment. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. When I looked again, she was gone, leaving the window open and a curtain billowing in the wind.
"Where'd she go?" I asked aloud. I felt a shift of air behind me and found myself staring into the arctic cold eyes of Heero Yuy.
"What do you want?" I turned away from him crossing my arms over my chest.
"I want to know what she is up to," he replied colorlessly, his usual bland voice bothering me today.
"Why don't you ask her? If you just heard what I heard then you would know something is terribly wrong." I closed my eyes, waiting for him to disappear and melt back into the shadows from where he came to exist.
"I did hear, I have been observing her behavior," I arched an eyebrow.
"Spying?" I concluded.
"No," he bluntly replied. I felt his presence slowly drift away.
"Where are you going now?"
"45253 Pine Eves." My eyes opened, shock dawning on me. I spun around to face him but he was already gone, like rain in the desert. From then, the sound was nil. I couldn't really exactly see what this guy was trying to prove, it was like he was on a covert mission of some sort.
"Yuy." I heard a voice coming from the room next to Relena's. It was a hiss, scaring me out of my pants. "Don't go, you are unnecessary." I turned abruptly to find nothing.
"Duo?" Hilde's voice inquiring from behind the door.
"Yeah?" I grunted tiredly, eyes streaked red with fatigue.
"Let's go." firmness present.
"Where?"
"To follow Heero," she muttered as if I was supposed to know what she was talking about.
"Pine Eves, ah, let's go on a suicide mission," I retorted sarcastically.
"Duo!" my name drawn out like a curse. I sighed and threw my hands up into the air.
"Fine," I exalted and grabbed my jacket. I followed her retreating footsteps down the stairs into the hollow night.
AN: Okay.I think I'll have the next chapter coming out fairly soon, but I am running low on energy. I've had a busy summer! Argh! But I wanted to get this fic out cause it's worth.something to me. ^_^;; Well, comments? Hope you've enjoyed it so far! If you don't like it.I'll cry! WAH! ^_~
AN: Uh huh, I wonder where this will go. Relena is acting quite strangely! Hmmmmmmm.
In the Midst of Confusion (Chapter 2)
The morning was brilliant, radiance pouring in from the sun, melting the shadows away from my bedside. My arms and leg muscles rippled in reflex, begging me to stretch them. Before I knew it I fell out of my bed and face first into the light white colored carpeting. I grumbled, still groggy from the wine yesterday. I guess my body isn't used to a mild amount of alcohol. Frizzy hair tickled my face; I picked myself off the floor rubbing my temples to ease my pounding head.
"Duo." a feminine voice called from behind the door.
"Huh, what? Hilde?!" Surprise choking the words out of me.
"Didn't I tell you? Quatre said yesterday that I could stay for the week, I just came today with all my stuff. I wish that there was some other girls here besides Dorothy, she's coming in a few days." a sigh was apparent as she paused. "That girl is strange, she rants about war as if there still is war. I think I'll ask Quatre if it would be alright for Relena to stay, it's about time that girl took a vacation." A little light bulb in my head flickered on.
"Yeah." a sly grin curling up onto my lips. "It's about time." I opened the door, Hilde giving me a funny look; I ignored her and carried out the rest of the day wearing a grin.
I had called Relena the other night at some hotel she was staying in, it took me like an hour because her stupid secretaries was taking extra precautions.
~-*Flashback*-~
"Hey ma'am, is Relena there?" I leaned my back against the doorframe, watching Hilde swim laps under the stars and a couple dimly lit lights hanging over the pool, her body splashing up glittering waves of crystal water. I admired her grace and strength from the door, not wanting to disturb her.
"Are you inquiring about the Vice Foreign Minister Dorlain?" a squeaky voice answered after a moment of silence. "If you are, you'll have to wait, the guards are searching the area around her hotel room." I looked at the phone incredulously, an irritated look flushing my face with a mild hint of red. Before I knew it the line went dead. Impatiently, I re-punched the numbers and a different voice answered, a male voice to be exact.
"May I help you?" his tone shaky and cautious.
"Yeah, I just called a moment ago and the lady hung up on me, I want to speak with the Vice Foreign Minister Dorlain now!" I mumbled through gritted teeth.
