~ kitten ~
By Alexia Goddess
Chapter Four
"Man, this storm is a nasty one," Duo muttered as thunder
crashed and the rain came down in icy sheets a foot thick. "No way I'd
go out there, not even for my chunky chip chocolate ice cream." The
Gundam Pilot closed the door, put down his umbrella, and slipped off
his jacket-
"Nah, there's no way I'm going without my chunky chip." Not
understanding why, exactly, he put on his jacket again, picked up the
umbrella and a water-repelant baseball cap, and headed out the door.
Standing on the porch, he was already soaked. He was just about
to question his descision to go out -even for a life-saving pint of
chocolate ice cream- when suddenly his mind went blank, as did his
eyesight.
"What the-" Was all he managed to spit out before his mind was
shoved aside.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
It was a dark, stormy night, (AN: Couldn't resist) and the
weather had given a temporary rest from the downpour, but the clouds
overhead threatening to spill their bounty at any moment. The man
pressed forward against the wind, intent on finding his love before it
was too late.
"We should turn back!" Zion, standing beside Axis, called over
the approaching storm.
"No!" Axis screamed back. "Not until we find her! You felt the
pains; she's in trouble! And she has to be close!"
Suddenly, a hot spot on his chest began burning, and a
whistling sound reached his ears. Axis cried out in truimph as he
fumbled for his amulet under his shirt, and drew it out. The small ruby
inside the small golden cage in the center of the amulet was spinning
and whistling wildly. Just as he had it out, Zion's began going on its
own whirlwind. The Prince pulled it out, flashed his companion a smile,
and set off at a run, Axis at his side.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
She was cold. That was all she could feel. All other senses
were numbed by that same cold. She couldn't even tell if she was
shivering. Probably not. She felt to weak to do anything physical, even
something as involuntary as shaking from cold.
So near unconscious, and so cold and numb to reality was she,
that she didn't notice when a man with dark chocolate brown hair and
bright, crystal blue eyes found her, wrapped her in his arms, craddling
her gently. As that man lifted her up into his arms as he stood, she
fell back into the deep dark, comforting world of sleep.
"Princess..."
"We have to get her some place warm," Another voice said. The
wind began picking up, reaching even the depths of the deserted alley.
"But where? We can't take her to our host. My host would
probably just leave her-"
"Mine wouldn't." Zion looked up at the sky. "Put her down,
then leave. I'll call him." Hesitantly, Axis obeyed, setting the
shivering girl back down among the mounds of soaked carpeting. Kissing
the golden haired girl on the cheek, he then turned, and -reluctantly-
left the alleyway, running back to where he was supposed to be.
Zion looked down at the girl, and his eyes softened. "I hope
this works," He muttered, and closed his eyes.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Duo blinked, feeling the sensation equevilant to waking from a
deep, heavy, unnatural sleep. He found himself standing at the entrance
to an alleyway, completely drenched.
"Okay, I know Wu-man says I sleep like a lion on vodka, but
sleepwalking?" He shook his head, tightened his coat around himself,
jammed his cap lower in his forehead, and turned to head home -forget
the icecream.
Duo was almost past the alley entrance when something down the
alley caught his eye. Curious, he poked his head around the corner, and
what he saw made his eyes bulge.
"Idiot girl," He muttered, jogging down the alley to the female
form curled up omong piles of drenched rugs. The girl's skin was an
inhuman blue color, her lips deep violet, and she was shivering
violently. Long golden blonde hair was plastered from the water to her
back, shoulders, arms, and face, all knotted in a tangled mess.
Cursing colorfully, knowing what Wufei would say and knowing he
couldn't just leave the girl, the former Deathscythe Gundam Pilot
slipped off his coat and laid it over the girl. As he bent to lift up,
he blinked in surprise. It was the same girl Wufei had caught
'trespassing' yesterday!
