Disclaimers: Don't own ANYTHING, just borrowing. However, Rachael is mine.
Warnings: Shonen Ai/Yaoi 2+1, 3+4; 5+S, OOC, Lots of fluff and sap, Romance, mild language, Duo's POV, OOC cranky Hee-chan, major sap scene ahead.
Notes: I don't know, it seemed like a good idea at the time getting a mission to care for Quatre's niece and Duo and Heero finding each other along the way. It sounded fun to me. Excuse errorz. Enjoy.
Thank you to all who reviewed, I appreciate the feedback and seeing what everyone thinks of the story. I've decided to keep the long parts since you all didn't seem to want them short. I'm glad that you choose long cause if it was short, then I couldn't fit a whole day in. Anyway, enjoy!
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First Kiss Delayed
Part 4: Friday
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I woke up early on Friday morning. The light outside wasn't very bright, it was a pale violet and red, and the sun wasn't even up yet. The house was quiet, save Heero's soft snores. I turned to the boy and observed him.
Heero was still holding the bear I had given him last night. He was so peaceful just how everyone is when one slept. His lips were slack, closed instead of the tight frown he usually wore to ward off evil demons such as myself, I think it broke or somethin' cause it ain't workin'. I smiled at him gently. Heero was lying on my arm again, I ran the tip of my finger lightly against his cheek. How did Heero get so cute? The boy cast a spell over me that he isn't aware of and doesn't know how to control.
Scary once you think about it.
My attractions to Heero are difficult to understand, even I have trouble with them. I mean, I love women. They're hot, sexy, and beautiful, but Heero has proven that they aren't any competition compared to him. There's just something about Heero that makes him so special to me. Something that he possesses in his soul that I'm drawn to. I always knew it ever since that day on the beach, but what he had inside puzzled me. I didn't love him because he was extremely beautiful, believe me, it wasn't that all...okay, maybe alittle, but definitely not the only reason. He's so...Heeroish. This is the part that I can't quite figure out about him. Why? Why couldn't I just...I don't know. I don't know any more, and I'm not sure if I ever did.
I think I'm lost.
I pulled my arm out from under Heero slowly not to disturb him and headed for the bathroom. I stripped myself free from my clothes and undid my braid. I stepped into the shower. This is what I needed.
A cold shower. Cold showers always seemed to help me clear my mind.
~!~!~!~!~
After I finished my shower, I slapped myself on the forehead hard hearing the loud 'smack', yeah well it didn't bother me. I was so numb, I was tripping over my feet and didn't know it until I was on the floor.
"K'so, I forgot to get my clothes..." I cursed. That meant I had to go out to where Heero was in a towel. "Oh well, I don't think he minds."
I wrapped the towel around my waist. While I was getting my towel, I noticed a small purple toothbrush on the counter. Heero didn't use a kid toothbrush and I sure as hell didn't. So why was this little piece of plastic- wait a sec...I took a look at the toothbrush, it had a picture of Deathscythe on it, that meant it was Rachael's, but why was it here in the first place? I dismissed the question and stepped out of the bathroom, it was cold!
I was freezing my ass off, and it felt good.
But not as nearly as good as being in the same bed as Heero.
Heero was gone and the bed was neatly made topped with the bear on the white sheets. Damn, I SO wanted them to be black. White is alright, but it just...BLINDS me.
I heard clanking from the kitchen, it must be Heero. That would explained everything. I grabbed my clothes and retreated back into the bathroom to dress myself.
When I finished that task, I went out and retrieved my brush from my bag. I could smell Heero's homemade breakfast from the bedroom. Why didn't he ever cook on missions? I mean, he did every now and then when there wasn't a pizza delivery place around, but there were plenty of delivery places in the city. Why did he start now? It's not like I'm complaining or anything, I really enjoyed his preparations. He cooked very well, but a guy can only wonder...
I draped a towel over my shoulder and began running the brush through my hair. I heard little footsteps run to the kitchen.
"Ohayo gojaimas, Uncle Heero!"
"Ohayo Rachael." I could hear eggs sizzling and a chair scooting out, "What time is it?"
"Almost 10 AM." Heero replied in his usual monotone.
"Wow, that's late." Apparently my shower was REALLY long, surprised I don't have hypothermia or some weird cold disease like that. "Uncle Heero, where's Uncle Duo?"
"The last I heard of him, he was taking a shower." Heero replied.
"Oh, will he be eating breakfast with us?"
"He doesn't like missing meals."
How true that was.
Hair still damp, I walked to the kitchen, "That's right. Very unhealthy if ya keep missin' them."
"Ohayo gojaimas, Uncle Duo!"
"Ohayo Rach." I sat down next to Rachael, "Ohayo Hee-chan."
"Ohayo." Wow...that's alot of 'ohayos'. Heero turned around and almost dropped the eggs he had just made.
"Nani? Did I grow another head or something?" I asked looking around just incase I might have mutated in some way from my shower. "Maybe the water was polluted or somethin'..."
Rachael giggled.
"No," Heero put the plate down, "I never thought your hair was that long."
I grinned.
"But it's so pretty!" Rachael interjected.
"Arigato." I replied, "I smelt the food, and didn't bother to braid it yet."
"Aa." Heero turned off the stove and sat next to me.
"Arigato!" Rachael and I said at the same time. Heero nodded as we began to eat.
"Heero, you should eat something." I said.
"Yeah." Rachael agreed. I poured Heero a cup of milk and handed it to him. Heero looked at the milk.
"Drink it Hee-chan." Heero lifted the glass and took a sip.
"Don't just sip it, take a drink!" Rachael said.
Heero cocked an eyebrow.
I bent over and whispered into Rachael's ear making it loud enough from Heero to hear, "I think we should help him out Rach, ne? Maybe he doesn't know how to drink milk..."
"Yeah, like we helped him with the cotton candy right?" she whispered back not so quietly.
"Hai."
Heero drank the whole thing in almost one gulp.
"I don't need any help." He added.
He's so cute.
Silence passed as we ate breakfast.
"I'm finished!" Rachael exclaimed. She jumped up from the table and took her dishes to the sink.
I turned to Heero, "Hee-chan?"
"Aa?"
"You have a milk mustache." I brought my thumb above his lip and wiped off the white substance, "There." I removed myself from the chair and brought the rest of the dishes to the dishwasher.
"Did you two have fun last night?" I asked Heero and Rachael.
"Hai! It was SO much, much, MUCH fun!"
"I see, what about you Hee-chan?"
"Aa."
"Uncle Heero, what did you do when I was visiting the lions?" Rachael asked. Heero glanced at me.
"Tell her Heero. There's no harm in it."
"We went on the ferris wheel."
"Is that *all*...?" she asked with what looked like a brief hint of disappointment in her wide aqua eyes. "That's it?"
"Well...yeah."
Rachael's disappointment in her eyes completely disappeared and a look of happiness, "Sugoi! That must have been REALLY fun! I went on a ferris wheel one time. It was so high, I was so little Mother told me I almost slipped out."
"I'm glad you didn't."
"Me too. It would have hurt."
I chuckled, "Yes, I think it would hurt."
Unless of course you're Heero.
"I know! But not only would it hurt, but I might break something."
"Or from height like that, you probably would get squished by gravity." I said.
"Like Uncle Heero's pancakes?"
"Like Uncle Heero's pancakes."
"Ew!"
"Gravity squished Rachael pancakes only $1.50!" I joked. I looked at Heero who was smirking at us.
I ruffled her hair, "Uncle Duo!"
"What's up today Heero?" I asked when I finished loading and starting the dishwasher.
Heero shrugged.
"Let's go ice skating!"
...
"Ice skating?"
"Uncle Duo, please?" Rachael pleaded.
I turned to Heero, "What do you think, Hee-chan?"
Heero looked at Rachael for a long moment neither of them breaking the gaze. Damn, she was better than me. Finally Heero pulled back and asked me, "What's ice skating?"
He's so cute.
~!~!~!~!~
We entered the skating rink at about 1 PM after lunch and bought our admittance. I personally would have preferred the outside rink, but being summer, it was physically possible to skate on making that thought out of the question. Then we would be swimming. We picked up our rented skates from the counter and prepared to put them on.
Rachael secured hers on first. I just finished lacing up the first of my skates when I looked over at how Heero was doing. The Asian was glaring at his skates in front of him.
"Nani?" I asked.
"Nothing. I'm just examining them..." Heero slid his finger across the blade.
"Put them on Uncle Heero!"
My technical friend turned the girl, "I'm assuming that since these skates are rental that they have been used by many other people. Correct? Therefore the quality of this public property has gone down greatly. Judging from the condition of them, I'd say that--"
"Put the damn skates on."
As he rolled his eyes, Heero slid his foot into the skate. I could see him wiggling his toes through the thick material. He laced it up and moved on to the next foot. Once he was finished with that, he still wasn't satisfied. The Japanese boy glared at his feet and rocked them back and forth testing the balance. His next experiment was picking up his feet and dropping them from knee height. What the hell was that going to prove? Mallebility of the blades? I think not.
"Come on Hee-chan!" I took a grip of his arm and tried to pull him onto the ice.
"Duo...I DON'T want to do this..."
"Heero!" I whinned, "We came all the way out here, and you decide that you don't want to even TRY?" I pulled on the boy who was clinging to the rink edge of the entrance, "Hee-chan!"
"Duo! I need time to adjust--" Heero was cut off when Rachael grabbed his other arm, "Rachael...!"
"Let's go now!" She pulled Heero onto the ice with me at the end. Rachael let go of Heero as soon as he was on the ice which left me behind him.
When the girl let go, she took off on to the ice. Pretty good for a seven year old. I watched her skate around the rink once and when she came back around she said, "Uncle Heero, Uncle Duo, you're suppose to skate! Not just stand there!" then she took off again.
Heero grunted and slid backwards into me. I grabbed his waist so he wouldn't fall, again, good fit, I like this, "Hey, Hee-chan. So nice of you to join me back here." I greeted lifting him to his feet. Heero snorted and tried to stand, but slid back again. I held his hands and switched us so I was facing him and backwards of the direction that we were suppose to be heading, "Come on Heero." I tugged his hands.
Heero gave me a look, "What do you think I'm trying to do???"
