_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Chapter 9: Field Trip _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Duo?"
Hmm, I thought I heard my voice, but I was way too tired to answer. I simply tossed a bit in my sleep, sending the blankets off the couch and to the floor. Yes, I was still sleeping on the couch, don't want to rush things, you know. Heero even offered to sleep on the couch so that I could sleep in his bed, but I declined. The couch was actually kind of comfy, kind of like Christmas morning comfy. Images of candy canes, candles, and tall evergreens floated through my head until that great voice brought me back into my senses.
"Duo?"
Ok, I was sure someone was calling my name. And with such a beautiful, deep voice, it could only be one person, Heero.
I started to roll over so that I could get into a comfortable position to stand up from, but I remembered what happened the first morning I came here and wisely stopped to open my eyes first. Heero's face was closer than expected.
He kissed me on my forehead and told me to get up. I grumbled something about waking up too early. For goodness sakes it was still dark outside and my hot, adorable boyfriend was in the kitchen, wide awake and cooking. That was definitely crossing the sanity line in my book, but you know what, I love him anyway.
It took a while to get up, brush my hair, dress, and all that, but once I was done it took me no time at all to realize what day it was. I bolted into the kitchen, catching Heero off guard and practically knocking him to the floor as I kissed him. He didn't mind one bit.
"Do you know what day it is, Hee-chan?"
"No, why?" He smirked.
"It's field trip day!"
"So?" he asked puzzlingly.
"So," I mimicked as a played with his shirt collar, "we get to hang around all day doing nothing but talking to our friends."
"Doesn't everybody do that anyway?"
I looked at him and made a face. I hated that he was always right like that. Field trips were still fun; and I was going to make Heero Yuy have fun. It was a challenge, but a challenge I was willing to accept.
"Yeah, Hee-chan, I suppose you're right, but field trips are much more fun than regular school." I walked over to the table, "But it wouldn't hurt you to have a little fun every once and a while."
"I have fun." Heero said with confidence as he set the table.
"Oh really? What do you have fun doing?"
"Being with you,"
He tilted his head down to kiss me. I melted once again, and returned the kiss in its entirety. It was an amazing feeling; Heero was such a great guy. How is it that I deserved him, I wondered. However, I didn't have to answer that question as the kiss deepened and I realized that Heero was just as in love with me as I was with him.
It's cruel how fate likes to tease and twist things like love. I had felt so much pain from being in love with Heero, but you know what, I'm not complaining. It was all worth it.
We pulled away, gasping for breath, but smiling. And it was then that I smelled it. The fresh, and oh so wonderful aroma of grease floated into my nose, and I looked over at the stove where there was some bacon frying, along with some French toast swimming in butter. Either Heero had finally come around to the evils of healthy food (which was highly unlikely) or he was doing this just for me. That was so sweet!
"Hee-chan?"
"Hn."
"Did you do all this just for me?" I motioned to the food he was attending to. He kind of smiled as he put the greasy food on a plate and placed it on a seat at the table in front of me. It really looked great. He went through all the trouble of going to the store and buying this food all for me, and I caught him as he was turning around to get his whole-wheat toast that had just popped and thanked him with a quick, chaste kiss before diving into the food he had prepared.
"Don't eat so fast," Heero advised as I poured the last of the maple syrup out of the jar and onto the French toast, devouring it with a single bite, "you'll make yourself sick."
I stopped eating for a minute, first annoyed, but then I looked into his eyes and saw the emotion that was reserved only for me. I returned it with the same look of pure loving and admiration. I only could hope that I was as important to him as he was to me. Of course that was impossible, I knew, because I loved him more than anything. I hoped he knew that.
I smiled, not mockingly, but sweetly across the table as if to say 'I love you' and his expression seemed to answer, 'I know'.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Wufei!" I called out the boy who I know heard me, but simply refused to answer. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why the guy hated me so much, well until I remembered looking up the word 'cynical'.
