Only Time
By: Zarabeth McGregor
Chapter 15
Disclaimer: You know the drill…I don't own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon, nor do I have any hopes or prospects of owning them. Thank you.
Ooh, has anyone ever watched Caillou on PBS? No I don't actually like the kid, but I do love Gilbert, Matthew and especially Rexy!! I LOVE Rexy!!!!! Oh, he's so cute!! REXY!!!!
Also, say 'Hi' to my cuz, Demon Angel Fyre! She has a cool Digimon fic up, so you might want to check it out.
And I can't say 'Thank you' enough for everyone who has been reading and those of you who reviewed. I hope I'm not giving you guys premature hypertension and crap like that, am I?
Oh, does anyone know of any good Setsuna/Zechs or Setsuna/Treize fics? Or, even better, one with a triangle made up of the above mentioned. Oh, I've been dying to read one!
Q or C and A:
Ladymiaka11: Thank you! Yes, I now realize they are hard to find. I'll try to update as quickly as I can, don't worry.
Kid: Well, I didn't know guys liked my fics (yes, this goes to you too, IL195). But hey, I ain't complaining! Wicked Lady, you say…tell me, is she as crazy as she is on FF.net on a regular basis? Yes, hon, I love dropping cliffhangers…didn't Jenna (is that her real name?) tell you? Yeah, Duo's cool, he ties with Wufei for second fave. Mars is my fave planet…fave scout, also and I love cherries! Pathetic, no! I am, since I get pleasure out of torturing you peeps…quite sadistic, as Demon Angel Fyre would say. As for going on and on and on…yeah, I've got 16 more chapters to put up. Yes, we have a lot more suspense to go. And yes, cliffhangers. Thanks for reading!
Demon Angel Fyre: Well, it took you long enough!
Korino Megami no Tanagai: Well, the white rose symbolizes innocence and purity…yeah, I like them too. And a little secret: the suspense might not last for very long…
Arella Hallo: Uh…yes ma'am!
WikeD tEnShI: What is going on? *shrugs* Who knows?
Silver Star: Thanks for the notice, I definitely have to read it!
Cocheta: *hums*
Wicked Lady: Why Heero? What do you mean? Me, like what? Torture? *Innocent look* No, seriously, I'm not being obnoxious or anything, but what do you mean by 'Why Heero?' I'm just curious, really.
*Laughs* I KNEW you would say that! I just knew it! That's why I did it! Ha! Wufei, huh? You're right, no one would expect that…Quatre too…But of course! Any child of Duo's would be so fine!!!! *sigh* Thanks for the publicity, by the way. I think I might start being nice to you…*thinks about it, shakes head* NAH!
IL195: *smiles sweetly, sing-song voice* You still didn't answer my question…
SweetAngels3: Aw, guess that means I have to get off my lazy ass and go look for them… Thank you!
Minimerc: Yeah!!! Though I drink Sprite more coke, it still rules! Of course, I get hyper off it, but that's another story! Glad you're enjoying it. As for Hee-chan's thoughts, I can't really do that, since it's told from Ami's POV. Sorry!
Jchild: I wonder too. I mean, you can never know with these peeps. Um, I got inspiration for the falling thing from my own personal experience…let's say it involved: Me in heels, some seriously steep stairs and a guy I met the same night…
Oldestof3: Oh, the cliffy! My bad!
Meio-chan: It's not that bad…it's quite funny if you think about it…*snickers* Ah, so, you know, huh?
Jessica: No cliffy? *cackles* Something else? What do you mean by something else? *innocent look*
Mink: All in due time, hon, all in due time…You used to write Digimon fiction at one point?
Za Kaze no Nisou: Kill me? Innocent me? *Pleading look*
Cosmic Raye: Thank you *Bows graciously*
Angel Anne: Where indeed?
Kaiya: *sugary sweet voice* Kaiya, darling…you okay? *Laughs* Yes, we all are, just make sure you've picked up the pace long before report time comes around!
Oh, and Cappuccino is responding very well to her training! See? *smiles broadly* Cappuccino, sit! *frowns* Sit! Cappuccino, sit! *frowns deeper* Uh…*blanches when Cappuccino runs in direction of mother's rose garden* Cappuccino! For the love of God! Come back! *runs after wayward dog…*
Spooky Fyre: See, it's not that long. Just make sure you don't waste too much time and concentrate on your schoolwork, k? Before you know it, you'll be wearing one of those hot, stifling gowns!