"Well, you're not getting anywhere." I shrugged, "Catch your balance, and everything will go smoothly."
"..." Heero shot a look that reeked 'I'm trying, I'm trying. What does it look like', "Duo, I don't want to ice skate."
"Hee-chan, it's just like roller blading."
"What's roller blading?"
I rolled my eyes, "And you were a what pilot???" I reminded as I pulled Heero slowly along the ice, "It's easy, anyone can do it. Look at Rachael." I pointed to the seven year old skating. She acknowledged us and waved.
"Hn."
"Don't be so sour." guess comparing him to a kid didn't make him feel any better, I pulled Heero a little faster, which was kinda slow, "Glide Hee-chan, glide."
"Duo, I don't want to skate--"
"Oh come on, for Gods' sake, *I* can skate."
I knew that Heero was new to this since he told me that he had never been ice skating. I think he's the type of guy that sucks at something in the beginning, but once he learns it, he's also mastered it.
Heero began to get the hang of skating, but he still needed alittle support, we hadn't even made it around ONCE. I watched him attempt to skate, he was catching on fast, "That's it Heero. You got it."
I tighten my grip on his hands as he stumbled. Damn little dip. Even with my help, that still didn't prevent Heero from falling and taking me down with him. Heero was flat on his back and I was right above him pressed against his muscled body. Ackward position to land if you asked me. He glared at the little hole.
"Omae o korosu..."
He's so cute.
I couldn't help but laugh, "Hahahahaha!"
"I don't see anything funny about this." Heero said. I removed my weight off of him before my hormones got out of control, let me tell you something, it was VERY hard to keep calm. Once I was up, Heero tried to get off the ice, but just falling back on his cute ass again. I reached for him and pulled him up. Heero glared at the hole again using while me for support.
"It's not...I just like laughing." Heero cocked an eyebrow and I grinned, "Okay, so it might have been a tad funny. How often do you get to see Heero Yuy fall on his ass from a hole in the ground while ice skating?"
Heero glared at me, I think I should have kept that comment to myself.
"But hey," I continued, "I think you got the hang of ice skating." I released one of Heero's hands and began to skate. Heero kept up just fine as we circled the rink. Rachael came up to us while we were still holding hands.
"Uncle Duo, you got Uncle Heero to skate!" she cheered.
"Sure did, wanna skate with him?" I asked. Heero glared at me.
"Yeah!" Rachael grabbed Heero's hand and skated away. I watched them skate around the rink and pass everyone. The second time, Rachael stopped in front of me, "That was fun!" Heero was glaring at me still, I don't think he liked being dragged around by a little girl, did somethin' to his pride I'm guessing.
"I'm sure it was, if you don't mind, I think I want to see how good Uncle Heero's gotten." I replied.
"Okay!" Rachael released Heero's hand, and Heero immediately grabbed mine. There's something you won't get Heero Yuy to do everyday, latch on to someone...especially when it's me. Rachael skated off leaving her two uncles behind...again.
"Did you have fun Hee-chan?"
"No."
"Aw," I said in a baby voice, "Can Heewo not handwe fast skating?"
Heero glared at me, "Hn."
"Gomen, I was only kidding." I began skating at an average pace, not too fast and not too slow. "Is this better?"
Heero nodded and held my forearm, "Much better."
"Why didn't you have fun?"
"She jerks too much." What a baby Hee-chan was, I swear, all he needed was a pacifier.
Heehee, the thought of Heero sucking on a rubber baby accessory caused a snicker to escape my lips. Bad Heero-Baby musings!
"Nani?"
"Nothing at all, Hee-chan."
After a couple of rounds skating, I sped up, fingers still entwined, "We're goin' kinda slow, Heero." I grabbed his other hand and skated backwards again pulling him with me, "I think you can keep up."
I tried to release Heero's hands, but Heero had latched himself on and wouldn't let go, "Duo..."
I quirked an eyebrow and finally managed to free my fingered captees from Heero's grip. I swear he's learned a thing or two from Relena, "Duo...!"
"Come get me Hee-chan." I challeged, Heero Yuy could never resist a challenge. I skated off into the crowd.
"Ugh, Duo! Omae o korosu!"
I laughed loudly to make sure he could hear me, but not see. I weaved through the people careful not to bump into the happy couples and children along the way.
"Uncle Duo, what are you doing?" Rachael asked out of no where.
"I'm playin' *KEEP AWAY* from Uncle Heero," I nearly shouted for Heero to hear, "wanna join?"
"Hai!"
I skated right passed Heero and stuck my tongue out, "Nah! That's for sticking your tongue out at me, Forest Prince!"
"Duo!" Heero sped up and almost caught me. ALMOST. Damn braid is gettin' too long.
~!~!~!~!~
Three and a half hours later we were all panting. We had torn up the rink badly leaving knicks and scratches all over the ice despite the zamboni that was suppose to keep the ice rink smooth. What the hell, it was fun.
"Hey, Hee-chan, didja have fun?" I asked.
"Hn."
"I did!" Rachael pulled off her skates, "But now my feet are killing me!"
"Mine too. Hope I don't get blisters." That would be gross. Public skates were always a drag to use, the knotted up laces and the worn down foot padding. Pain in the ass. I unlaced my skates, "Are we ready to leave?"
"We're leaving?" Heero asked.
"Yeah, we've been here for over three hours."
Heero looked down and undid his skates, "Oh."
I picked up Rachael's skates and mine to return to the counter. I walked by Heero and gathered his. Heero glanced at me, I smiled and whispered in his ear, "Don't be sad Hee-chan, I'll take you out ice skating with just you and me sometime..."
I resumed returning the skates.
~!~!~!~!~
"What now?" Rachael asked.
"Do you always have to be doing something?"
"Well...yeah, I guess, I mean, I have so much energy, I don't know what to do with it all." Rachael said as we walked down the sidewalk from the rink.
Heero snorted, "Sounds like you, Duo."
I frowned, "Okay then Heero, what should we do now?"
Heero shrugged.
"What would you like to do?" I asked Rachael.
Rachael shrugged.
"Is it just me, or are you pickin' up habits from each other?" I questioned them both.
Heero and Rachael shrugged.
"I know, let's go pick up the pictures from yesterday." I suggested.
"Yeah! Then we could go home and see them, and Uncle Heero could cook dinner."
"Does that sound good to you Heero?"
Let me guess, Heero shrugs. Sure enough, Heero shrugged.
How did I know? Even if I know that it's the same pointless answer, I still asked for Heero's opinion on things. Funny thing is, I don't know why I even bother.
The three of us got into the car and drove toward the drugstore.
~!~!~!~!~
"When did you deposit the film to be developed?" Heero asked looking out the window.
"Yeah, when DID you?" Rachael repeated.
"I did it last night while you guys were sleeping in the car."
"You did?" Rachael asked.
"Yes, I did."
"We slept in the car?" Rachael frowned, "Then how did I end up in my bed??? I don't sleep walk!"
I chuckled, "I don't know, you must have sprouted wings and flown."
"That SO unlikely, did you carry us?"
"Yeah. You don't REALLY think that I'd leave you both in the car, did you?"
"..."
"Hellll--" I changed my word, "--llllo...I would never do that!"
"Why not?" Rachael asked.
I frowned, "Because you might drool on my leather seats."
"I don't drool!" Rachael argued. "And I'm sure Uncle Heero doesn't either!"
"Whatever you say little girl." I parked the car and rolled down the windows, "Stay here, I'll be right back."
I got out of the car and went into the store. I don't think I need to explain how I got the film, however, I did bump into Wufei. Talk about coincidence.
"Wu-man!" I waved.
Wufei looked over at me, "Maxwell?"
"The one and only, I thought you were on a mission."
"I was. Just got back."
"Really? Everything go smooth as usual?"
"Yes...aren't you suppose to be on a mission too?" Wufei asked. I looked at what was in his hand.
Cocking an eyebrow, I read the lable of the box, "...Bubble gum lube?"
"Nani???" Wufei asked, I pointed to his hand, "Anou..." WUfei put the box back, "Yeah, um, what are you doing here?"
I held up the bag of developed film, "Just gettin' some pictures."
"I see. Having fun with Quatre's niece?"
"She's cool. I guess so...yeah." I looked out the window and saw Rachael poking her head out of the car and Heero trying to keep her down, "It's been interesting...matteo, how did you know about the mission?"
"Uh...Sally."
"Okay. Well nice talkin' to ya Wu, but I gotta go. I'll see ya later, ne?" the Chinese boy nodded as I started to walk away when I remembered something, "Wufei?"
"Nani?"
"Strawberry's the best." I walked away to the car.
~!~!~!~!~
"Open them!"
"Chotto matte, little girl." I said sitting on the couch in the middle with Heero on my right and Rachael my left. Rachael was leaning over me trying to take a look at the pictures. I hadn't even opened them yet either.
"Then hurry up!"
"Yes ma'am." I opened the package and pulled out 24 pictures, "Hahahahaha!"
It was the picture of Heero glaring on the carousel.
"Nani?" Heero asked obviously not finding it funny.
"Aw Heero, you're so kawaii." Heero blushed as I moved on to the next picture.
Heero was glaring again with his mouth opened shouting 'omae o korosu'. Next was Heero's surprised expression. And three pictures of Heero smirking.
"Wow, Uncle Heero looks really nice in pictures."
"Yeah, he's so photogenic."
Another picture had Heero and me on the white horse. I was smiling widely while Heero only gave a half smile. Rachael was featured in the next two photos. We laughed at the pictures. They were all worth taking. Each one was different and had it's own humor.
"Heero, love that cotton candy, look!"
It took us about an hour just to get through the pictures once. Rachael and I were laughing our heads off, especially when we saw ourselves.
"Is that Uncle Heero?" Rachael asked pointing to a happy young man at the top of the ferris wheel.
"Yes it is."
"Wah, Uncle Heero, I know this might sound weird from a seven year old, but...you're hot! Right Uncle Duo?"
Heero blushed a crimson red.
I laughed.
He's so cute.
"Yes he is." I finally replied.
It was my favorite picture. Heero was holding his bear and smiling a very pretty smile. Dim lights glittered in the background against a velvet sky. Heero's features stood out in the darkness which made him look even more extravagant.
I love Kodak.
"Uncle Duo! You took pictures of us sleeping???"