That's right, I get it, now! Wu-man didn't trust me because he didn't trust anyone! This made me feel a whole lot better, I think..
I came out from behind him, and he growled at my presence, refusing to look at me straight in the eye, and pretending I didn't exist. He began walking faster.
"Come on Wu-man? Not still sore about yesterday, I hope."
*growl*
"Well, I'll see you on the bus, then."
"..?"
"We're on the same bus," He stared at me blankly. "For the field trip, remember?"
I received a second growl as he picked up the pace, but he wasn't getting away that easily.
"The bus assignments are posted in the office. Trowa and Heero are on the other bus, so it's just you, me, and Q." He narrowed his eyes at me, as if searching for the truth. Well, I could have told him right then that it was the truth, but I would have spoiled his moment of cynicism. I wasn't about to let that happen. I was having too much fun with Wu-man. He wants to be act all irate and disagreeable so that everyone will leave him alone to do his own thing, but no one likes to be alone. So no matter how hard he may have tried to hide it, I know he enjoyed these little conversations of ours.
"I guess I'll see you there then." Wufei mumbled as he disappeared through the crowd of students up ahead who were heading for the busses.
Wow! Did I actually get him to say something other than 'injustice'? I think he may be warming up to me, well, maybe. He'd never warmed up to anyone, from what I'd heard. I'd already found out for myself Trowa, Quatre, and Heero just let him sit with them because he was in the band, and he was only in the band because he was an awesome guitar player. He didn't have any true friends. I then realized that Wufei didn't insult me, at least, and that was quite an accomplishment. I was determined that my mission wasn't over until I found Wu-man a friend, but of course that would have to wait, because right now, I was going on a field trip, and Shinigami would have his way this time around.
I flashed a mischievous smile off into nowhere, and waved as I saw Q running up to join me in line for our designated bus.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Okay, settle down, now!" A lady with glasses was standing at the head of the bus trying to get everyone to be quiet. I recognized her as my Biology teacher instantly. That would make sense, considering this was a Biology field trip, you know, because we're studying taxonomy.
What else would a trip to the zoo have to do with school?
I was sitting next to Quatre, and Wufei was in the seat across from us, looking out the window in a kind of lonely trance.
"Guess what?" I swiveled around to face the Arab, and my braid turned sharply.
"What?" he smiled back at me.
"Chicken butt!" I collapsed into rolls of laughter. You have no idea how long I was waiting for somebody to fall for that joke.
When I came up from laughing, I realized that everyone on the entire bus was staring at me. This was including the teacher, who gave me a patented 'disproving glare' that all teachers seemed to know. But why do all of them have to use it on me? It wasn't fair. I really have to learn how to do that.
I quickly stopped laughing and stood at attention. The teacher stared at me for a few seconds more before coming back to the whole bus with a lecture on field trip behavior. I groaned.
Lucky for us, it didn't last long and she actually started telling us some things we actually needed to know.
"Ok class, we're going to the zoo. I know that some of you aren't so happy with the bus arrangements, but you'll have to wait till we get to the zoo before you split up into groups of 5 or 6. You've already been given sheets on the taxonomical identification of all the classes within the kingdom Animalia. You are expected to write down detailed descriptions of how you identified three different animals at the zoo, understood."
Hmm, detailed, huh? As if! I might as well get it over with before we get there so that I can have some fun. I turned my identification sheet over and quickly scribbled,
1. Seal-in water- Pinepedia
2. Bat-has wings- Chiroptera
3. Me-am bored- Homo sapien
I spent the rest of the ride talking and laughing with Quatre, occasionally poking an irate Wufei. After we got off the bus, Quatre and I joined up quickly with Heero and Trowa. Wufei was reluctantly dragged into our group because we needed five people, and he didn't have a group, besides.
Quatre clung onto Trowa's arm affectionately as the green-eyed boy blushed slightly. Heero let me lean against him as we entered the park, and Wufei was pulling tissues out of his pockets to aid his nosebleed.