Duo groaned. The chinese pilot was going to kill him, if Heero
didn't do it first for letting a stranger in their house. He sighed as
he looked down at her blue face, and his own expression softened. Well,
at least he knew Quatre and probably Trowa would be on his side. Even
so, Duo couldn't help but curse his friendly nature that got him into
these sort of predictaments.
It was near pandemonium when Duo entered the small house he and
the other Gundam Pilots had rented on Earth, at the Vice Minister's
request (they still didn't know why, though.) Wufei was outraged,
Heero glaring left and right, Trowa trying not to laugh, and Quatre
franticly running back and forth between preparing the guestroom, soup,
finding clothes, calling a doctor, ect.
Duo sighed.
Suddenly, while Duo was standing in the entry way, dripping wet
with the girl in his arms, waiting for Quatre to let him in after he
had gotten the guestroom set up, things got worse.
She woke up.
And began yelling, cursing, screaming, and throwing what feeble
punches she could.
Duo groaned.
It was going to be a long night.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
"Well, what was I supposed to think and do?" Kitten grumbled to
herself as she slipped into a hot bathtub. "I did what any sane teenage
girl would have done if she had gone to sleep in a deserted alley, and
woken up in the arms of a guy she didn't know." She winced as the hot
water seared her nearly frostbitten toes.
Truth be told she was extremely embarassed. When they had
gotten her to calm down, she had realized that the man carrying her was
none other than 'Duo.' The funny-boy from the night before that had
kept Wufei from glaring her to pieces.
Another boy, a sweet, polite looking pale blonde haired, blue
eyed young man had assured her that none of them would 'try anything'
and that she was perfectly safe with them. For some odd reason, she had
believed him.
Now they had given her a room with an adjoining bathroom, and
Quatre, the polite blonde, had bid her take a bath and have dinner with
them afterwards.
"Probably week-old pizza and stale chips and booze," She
muttered, trying to find something to justify her outburst as she was
finally submurged under the water completely, save for her head and
hands.
She spent the next half hour lathering her hair, then
saturating it with much needed conditioner. Face clensers came next,
along with shaving and just plain scrubbing all over.
When she finally stepped out of the filthy lukewarm water,
dark, nearly brown, glimmering golden hair plastered down her back and
dripping wet, wrapped in a fluffy blue towel, she felt like a new
person.
She managed to find an old looking hair brush in a drawer,
and spotted a clean set of clothes just inside the door. After
thoroughly brushing her hair and pleating it into a tight french braid,
she sent a mental thanks to whoever had thought to lay out fresh
clothing.
She nodded slightly in approval at her appearence reflected in
the mirror-did she do this often? It seemed like a habit- before she
left the room. Closing the door behind her quietly, she bit her lip
gently as she walked softly down the hall and peeked her head cautiously
into the living room.
"There is absolutely no way! I refuse to live in the same
accomidations as that onna!" Wufei scowled, glaring at the exhasperated
Duo. "Did you see the way she screamed?" He snorted. "Typical weak
woman."
Kitten bit her lip. So she wasn't wanted. A odd, familiar, but
unrecognized pain throbbed in her heart, and she put a hand to her
chest. What was this emotional pain?
"Now be reasonable, Wufei." Quatre responded. "At least let her
stay a few nights. Maybe we can find her a place to stay someplace else,
if it really bothers you." Wufei only snorted.
"Let her stay," A commanding voice suddenly spoke up. It wasn't
expected, Kitten guessed from the shocked expressions on the faces she
was able to see from her limited view point. "She's here now. Just let
her stay unless she becomes a hinderence. Duo."
"Huh?" Duo blinked in astonishment.
"You found her, you brought her here, you're responsible for
her. Make sure you keep an eye on her." Duo shook himself, and nodded.
"Uh...sure, Heero...whatever you say." The braided boy said
slowly, looking at the hidden owner of the voice with suspicous eyes.
Aparently this Heero wasn't very talkitive.