"Um sorry," he murmured sadly. "She's busy, somebody is visiting with her, if you could hold on."
"Just give me her damn room number of which I can call her by and." I was cut off by the dial tone. I sighed, anger rising within me. I dialed one more, with all my fury I pressed some wrong numbers but I didn't notice, I probably wouldn't have cared.
"Hello?" a sweet mellifluous voice answered.
"JUST LET ME SPEAK WITH RELENA DORLAIN!" I pressed out angrily.
"This is she."
"Get Relena N.huh? Relena?"
"Yes? Is this Duo?" I turned a bright shade of red unknowably to Relena, but she could probably feel it.
"Uh huh." my mouth hanging on its hinges. "How did I get your number?"
"I don't know." her tone, matter-of-fact. "You called my cell phone number though."
"Oh, well, Q-man has invited you to stay the week with us over at his mansion, and." I was abruptly cut off.
"Oh no, I couldn't impose, certainly," she inhaled loudly. "Not." She exhaled so that no background noise could be heard besides her answer, didn't she want to see Heero?
"Duo, don't tell anybody of this call, you got me?" she asked seriously.
"I guess." The line went dead. Something was up. I called the hotel and they finally put me through.
"Hello?" Relena's soft voice firm with question.
"Hey Relena, Duo again," I replied. "I forgot to ask, why couldn't you come, I mean, I would drag you over here if I could but that'd be harsh."
"Come where?" she asked sincerely.
"I just called you on your cell."
"I don't own a cell phone, I never will because of.well I don't have one." I almost fell over in shock.
"I asked if you wanted to stay at Quatre's place for the rest of this week."
"That sounds like fun."
"Do you want to come?"
"I will make sure I do, thanks for the invitation. I have to go, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Ok, bye."
"Goodnight Duo, and take care of yourself."
"I will." I was just about to hang up when her voice call.
"Tell Hilde to stop swimming and spend some time with you watching TV and drinking coffee." the line went dead. I gawked and then gazed over at Hilde, her form gliding through the water, slicing it like melted butter. The sound of water echoed off the overhead glass panels that hovered over the pool. I called her name and water quickly consumed her as she stopped. She flipped the hair out of her face, flinging droplets of warm water in my direction. Her skin was accented by the refraction of moonlight off the glassy surface of the still liquid. She smiled and motioned for my to come closer. She swam to the wall, the smell of chlorine sticking to her skin as I neared her and crouched down. Her wet hair clumped together behind her head, eyes brightened by the bluish water.
"Relena's coming." she grinned, resting her head on her arms, legs floating up behind her, the peaceful 'swish' of water relaxing me as it lapped up onto the walls, "Come on, I'll make you some coffee." Hilde smiled brightly and took my hand. She came out, stumbling into me, water seeping into my clothes. She laughed, her body sparkled with the moisture and glowed in the faint light of the open window behind us. I smiled and laughed too, grabbing her towel and wrapping her in it.
I heard a glass shattering crash as I led her into the house. I looked behind me and gasped in disbelief. A lamp over the pool plunged into the water, electricity boiling it with hot fury and making steam rise off the surface, fogging up the glass panes above.
"Oh my God," Hilde whispered. I hugged her shaking body close and silently thanked Relena for her suggestion.
~-End of flashback-~
After that night, I had asked Quatre to turn off the power to see how the lamp had fallen. After we made sure the water wasn't, as Quatre put it, 'alive' we scooped the lamp out of the water. I examined it closely.
"Clean cut through the wires," Wufei noted as he too inspected it. I narrowed my eyes in scrutiny.
"Yeah," I added, "And the light bulb is missing." Quatre shook his head in disgust.
"Clearly, somebody had this all laid out." I rolled my eyes at Quatre's presumption.
"Duh," I chided. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes does it again, speaking of smarts, where's Heero?" I looked each pilot in the eyes, all shrugging. As if on cue another voice entered.
"I'm right here," somebody said plainly, more amusement than coldness in his voice if anything. We all turned around simultaneously, I snorted.
"Couldn't you be a tad more startling?" I exasperated. He ignored me and went to business.