"Duo...!"
"Nani? I needed to use the film on something!" I explained, "Besides, you're both kawaii."
Heero rose from his seat and went to the kitchen, "Oi Hee-chan, what are you--"
"Making dinner."
That was enough answer for me.
"Why don't you take a nap Rach?" I suggested as she yawned.
"Hai." Rachael laid her head down on the couch and I went to the kitchen, "Need any help Heero?"
"No."
I sat down at the table and watched Heero get what he needed for his meal. "What cha makin'?"
"You'll see."
"Mmhmm..."
"Go take a nap Duo, I'll wake you up when I finish."
"Okay..." I walked over to the love seat and feel asleep.
~!~!~!~!~
"Duo wake up," I heard a soft voice say. I felt gentle hands brush my hair away, "Duo?"
Whoever was calling me and brushing my hair, I didn't really want them to stop.
"Duo?"
I knew it was Heero, which meant it was time to eat.
"Mmm, Heero?" I asked eyes still closed.
"Hai."
"Chotto matte..." I rolled to my left. If you ask me, I think I rolled over alittle too much.
THUMP!
Yeah, um, THAT kinda really woke me up.
"Duo...!" Heero grabbed my arms. I got up and opened my eyes after I fell off the love seat. "Duo, are you alright?"
"...I guess this thing wasn't as wide as I thought..." I yawned.
Heero shook his head, "Baka."
"Ah, I know you thought me rollin' off the couch was funny..." Heero smirked as I tapped the tip of his nose.
I blew on Heero's face.
"Duo!"
"Nani?"
I blew in his face again.
Heero blew in my face.
I chuckled, "I gotta be careful around you..."
Heero smirked, "Dinner's ready."
"Where's Rachael?"
"Washing her hands." Heero replied walking over to the small table.
"That's funny, I don't HEAR running water. Rachael?"
Silence.
"Rachael?" I asked.
Nothing.
Heero walked over to me, "I just sent her to the bathroom..."
I grabbed Heero's hand and looked in the bathroom. The water was off and no sign of Rachael.
"Yeah, um, well...she's not here." I looked in her bedroom, "Rachael?"
The window was opened.
Heero and I ran over to the window, "Why the hell is this opened?" I asked.
"I don't know," Heero replied, "Duo we have to find her!"
I hope he knows I realize that.
"Do you think she went outside?" I looked out the window.
"Rachael?" Heero called.
No answer.
"I'll check the perimeter."
"Do you think she ran away?"
"That's not likely, I mean, she likes us right?" I said climbing out of the window, "There's nothing to run away from."
"Aa..."
"Just watch out for her here, ne?"
Heero nodded as I left.
~!~!~!~!~
I walked around the safehouse searching for the girl, "Rachael, where are you?"
The girl wasn't any where outside. I walked around the neighborhood just in case she might have gotten that far.
Suddenly I saw a very familiar limo, no, not Relena's pink Barbie mobile. I took a closer look and gasped.
It was Quatre!
What the hell was *HE* doing here???
I ran back to the house as fast as I could, "Heero!"
Heero opened the front door, "Did you find her, Duo?"
"No," I pointed down the street, "But I found Quatre, and he's headed this way!"
"Shimatta..."
"Shimatta is right!"
"What are we going to do?"
"Find her dammit!" I cursed. Heero and I ran around the small house looking in the living room, dining room, her bedroom, and bathroom again, hell! We even checked the closet!
"She's not here." Heero said panting, "...Duo?"
"Nani?"
"You know what that means?"
"Uh...we're in deep shit?"
"Aa, that and it means that we...failed our mission."
*THAT*, I didn't think about. He was right, it means we did fail. Heero and I stood there in silence. Suddenly we heard faint singing coming from the master bedroom.
"Daijoubu kitto OK![1]"
Singing...we heard singing,
"Rachael!" we said in unison and ran to the room.
I opened the door and saw the light on from the master bathroom.
"Tabun umaku iku ze dakara umaku iku ze, Owari no nai yume no tame ni..."
Heero and I ran into the bathroom only to see a seven year old girl *TRYING* to wash her hands in the master bathroom sink on her tippy-toes with a Sony Walkman TM by her side which we bought for her at the mall. She couldn't quite reach the sink and the girl had gotten water all over her shirt.
"Akirameta toki kara, tsukisae nigete shimau, Girigiri no pressure made, tanoshimereba It's gonna be OK!"
"..."
"Same here."
Rachael looked into the mirror, "Uncle Duo, Uncle Heero! What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you."
"What?"
"He said 'looking for you'." Heero repeated.
"What?"
I snatched the headphones off her ears as Heero and I both said, "Looking for you!"
"Oh...Why?"
"K'so, you scared us Rachael." I reached over her and turned off the splashing water.
"What did I do?"
"How come you aren't using your sink?" Heero asked calmly. I have to admitt, I was alittle upset. She really did scare us, or at least me. I think Heero was taking this a tad better than I was.
"Oh, it doesn't work."
That got us, "Nani?" we asked together.
"Do you guys plot your dialogue out or something?" Heero and I cocked an eyebrow, "There! You did it again!"
"Why didn't you tell us that your sink didn't work?" Heero asked.
"Well, this morning I was when I figured it out myself, but before that I went to your bathroom so I could brush my teeth. I would have told you then, but you guys were asleep and I didn't want to wake you up."
Aaaaaaaaaaa...so THAT'S why there was a Deathscythe toothbrush on the counter this morning...
"So I didn't tell you, then when breakfast came, I just forgot."
"Okay. Then why didn't you tell us when Heero asked you to wash your hands?" I asked.
Rachael frowned, "Am I in trouble or something?"
"No, you're not in trouble, we just wanted to know." Heero said.
"Why?"
"Because you scared us. We didn't know where you were. Uncle Duo even went running around the neighborhood looking for you."
"Gomen nasai, I just didn't want to disturb you."
"Disturb?" Heero and I repeated, well if you asked me, I think we were pretty disturbed to begin with.
"Hai, I saw Uncle Duo roll off the couch, so I thought that I would just go ahead and use your bathroom again."
That explains alot, except--
"Rachael, why was your window opened?" Heero questioned. Damn he was good at this stuff.
"It got hot."
KnockKnock
No one moved.
"I'll get it." I said and went to the door. I opened it and saw Quatre, Iria, AND Trowa. Guess Wu and him were really back from their mission, "Hey hey, look who's here on a surprise visit..."
"Hello Duo!" Quatre reached up and hugged me gently with one of his friendly hugs. Not the ones Trowa received, I assure you.
"Nice to see you too...and Iria and Tro." I moved a side, "Come in, don't let me stop you."
The three stepped inside and took off their shoes at the door then proceeded to the living room that I had guided them to. They sat down on the couch as I invited them to do so.
"Welcome to our humble temporary safehouse occupied by the lovely Rachael, stoic Heero and Duo no baka at the time being. Please make yourselves at home, feel free to tour and use anything to your hearts content including toiletries, bedding, consumption of edible matter, and of course the television set." I said much like an attendant on an airplane handing Quatre the remote. He smiled at my humor.
"Something smells good." Iria complimented.
I sat down at the end of left side of the couch, "You must be inhaling our dinner."
"Oh, did you make it?"
I shook my head and eyed Trowa and Quatre who were indeed smothering a chuckle. "No, actually Heero did."
"Heero cooked you dinner?" Iria asked.
"Yes ma'am, and breakfast every morning." I replied, "Speaking of the boy, I'll get him and Rachael, I'm sure that's why you came in the first place." I excused myself and walked to the master bedroom.
When I reached the bathroom, I saw Heero holding Rachael up on his left knee and helping the girl wash her hands with soap.
"Clean freak..." I mumbled under my breath, "Oi Hee-chan, I think we should go greet our guest."
Heero looked at me, "Duo?"
"Nani?"
"Will you get Rachael another shirt?"
"..."
"Onegai? She's all wet. I don't think her mother would appreciate it if she saw her like this."
Heero was right. I quickly made my way to Rachael's bedroom careful not to let them hear me over their little chit chat. I grabbed a pastel green shirt and went back to the bathroom.
I handed Heero the shirt. Heero handed it to Rachael. Rachael stood there waiting for something.
"What are you waiting for?" I asked.
"For you to turn around! You don't honestly think that I'm going to undress in front of you? No! I may be seven, but I have my pride to!"
"..." Heero and I turned around.
~!~!~!~!~
"Uncle Quatre! Uncle Trowa! Mommy!!!" The girl ran to her mother.
"Hello Rachael," her mother said as Rachael hugged her, "Are you having a good time here?"
"Yes, I'm having a wonderful time!" Rachael exclaimed, "Uncle Duo and Uncle Heero take very good care of me. They always make sure I eat three meals a day and don't let me get bored."
"Very good. Now say a proper hello to your Uncle Quatre and Uncle Trowa." Rachael released her mother and hugged Quatre.
"Hi Uncle Quatre!"
Quatre returned the hug, "So they're taking good care of you, huh?"
"Hai!"
"They aren't letting you stay up too late?"
"Nope!"
"Brushing your teeth regularly?"
"Hai!"
"Are you getting a good night sleep?"
"Yes, Uncle Heero even got rid of the monster under the bed so I could go to sleep."
"Really?"
Heero looked at me and mouthed, "Laptop thief."
I pointed to myself, blinked, and mouthed back innocently, "Me???"
Heero rolled his eyes and smirked.
He's so cute.
"Uh-huh." Rachael moved on to her next victim, Trowa, "Hi Uncle Trowa!"
"Hello." Rachael latched onto Trowa, "I heard from Aunt Cathy that you visited the circus while I was gone."
"Yep, Uncle Duo and Uncle Heero took me. Aunt Catherine let me see the lions! And before that we ate cotton candy and everything. We have picutes too!"
"Pictures?" Trowa asked.
"Hai, they're so funny!" Rachael turned to me, "Can they see them Uncle Duo?"
"Alright." I replied as Rachael ranted on about the past few days.
I got up and went to the kitchen where I had left them and was fixing to get the photos when I saw Heero already in the kitchen removing a picture and placing it in the drawer. Good thing we were out of earshot, "Heero, what are you doin'?"
Heero jumped, "Taking a picture out..."