"Now that thats settled, perhaps you might consider coming out
where we can see you." Another disembodied voice said. Kitten jumped;
the voice was plainly addressing her. With a sheepish grin on her face,
her eyes apologetic, she stepped into view, into the room, her hands
clenched behind her back.
"So the baka onna's an evesdropper, too," Wufei muttered. Kitten
dropped her apologetic expression and glared daggers at the Chinese
boy. Wufei snorted, rose, and stormed out of the room. Kitten was
tempted to use some choice words, but seeing as he *was* a host, however
unpolite, she deemed it best to refrain from such an action.
She did however, look to the emerald eyed boy who was leaning
against the wall with crossed arms. His lips quirked in a smile ever
so slightly. A thick strand of chocolate brown hair fell over one eye.
Why did his calm, yet piercing gaze seem so familiar?
"Welcome to Gundam House, miss...?" Kitten blinked, and realized
that Quatre was at her side, smiling friendly with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh...er...well..."
"She doesn't know her name, remember, Q-man?" Duo rose to his
feet with a bounce and stood before her, grinning widely. "Hi, I'm
Duo, this here is Quatre, the silent one over there that blew your
cover is Trowa, and the freaky one sitting there sharpening his knife
is the one that, er, 'convinced' Wufei to let you stay. He's Heero."
Kitten blinked, trying to keep up with the rapid introductions.
As she laid eyes on the one named 'Heero' sitting in the corner, in a
shadow -explaining why she hadn't seen him at first- something overcame
her. Her eyes glazed over, her breathing all but halted, and suddenly
she was no longer in the room with the boys.
*FLASH!*
She was running, but she was not scared. No, she was laughing
merrily across a green plain. Something slammed into her from behind,
and she screeched.
"Hey!" She protested, laughing, as she lay panting, face down
in the grass with her imprisoner on top of her. There was a deep,
full throated male laughter, and the form on her back rose a bit, just
enough to roll her over but not let her get away.
"Not fast enough, princess," The man laughed, breathing hard.
Her eyes met with his dark blue ones, flecked with gold under dark
gold bangs with brown highlights. He smiled, and almost as if on
impulse, he lowered his head only a few inches and sealed her lips with
his in a firm, yet soft kiss.
"I love you," He whispered when he drew away. She opened her
nouth to reply-
*FLASH!*
Kitten took a deep breath, trying to steady her breathing.
She realized Duo was waving his hand in front of her face, his other
hand clamped on her arm firmly to help her keep her balance.
"Hey, you okay?" Duo asked, looking her in the eyes.
"I-I'm fine." She lied. Duo only eyed her suspiciously. She
glanced back at the boy in the corner, who was now staring at her
intently, his knife and sharpening rock lay forgotten in his lap as
his peircing prussian blue eyes bore into hers. Flashing snippits of
the images she had just seen flashed through her mind. His eyes...they
were so like the man's in that daydream...only without the flecks of
gold. Who was he?
A loud beeping/ringing sound interrupted her thoughts, and from
another room Wufei announced loudly and in a grumpy tone that dinner
was done.
"You sure you're all right, miss?" Quatre asked politely.
Kitten flashed him a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little flashback, or something, I
guess." She stepped away from Duo, suddenly nervous for some reason.
"So what are we going to call you?" The boy with the green eyes
said in a stoic voice. She looked at him, then looked away, licking her
lips.
"I...I sorta found a name for myself," She said, scratching her
head. Now that she thought of it, the name she had picked for herself
sounded rather girly and childish.
"What is it?" Heero spoke up. Kitten shivered. His voice was
completely monotone and icy cold. She lifted her wrist to show the
kitten bracelet.
"When I got to assessing my situation, I found that this
bracelet was all that I could really call mine, so I took the word that
it bears as my name. Oddly, it sort of sounds right."
Duo took her wrist and looked at the bracelet, and grinned.
"You're right, it does fit you," He looked up at her and added,
"Kitten."
Kitten grinned and Duo released her hand.