"If you haven't noticed, the Relena that we just saw yesterday was different than the one we know now." I crossed my arms, this was getting interesting.
"What?" Quatre asked in disbelief.
"It was her left ear," Heero stated plainly as if we all should've noticed.
"What about it? Was it mutated of something?" I asked sarcastically.
"No," Heero spat coldly. "She had a tiny diamond stud earring in the upper fold of her left ear, barely visible, but you can see it when she turns her head," I arched an eyebrow, I never would've guessed, "The Relena on the news that we saw in the picture had no earring thus deducted from the fact her head was turned facing the right. Her left ear facing us clearly."
I thought hard, that girl I saw walking down the street before Quatre's party had earrings in the lower lobe but as I walked past, there weren't any others on her left or right ear. I rubbed my temples, the same throbbing I had felt the morning after Quatre's party coming back.
"What's wrong Duo?" Quatre asked, snapping me out of my little world. I brushed aside my thoughts and opened my mouth to say something when Hilde came out with a guest. Her friend was wearing a navy blue baseball cap covering her face, also a spicy red spaghetti strap top and a suggestive pair of khaki Capri pants.
"Hey!" Hilde called over to the group. "Relena's here!"
My jaw literally hit the floor, I could tell that the other pilots were as stunned as I was; wasn't Relena accustomed to more subtle clothing measures? 'Relena' waved to us and smiled. I waved back uncertainly; Hilde and Relena finally made their way to us.
"How's it goin' pretty gals?" for me that comment was brazen, but others took it with amusement.
"Duo." Hilde blushed "We're fine." Relena smiled and took off her hat, hair gracefully showering down from under her cap, shining in its angelic glory.
"What's up you guys?" her formal tone dropped. I heaved a big sigh and placed a hand on my pounding head, pain throbbing intensely once in a while. Relena stared at my intently and placed a hand on my cheek. I looked up, surprise washing over me. Her hand was cold and balmy, smooth as silk. I held her in my gaze, dumb-founded as to what she's was doing. A smile creeped up onto her lips, the coolness of her hand disappearing. Everybody was staring at me, I felt awkward.
"What?" I asked loudly at their apparent musings. Quatre blushed shyly and looked at the pool behind me.
"How's your headache Duo?" Relena asked me quietly. I gawked finally noticing that the terrible pain my head was causing had diminished into an airy feeling.
"It's.better," I replied, tumbling over my words with a hidden awe.
"That's good, so what do you guys want to do, I didn't come here to stand around and gape at each other." pointing her statement towards me. I glared at her mockingly, Hilde giggling at me. It reminded me that time in the United States when I.Yeah, yeah, I know I'm from the colonies but I am better suited to the U.S.
"I suggest that we don't go swimming, not after last night!" Relena nodded her head, as if she knew what I was talking about. I analyzed her face and set a grim line on my lips.
"It was horrible what happened yesterday," I looked away.
"Yeah I know, that was a close call," Relena murmured. I felt Hilde tug at the back of my shirt, I looked into her eyes.
"I didn't tell her about what happened," she hissed quickly into my ear. My eyes expanded, words disappearing from my throat. I glanced over at Heero, his Prussian blue eyes ireful. I cringed and dragged my thoughts back to Relena.
"Well." I commented while scratching my head. Relena shot a nervous glance at Hilde, then at me, then at Heero. I saw her involuntarily shudder, her eyes still somewhat drawn to Heero's.
"Relena." her eyes jumped back to mine, somewhat anxious and edgy.
"Yes Duo?" It felt like everyone was leaning in silently listening to what I had to say. "I have a prediction," I whispered. Ears strained to hear me.
"You are going to be very soaked very soon." I turned to Hilde. "You too." I winked and took Hilde by the waist, I also did the same to Relena, she gasped in realization and struggled. Quatre smirked and hoisted up their legs, Trowa, surprisingly, helped out also. So, I am carrying two screaming girls with Quatre and Trowa holding their legs still when I feel a push from behind. The girls were projected into the pool, Trowa and Quatre had let go. I stumbled, laughing hysterically the whole time, Quatre not controlling his laughter either. The girls came out, water dripping off their noses and eyelashes, clothes clinging to their bodies, a look of revenge plastered on their faces. That tickled my laughter trigger even more. I turned to see Wufei smirking, Heero calmly watching the calamity around him. Was it Wufei of Heero who pushed me? Hmmm. Probably Wufei, Heero would never take part in that, it's too much 'fun' for him. Wouldn't want to overload you with too much 'fun' in one day!