I leaned over Heero's shoulder and saw the picture that he had taken out, it was the one with him smiling.
My favorite one.
"Why would you do that Heero? I think it's the best picture out of the whole thing."
Heero handed me the rest of the pictures and closed the drawer, he said something softly in my ear, "...it's a weakness."
Heero started for the living room, but I caught his wrist and stopped him, "It's not a weakness Heero, it's a gift..." I whispered into his ear. "It's a gift..."
Heero froze. How could he think that it was a weakness? It was anything but a weakness.
"My smile is rare and reserved for only certain people, Duo..." Heero sighed, "I don't..." the Japanese boy cut himself short looking away from me.
"Don't what?"
"...I don't like to...share it with many people, I guess."
"Why?" Okay, I know I'm pushing him now but...
Heero shrugged, "People don't need to see it."
"*I* need to see it, Heero...does this make me certain person?" I asked pulling Heero closer.
".......hai, Duo. It does..." Heero answered very quietly. I almost missed it, but I'm sure as hell glad I didn't. Heero opened the drawer. He pulled out the picture and looked at it.
"What are you doing now?"
Heero put the picture in my pant pocket on the left hand side, "I...want you to keep it safe." he said softly backing away slowly, "Onegai?"
"I will," I took his hand in mine, "I will Heero..." I leaned in closer to him my nose touching his...
"Uncle Duo! What's taking to long???" Rachael said before she reached the kitchen, during the time Heero and I quickly turned from each other. Heero tended to his food which needed to be reheated and I walked out of the kitchen as Rachael found me, "Uncle Duo--"
"I'm comin', I'm comin'." Rachael grabbed my hand and pulled me to the living room.
For you Heero, I would keep it safe for you.
So when you look back later, you will see how beautiful you really are.
Instead of dening it...
~!~!~!~!~
I gave Rachael the pictures to show to the others as I went to the room. I placed a certain picture of Heero in a little box I kept in my bag.
"Oh Trowa! Look at this!" I heard Quatre say as I entered the room. He was pointing to Heero on the carousel. Trowa gave it a half smile. "Duo, Heero let you take these???"
"Well, I kinda just whipped out a camera and snapped a shot." I replied sitting next to Trowa.
"This is when we went to the costume corner. Uncle Heero was our model." Rachael explained.
Iria looked at the picture and giggled, "He's very cute in that."
"I told him that it looked good on him, then he pulled it off and put it on me!"
"Well, it was made for a little girl, and not a young adult." Quatre said.
Heero came in holding a tray of water and iced tea, "Would anybody like anything to drink?"
"Yes, I think that would be nice," Iria took an iced tea, "Arigato."
Trowa took a water and Quatre took a tea. Rachael grabbed an iced tea and Heero handed her two small packets of sugar. He says I'm the one who spoils her, whatever, no wonder why she's so hyper.
"Arigato Uncle Heero!" Heero smirked at Rachael and handed me two waters, one for him and one for me, as he set the tray on the table.
"Oh my...Rachael dear, you have chilli all over your face...so does Uncle Heero and Uncle Duo...!"
"I know! It was so fun, Uncle Duo introduced Uncle Heero to chilli fries!"
"If you ask me, Duo looks like a walrus." Quatre commented.
I did. I had two fries drenched with chilli hanging out of my mouth crossing my eyes with smidges of chilli smired across my face. Fun. I just hope no one uses it for black mail.
Heero was just as bad, his nose was covered with it. Heero had stuck out his tongue in the picture which made it ten times cutes. I would have rolled over laughing, but Iria was there.
Rachael had it all over her cheeks and drinking a soda smiling.
Fun, fun, fun.
Quatre laughed politely, "Duo! What did you do to him???" he asked. Heero sat on the arm rest to my left.
"He didn't know how to eat cotton candy." I said.
"So Uncle Duo and I helped him."
Trowa looked at the picture and chuckled out loud, "Heero, I never thought they would ever catch you off guard like that."
Heero shrugged.
"Hahahaha!"
"What?"
"Look at Rachael and Duo!" Both of us had cotton candy stuffed in our mouths.
A half hour passed as their short check up became a visit. We finally finished the pictures at half passed seven.
"Aren't there suppose to be twenty six pictures in a roll?" Trowa asked. [2]
"Yes."
"Then why are there only twenty five?"
"I took one of them out." Heero answered honestly.
"Why?"
"You don't need to see it."
Rachael gave me a bewildered look. She knew exactly what picture Heero had taken out. I held a finger up to my lips, "Shh..." I whispered.
The rest of the group seemed to understand. They had gotten their share of an out of character Heero Yuy.
"Wow, but Heero was in most of those pictures..." Iria said.
"Hai, Uncle Duo says that Uncle Heero is very photogenic, right?"
"Yep, the camera loves him." I replied.
"Or maybe it's just the person behind it..." Trowa said loud enough for only me to hear, but I think Heero caught bits of the sentence.
I elbowed Trowa in the side, "Kisama...!"
"Someone's been hanging out with Wufei too long..." Trowa returned.
Quatre looked at his watch, "I think we should get going. We just wanted to check up on Rachael, and since she's fine and having a good time, we can leave."
"I don't blame ya, if I had a kid, and I left them with me, I would be checkin' up on them 24/7."
Quatre laughed, "Very funny." Trowa, Quatre, and Iria got up and said their good byes. Then they left.
"Uncle Heero, why did you take that picture out?" Rachael asked.
"..."
"Uncle Heero!"
"Rachael, let's eat dinner."
I didn't think Heero would get so personal about it.
~!~!~!~!~
We ate dinner in silence that night. Rachael and I sensing that Heero wasn't really in a good mood, weren't going to say anything what was going to make him even more upset. Even if Heero was alittle sour that night, the dinner wasn't. It was still as great as we expected it to be.
I knew that Heero could get irritated at times, and when he did, he just ignored everything and when about his life as if no one was there. I watched Heero eat. Usually when he was upset he hurried through everything and avoided anything, but the way he was eating, he wasn't just upset, something was bothering him. Heero picked and nibbled his food through out dinner and wouldn't even look up. The only other times he's done that was...I think after he um...failed one of his missions with Sylivia Noventa's grandfather. Don't ask how I know. Long story.
"Uncle Duo, I'm finished." Rachael said quietly.
"Okay, go put your dishes in the sink."
Rachael complied, "Arigato Uncle Heero."
"..."
I looked at Rachael, "He says 'your welcome', but it doesn't seem like it, I know. Go take a shower."
"Can I use your shower?"
"That's fine."
Rachael nodded and left Heero and me at the table.
"Heero?"
"..." Heero walked over to the sink and placed his dishes on the counter.
I stood up and brought my plate to the sink, "Dammit Heero, what's wrong?" I asked setting my plate down.
Heero looked up and me with hurt eyes, "I don't know..."
Heero was all upset and didn't even know why. I pulled Heero close to me and he wrapped his arms around me. I sighed, "Cheer up then," I hugged Heero and caressed his back, "I think you've scared Rachael."
"Gomen..." Heero apologized putting his chin on my shoulder.
"Heero, you're not mad at the picture are you?"
"I don't know what I'm upset at..."
"I'm just talking about the picture though."
"Don't show it to anyone."
"Why?"
"I told you already."
"So you're not upset at that?" Heero shook his head, "I think you're just tired from everything that's happened so far."
"...I guess."
"Go sit down and think or something." I suggested. He nodded and sat down at the table as I started to work on the dishes.
~!~!~!~!~
Afterwards, Heero claimed that he had enough energy to watch alittle of the Korean series that we had started. He wanted to find out what happens to the girl that Nam Chun was in love with. I got him on the couch and went to tuck Rachael in.
"Uncle Duo?" Rachael asked from under her covers.
"Yeah?"
"Is Uncle Heero mad at me?"
I was quiet for a moment, "No, he's not mad at you. I don't think he'd ever get mad at you."
"Then what was wrong with him?"
"He's just tired I guess. Don't worry about it. He'll probably be fine tomorrow."
"I hope so, He's no fun all grumpy!"
"No, he's not. Now go to sleep or you'll be grumpy just like him. Then I'll get grumpy, and after that we'll have a grumpy Rachael, Grumpy Heero, and Grumpy Duo, then nothing's fun anymore." I told her.
"Okay, okay! No more! Oyasumi gojaimas!"
"Say good night to Uncle Heero."
"OYASUMI GOJAIMAS UNCLE HEERO!" I covered my ears.
"Oyasumi Rachael." I heard Heero say.
"See, he's feeling better already." I turned off the lights, "Oyasumi..."
I closed the door and passed the living room, "Where are you going?" Heero asked.
"I have to get something." I entered the master bedroom and got Heero's bear. I walked to the couch, teddy bear behind me.
"What did you get?" Heero asked.
I plopped down next to him on the couch and pulled the blanket over our legs, "I think you'll need this for the next few episodes." I handed Heero the bear, "They're alittle depressing."
Heero looked at the bear and accepted it, "...Arigato."
I put an arm around Heero and started the series.
Four episodes later, Heero fell asleep during the credits. I don't blame him, the slow music is so tempting. I stopped the show and carried Heero to bed with his teddy bear.
He's so cute.
I took our shirts off, and stripped down to my black boxers. I put both of us to bed and proceeded to sleep. My last thoughts were of the ice skating that we had done today.
This was the best mission yet, and it was fun.
Wonder what new things I could introduce Heero to next...
~!~!~!~!~
TBC?
~!~!~!~!~
Wah! This was almost as long as the first part! Yes, there is a reason behind Hee-chan's cranky scene, but I can't tell you now, it's in the next day!
I hadn't planned on getting this out so soon, but I was feeling spontaneous and decided to put another on up. Though I'm afraid that it wasn't as good as the last chapter -_-; Ah, I'll try again in the next part, ne?
Oh, I was reading the reviews and noticed Rachael was in many of them. I'm glad that you guys think she's cute. I wanted to make her sweet and lovable, she's based on my 7 (well now 8) year old cousin by the way if you ever wondered where in the world Rachael may have come from. I just had to mention that. Thank you for the feedback on her!
[1]- "Kitto OK" by Toshihiko Seki, Duo's Japanese seiyuu. Gotta love him!