"Well, now that that's settled, lets go eat!" The braided boy
exclaimed. Kitten laughed as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into
the kitchen. At least Duo seemed to have accepted her. Seeing Wufei's
glares, Quatre's polite -but still somewhat cautious- look along with
the guarded expressions of Trowa and Heero, she knew her welcome would
not last long.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
"It worked!" Zephra's joyful, but bodiless voice cried. "And
now we even know where she is!"
"Now all we can do is wait," Kiros agreed.
"Wha-?" Zephra wailed.
"She has no memories, remember?" Zion said calmly to his
cousin's sister. "To reveal ourselves would create pandimionium should
anyone find out where we've been and how, make our hosts extremely
annoyed, and probably only cause Kiticatya more emotional anguish."
"We wait until They make a move, then *we* move." Kiros said
firmly. "That is the plan, isn't it, brother?" There was silence in
the dark void that the voices echoed in, though there was not a single
grain of dust, let alone bodies. It was only voices.
"Axis?" Zion called to his cousin's lover. "You will be with
her again. You know that."
"Will I?" Axis whispered. "None of us can really say for sure,
can we? All we can do is wait and hope."
"Hope is one of the most powerful Emotion Elements there is,
Axis," Zephra pointed out. "We can wait, as we have no choice. Have
more faith."
"Do we have a choice?" Axis asked. He recieved no answer.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
A week.
It had been one week since Kitten had been wondering around in
the middle of a storm, memory-less and nameless. At least she now had a
name. But as for memories, before that moment that she realized she was
awake and walking, she still remembered nothing.
She had quickly managed to find a job at a local diner - a real
one, this time- and was saving every penny. Even thought she had
enough -though barely- Quatre had insisted she stay with them a little
longer until she became more reaqcuiated with herself. It made sense,
and Kitten was glad for the company, however reserved, and so she had
accepted.
While Heero and Wufei remained distant and untrusting, she
found acceptance in Trowa, and companionship and lessons on learing how
to laugh again with Duo and Quatre. Indeed, Quatre seemed to have
appointed himself guardian of her welfare, and Duo was every bit an
overprotective big brother.
Kitten had long ago found out the details of the 'war' and who
Vice Foreign Minister Dorlain was. She was amused, but oddly not
surprised to find the Minister to be a young woman, in her late teens
or early twenties, max. Listening to some of the woman's speeches,
while Kitten did not agree with many of the things the Vice Foreign
Minister belived in, she did find herself greatly respecting the
determined pacifist.
One odd event that had taken place the day before still puzzled
the blonde young woman. While she had a steady -however small- income,
now, she was far from being able to affored anything other than
nessecities. So it was with a sorrowful heart, the day before
yesterday, that she had walked away from a lovely, elegent sword she
had seen at the mall.
Oddly, the next morning, she had woken up and found the
sheethed (AN: A sheeth is the casing a sword goes in when not in use or
on display) sword in her grasp, glimmering in the sunlight that poured
in through her open window. There was no card, no sign of who had
bought/(and) left it for her.
Now, the next day, sitting at her window on the window seat,
she fingered the unsheethed sword delicately and with loving admiration
for its elegence and hidden fierocity. It was long and polished, the
handle not too long and not to shoot, perfect for either single handed
wielding or double handed maneuvering. Wrapped around the hilt was
lithe, graceful, fierce silver dragon with flaming sapphire opals for
eyes. Its flared wings that resembled a cross of bat wings and faerie
wings formed the hilt guards, and its tail wrapped around the top of
the blade just beneatht the hilt.
Kitten had already found out first hand that it was
exceptionally sharp, as she had accidently cut her thumb neatly and
deeply while handling it the day before.
The grandfather clock down the hall struck three on Saturday,
and now, giving the blade a wave and smiling at the way it flashed in
the light, Kitten sighed as she slid it into the black leather sheeth
with silver, sapphire opal inlaid rings that were at the top of the
sheet, in the middle, near the bottom, and on the silver encased
pointed end.
