Chapter 16: Remembering the Past
Hi! Here's that new chapter!! So let's see how everyone is going to take being able to go home! Will they even want to? Oh, and just letting you know, the guys who had girlfriends at the end of Endless Waltz, well, those are the girlfriends they have now. Wufei/Sally, Duo/Hilde, Heero/Relena, and Trowa/Katherine. Quatre has those guys who work for him, but they're just friends. And, of course, Zechs had Noin. This will make a bit more sense once you read the chapter. (I only wrote this little reminder to update everyone who hasn't seen Endless Waltz, which they really should see.) So, that being said, on with the chapter!!!
Duo's P.O.V.
Duo had been avoiding Venus ever since everyone got out of the lab. Zechs still hadn't woken up, so that issue was postponed for a while. Duo sat down on the steps and put his hands on his forehead. (What was I thinking, playing around with Venus? I have a girlfriend!!! What was I doing?) A swish of blonde hair in the corner of his eye told him Venus was watching him. (How can I tell her? She'll think I'm the pits.Cheating on my girlfriend, even though we're in different time zones, well, different time periods. Geez, what was I thinking? What would Hilde say if she found out how I was acting?) He shook his head again and marched slowly upstairs to his room, satisfied to see that Venus didn't follow him.
(And after all we've been through together.) Duo ran through his memory, trying to find one time with Hilde where he felt as happy as he felt that day he and Venus played Target. He dropped his hands and flopped down on the bed.
A cruel, sarcastic little voice played in the back of his head. (Yeah that's right, Duo. You don't feel anything for Venus; she's just a friend. Is that what you will tell yourself when you remember that game and you start wishing that you felt that happy when you're around Hilde? Hmmm? Is that what you will tell yourself when you are holding Hilde and wishing for Venus?)
"Stop it." Duo growled at himself as he rolled over on his back. "I do love Hilde, she has always made me happy. She understands what I went through."
But the nasty little voice wouldn't give up. (Don't forget, Duo. Remember those powers of hers. Venus has probably been through worse stuff than you.)
Duo clutched his hands to his face again. "I can't do this."
Mercury P.O.V.
Mercury stood in the doorway of the library, looking at Quatre. He sat, half sprawled, on one of the bigger chairs. She walked in quietly and sat beside him. Quatre sat up and looked at the floor. There was a long moment of silence.
Mercury finally spoke. "So, you'll be going home. You, um, should be happy."
Quatre offered a weak smile. "I am happy. I'll get to see everyone again."
"Do you have a girlfriend to go back to?" Mercury asked quietly.
"No!" He said with such force that Mercury looked at him. "Um, no." He said in a quieter tone. "It's strange."
"What is?"
"I came here and then I couldn't wait to get home, but now that I have the chance to go home, I almost don't want to go."
Mercury chuckled, almost jokingly. "It's the city. Crystal Tokyo does that to you."
Quatre looked into Mercury's sky blue eyes. Mercury felt herself blushing again. "It's not the city that makes me want to stay."
Mercury leaned over on his shoulder and closer her eyes. "I wish you would.I wish you could stay." Quatre touched her arm, but said nothing.
Trowa's P.O.V.
"It will be so odd, once I get home; I have gotten so used to calling you Laytha, I will be calling Katherine that."
Laytha stood up out of her backbend. "You won't forget me, will you?" When Trowa didn't answer, she looked away.
A dozen responses ran through Trowa's head. (I couldn't forget you, not even if I tried. Not in a million years. How could I possibly forget.) He shook his head. "Never."
Laytha looked at him. "Never?"
Trowa felt himself smiling. "Ever."
Mars P.O.V.
"So you'll be going home then. You probably have someone there waiting for you. She'll be happy you're home." Mars said to Wufei's back as he stood up from another bout of push-ups.
He turned around. "Sally's not so much waiting for me. But I suppose she would be happy I came back." Mars could see his suppressed smile.
Mars hugged herself. "Is she your girlfriend?" Wufei didn't answer. "I um, I should be going. Jupiter may need help with dinner." She walked towards the door, hoping he would call her back or say something. When he didn't, she bit her lip and walked out.
"It's not even lunchtime yet." She heard him say to himself after the doors had closed. Mars leaned against them and lowered her head.
Heero's P.O.V.