Mystic Silver: Yes, ma'am!
Amanda: I wonder too…
Amy: Glad you do! And it will get better, trust me! *mysterious smile*
~*~
After our little 'accident', Duo and I danced the night away. Exactly what time I went home, I don't know, although I know it was later than I did last Friday. I know, though, that when Duo was driving me home, the eastern section of the sky was lightening up a bit. Well, we didn't hear or see Heero or Relena again, so I take it things went really well.
I pondered this and much more the next afternoon as I soaked in my bathtub. The exotic orange blossom bubble bath fragrance was so invigorating; I definitely needed it, since I woke up around noon. I had the headphones from my portable CD player over my ears, listening to a new age classical CD. I was now being serenaded by the vocal stylings of Charlotte Church as she sang the Ave Maria.
My mind was now focused back to the night before. My feet were aching from the heels I was wearing. But it didn't matter. I smiled indulgently. I really am good at this matchmaking thing! If I could get two supremely stubborn people like Heero and Relena to put aside their issues from their first relationship and have another go at it. I know I was starting to sound too confident, but I couldn't help it! I giggled, feeling quite giddy. That feeling becoming common, nowadays, I noticed.
But I frowned. What if it didn't work out? What if this was just an…old-times sake thing? Not a one-night fling, but…you know. Well, I'd have to see, won't I? I sighed, sinking deeper into the tub. A lively piece of violin music was now playing and I found myself nodding along to it. But something was still at the back of my mind. I found myself still thinking about my conversation with Heero on Thursday. I remembered his assessment of me, about my being innocent. He said it with such sincerity and awe, like he couldn't believe there was someone who still held such a pure view of the world. Why not? I knew I was right.
But he was right too. There is so much going on in the world today that one has to wonder: What's the sense? Why should we care? I sighed. I knew there were reasons why we should; I named some of them Thursday, but I could understand where Heero was coming from. God, I was letting that one little conversation take over my free time!
Then, that feeling came back, the one I felt yesterday when I was looking at my newest rose before Relena came in; the feeling that I was close to discovering something. It was a very annoying sensation, but I tried to press on. I was close in knew it, but I didn't know what it was. Oh, just press it, Ami!
The phone rang, shattering my fragile concentration. With a groan, I took off my headphones and reached for my cordless phone.
"Hello?" I answered with a sigh.
"You busy?" the voice I recognized as Duo's replied. I raised a brow.
"Uh…" I shrugged. "No, not really."
"Okay, do you think you can meet in front of Roxanne's in half an hour?" he asked. I could hear the excitement in his voice.
"Sure, why not?" I said with a smile.
"Okay, cool, see you then," he replied
"Bye," I said and hung up. I got out of the tub immediately and went to my room. For the next fifteen minutes, I dried myself and put on some clothes; a simple blue spaghetti strap top with a scoop neckline, a pair of white shorts and the Sketchers I found in the hotel room. I put my hair into a loose bun, teasing out the ends that I didn't tuck in. Then I called a cab and was soon on my way to Roxanne's. At exactly three thirty, I was leaning against the wall of the restaurant for Duo to arrive.
Five minutes didn't pass by when I heard the roar of an engine. I turned my attention from the busy street where I was expecting to see Duo's black convertible to the parking lot. I frowned slightly, because something was approaching me, a motorcycle to be exact. I couldn't see the person because a pitch-black helmet covered the head. I took a few steps back, quite unconsciously, when it pulled up in front of me. You'd think hanging around Haruka and Rei I would've gotten used to loud engines revving up next to me.
Presently the person steadied the bike. The engine was still running, though it was more of a soft, purring sound. I raised my brows as the helmet came off.
"Duo?" I asked uncertainly. Well, the braid was there as proof. He settled the helmet under his arm and grinned at me.
"You like?" he asked eagerly. I had to give a small smile. It was beautiful. The bike was black and sleek and so highly polished, it reflected the sunlight. Lines of silver, made of a different, less reflective metal, ran between the black body. Two powerful mufflers sat at the back, on either side of the bike. I was strangely transfixed by it.
"It's gorgeous," I breathed. Duo's grin got even larger.
"Good. Hop on," that definitely snapped me out of my reverie.
"Hop on?" I repeated dumbfounded. Duo nodded.