Steeling her nerves as she strapped the sword to her waist,
Kitten took a deep breath and headed out of her room, intent on the
person that always occupied the eastern garden at three o'clock every
day.
The Febuary air was crisp and cool, and Kitten was glad that
her form fitting black, long sleeved, v-necked t-shirt was warm, as
were her thick black jeans. Her hair was pulled back into a tight
french braid tied with a silver scrunchie. She wore simple studd pearl
earrings, her throat was bare, and her on her wrist was the kitten
bracelet that she never took off.
Feeling extrememly nervous within, and looking determined and
confidnet without, Kitten pushed open the gate to the eastern garden,
and walked onto the large cement circle in the center of the garden.
In the middle of the circle, Wufei, shirtless despite the
chilly afternoon air, was whirling and thrusting and jabbing expertly,
almost like a fiery dancer, a long, slightly curved sword in his hand.
A katana, Kitten had learned it was called. And from observation she
had learned that Wufei was a master of it.
Kitten had wondered quite a few times if Wufei had been the
one to leave her the sword. Was this his attempt at trying to make
peace? Looking at his determined, sweaty, glaring face, Kitten grinned.
She highly doubted it. Still, what was the use of having a sword, no
matter how lovely, if you didn't have the slightest inkling of how to
use it?
Taking a deep breath, Kitten took a step forward.
Wufei took no notice.
Kitten took another step. Still, the young chinese swordmaster
did not look at her, and apparently did not know she was there.
Just as she was about to clear her throat and announce her
prescence, Wufei aburptly stopped his spar dance and turned to face
her, staring at her with piercing black eyes. Kitten took in a sharp
breath, and froze.
"What do you want, onna?" He asked firnly. Kitten blinked.
There was no malice, nor distaste, nor disgust in his voice. His eyes
were guarded, but at least they did not radiate the obvious dislike for
her as they had before.
"I-I..." Kitten fumbled at her side and held up the sword.
Wufei eyed it with an appraising look, then looked at her face, his
expression unreadable. Kitten gulped.
"An annonymous somebody gave this to me yesterday as a gift, I
suppose, but I've never even touched one before." She stopped and
wetted her lips. She was aware that outwardly, except for her voice,
she was the pure picture of determined humbleness. She closed her hands
around the sheethed dragon blade once more and lowered it, clutching it
tightly.
"But I... I would really, *really* like to learn." She met his
eyes evenly. "I've seen you practice. You are a master." Her voice was
not coaxing, nor 'buttering-up' or sly sounding; it was simply the
truth. Kitten took a deep breath and closed her eyes as Wufei eyed her
with an expression she didn't recognize. When she opened her eyes
again, she opened her mouth to finally blurt out what she had come for.
"You want me to train you to use that blade." Wufei beat her to
it. Kitten blinked in surprise. His voice was not scorning or disgusted
as she had expected it to be. Wufei abruptly turned and walked to a
chest by a bench on the other side of the ring. Opening it, he quickly
retrieved a long wooden sword, placing his own katana on the bench.
He stood, took a few steps, and tossed her the blade. She
gasped, resisted the urge to shriek, and grabbed it gingerly out of the
air. She breathed a sigh of reliefe when she realized she had caught it
perfectly. Blinking in confusion, she looked up to meet Wufei's -once
again- apprasing eyes.
"Does-does this mean-"
"First we'll see how your reflexes are," He said emotionlessly,
cutting her off. "Go put your blade by mine. We start now."
Kitten grinned and trotted across the ring to obey. He may not
like her, he may still think she was weak, but at least the chinese boy
had finally accepted her.
"Four down, one to go," She murmured to herself, thinking of the
one whom was nicknamed 'the Perfect Soldier' as she put her sword down
and turned to face Wufei, armed with a second wooden blade.
And thus the first sword-arts lesson began.