We decided upon separating because I told them I already finished the assignment, and Heero apparently didn't care weather he completed it because he'd left it on the bus. I totally agree. I mean, I'm only handing in something because I get a kick out of it. Wufei had stuffed his assignment into his pocket, so I assumed this meant that he didn't care either.
Trowa and Quatre, on the other hand, cared about their grades and they decided with us that it was better if they just went off on their own to identify animals so that Wufei, Heero, and I could have some fun.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I told Heero and Wufei I'd be along in a minute as I left them at Wufei's favorite place, the reptile house. I hid behind a tree as I watched Quatre and Trowa walking down the path. It was my job to make sure they were all right before I went off and had fun. I was just doing my job as a guardian, right. Well, I also confess I was a bit curious, but it was mostly for the mission.
"Look Trowa!" The blond tugged at his lover's arm and pointed over at a nearby enclosure where there were about five lions. Trowa smiled at the lions and one lion came right up to the edge of the enclosure and let Trowa pet him. Quatre was a little bit afraid and let go of Trowa's hand to step away.
"What's wrong?" Trowa asked.
"Isn't that dangerous?" Quatre looked at the lion and all he could think about was the sharp, okay, very sharp teeth. Of course, I'm sure the little guy realized that he had nothing to fear from the animals because he didn't intend to hurt them, and animals were very gentle besides that. However, the sight of an actual lion up close seemed to blur his previous conceptions.
"There's nothing to be afraid of," Trowa stopped petting the beast and reached for Quatre's hand. Quatre gave it to him a little hesitantly, seeing what was going to come next. Trowa placed his hand over the smaller, whiter one and stroked it over the lion's mane. The lion purred loudly, and closed its eyes.
The lion was very contented until he felt the hand being lifted off of his head, and opened his eyes to find the two lovers sharing a very passionate kiss.
Yeah, they'd be all right, I decided. I left to give them some privacy. I walked over to the reptile house where Heero and Wufei were waiting. I promised myself that Heero would have fun and I intended to keep that promise.
"Hey! I'm back." I ran to the Heero's side and he 'Hn'ed at me.
"Maxwell? Yuy?" Wufei asked. Wow, he was addressing someone for a change. This must be important.
"Yes?" I replied for both of us as Wufei pulled a crumpled assignment out of his pocket, and looked at me.
"I really should finish the onna's assignment." Wufei turned away, "I'm going to wander around a bit." He started to walk away. This was a lot like him, always trying to do things on his own, but I couldn't let him just walk away. I know he wanted to stay with us, so then why was he leaving? It left me kind of baffled.
"Wu-man!" He turned to face me. "We could go see the animals together, you know." Wufei shook his head in rejection.
"You and Yuy go have a great time." Wufei kind of smiled as he walked away.
"Thanks," I whispered, still a little confused, knowing that he couldn't hear me. Well, what do you know? The disagreeable boy wasn't as hard as he pretended to be. I really didn't expect him to be so generous, but then again, the kindness of people surprises me all the time.
I smiled at my generous friend as I watched him walk away and grinned as I looked at Heero.
We were all alone. I had the whole day and Heero to myself. Thank you Wufei! Heero said he had fun with me, so I guess I'd keep my promise after all.
"Come on," I grabbed his hand and started leading a startled Heero gently down the path, "I want you to see something."
*******************************
Sorry, this chapter wasn't as funny as the previous ones, but I was going for something a little more sentimental. Don't ask me where I got the idea of them going to the zoo. I really don't know how my mind works sometimes.
I kind of let go of the whole angel thing in this chapter. I'll be sure to add something in the next chapter.
I'm really excited, 'cause I've got so many ideas for this story, even though this chapter is really bad. Ok, I'm going to calm down now, whew. Deep breaths..
Please review! Anything you have to say would be really great!