[2]- Twenty-six pics in a roll, it's twenty-four I know. Well...maybe they make it with twenty-six. I don't know. *shrugs*
Warnings: Shonen Ai/Yaoi 2+1, 3+4; 5+S, OOC, Lots of fluff and sap, Romance, mild language, Duo's POV, OOC cranky Hee-chan, major sap scene ahead.
Notes: I don't know, it seemed like a good idea at the time getting a mission to care for Quatre's niece and Duo and Heero finding each other along the way. It sounded fun to me. Excuse errorz. Enjoy.
Thank you to all who reviewed, I appreciate the feedback and seeing what everyone thinks of the story. I've decided to keep the long parts since you all didn't seem to want them short. I'm glad that you choose long cause if it was short, then I couldn't fit a whole day in. Anyway, enjoy!
~!~!~!~!~
First Kiss Delayed
Part 4: Friday
~!~!~!~!~
I woke up early on Friday morning. The light outside wasn't very bright, it was a pale violet and red, and the sun wasn't even up yet. The house was quiet, save Heero's soft snores. I turned to the boy and observed him.
Heero was still holding the bear I had given him last night. He was so peaceful just how everyone is when one slept. His lips were slack, closed instead of the tight frown he usually wore to ward off evil demons such as myself, I think it broke or somethin' cause it ain't workin'. I smiled at him gently. Heero was lying on my arm again, I ran the tip of my finger lightly against his cheek. How did Heero get so cute? The boy cast a spell over me that he isn't aware of and doesn't know how to control.
Scary once you think about it.
My attractions to Heero are difficult to understand, even I have trouble with them. I mean, I love women. They're hot, sexy, and beautiful, but Heero has proven that they aren't any competition compared to him. There's just something about Heero that makes him so special to me. Something that he possesses in his soul that I'm drawn to. I always knew it ever since that day on the beach, but what he had inside puzzled me. I didn't love him because he was extremely beautiful, believe me, it wasn't that all...okay, maybe alittle, but definitely not the only reason. He's so...Heeroish. This is the part that I can't quite figure out about him. Why? Why couldn't I just...I don't know. I don't know any more, and I'm not sure if I ever did.
I think I'm lost.
I pulled my arm out from under Heero slowly not to disturb him and headed for the bathroom. I stripped myself free from my clothes and undid my braid. I stepped into the shower. This is what I needed.
A cold shower. Cold showers always seemed to help me clear my mind.
~!~!~!~!~
After I finished my shower, I slapped myself on the forehead hard hearing the loud 'smack', yeah well it didn't bother me. I was so numb, I was tripping over my feet and didn't know it until I was on the floor.
"K'so, I forgot to get my clothes..." I cursed. That meant I had to go out to where Heero was in a towel. "Oh well, I don't think he minds."
I wrapped the towel around my waist. While I was getting my towel, I noticed a small purple toothbrush on the counter. Heero didn't use a kid toothbrush and I sure as hell didn't. So why was this little piece of plastic- wait a sec...I took a look at the toothbrush, it had a picture of Deathscythe on it, that meant it was Rachael's, but why was it here in the first place? I dismissed the question and stepped out of the bathroom, it was cold!
I was freezing my ass off, and it felt good.
But not as nearly as good as being in the same bed as Heero.
Heero was gone and the bed was neatly made topped with the bear on the white sheets. Damn, I SO wanted them to be black. White is alright, but it just...BLINDS me.
I heard clanking from the kitchen, it must be Heero. That would explained everything. I grabbed my clothes and retreated back into the bathroom to dress myself.
When I finished that task, I went out and retrieved my brush from my bag. I could smell Heero's homemade breakfast from the bedroom. Why didn't he ever cook on missions? I mean, he did every now and then when there wasn't a pizza delivery place around, but there were plenty of delivery places in the city. Why did he start now? It's not like I'm complaining or anything, I really enjoyed his preparations. He cooked very well, but a guy can only wonder...
I draped a towel over my shoulder and began running the brush through my hair. I heard little footsteps run to the kitchen.
"Ohayo gojaimas, Uncle Heero!"
"Ohayo Rachael." I could hear eggs sizzling and a chair scooting out, "What time is it?"
"Almost 10 AM." Heero replied in his usual monotone.
"Wow, that's late." Apparently my shower was REALLY long, surprised I don't have hypothermia or some weird cold disease like that. "Uncle Heero, where's Uncle Duo?"
"The last I heard of him, he was taking a shower." Heero replied.
"Oh, will he be eating breakfast with us?"
"He doesn't like missing meals."
How true that was.
Hair still damp, I walked to the kitchen, "That's right. Very unhealthy if ya keep missin' them."
"Ohayo gojaimas, Uncle Duo!"
"Ohayo Rach." I sat down next to Rachael, "Ohayo Hee-chan."
"Ohayo." Wow...that's alot of 'ohayos'. Heero turned around and almost dropped the eggs he had just made.
"Nani? Did I grow another head or something?" I asked looking around just incase I might have mutated in some way from my shower. "Maybe the water was polluted or somethin'..."
Rachael giggled.
"No," Heero put the plate down, "I never thought your hair was that long."
I grinned.
"But it's so pretty!" Rachael interjected.
"Arigato." I replied, "I smelt the food, and didn't bother to braid it yet."
"Aa." Heero turned off the stove and sat next to me.
"Arigato!" Rachael and I said at the same time. Heero nodded as we began to eat.
"Heero, you should eat something." I said.
"Yeah." Rachael agreed. I poured Heero a cup of milk and handed it to him. Heero looked at the milk.
"Drink it Hee-chan." Heero lifted the glass and took a sip.
"Don't just sip it, take a drink!" Rachael said.
Heero cocked an eyebrow.
I bent over and whispered into Rachael's ear making it loud enough from Heero to hear, "I think we should help him out Rach, ne? Maybe he doesn't know how to drink milk..."
"Yeah, like we helped him with the cotton candy right?" she whispered back not so quietly.
"Hai."
Heero drank the whole thing in almost one gulp.
"I don't need any help." He added.
He's so cute.
Silence passed as we ate breakfast.
"I'm finished!" Rachael exclaimed. She jumped up from the table and took her dishes to the sink.
I turned to Heero, "Hee-chan?"
"Aa?"
"You have a milk mustache." I brought my thumb above his lip and wiped off the white substance, "There." I removed myself from the chair and brought the rest of the dishes to the dishwasher.
"Did you two have fun last night?" I asked Heero and Rachael.
"Hai! It was SO much, much, MUCH fun!"
"I see, what about you Hee-chan?"
"Aa."
"Uncle Heero, what did you do when I was visiting the lions?" Rachael asked. Heero glanced at me.
"Tell her Heero. There's no harm in it."
"We went on the ferris wheel."
"Is that *all*...?" she asked with what looked like a brief hint of disappointment in her wide aqua eyes. "That's it?"
"Well...yeah."
Rachael's disappointment in her eyes completely disappeared and a look of happiness, "Sugoi! That must have been REALLY fun! I went on a ferris wheel one time. It was so high, I was so little Mother told me I almost slipped out."
"I'm glad you didn't."
"Me too. It would have hurt."
I chuckled, "Yes, I think it would hurt."
Unless of course you're Heero.
"I know! But not only would it hurt, but I might break something."
"Or from height like that, you probably would get squished by gravity." I said.
"Like Uncle Heero's pancakes?"
"Like Uncle Heero's pancakes."
"Ew!"
"Gravity squished Rachael pancakes only $1.50!" I joked. I looked at Heero who was smirking at us.
I ruffled her hair, "Uncle Duo!"
"What's up today Heero?" I asked when I finished loading and starting the dishwasher.
Heero shrugged.
"Let's go ice skating!"
...
"Ice skating?"
"Uncle Duo, please?" Rachael pleaded.
I turned to Heero, "What do you think, Hee-chan?"
Heero looked at Rachael for a long moment neither of them breaking the gaze. Damn, she was better than me. Finally Heero pulled back and asked me, "What's ice skating?"
He's so cute.
~!~!~!~!~
We entered the skating rink at about 1 PM after lunch and bought our admittance. I personally would have preferred the outside rink, but being summer, it was physically possible to skate on making that thought out of the question. Then we would be swimming. We picked up our rented skates from the counter and prepared to put them on.
Rachael secured hers on first. I just finished lacing up the first of my skates when I looked over at how Heero was doing. The Asian was glaring at his skates in front of him.
"Nani?" I asked.
"Nothing. I'm just examining them..." Heero slid his finger across the blade.
"Put them on Uncle Heero!"
My technical friend turned the girl, "I'm assuming that since these skates are rental that they have been used by many other people. Correct? Therefore the quality of this public property has gone down greatly. Judging from the condition of them, I'd say that--"
"Put the damn skates on."
As he rolled his eyes, Heero slid his foot into the skate. I could see him wiggling his toes through the thick material. He laced it up and moved on to the next foot. Once he was finished with that, he still wasn't satisfied. The Japanese boy glared at his feet and rocked them back and forth testing the balance. His next experiment was picking up his feet and dropping them from knee height. What the hell was that going to prove? Mallebility of the blades? I think not.
"Come on Hee-chan!" I took a grip of his arm and tried to pull him onto the ice.
"Duo...I DON'T want to do this..."
"Heero!" I whinned, "We came all the way out here, and you decide that you don't want to even TRY?" I pulled on the boy who was clinging to the rink edge of the entrance, "Hee-chan!"
"Duo! I need time to adjust--" Heero was cut off when Rachael grabbed his other arm, "Rachael...!"
"Let's go now!" She pulled Heero onto the ice with me at the end. Rachael let go of Heero as soon as he was on the ice which left me behind him.
When the girl let go, she took off on to the ice. Pretty good for a seven year old. I watched her skate around the rink once and when she came back around she said, "Uncle Heero, Uncle Duo, you're suppose to skate! Not just stand there!" then she took off again.
Heero grunted and slid backwards into me. I grabbed his waist so he wouldn't fall, again, good fit, I like this, "Hey, Hee-chan. So nice of you to join me back here." I greeted lifting him to his feet. Heero snorted and tried to stand, but slid back again. I held his hands and switched us so I was facing him and backwards of the direction that we were suppose to be heading, "Come on Heero." I tugged his hands.
Heero gave me a look, "What do you think I'm trying to do???"