Once again, Heero found himself on the receiving end of Jupiter's thrusts and kicks. For the moment, he stayed on defense. Normally, Jupiter would have poked fun at him doing nothing but dodging and blocking, but today, she said nothing. Suddenly angry at her for not saying anything, Heero opened up and went on the offensive. (Why doesn't she say anything? Does she want me to go home?) His own question surprised even him and Jupiter seized his surprise and took him down. As always, Heero took her down with him.
"You didn't say anything." He said. He almost smiled. The fight was so short this time; he wasn't out of breath as much.
"It didn't seem the right time to be making fun of you. You'll be going home as soon as that Zechs guy wakes up."
"That could be months, even years from now." Heero frowned. (Am I making excuses now? What am I doing? I should be happy I am going back. I could protect Relena then.) Heero closed his eyes. (Is that what I want again? To go back and protect her?) Heero could have sighed. It did feel somewhat good to feel as though he didn't have to protect Jupiter. His eyes snapped open. (Are you putting Jupiter in Relena's place?) Staring at the ceiling, he stopped another sigh. (What is happening?)
Pluto's P.O.V.
Pluto once again found herself staring at the man lying as though dead on the table. She shook her head. (He's not dead and you shouldn't be getting attached.) Zechs stirred again. It was the third time this morning since the examination he had moved as though he were going to wake up any second. "Noin." He muttered again. He had also said that more than a few times this morning. Pluto frowned and smoothed his hair. Sighing, she checked his bandage. It was secure and tight.
"Pluto?" She turned around. Neptune was at the door. "Lunch." She smiled softly and left.
Pluto sighed again and put on her wristwatch. Placing the small, blinking device over Zechs's heart, she smiled as the thing stopped blinking. (This should tell me if his status changes while I'm gone.) She told herself as she walked down the hall, boots clicking against the marble floors.
Five minutes later everyone was sitting at the table, eating a silent lunch. Even Venus and Duo, who were normally chatting away, were silent and distant. Pluto looked up and down the table. Indeed everyone looked solemn and grim.
Another ten minutes later, while everyone was still silent, Pluto's watched beeped twice and startled half the table. Pluto looked at it for a moment, and realized what it meant. "He's awake." She whispered. The whole group was down the hall and standing in the doorway of the office in ten seconds flat. Zechs was indeed awake and trying to sit up, grasping at the small device placed on his chest. Pluto helped him up and removed the small piece.
"Where am I?" He forced out.
"My office. You've been unconscious for at least four hours. Possibly more; we found you outside the palace."
"Palace? Is Noin here?"
Pluto looked over at the boys pointedly. Quatre stepped forward. "No, she's not. Just you."
Zechs looked wearily up and focused on Quatre. "I know you. Yes you're one of them."
"He's not the only one, Zechs." Heero stepped out from behind Quatre.
Pluto stepped back from Zechs. He had a faint distaste for Heero, and was unconsciously, (or consciously) she thought, drawing power to him. Pluto poked Zechs. "Stop that." She stepped in front of Heero and cut him off from Zechs's line of sight. "Now, you need to rest. You were badly hurt by something, and you still have not completely recovered." Zechs frowned at her, but complied, and laid back down. Pluto nodded at him and turned around. "Now all of you go." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Just so you know, you all can't leave until he's better, so leave him alone." Heero looked defiantly at her, glanced for a moment at Zechs, and left, followed one by one by the other boys, and then by the girls. Saturn stayed a moment.
Quickly dodging behind Pluto, Saturn appeared at Zechs's bedside. She touched his arm, she said, "Get better, okay. You aren't meant to die yet."
Zechs looked at the small girl. And smiled, slightly. Saturn smiled back and left the room, with the glare of Pluto upon her. Once she was in the hall, Pluto locked the door. "Enough of that."
"Nice girl." Zechs said form behind her. "If a bit depressing."
"She is the Goddess of Death, what do you expect?" Pluto said absently. Her head snapped up as she realized what she had said. "I mean." Pluto searched for an explanation.
After a moment of silence, Zechs spoke up. "What did you mean?"
Pluto turned to him. "I will tell you when you are better. Now get some sleep. Everyone is counting on you to get better."
Zechs watched her quickly replace all the equipment she had left out earlier. He then closed his eyes and let sleep take hold of him.
So people, what do you think? This chapter was a little depressing, I know, but this is a depressing time! Anyway, R&R. Let me know what you think. See ya!