Thanks so Much!!!!!
Hmm, I thought I heard my voice, but I was way too tired to answer. I simply tossed a bit in my sleep, sending the blankets off the couch and to the floor. Yes, I was still sleeping on the couch, don't want to rush things, you know. Heero even offered to sleep on the couch so that I could sleep in his bed, but I declined. The couch was actually kind of comfy, kind of like Christmas morning comfy. Images of candy canes, candles, and tall evergreens floated through my head until that great voice brought me back into my senses.
"Duo?"
Ok, I was sure someone was calling my name. And with such a beautiful, deep voice, it could only be one person, Heero.
I started to roll over so that I could get into a comfortable position to stand up from, but I remembered what happened the first morning I came here and wisely stopped to open my eyes first. Heero's face was closer than expected.
He kissed me on my forehead and told me to get up. I grumbled something about waking up too early. For goodness sakes it was still dark outside and my hot, adorable boyfriend was in the kitchen, wide awake and cooking. That was definitely crossing the sanity line in my book, but you know what, I love him anyway.
It took a while to get up, brush my hair, dress, and all that, but once I was done it took me no time at all to realize what day it was. I bolted into the kitchen, catching Heero off guard and practically knocking him to the floor as I kissed him. He didn't mind one bit.
"Do you know what day it is, Hee-chan?"
"No, why?" He smirked.
"It's field trip day!"
"So?" he asked puzzlingly.
"So," I mimicked as a played with his shirt collar, "we get to hang around all day doing nothing but talking to our friends."
"Doesn't everybody do that anyway?"
I looked at him and made a face. I hated that he was always right like that. Field trips were still fun; and I was going to make Heero Yuy have fun. It was a challenge, but a challenge I was willing to accept.
"Yeah, Hee-chan, I suppose you're right, but field trips are much more fun than regular school." I walked over to the table, "But it wouldn't hurt you to have a little fun every once and a while."
"I have fun." Heero said with confidence as he set the table.
"Oh really? What do you have fun doing?"
"Being with you,"
He tilted his head down to kiss me. I melted once again, and returned the kiss in its entirety. It was an amazing feeling; Heero was such a great guy. How is it that I deserved him, I wondered. However, I didn't have to answer that question as the kiss deepened and I realized that Heero was just as in love with me as I was with him.
It's cruel how fate likes to tease and twist things like love. I had felt so much pain from being in love with Heero, but you know what, I'm not complaining. It was all worth it.
We pulled away, gasping for breath, but smiling. And it was then that I smelled it. The fresh, and oh so wonderful aroma of grease floated into my nose, and I looked over at the stove where there was some bacon frying, along with some French toast swimming in butter. Either Heero had finally come around to the evils of healthy food (which was highly unlikely) or he was doing this just for me. That was so sweet!
"Hee-chan?"
"Hn."
"Did you do all this just for me?" I motioned to the food he was attending to. He kind of smiled as he put the greasy food on a plate and placed it on a seat at the table in front of me. It really looked great. He went through all the trouble of going to the store and buying this food all for me, and I caught him as he was turning around to get his whole-wheat toast that had just popped and thanked him with a quick, chaste kiss before diving into the food he had prepared.
"Don't eat so fast," Heero advised as I poured the last of the maple syrup out of the jar and onto the French toast, devouring it with a single bite, "you'll make yourself sick."
I stopped eating for a minute, first annoyed, but then I looked into his eyes and saw the emotion that was reserved only for me. I returned it with the same look of pure loving and admiration. I only could hope that I was as important to him as he was to me. Of course that was impossible, I knew, because I loved him more than anything. I hoped he knew that.
I smiled, not mockingly, but sweetly across the table as if to say 'I love you' and his expression seemed to answer, 'I know'.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Wufei!" I called out the boy who I know heard me, but simply refused to answer. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why the guy hated me so much, well until I remembered looking up the word 'cynical'.