"Duo," Hilde muttered vehemently under her breath. I shot a wide puppy eyed stare at her and whimpered playfully. Hilde snorted and proceeded towards me, Relena following close behind. She glowered unprofessionally and let a smirk quirk up the corners of her mouth.
"You are so going to be shown the true meaning of justice," Relena mumbled. I shrugged nonchalantly and started to walk away. A wet hand clamped firmly on my shoulder. I kept walking, but the hand persisted, unusually strong for the owner. I looked behind me and saw Relena's hand and stern face.
"Huh?" I suddenly was flung backwards and found myself stumbling towards the pool. I regained my composure, my eyes bulging from their sockets, Relena standing a few feet away from me examining her nails. Surprise was apparent on everybody's faces, even Heero looked interested. I growled good-naturedly and walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. Without warning I flung her back. She also stumbled but back flipped into the air and to the other side of the pool. I was at a loss for words. She calmly stood there, as if nothing had happened. I watched her back some distance away from the pool and take a running start.
"No way she's gonna make that," I breathed out. What she did next made me want to fall flat on my ass (I ended there anyway); I should've sat down in the first place. She gracefully dove into the air as if diving into the pool, but she tucked in her legs and spun. She effortlessly landed in front of me, legs poised in perfection, arms in a fighting like stance.
"You shouldn't mess with me mister," she sneered playfully. Before I knew it I was on my butt confused as to how I got there.
"Nice move Lena, you're so quick!" I heard Hilde cry out happily, awe in her voice.
"Thanks," she chuckled, I felt my ears become red with heat.
"That was quite a move," Quatre approved, placing a hand over his mouth to politely hide his laugh. Trowa glared at Relena, his Emerald eyes burning with recognition.
"Do you want to know what I did?" she asked me, extending her hand to help me up. I brushed away her hand and rubbed my sore hip.
"Yeah," I muttered in defeat.
"I." she pulled Quatre to her side and displayed it in front of me. "First you." she got down on her knees, one leg extended the other bent, her hands touching the ground. While in her crouch she kicked up her leg that was on the ground and swept them quickly beneath Quatre who fell over with a shout. She landed in her original crouch but her next move fascinated me. She then took her hands and rubbed her temples briefly. She closed her eyes and when she opened them she appeared behind Quatre and caught him.
"If I had been fighting for real, I would've kneed him in the back, but I don't want to hurt him," Relena chimed. "Too badly." A laugh was heard deep within her, maybe it was her heart.
"You did all that to me?"
"Yup." I turned my gaze to Quatre who nodded.
"Oh brother!" I muttered.
It was late afternoon, the sun rising to meet the mid-center of the sky, booting out all clouds that dared to defy it. Calm had finally set over the mansion, Relena settling into her room and taking a quick nap. Hilde and I made some hot chocolate and sat on the couch watching some weird science fiction movie. Heero had disappeared, duh! What did you expect? Quatre had to go run an errand somewhere, hmm, wonder what the guy is up to.Trowa went to go visit his sister for the day, probably to bring her back with him and let her stay. Wufei was down in the basement, I think he was working out by the grunts and the loud bangs. But, whatever he was doing he was doing a good job of making a lot of noise. It almost sounded like he was talking to himself!
"WHAM!" for a second the room shook, a groan was heard, then a raging cry. Clanging again. The TV shuddered and went blank. I checked behind it and found that the plug had fallen out. Hilde snickered and watched in amusement as I struggled to get behind the TV. After just about five minutes or so, ok maybe six, I managed to slide it back in.