"Well, you're not getting anywhere." I shrugged, "Catch your balance, and everything will go smoothly."
"..." Heero shot a look that reeked 'I'm trying, I'm trying. What does it look like', "Duo, I don't want to ice skate."
"Hee-chan, it's just like roller blading."
"What's roller blading?"
I rolled my eyes, "And you were a what pilot???" I reminded as I pulled Heero slowly along the ice, "It's easy, anyone can do it. Look at Rachael." I pointed to the seven year old skating. She acknowledged us and waved.
"Hn."
"Don't be so sour." guess comparing him to a kid didn't make him feel any better, I pulled Heero a little faster, which was kinda slow, "Glide Hee-chan, glide."
"Duo, I don't want to skate--"
"Oh come on, for Gods' sake, *I* can skate."
I knew that Heero was new to this since he told me that he had never been ice skating. I think he's the type of guy that sucks at something in the beginning, but once he learns it, he's also mastered it.
Heero began to get the hang of skating, but he still needed alittle support, we hadn't even made it around ONCE. I watched him attempt to skate, he was catching on fast, "That's it Heero. You got it."
I tighten my grip on his hands as he stumbled. Damn little dip. Even with my help, that still didn't prevent Heero from falling and taking me down with him. Heero was flat on his back and I was right above him pressed against his muscled body. Ackward position to land if you asked me. He glared at the little hole.
"Omae o korosu..."
He's so cute.
I couldn't help but laugh, "Hahahahaha!"
"I don't see anything funny about this." Heero said. I removed my weight off of him before my hormones got out of control, let me tell you something, it was VERY hard to keep calm. Once I was up, Heero tried to get off the ice, but just falling back on his cute ass again. I reached for him and pulled him up. Heero glared at the hole again using while me for support.
"It's not...I just like laughing." Heero cocked an eyebrow and I grinned, "Okay, so it might have been a tad funny. How often do you get to see Heero Yuy fall on his ass from a hole in the ground while ice skating?"
Heero glared at me, I think I should have kept that comment to myself.
"But hey," I continued, "I think you got the hang of ice skating." I released one of Heero's hands and began to skate. Heero kept up just fine as we circled the rink. Rachael came up to us while we were still holding hands.
"Uncle Duo, you got Uncle Heero to skate!" she cheered.
"Sure did, wanna skate with him?" I asked. Heero glared at me.
"Yeah!" Rachael grabbed Heero's hand and skated away. I watched them skate around the rink and pass everyone. The second time, Rachael stopped in front of me, "That was fun!" Heero was glaring at me still, I don't think he liked being dragged around by a little girl, did somethin' to his pride I'm guessing.
"I'm sure it was, if you don't mind, I think I want to see how good Uncle Heero's gotten." I replied.
"Okay!" Rachael released Heero's hand, and Heero immediately grabbed mine. There's something you won't get Heero Yuy to do everyday, latch on to someone...especially when it's me. Rachael skated off leaving her two uncles behind...again.
"Did you have fun Hee-chan?"
"No."
"Aw," I said in a baby voice, "Can Heewo not handwe fast skating?"
Heero glared at me, "Hn."
"Gomen, I was only kidding." I began skating at an average pace, not too fast and not too slow. "Is this better?"
Heero nodded and held my forearm, "Much better."
"Why didn't you have fun?"
"She jerks too much." What a baby Hee-chan was, I swear, all he needed was a pacifier.
Heehee, the thought of Heero sucking on a rubber baby accessory caused a snicker to escape my lips. Bad Heero-Baby musings!
"Nani?"
"Nothing at all, Hee-chan."
After a couple of rounds skating, I sped up, fingers still entwined, "We're goin' kinda slow, Heero." I grabbed his other hand and skated backwards again pulling him with me, "I think you can keep up."
I tried to release Heero's hands, but Heero had latched himself on and wouldn't let go, "Duo..."
I quirked an eyebrow and finally managed to free my fingered captees from Heero's grip. I swear he's learned a thing or two from Relena, "Duo...!"
"Come get me Hee-chan." I challeged, Heero Yuy could never resist a challenge. I skated off into the crowd.
"Ugh, Duo! Omae o korosu!"
I laughed loudly to make sure he could hear me, but not see. I weaved through the people careful not to bump into the happy couples and children along the way.
"Uncle Duo, what are you doing?" Rachael asked out of no where.
"I'm playin' *KEEP AWAY* from Uncle Heero," I nearly shouted for Heero to hear, "wanna join?"
"Hai!"
I skated right passed Heero and stuck my tongue out, "Nah! That's for sticking your tongue out at me, Forest Prince!"
"Duo!" Heero sped up and almost caught me. ALMOST. Damn braid is gettin' too long.
~!~!~!~!~
Three and a half hours later we were all panting. We had torn up the rink badly leaving knicks and scratches all over the ice despite the zamboni that was suppose to keep the ice rink smooth. What the hell, it was fun.
"Hey, Hee-chan, didja have fun?" I asked.
"Hn."
"I did!" Rachael pulled off her skates, "But now my feet are killing me!"
"Mine too. Hope I don't get blisters." That would be gross. Public skates were always a drag to use, the knotted up laces and the worn down foot padding. Pain in the ass. I unlaced my skates, "Are we ready to leave?"
"We're leaving?" Heero asked.
"Yeah, we've been here for over three hours."
Heero looked down and undid his skates, "Oh."
I picked up Rachael's skates and mine to return to the counter. I walked by Heero and gathered his. Heero glanced at me, I smiled and whispered in his ear, "Don't be sad Hee-chan, I'll take you out ice skating with just you and me sometime..."
I resumed returning the skates.
~!~!~!~!~
"What now?" Rachael asked.
"Do you always have to be doing something?"
"Well...yeah, I guess, I mean, I have so much energy, I don't know what to do with it all." Rachael said as we walked down the sidewalk from the rink.
Heero snorted, "Sounds like you, Duo."
I frowned, "Okay then Heero, what should we do now?"
Heero shrugged.
"What would you like to do?" I asked Rachael.
Rachael shrugged.
"Is it just me, or are you pickin' up habits from each other?" I questioned them both.
Heero and Rachael shrugged.
"I know, let's go pick up the pictures from yesterday." I suggested.
"Yeah! Then we could go home and see them, and Uncle Heero could cook dinner."
"Does that sound good to you Heero?"
Let me guess, Heero shrugs. Sure enough, Heero shrugged.
How did I know? Even if I know that it's the same pointless answer, I still asked for Heero's opinion on things. Funny thing is, I don't know why I even bother.
The three of us got into the car and drove toward the drugstore.
~!~!~!~!~
"When did you deposit the film to be developed?" Heero asked looking out the window.
"Yeah, when DID you?" Rachael repeated.
"I did it last night while you guys were sleeping in the car."
"You did?" Rachael asked.
"Yes, I did."
"We slept in the car?" Rachael frowned, "Then how did I end up in my bed??? I don't sleep walk!"
I chuckled, "I don't know, you must have sprouted wings and flown."
"That SO unlikely, did you carry us?"
"Yeah. You don't REALLY think that I'd leave you both in the car, did you?"
"..."
"Hellll--" I changed my word, "--llllo...I would never do that!"
"Why not?" Rachael asked.
I frowned, "Because you might drool on my leather seats."
"I don't drool!" Rachael argued. "And I'm sure Uncle Heero doesn't either!"
"Whatever you say little girl." I parked the car and rolled down the windows, "Stay here, I'll be right back."
I got out of the car and went into the store. I don't think I need to explain how I got the film, however, I did bump into Wufei. Talk about coincidence.
"Wu-man!" I waved.
Wufei looked over at me, "Maxwell?"
"The one and only, I thought you were on a mission."
"I was. Just got back."
"Really? Everything go smooth as usual?"
"Yes...aren't you suppose to be on a mission too?" Wufei asked. I looked at what was in his hand.
Cocking an eyebrow, I read the lable of the box, "...Bubble gum lube?"
"Nani???" Wufei asked, I pointed to his hand, "Anou..." WUfei put the box back, "Yeah, um, what are you doing here?"
I held up the bag of developed film, "Just gettin' some pictures."
"I see. Having fun with Quatre's niece?"
"She's cool. I guess so...yeah." I looked out the window and saw Rachael poking her head out of the car and Heero trying to keep her down, "It's been interesting...matteo, how did you know about the mission?"
"Uh...Sally."
"Okay. Well nice talkin' to ya Wu, but I gotta go. I'll see ya later, ne?" the Chinese boy nodded as I started to walk away when I remembered something, "Wufei?"
"Nani?"
"Strawberry's the best." I walked away to the car.
~!~!~!~!~
"Open them!"
"Chotto matte, little girl." I said sitting on the couch in the middle with Heero on my right and Rachael my left. Rachael was leaning over me trying to take a look at the pictures. I hadn't even opened them yet either.
"Then hurry up!"
"Yes ma'am." I opened the package and pulled out 24 pictures, "Hahahahaha!"
It was the picture of Heero glaring on the carousel.
"Nani?" Heero asked obviously not finding it funny.
"Aw Heero, you're so kawaii." Heero blushed as I moved on to the next picture.
Heero was glaring again with his mouth opened shouting 'omae o korosu'. Next was Heero's surprised expression. And three pictures of Heero smirking.
"Wow, Uncle Heero looks really nice in pictures."
"Yeah, he's so photogenic."
Another picture had Heero and me on the white horse. I was smiling widely while Heero only gave a half smile. Rachael was featured in the next two photos. We laughed at the pictures. They were all worth taking. Each one was different and had it's own humor.
"Heero, love that cotton candy, look!"
It took us about an hour just to get through the pictures once. Rachael and I were laughing our heads off, especially when we saw ourselves.
"Is that Uncle Heero?" Rachael asked pointing to a happy young man at the top of the ferris wheel.
"Yes it is."
"Wah, Uncle Heero, I know this might sound weird from a seven year old, but...you're hot! Right Uncle Duo?"
Heero blushed a crimson red.
I laughed.
He's so cute.
"Yes he is." I finally replied.
It was my favorite picture. Heero was holding his bear and smiling a very pretty smile. Dim lights glittered in the background against a velvet sky. Heero's features stood out in the darkness which made him look even more extravagant.
I love Kodak.