Hi! Here's that new chapter!! So let's see how everyone is going to take being able to go home! Will they even want to? Oh, and just letting you know, the guys who had girlfriends at the end of Endless Waltz, well, those are the girlfriends they have now. Wufei/Sally, Duo/Hilde, Heero/Relena, and Trowa/Katherine. Quatre has those guys who work for him, but they're just friends. And, of course, Zechs had Noin. This will make a bit more sense once you read the chapter. (I only wrote this little reminder to update everyone who hasn't seen Endless Waltz, which they really should see.) So, that being said, on with the chapter!!!
Duo's P.O.V.
Duo had been avoiding Venus ever since everyone got out of the lab. Zechs still hadn't woken up, so that issue was postponed for a while. Duo sat down on the steps and put his hands on his forehead. (What was I thinking, playing around with Venus? I have a girlfriend!!! What was I doing?) A swish of blonde hair in the corner of his eye told him Venus was watching him. (How can I tell her? She'll think I'm the pits.Cheating on my girlfriend, even though we're in different time zones, well, different time periods. Geez, what was I thinking? What would Hilde say if she found out how I was acting?) He shook his head again and marched slowly upstairs to his room, satisfied to see that Venus didn't follow him.
(And after all we've been through together.) Duo ran through his memory, trying to find one time with Hilde where he felt as happy as he felt that day he and Venus played Target. He dropped his hands and flopped down on the bed.
A cruel, sarcastic little voice played in the back of his head. (Yeah that's right, Duo. You don't feel anything for Venus; she's just a friend. Is that what you will tell yourself when you remember that game and you start wishing that you felt that happy when you're around Hilde? Hmmm? Is that what you will tell yourself when you are holding Hilde and wishing for Venus?)
"Stop it." Duo growled at himself as he rolled over on his back. "I do love Hilde, she has always made me happy. She understands what I went through."
But the nasty little voice wouldn't give up. (Don't forget, Duo. Remember those powers of hers. Venus has probably been through worse stuff than you.)
Duo clutched his hands to his face again. "I can't do this."
Mercury P.O.V.
Mercury stood in the doorway of the library, looking at Quatre. He sat, half sprawled, on one of the bigger chairs. She walked in quietly and sat beside him. Quatre sat up and looked at the floor. There was a long moment of silence.
Mercury finally spoke. "So, you'll be going home. You, um, should be happy."
Quatre offered a weak smile. "I am happy. I'll get to see everyone again."
"Do you have a girlfriend to go back to?" Mercury asked quietly.
"No!" He said with such force that Mercury looked at him. "Um, no." He said in a quieter tone. "It's strange."
"What is?"
"I came here and then I couldn't wait to get home, but now that I have the chance to go home, I almost don't want to go."
Mercury chuckled, almost jokingly. "It's the city. Crystal Tokyo does that to you."
Quatre looked into Mercury's sky blue eyes. Mercury felt herself blushing again. "It's not the city that makes me want to stay."
Mercury leaned over on his shoulder and closer her eyes. "I wish you would.I wish you could stay." Quatre touched her arm, but said nothing.
Trowa's P.O.V.
"It will be so odd, once I get home; I have gotten so used to calling you Laytha, I will be calling Katherine that."
Laytha stood up out of her backbend. "You won't forget me, will you?" When Trowa didn't answer, she looked away.
A dozen responses ran through Trowa's head. (I couldn't forget you, not even if I tried. Not in a million years. How could I possibly forget.) He shook his head. "Never."
Laytha looked at him. "Never?"
Trowa felt himself smiling. "Ever."
Mars P.O.V.
"So you'll be going home then. You probably have someone there waiting for you. She'll be happy you're home." Mars said to Wufei's back as he stood up from another bout of push-ups.
He turned around. "Sally's not so much waiting for me. But I suppose she would be happy I came back." Mars could see his suppressed smile.
Mars hugged herself. "Is she your girlfriend?" Wufei didn't answer. "I um, I should be going. Jupiter may need help with dinner." She walked towards the door, hoping he would call her back or say something. When he didn't, she bit her lip and walked out.
"It's not even lunchtime yet." She heard him say to himself after the doors had closed. Mars leaned against them and lowered her head.
Heero's P.O.V.