"Yeah, I got a helmet for you right here," he replied, taking an azure helmet from a handlebar. I was stunned, to say the least. I thought he probably wanted to show it to me; I didn't know he actually wanted me to get on it. I immediately started to fumble for excuses.
"Uh…I don't think that's a good idea…" I started. Duo frowned.
"You aren't scared, are you?" he asked gently, not at all teasing. Hell yeah! I wanted to say. My mind went back to a particular accident Haruka had that resulted in her breaking an arm and a leg, not to mention suffering a concussion.
"Uh…" I couldn't answer; I didn't exactly want to seem chicken. Something left over from grade school. Duo seemed to understand.
"Listen, you have nothing to be afraid of," he said with a half smile. "I'll drive carefully. The last thing I want to do is hurt you." He then stretched out a hand. "Trust me."
Okay, every time a guy told a girl to trust him, chaos followed. 'Trust me' he says when he's offering you your first beer. Later you're in the bathroom throwing up even what you didn't eat. 'Trust me' he says when he tells you to sneak out to meet him, only you get caught by your parents and you're grounded indefinitely. 'Trust me' he says when you're alone together in a nice, dark place. Then you end up standing in your bathroom with a friend, living through the most stressful three minutes of your entire life. Of course I wasn't speaking from experience; I just knew.
These scenarios were flying at the speed of light through my head as I stood there, looking at his hand. But for once, I ignored them. They screamed at banshee pitch as I took his hand. Duo smiled as he put on my helmet. I then climbed onto the motorcycle, sitting behind of him.
"Hold on tightly," he advised before revving the engine again. Even through the thick helmet, the noise was deafening. We were moving a few seconds after.
It was a very…different experience. The breeze, which was gentle and soft, was now hard and rough as it passed over my skin, through my hair. It was also kind of uncomfortable, knowing I couldn't lean back, unless I wanted to crack my head open on the street. The body of the bike was smooth against my thighs and warmed from the engine, which was no longer roaring but now lowered to a steady hum. I clutched Duo's waist, as we swung away from some oncoming traffic, suddenly aware of how exposed I was, come the worst. I took several deep breaths before closing my eyes.
The next time I opened them, it was to a totally different scene. The road was deserted, and I recognized the stretch as the one we took to get to the beach. Sure enough, the sparkling blue sea soon came into view. I sighed contentedly and watched as the waves lapped softly on the fine sand, realizing lazily that I was no longer afraid. I loosened my grip on Duo's middle, figuring that he was probably asphyxiating by now. The bike's smooth, non-swerving movements were surprising calming and I found myself quite relaxed. I closed my eyes again, this time not out of fear, but because the overwhelming urge to sleep had suddenly descended. I noted sleepily that we had turned. The sun was now longer shining full blast on me, but I was cooler. I opened my eyes and realized we were now driving under a canopy of trees. The sunlight was now streaming through tiny spaces between the branches and leaves. Wild floral bushes grew along the sides of the road, their flowers in full and colorful bloom. Butterflies flitted to and fro among the flowers and I could hear birds singing high above me. I took in all of this with a very peaceful temperament.
We slowed down gradually as Duo pulled off to the side of the road and stopped the bike. We got off and Duo guided it over to a small alcove. Then he turned to me and smiled.
"This is the fun part," he said with a mysterious smile and a glint in his eyes. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a black bandana. He folded it lengthwise until it was about five inches across. "I'm gonna put this over your eyes," he announced. I raised a brow.
"Whatever for?" I asked a challenge in my voice. Duo began to approach me.
"You'll see," he said. I smiled and let him tie the cloth over my eyes.
"How many fingers do I have up?" Duo asked. I rolled my eyes—the I did my best under the circumstances.
"Does it matter?" I replied. I heard him chuckle. He took my arm and I soon felt him leading me along a little path. It was as cool as the last bit of road we drove down and I could smell the sweet fragrance the flowers exuded. It was a short walk, because after five minutes, we stopped.
"Okay, here we go," I heard Duo say and I felt him untying the bandanna. As it came away from my eyes, I saw what he had brought me hear to see. I gasped.
Ha! Okay, hang me, maul me, lynch me, whatever. Just remember without me, you won't know the outcome. No, Kaiya, you won't get my book; I got Cappuccino under control now! This will be my last update for a few weeks, k?