"Uncle Duo! You took pictures of us sleeping???"
"Duo...!"
"Nani? I needed to use the film on something!" I explained, "Besides, you're both kawaii."
Heero rose from his seat and went to the kitchen, "Oi Hee-chan, what are you--"
"Making dinner."
That was enough answer for me.
"Why don't you take a nap Rach?" I suggested as she yawned.
"Hai." Rachael laid her head down on the couch and I went to the kitchen, "Need any help Heero?"
"No."
I sat down at the table and watched Heero get what he needed for his meal. "What cha makin'?"
"You'll see."
"Mmhmm..."
"Go take a nap Duo, I'll wake you up when I finish."
"Okay..." I walked over to the love seat and feel asleep.
~!~!~!~!~
"Duo wake up," I heard a soft voice say. I felt gentle hands brush my hair away, "Duo?"
Whoever was calling me and brushing my hair, I didn't really want them to stop.
"Duo?"
I knew it was Heero, which meant it was time to eat.
"Mmm, Heero?" I asked eyes still closed.
"Hai."
"Chotto matte..." I rolled to my left. If you ask me, I think I rolled over alittle too much.
THUMP!
Yeah, um, THAT kinda really woke me up.
"Duo...!" Heero grabbed my arms. I got up and opened my eyes after I fell off the love seat. "Duo, are you alright?"
"...I guess this thing wasn't as wide as I thought..." I yawned.
Heero shook his head, "Baka."
"Ah, I know you thought me rollin' off the couch was funny..." Heero smirked as I tapped the tip of his nose.
I blew on Heero's face.
"Duo!"
"Nani?"
I blew in his face again.
Heero blew in my face.
I chuckled, "I gotta be careful around you..."
Heero smirked, "Dinner's ready."
"Where's Rachael?"
"Washing her hands." Heero replied walking over to the small table.
"That's funny, I don't HEAR running water. Rachael?"
Silence.
"Rachael?" I asked.
Nothing.
Heero walked over to me, "I just sent her to the bathroom..."
I grabbed Heero's hand and looked in the bathroom. The water was off and no sign of Rachael.
"Yeah, um, well...she's not here." I looked in her bedroom, "Rachael?"
The window was opened.
Heero and I ran over to the window, "Why the hell is this opened?" I asked.
"I don't know," Heero replied, "Duo we have to find her!"
I hope he knows I realize that.
"Do you think she went outside?" I looked out the window.
"Rachael?" Heero called.
No answer.
"I'll check the perimeter."
"Do you think she ran away?"
"That's not likely, I mean, she likes us right?" I said climbing out of the window, "There's nothing to run away from."
"Aa..."
"Just watch out for her here, ne?"
Heero nodded as I left.
~!~!~!~!~
I walked around the safehouse searching for the girl, "Rachael, where are you?"
The girl wasn't any where outside. I walked around the neighborhood just in case she might have gotten that far.
Suddenly I saw a very familiar limo, no, not Relena's pink Barbie mobile. I took a closer look and gasped.
It was Quatre!
What the hell was *HE* doing here???
I ran back to the house as fast as I could, "Heero!"
Heero opened the front door, "Did you find her, Duo?"
"No," I pointed down the street, "But I found Quatre, and he's headed this way!"
"Shimatta..."
"Shimatta is right!"
"What are we going to do?"
"Find her dammit!" I cursed. Heero and I ran around the small house looking in the living room, dining room, her bedroom, and bathroom again, hell! We even checked the closet!
"She's not here." Heero said panting, "...Duo?"
"Nani?"
"You know what that means?"
"Uh...we're in deep shit?"
"Aa, that and it means that we...failed our mission."
*THAT*, I didn't think about. He was right, it means we did fail. Heero and I stood there in silence. Suddenly we heard faint singing coming from the master bedroom.
"Daijoubu kitto OK![1]"
Singing...we heard singing,
"Rachael!" we said in unison and ran to the room.
I opened the door and saw the light on from the master bathroom.
"Tabun umaku iku ze dakara umaku iku ze, Owari no nai yume no tame ni..."
Heero and I ran into the bathroom only to see a seven year old girl *TRYING* to wash her hands in the master bathroom sink on her tippy-toes with a Sony Walkman TM by her side which we bought for her at the mall. She couldn't quite reach the sink and the girl had gotten water all over her shirt.
"Akirameta toki kara, tsukisae nigete shimau, Girigiri no pressure made, tanoshimereba It's gonna be OK!"
"..."
"Same here."
Rachael looked into the mirror, "Uncle Duo, Uncle Heero! What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you."
"What?"
"He said 'looking for you'." Heero repeated.
"What?"
I snatched the headphones off her ears as Heero and I both said, "Looking for you!"
"Oh...Why?"
"K'so, you scared us Rachael." I reached over her and turned off the splashing water.
"What did I do?"
"How come you aren't using your sink?" Heero asked calmly. I have to admitt, I was alittle upset. She really did scare us, or at least me. I think Heero was taking this a tad better than I was.
"Oh, it doesn't work."
That got us, "Nani?" we asked together.
"Do you guys plot your dialogue out or something?" Heero and I cocked an eyebrow, "There! You did it again!"
"Why didn't you tell us that your sink didn't work?" Heero asked.
"Well, this morning I was when I figured it out myself, but before that I went to your bathroom so I could brush my teeth. I would have told you then, but you guys were asleep and I didn't want to wake you up."
Aaaaaaaaaaa...so THAT'S why there was a Deathscythe toothbrush on the counter this morning...
"So I didn't tell you, then when breakfast came, I just forgot."
"Okay. Then why didn't you tell us when Heero asked you to wash your hands?" I asked.
Rachael frowned, "Am I in trouble or something?"
"No, you're not in trouble, we just wanted to know." Heero said.
"Why?"
"Because you scared us. We didn't know where you were. Uncle Duo even went running around the neighborhood looking for you."
"Gomen nasai, I just didn't want to disturb you."
"Disturb?" Heero and I repeated, well if you asked me, I think we were pretty disturbed to begin with.
"Hai, I saw Uncle Duo roll off the couch, so I thought that I would just go ahead and use your bathroom again."
That explains alot, except--
"Rachael, why was your window opened?" Heero questioned. Damn he was good at this stuff.
"It got hot."
KnockKnock
No one moved.
"I'll get it." I said and went to the door. I opened it and saw Quatre, Iria, AND Trowa. Guess Wu and him were really back from their mission, "Hey hey, look who's here on a surprise visit..."
"Hello Duo!" Quatre reached up and hugged me gently with one of his friendly hugs. Not the ones Trowa received, I assure you.
"Nice to see you too...and Iria and Tro." I moved a side, "Come in, don't let me stop you."
The three stepped inside and took off their shoes at the door then proceeded to the living room that I had guided them to. They sat down on the couch as I invited them to do so.
"Welcome to our humble temporary safehouse occupied by the lovely Rachael, stoic Heero and Duo no baka at the time being. Please make yourselves at home, feel free to tour and use anything to your hearts content including toiletries, bedding, consumption of edible matter, and of course the television set." I said much like an attendant on an airplane handing Quatre the remote. He smiled at my humor.
"Something smells good." Iria complimented.
I sat down at the end of left side of the couch, "You must be inhaling our dinner."
"Oh, did you make it?"
I shook my head and eyed Trowa and Quatre who were indeed smothering a chuckle. "No, actually Heero did."
"Heero cooked you dinner?" Iria asked.
"Yes ma'am, and breakfast every morning." I replied, "Speaking of the boy, I'll get him and Rachael, I'm sure that's why you came in the first place." I excused myself and walked to the master bedroom.
When I reached the bathroom, I saw Heero holding Rachael up on his left knee and helping the girl wash her hands with soap.
"Clean freak..." I mumbled under my breath, "Oi Hee-chan, I think we should go greet our guest."
Heero looked at me, "Duo?"
"Nani?"
"Will you get Rachael another shirt?"
"..."
"Onegai? She's all wet. I don't think her mother would appreciate it if she saw her like this."
Heero was right. I quickly made my way to Rachael's bedroom careful not to let them hear me over their little chit chat. I grabbed a pastel green shirt and went back to the bathroom.
I handed Heero the shirt. Heero handed it to Rachael. Rachael stood there waiting for something.
"What are you waiting for?" I asked.
"For you to turn around! You don't honestly think that I'm going to undress in front of you? No! I may be seven, but I have my pride to!"
"..." Heero and I turned around.
~!~!~!~!~
"Uncle Quatre! Uncle Trowa! Mommy!!!" The girl ran to her mother.
"Hello Rachael," her mother said as Rachael hugged her, "Are you having a good time here?"
"Yes, I'm having a wonderful time!" Rachael exclaimed, "Uncle Duo and Uncle Heero take very good care of me. They always make sure I eat three meals a day and don't let me get bored."
"Very good. Now say a proper hello to your Uncle Quatre and Uncle Trowa." Rachael released her mother and hugged Quatre.
"Hi Uncle Quatre!"
Quatre returned the hug, "So they're taking good care of you, huh?"
"Hai!"
"They aren't letting you stay up too late?"
"Nope!"
"Brushing your teeth regularly?"
"Hai!"
"Are you getting a good night sleep?"
"Yes, Uncle Heero even got rid of the monster under the bed so I could go to sleep."
"Really?"
Heero looked at me and mouthed, "Laptop thief."
I pointed to myself, blinked, and mouthed back innocently, "Me???"
Heero rolled his eyes and smirked.
He's so cute.
"Uh-huh." Rachael moved on to her next victim, Trowa, "Hi Uncle Trowa!"
"Hello." Rachael latched onto Trowa, "I heard from Aunt Cathy that you visited the circus while I was gone."
"Yep, Uncle Duo and Uncle Heero took me. Aunt Catherine let me see the lions! And before that we ate cotton candy and everything. We have picutes too!"
"Pictures?" Trowa asked.
"Hai, they're so funny!" Rachael turned to me, "Can they see them Uncle Duo?"
"Alright." I replied as Rachael ranted on about the past few days.
I got up and went to the kitchen where I had left them and was fixing to get the photos when I saw Heero already in the kitchen removing a picture and placing it in the drawer. Good thing we were out of earshot, "Heero, what are you doin'?"
Heero jumped, "Taking a picture out..."