Once again, Heero found himself on the receiving end of Jupiter's thrusts and kicks. For the moment, he stayed on defense. Normally, Jupiter would have poked fun at him doing nothing but dodging and blocking, but today, she said nothing. Suddenly angry at her for not saying anything, Heero opened up and went on the offensive. (Why doesn't she say anything? Does she want me to go home?) His own question surprised even him and Jupiter seized his surprise and took him down. As always, Heero took her down with him.
"You didn't say anything." He said. He almost smiled. The fight was so short this time; he wasn't out of breath as much.
"It didn't seem the right time to be making fun of you. You'll be going home as soon as that Zechs guy wakes up."
"That could be months, even years from now." Heero frowned. (Am I making excuses now? What am I doing? I should be happy I am going back. I could protect Relena then.) Heero closed his eyes. (Is that what I want again? To go back and protect her?) Heero could have sighed. It did feel somewhat good to feel as though he didn't have to protect Jupiter. His eyes snapped open. (Are you putting Jupiter in Relena's place?) Staring at the ceiling, he stopped another sigh. (What is happening?)
Pluto's P.O.V.
Pluto once again found herself staring at the man lying as though dead on the table. She shook her head. (He's not dead and you shouldn't be getting attached.) Zechs stirred again. It was the third time this morning since the examination he had moved as though he were going to wake up any second. "Noin." He muttered again. He had also said that more than a few times this morning. Pluto frowned and smoothed his hair. Sighing, she checked his bandage. It was secure and tight.
"Pluto?" She turned around. Neptune was at the door. "Lunch." She smiled softly and left.
Pluto sighed again and put on her wristwatch. Placing the small, blinking device over Zechs's heart, she smiled as the thing stopped blinking. (This should tell me if his status changes while I'm gone.) She told herself as she walked down the hall, boots clicking against the marble floors.
Five minutes later everyone was sitting at the table, eating a silent lunch. Even Venus and Duo, who were normally chatting away, were silent and distant. Pluto looked up and down the table. Indeed everyone looked solemn and grim.
Another ten minutes later, while everyone was still silent, Pluto's watched beeped twice and startled half the table. Pluto looked at it for a moment, and realized what it meant. "He's awake." She whispered. The whole group was down the hall and standing in the doorway of the office in ten seconds flat. Zechs was indeed awake and trying to sit up, grasping at the small device placed on his chest. Pluto helped him up and removed the small piece.
"Where am I?" He forced out.
"My office. You've been unconscious for at least four hours. Possibly more; we found you outside the palace."
"Palace? Is Noin here?"
Pluto looked over at the boys pointedly. Quatre stepped forward. "No, she's not. Just you."
Zechs looked wearily up and focused on Quatre. "I know you. Yes you're one of them."
"He's not the only one, Zechs." Heero stepped out from behind Quatre.
Pluto stepped back from Zechs. He had a faint distaste for Heero, and was unconsciously, (or consciously) she thought, drawing power to him. Pluto poked Zechs. "Stop that." She stepped in front of Heero and cut him off from Zechs's line of sight. "Now, you need to rest. You were badly hurt by something, and you still have not completely recovered." Zechs frowned at her, but complied, and laid back down. Pluto nodded at him and turned around. "Now all of you go." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Just so you know, you all can't leave until he's better, so leave him alone." Heero looked defiantly at her, glanced for a moment at Zechs, and left, followed one by one by the other boys, and then by the girls. Saturn stayed a moment.
Quickly dodging behind Pluto, Saturn appeared at Zechs's bedside. She touched his arm, she said, "Get better, okay. You aren't meant to die yet."
Zechs looked at the small girl. And smiled, slightly. Saturn smiled back and left the room, with the glare of Pluto upon her. Once she was in the hall, Pluto locked the door. "Enough of that."
"Nice girl." Zechs said form behind her. "If a bit depressing."
"She is the Goddess of Death, what do you expect?" Pluto said absently. Her head snapped up as she realized what she had said. "I mean." Pluto searched for an explanation.
After a moment of silence, Zechs spoke up. "What did you mean?"
Pluto turned to him. "I will tell you when you are better. Now get some sleep. Everyone is counting on you to get better."
Zechs watched her quickly replace all the equipment she had left out earlier. He then closed his eyes and let sleep take hold of him.
So people, what do you think? This chapter was a little depressing, I know, but this is a depressing time! Anyway, R&R. Let me know what you think. See ya!