To Be Continued...
A bit boring of a chapter, I know, but at least it was longer than
the last one! Somewhat... *sweatdrop* PLEASE review! I reeeeeally need it!
Ja ne!
-Alexia Goddess aka ShadowAngel (
By Alexia Goddess
Chapter Four
"Man, this storm is a nasty one," Duo muttered as thunder
crashed and the rain came down in icy sheets a foot thick. "No way I'd
go out there, not even for my chunky chip chocolate ice cream." The
Gundam Pilot closed the door, put down his umbrella, and slipped off
his jacket-
"Nah, there's no way I'm going without my chunky chip." Not
understanding why, exactly, he put on his jacket again, picked up the
umbrella and a water-repelant baseball cap, and headed out the door.
Standing on the porch, he was already soaked. He was just about
to question his descision to go out -even for a life-saving pint of
chocolate ice cream- when suddenly his mind went blank, as did his
eyesight.
"What the-" Was all he managed to spit out before his mind was
shoved aside.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
It was a dark, stormy night, (AN: Couldn't resist) and the
weather had given a temporary rest from the downpour, but the clouds
overhead threatening to spill their bounty at any moment. The man
pressed forward against the wind, intent on finding his love before it
was too late.
"We should turn back!" Zion, standing beside Axis, called over
the approaching storm.
"No!" Axis screamed back. "Not until we find her! You felt the
pains; she's in trouble! And she has to be close!"
Suddenly, a hot spot on his chest began burning, and a
whistling sound reached his ears. Axis cried out in truimph as he
fumbled for his amulet under his shirt, and drew it out. The small ruby
inside the small golden cage in the center of the amulet was spinning
and whistling wildly. Just as he had it out, Zion's began going on its
own whirlwind. The Prince pulled it out, flashed his companion a smile,
and set off at a run, Axis at his side.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
She was cold. That was all she could feel. All other senses
were numbed by that same cold. She couldn't even tell if she was
shivering. Probably not. She felt to weak to do anything physical, even
something as involuntary as shaking from cold.
So near unconscious, and so cold and numb to reality was she,
that she didn't notice when a man with dark chocolate brown hair and
bright, crystal blue eyes found her, wrapped her in his arms, craddling
her gently. As that man lifted her up into his arms as he stood, she
fell back into the deep dark, comforting world of sleep.
"Princess..."
"We have to get her some place warm," Another voice said. The
wind began picking up, reaching even the depths of the deserted alley.
"But where? We can't take her to our host. My host would
probably just leave her-"
"Mine wouldn't." Zion looked up at the sky. "Put her down,
then leave. I'll call him." Hesitantly, Axis obeyed, setting the
shivering girl back down among the mounds of soaked carpeting. Kissing
the golden haired girl on the cheek, he then turned, and -reluctantly-
left the alleyway, running back to where he was supposed to be.
Zion looked down at the girl, and his eyes softened. "I hope
this works," He muttered, and closed his eyes.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Duo blinked, feeling the sensation equevilant to waking from a
deep, heavy, unnatural sleep. He found himself standing at the entrance
to an alleyway, completely drenched.
"Okay, I know Wu-man says I sleep like a lion on vodka, but
sleepwalking?" He shook his head, tightened his coat around himself,
jammed his cap lower in his forehead, and turned to head home -forget
the icecream.
Duo was almost past the alley entrance when something down the
alley caught his eye. Curious, he poked his head around the corner, and
what he saw made his eyes bulge.
"Idiot girl," He muttered, jogging down the alley to the female
form curled up omong piles of drenched rugs. The girl's skin was an
inhuman blue color, her lips deep violet, and she was shivering
violently. Long golden blonde hair was plastered from the water to her
back, shoulders, arms, and face, all knotted in a tangled mess.
Cursing colorfully, knowing what Wufei would say and knowing he
couldn't just leave the girl, the former Deathscythe Gundam Pilot
slipped off his coat and laid it over the girl. As he bent to lift up,
he blinked in surprise. It was the same girl Wufei had caught
'trespassing' yesterday!