I leaned over Heero's shoulder and saw the picture that he had taken out, it was the one with him smiling.
My favorite one.
"Why would you do that Heero? I think it's the best picture out of the whole thing."
Heero handed me the rest of the pictures and closed the drawer, he said something softly in my ear, "...it's a weakness."
Heero started for the living room, but I caught his wrist and stopped him, "It's not a weakness Heero, it's a gift..." I whispered into his ear. "It's a gift..."
Heero froze. How could he think that it was a weakness? It was anything but a weakness.
"My smile is rare and reserved for only certain people, Duo..." Heero sighed, "I don't..." the Japanese boy cut himself short looking away from me.
"Don't what?"
"...I don't like to...share it with many people, I guess."
"Why?" Okay, I know I'm pushing him now but...
Heero shrugged, "People don't need to see it."
"*I* need to see it, Heero...does this make me certain person?" I asked pulling Heero closer.
".......hai, Duo. It does..." Heero answered very quietly. I almost missed it, but I'm sure as hell glad I didn't. Heero opened the drawer. He pulled out the picture and looked at it.
"What are you doing now?"
Heero put the picture in my pant pocket on the left hand side, "I...want you to keep it safe." he said softly backing away slowly, "Onegai?"
"I will," I took his hand in mine, "I will Heero..." I leaned in closer to him my nose touching his...
"Uncle Duo! What's taking to long???" Rachael said before she reached the kitchen, during the time Heero and I quickly turned from each other. Heero tended to his food which needed to be reheated and I walked out of the kitchen as Rachael found me, "Uncle Duo--"
"I'm comin', I'm comin'." Rachael grabbed my hand and pulled me to the living room.
For you Heero, I would keep it safe for you.
So when you look back later, you will see how beautiful you really are.
Instead of dening it...
~!~!~!~!~
I gave Rachael the pictures to show to the others as I went to the room. I placed a certain picture of Heero in a little box I kept in my bag.
"Oh Trowa! Look at this!" I heard Quatre say as I entered the room. He was pointing to Heero on the carousel. Trowa gave it a half smile. "Duo, Heero let you take these???"
"Well, I kinda just whipped out a camera and snapped a shot." I replied sitting next to Trowa.
"This is when we went to the costume corner. Uncle Heero was our model." Rachael explained.
Iria looked at the picture and giggled, "He's very cute in that."
"I told him that it looked good on him, then he pulled it off and put it on me!"
"Well, it was made for a little girl, and not a young adult." Quatre said.
Heero came in holding a tray of water and iced tea, "Would anybody like anything to drink?"
"Yes, I think that would be nice," Iria took an iced tea, "Arigato."
Trowa took a water and Quatre took a tea. Rachael grabbed an iced tea and Heero handed her two small packets of sugar. He says I'm the one who spoils her, whatever, no wonder why she's so hyper.
"Arigato Uncle Heero!" Heero smirked at Rachael and handed me two waters, one for him and one for me, as he set the tray on the table.
"Oh my...Rachael dear, you have chilli all over your face...so does Uncle Heero and Uncle Duo...!"
"I know! It was so fun, Uncle Duo introduced Uncle Heero to chilli fries!"
"If you ask me, Duo looks like a walrus." Quatre commented.
I did. I had two fries drenched with chilli hanging out of my mouth crossing my eyes with smidges of chilli smired across my face. Fun. I just hope no one uses it for black mail.
Heero was just as bad, his nose was covered with it. Heero had stuck out his tongue in the picture which made it ten times cutes. I would have rolled over laughing, but Iria was there.
Rachael had it all over her cheeks and drinking a soda smiling.
Fun, fun, fun.
Quatre laughed politely, "Duo! What did you do to him???" he asked. Heero sat on the arm rest to my left.
"He didn't know how to eat cotton candy." I said.
"So Uncle Duo and I helped him."
Trowa looked at the picture and chuckled out loud, "Heero, I never thought they would ever catch you off guard like that."
Heero shrugged.
"Hahahaha!"
"What?"
"Look at Rachael and Duo!" Both of us had cotton candy stuffed in our mouths.
A half hour passed as their short check up became a visit. We finally finished the pictures at half passed seven.
"Aren't there suppose to be twenty six pictures in a roll?" Trowa asked. [2]
"Yes."
"Then why are there only twenty five?"
"I took one of them out." Heero answered honestly.
"Why?"
"You don't need to see it."
Rachael gave me a bewildered look. She knew exactly what picture Heero had taken out. I held a finger up to my lips, "Shh..." I whispered.
The rest of the group seemed to understand. They had gotten their share of an out of character Heero Yuy.
"Wow, but Heero was in most of those pictures..." Iria said.
"Hai, Uncle Duo says that Uncle Heero is very photogenic, right?"
"Yep, the camera loves him." I replied.
"Or maybe it's just the person behind it..." Trowa said loud enough for only me to hear, but I think Heero caught bits of the sentence.
I elbowed Trowa in the side, "Kisama...!"
"Someone's been hanging out with Wufei too long..." Trowa returned.
Quatre looked at his watch, "I think we should get going. We just wanted to check up on Rachael, and since she's fine and having a good time, we can leave."
"I don't blame ya, if I had a kid, and I left them with me, I would be checkin' up on them 24/7."
Quatre laughed, "Very funny." Trowa, Quatre, and Iria got up and said their good byes. Then they left.
"Uncle Heero, why did you take that picture out?" Rachael asked.
"..."
"Uncle Heero!"
"Rachael, let's eat dinner."
I didn't think Heero would get so personal about it.
~!~!~!~!~
We ate dinner in silence that night. Rachael and I sensing that Heero wasn't really in a good mood, weren't going to say anything what was going to make him even more upset. Even if Heero was alittle sour that night, the dinner wasn't. It was still as great as we expected it to be.
I knew that Heero could get irritated at times, and when he did, he just ignored everything and when about his life as if no one was there. I watched Heero eat. Usually when he was upset he hurried through everything and avoided anything, but the way he was eating, he wasn't just upset, something was bothering him. Heero picked and nibbled his food through out dinner and wouldn't even look up. The only other times he's done that was...I think after he um...failed one of his missions with Sylivia Noventa's grandfather. Don't ask how I know. Long story.
"Uncle Duo, I'm finished." Rachael said quietly.
"Okay, go put your dishes in the sink."
Rachael complied, "Arigato Uncle Heero."
"..."
I looked at Rachael, "He says 'your welcome', but it doesn't seem like it, I know. Go take a shower."
"Can I use your shower?"
"That's fine."
Rachael nodded and left Heero and me at the table.
"Heero?"
"..." Heero walked over to the sink and placed his dishes on the counter.
I stood up and brought my plate to the sink, "Dammit Heero, what's wrong?" I asked setting my plate down.
Heero looked up and me with hurt eyes, "I don't know..."
Heero was all upset and didn't even know why. I pulled Heero close to me and he wrapped his arms around me. I sighed, "Cheer up then," I hugged Heero and caressed his back, "I think you've scared Rachael."
"Gomen..." Heero apologized putting his chin on my shoulder.
"Heero, you're not mad at the picture are you?"
"I don't know what I'm upset at..."
"I'm just talking about the picture though."
"Don't show it to anyone."
"Why?"
"I told you already."
"So you're not upset at that?" Heero shook his head, "I think you're just tired from everything that's happened so far."
"...I guess."
"Go sit down and think or something." I suggested. He nodded and sat down at the table as I started to work on the dishes.
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Afterwards, Heero claimed that he had enough energy to watch alittle of the Korean series that we had started. He wanted to find out what happens to the girl that Nam Chun was in love with. I got him on the couch and went to tuck Rachael in.
"Uncle Duo?" Rachael asked from under her covers.
"Yeah?"
"Is Uncle Heero mad at me?"
I was quiet for a moment, "No, he's not mad at you. I don't think he'd ever get mad at you."
"Then what was wrong with him?"
"He's just tired I guess. Don't worry about it. He'll probably be fine tomorrow."
"I hope so, He's no fun all grumpy!"
"No, he's not. Now go to sleep or you'll be grumpy just like him. Then I'll get grumpy, and after that we'll have a grumpy Rachael, Grumpy Heero, and Grumpy Duo, then nothing's fun anymore." I told her.
"Okay, okay! No more! Oyasumi gojaimas!"
"Say good night to Uncle Heero."
"OYASUMI GOJAIMAS UNCLE HEERO!" I covered my ears.
"Oyasumi Rachael." I heard Heero say.
"See, he's feeling better already." I turned off the lights, "Oyasumi..."
I closed the door and passed the living room, "Where are you going?" Heero asked.
"I have to get something." I entered the master bedroom and got Heero's bear. I walked to the couch, teddy bear behind me.
"What did you get?" Heero asked.
I plopped down next to him on the couch and pulled the blanket over our legs, "I think you'll need this for the next few episodes." I handed Heero the bear, "They're alittle depressing."
Heero looked at the bear and accepted it, "...Arigato."
I put an arm around Heero and started the series.
Four episodes later, Heero fell asleep during the credits. I don't blame him, the slow music is so tempting. I stopped the show and carried Heero to bed with his teddy bear.
He's so cute.
I took our shirts off, and stripped down to my black boxers. I put both of us to bed and proceeded to sleep. My last thoughts were of the ice skating that we had done today.
This was the best mission yet, and it was fun.
Wonder what new things I could introduce Heero to next...
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TBC?
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Wah! This was almost as long as the first part! Yes, there is a reason behind Hee-chan's cranky scene, but I can't tell you now, it's in the next day!
I hadn't planned on getting this out so soon, but I was feeling spontaneous and decided to put another on up. Though I'm afraid that it wasn't as good as the last chapter -_-; Ah, I'll try again in the next part, ne?
Oh, I was reading the reviews and noticed Rachael was in many of them. I'm glad that you guys think she's cute. I wanted to make her sweet and lovable, she's based on my 7 (well now 8) year old cousin by the way if you ever wondered where in the world Rachael may have come from. I just had to mention that. Thank you for the feedback on her!
[1]- "Kitto OK" by Toshihiko Seki, Duo's Japanese seiyuu. Gotta love him!
[2]- Twenty-six pics in a roll, it's twenty-four I know. Well...maybe they make it with twenty-six. I don't know. *shrugs*