That's right, I get it, now! Wu-man didn't trust me because he didn't trust anyone! This made me feel a whole lot better, I think..
I came out from behind him, and he growled at my presence, refusing to look at me straight in the eye, and pretending I didn't exist. He began walking faster.
"Come on Wu-man? Not still sore about yesterday, I hope."
*growl*
"Well, I'll see you on the bus, then."
"..?"
"We're on the same bus," He stared at me blankly. "For the field trip, remember?"
I received a second growl as he picked up the pace, but he wasn't getting away that easily.
"The bus assignments are posted in the office. Trowa and Heero are on the other bus, so it's just you, me, and Q." He narrowed his eyes at me, as if searching for the truth. Well, I could have told him right then that it was the truth, but I would have spoiled his moment of cynicism. I wasn't about to let that happen. I was having too much fun with Wu-man. He wants to be act all irate and disagreeable so that everyone will leave him alone to do his own thing, but no one likes to be alone. So no matter how hard he may have tried to hide it, I know he enjoyed these little conversations of ours.
"I guess I'll see you there then." Wufei mumbled as he disappeared through the crowd of students up ahead who were heading for the busses.
Wow! Did I actually get him to say something other than 'injustice'? I think he may be warming up to me, well, maybe. He'd never warmed up to anyone, from what I'd heard. I'd already found out for myself Trowa, Quatre, and Heero just let him sit with them because he was in the band, and he was only in the band because he was an awesome guitar player. He didn't have any true friends. I then realized that Wufei didn't insult me, at least, and that was quite an accomplishment. I was determined that my mission wasn't over until I found Wu-man a friend, but of course that would have to wait, because right now, I was going on a field trip, and Shinigami would have his way this time around.
I flashed a mischievous smile off into nowhere, and waved as I saw Q running up to join me in line for our designated bus.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Okay, settle down, now!" A lady with glasses was standing at the head of the bus trying to get everyone to be quiet. I recognized her as my Biology teacher instantly. That would make sense, considering this was a Biology field trip, you know, because we're studying taxonomy.
What else would a trip to the zoo have to do with school?
I was sitting next to Quatre, and Wufei was in the seat across from us, looking out the window in a kind of lonely trance.
"Guess what?" I swiveled around to face the Arab, and my braid turned sharply.
"What?" he smiled back at me.
"Chicken butt!" I collapsed into rolls of laughter. You have no idea how long I was waiting for somebody to fall for that joke.
When I came up from laughing, I realized that everyone on the entire bus was staring at me. This was including the teacher, who gave me a patented 'disproving glare' that all teachers seemed to know. But why do all of them have to use it on me? It wasn't fair. I really have to learn how to do that.
I quickly stopped laughing and stood at attention. The teacher stared at me for a few seconds more before coming back to the whole bus with a lecture on field trip behavior. I groaned.
Lucky for us, it didn't last long and she actually started telling us some things we actually needed to know.
"Ok class, we're going to the zoo. I know that some of you aren't so happy with the bus arrangements, but you'll have to wait till we get to the zoo before you split up into groups of 5 or 6. You've already been given sheets on the taxonomical identification of all the classes within the kingdom Animalia. You are expected to write down detailed descriptions of how you identified three different animals at the zoo, understood."
Hmm, detailed, huh? As if! I might as well get it over with before we get there so that I can have some fun. I turned my identification sheet over and quickly scribbled,
1. Seal-in water- Pinepedia
2. Bat-has wings- Chiroptera
3. Me-am bored- Homo sapien
I spent the rest of the ride talking and laughing with Quatre, occasionally poking an irate Wufei. After we got off the bus, Quatre and I joined up quickly with Heero and Trowa. Wufei was reluctantly dragged into our group because we needed five people, and he didn't have a group, besides.
Quatre clung onto Trowa's arm affectionately as the green-eyed boy blushed slightly. Heero let me lean against him as we entered the park, and Wufei was pulling tissues out of his pockets to aid his nosebleed.