I grunted and went to the entrance of the kitchen where the basement door was held. I heard running up the steps and out came Relena and close behind her was Wufei, both holding fencing foils but no masks or protection. Relena was giggling and Wufei red, kind of funny if I do say so myself. She ran to the cupboard and pulled out a glass lightning fast. Wufei thrusted hastily at her with which she parried. She dropped the foil to her right hand and grinned wickedly.
"You were just fighting with my left hand," she snickered. Wufei snorted and attempted a series of attacks, which she all blocked. She moved over to the refrigerator and poured a glass of juice. With one gulp, she drank it. A bigger smile spread across her face as she set the glass down with a loud bang and sighed with satisfaction.
"It's go time!" she cried. Wufei thrusted, she parried, she attacked and he parried, she thrusted again but crouched low to the ground, he bent to give the finishing blow thinking that his quarry was right below him but he stopped when he felt a light tap on his back. He turned to see Relena tapping him on the back with her foil.
"I've won," her tone matter-of-factly. My jaw literally fell through the floor. When did Relena learn to fight this well? Wufei bowed his head and gave her a look of deep admiration.
"You are strong, I will never speak of." Wufei started.
"Wow!" I whispered, both turned and stared at me in shock.
"D.Duo, when did you get here?" Relena asked her voice wobbly.
"I saw the whole thing in the kitchen, um, weren't you taking a nap?" I asked her.
"Oh," she smiled quickly, "Yeah.I woke up and Wufei needed a fencing partner so.did I do good?" Wufei glowered at me, I gulped and stiffly turned and walked away.
"Duo? What was happening?" Hilde asked me as I entered the entertainment room again.
"Oh nothing." I replied promptly falling next to her on the over-sized and over-stuffed couch. I sighed and continued to watch TV with Hilde, silence resonating through my ears.
I was walking up to the bathroom after finishing the movie with Hilde when I saw Relena through the crack of her bedroom door, her eyes glistening in the glow of the moon. She sat on the windowsill, staring absent-mindedly at the stars.
"And the strong have fallen, she dies.as do I along with her." My brow furrowed, I guess curiosity took the best out of me this time. "I should tell them soon, but destiny has its own course to run. Damn it!" I heard her cry. Then it was silent.
"If only he had told her sooner! Damn you Yuy! I hope that you die without her love!" I gasped mentally. This was getting stranger by the moment. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. When I looked again, she was gone, leaving the window open and a curtain billowing in the wind.
"Where'd she go?" I asked aloud. I felt a shift of air behind me and found myself staring into the arctic cold eyes of Heero Yuy.
"What do you want?" I turned away from him crossing my arms over my chest.
"I want to know what she is up to," he replied colorlessly, his usual bland voice bothering me today.
"Why don't you ask her? If you just heard what I heard then you would know something is terribly wrong." I closed my eyes, waiting for him to disappear and melt back into the shadows from where he came to exist.
"I did hear, I have been observing her behavior," I arched an eyebrow.
"Spying?" I concluded.
"No," he bluntly replied. I felt his presence slowly drift away.
"Where are you going now?"
"45253 Pine Eves." My eyes opened, shock dawning on me. I spun around to face him but he was already gone, like rain in the desert. From then, the sound was nil. I couldn't really exactly see what this guy was trying to prove, it was like he was on a covert mission of some sort.
"Yuy." I heard a voice coming from the room next to Relena's. It was a hiss, scaring me out of my pants. "Don't go, you are unnecessary." I turned abruptly to find nothing.
"Duo?" Hilde's voice inquiring from behind the door.
"Yeah?" I grunted tiredly, eyes streaked red with fatigue.
"Let's go." firmness present.
"Where?"
"To follow Heero," she muttered as if I was supposed to know what she was talking about.
"Pine Eves, ah, let's go on a suicide mission," I retorted sarcastically.
"Duo!" my name drawn out like a curse. I sighed and threw my hands up into the air.
"Fine," I exalted and grabbed my jacket. I followed her retreating footsteps down the stairs into the hollow night.
AN: Okay.I think I'll have the next chapter coming out fairly soon, but I am running low on energy. I've had a busy summer! Argh! But I wanted to get this fic out cause it's worth.something to me. ^_^;; Well, comments? Hope you've enjoyed it so far! If you don't like it.I'll cry! WAH! ^_~