Duo groaned. The chinese pilot was going to kill him, if Heero
didn't do it first for letting a stranger in their house. He sighed as
he looked down at her blue face, and his own expression softened. Well,
at least he knew Quatre and probably Trowa would be on his side. Even
so, Duo couldn't help but curse his friendly nature that got him into
these sort of predictaments.
It was near pandemonium when Duo entered the small house he and
the other Gundam Pilots had rented on Earth, at the Vice Minister's
request (they still didn't know why, though.) Wufei was outraged,
Heero glaring left and right, Trowa trying not to laugh, and Quatre
franticly running back and forth between preparing the guestroom, soup,
finding clothes, calling a doctor, ect.
Duo sighed.
Suddenly, while Duo was standing in the entry way, dripping wet
with the girl in his arms, waiting for Quatre to let him in after he
had gotten the guestroom set up, things got worse.
She woke up.
And began yelling, cursing, screaming, and throwing what feeble
punches she could.
Duo groaned.
It was going to be a long night.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
"Well, what was I supposed to think and do?" Kitten grumbled to
herself as she slipped into a hot bathtub. "I did what any sane teenage
girl would have done if she had gone to sleep in a deserted alley, and
woken up in the arms of a guy she didn't know." She winced as the hot
water seared her nearly frostbitten toes.
Truth be told she was extremely embarassed. When they had
gotten her to calm down, she had realized that the man carrying her was
none other than 'Duo.' The funny-boy from the night before that had
kept Wufei from glaring her to pieces.
Another boy, a sweet, polite looking pale blonde haired, blue
eyed young man had assured her that none of them would 'try anything'
and that she was perfectly safe with them. For some odd reason, she had
believed him.
Now they had given her a room with an adjoining bathroom, and
Quatre, the polite blonde, had bid her take a bath and have dinner with
them afterwards.
"Probably week-old pizza and stale chips and booze," She
muttered, trying to find something to justify her outburst as she was
finally submurged under the water completely, save for her head and
hands.
She spent the next half hour lathering her hair, then
saturating it with much needed conditioner. Face clensers came next,
along with shaving and just plain scrubbing all over.
When she finally stepped out of the filthy lukewarm water,
dark, nearly brown, glimmering golden hair plastered down her back and
dripping wet, wrapped in a fluffy blue towel, she felt like a new
person.
She managed to find an old looking hair brush in a drawer,
and spotted a clean set of clothes just inside the door. After
thoroughly brushing her hair and pleating it into a tight french braid,
she sent a mental thanks to whoever had thought to lay out fresh
clothing.
She nodded slightly in approval at her appearence reflected in
the mirror-did she do this often? It seemed like a habit- before she
left the room. Closing the door behind her quietly, she bit her lip
gently as she walked softly down the hall and peeked her head cautiously
into the living room.
"There is absolutely no way! I refuse to live in the same
accomidations as that onna!" Wufei scowled, glaring at the exhasperated
Duo. "Did you see the way she screamed?" He snorted. "Typical weak
woman."
Kitten bit her lip. So she wasn't wanted. A odd, familiar, but
unrecognized pain throbbed in her heart, and she put a hand to her
chest. What was this emotional pain?
"Now be reasonable, Wufei." Quatre responded. "At least let her
stay a few nights. Maybe we can find her a place to stay someplace else,
if it really bothers you." Wufei only snorted.
"Let her stay," A commanding voice suddenly spoke up. It wasn't
expected, Kitten guessed from the shocked expressions on the faces she
was able to see from her limited view point. "She's here now. Just let
her stay unless she becomes a hinderence. Duo."
"Huh?" Duo blinked in astonishment.
"You found her, you brought her here, you're responsible for
her. Make sure you keep an eye on her." Duo shook himself, and nodded.