We decided upon separating because I told them I already finished the assignment, and Heero apparently didn't care weather he completed it because he'd left it on the bus. I totally agree. I mean, I'm only handing in something because I get a kick out of it. Wufei had stuffed his assignment into his pocket, so I assumed this meant that he didn't care either.
Trowa and Quatre, on the other hand, cared about their grades and they decided with us that it was better if they just went off on their own to identify animals so that Wufei, Heero, and I could have some fun.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I told Heero and Wufei I'd be along in a minute as I left them at Wufei's favorite place, the reptile house. I hid behind a tree as I watched Quatre and Trowa walking down the path. It was my job to make sure they were all right before I went off and had fun. I was just doing my job as a guardian, right. Well, I also confess I was a bit curious, but it was mostly for the mission.
"Look Trowa!" The blond tugged at his lover's arm and pointed over at a nearby enclosure where there were about five lions. Trowa smiled at the lions and one lion came right up to the edge of the enclosure and let Trowa pet him. Quatre was a little bit afraid and let go of Trowa's hand to step away.
"What's wrong?" Trowa asked.
"Isn't that dangerous?" Quatre looked at the lion and all he could think about was the sharp, okay, very sharp teeth. Of course, I'm sure the little guy realized that he had nothing to fear from the animals because he didn't intend to hurt them, and animals were very gentle besides that. However, the sight of an actual lion up close seemed to blur his previous conceptions.
"There's nothing to be afraid of," Trowa stopped petting the beast and reached for Quatre's hand. Quatre gave it to him a little hesitantly, seeing what was going to come next. Trowa placed his hand over the smaller, whiter one and stroked it over the lion's mane. The lion purred loudly, and closed its eyes.
The lion was very contented until he felt the hand being lifted off of his head, and opened his eyes to find the two lovers sharing a very passionate kiss.
Yeah, they'd be all right, I decided. I left to give them some privacy. I walked over to the reptile house where Heero and Wufei were waiting. I promised myself that Heero would have fun and I intended to keep that promise.
"Hey! I'm back." I ran to the Heero's side and he 'Hn'ed at me.
"Maxwell? Yuy?" Wufei asked. Wow, he was addressing someone for a change. This must be important.
"Yes?" I replied for both of us as Wufei pulled a crumpled assignment out of his pocket, and looked at me.
"I really should finish the onna's assignment." Wufei turned away, "I'm going to wander around a bit." He started to walk away. This was a lot like him, always trying to do things on his own, but I couldn't let him just walk away. I know he wanted to stay with us, so then why was he leaving? It left me kind of baffled.
"Wu-man!" He turned to face me. "We could go see the animals together, you know." Wufei shook his head in rejection.
"You and Yuy go have a great time." Wufei kind of smiled as he walked away.
"Thanks," I whispered, still a little confused, knowing that he couldn't hear me. Well, what do you know? The disagreeable boy wasn't as hard as he pretended to be. I really didn't expect him to be so generous, but then again, the kindness of people surprises me all the time.
I smiled at my generous friend as I watched him walk away and grinned as I looked at Heero.
We were all alone. I had the whole day and Heero to myself. Thank you Wufei! Heero said he had fun with me, so I guess I'd keep my promise after all.
"Come on," I grabbed his hand and started leading a startled Heero gently down the path, "I want you to see something."
*******************************
Sorry, this chapter wasn't as funny as the previous ones, but I was going for something a little more sentimental. Don't ask me where I got the idea of them going to the zoo. I really don't know how my mind works sometimes.
I kind of let go of the whole angel thing in this chapter. I'll be sure to add something in the next chapter.
I'm really excited, 'cause I've got so many ideas for this story, even though this chapter is really bad. Ok, I'm going to calm down now, whew. Deep breaths..
Please review! Anything you have to say would be really great!
Thanks so Much!!!!!