"Uh...sure, Heero...whatever you say." The braided boy said
slowly, looking at the hidden owner of the voice with suspicous eyes.
Aparently this Heero wasn't very talkitive.
"Now that thats settled, perhaps you might consider coming out
where we can see you." Another disembodied voice said. Kitten jumped;
the voice was plainly addressing her. With a sheepish grin on her face,
her eyes apologetic, she stepped into view, into the room, her hands
clenched behind her back.
"So the baka onna's an evesdropper, too," Wufei muttered. Kitten
dropped her apologetic expression and glared daggers at the Chinese
boy. Wufei snorted, rose, and stormed out of the room. Kitten was
tempted to use some choice words, but seeing as he *was* a host, however
unpolite, she deemed it best to refrain from such an action.
She did however, look to the emerald eyed boy who was leaning
against the wall with crossed arms. His lips quirked in a smile ever
so slightly. A thick strand of chocolate brown hair fell over one eye.
Why did his calm, yet piercing gaze seem so familiar?
"Welcome to Gundam House, miss...?" Kitten blinked, and realized
that Quatre was at her side, smiling friendly with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh...er...well..."
"She doesn't know her name, remember, Q-man?" Duo rose to his
feet with a bounce and stood before her, grinning widely. "Hi, I'm
Duo, this here is Quatre, the silent one over there that blew your
cover is Trowa, and the freaky one sitting there sharpening his knife
is the one that, er, 'convinced' Wufei to let you stay. He's Heero."
Kitten blinked, trying to keep up with the rapid introductions.
As she laid eyes on the one named 'Heero' sitting in the corner, in a
shadow -explaining why she hadn't seen him at first- something overcame
her. Her eyes glazed over, her breathing all but halted, and suddenly
she was no longer in the room with the boys.
*FLASH!*
She was running, but she was not scared. No, she was laughing
merrily across a green plain. Something slammed into her from behind,
and she screeched.
"Hey!" She protested, laughing, as she lay panting, face down
in the grass with her imprisoner on top of her. There was a deep,
full throated male laughter, and the form on her back rose a bit, just
enough to roll her over but not let her get away.
"Not fast enough, princess," The man laughed, breathing hard.
Her eyes met with his dark blue ones, flecked with gold under dark
gold bangs with brown highlights. He smiled, and almost as if on
impulse, he lowered his head only a few inches and sealed her lips with
his in a firm, yet soft kiss.
"I love you," He whispered when he drew away. She opened her
nouth to reply-
*FLASH!*
Kitten took a deep breath, trying to steady her breathing.
She realized Duo was waving his hand in front of her face, his other
hand clamped on her arm firmly to help her keep her balance.
"Hey, you okay?" Duo asked, looking her in the eyes.
"I-I'm fine." She lied. Duo only eyed her suspiciously. She
glanced back at the boy in the corner, who was now staring at her
intently, his knife and sharpening rock lay forgotten in his lap as
his peircing prussian blue eyes bore into hers. Flashing snippits of
the images she had just seen flashed through her mind. His eyes...they
were so like the man's in that daydream...only without the flecks of
gold. Who was he?
A loud beeping/ringing sound interrupted her thoughts, and from
another room Wufei announced loudly and in a grumpy tone that dinner
was done.
"You sure you're all right, miss?" Quatre asked politely.
Kitten flashed him a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little flashback, or something, I
guess." She stepped away from Duo, suddenly nervous for some reason.
"So what are we going to call you?" The boy with the green eyes
said in a stoic voice. She looked at him, then looked away, licking her
lips.
"I...I sorta found a name for myself," She said, scratching her
head. Now that she thought of it, the name she had picked for herself
sounded rather girly and childish.
"What is it?" Heero spoke up. Kitten shivered. His voice was
completely monotone and icy cold. She lifted her wrist to show the
kitten bracelet.
"When I got to assessing my situation, I found that this
bracelet was all that I could really call mine, so I took the word that
it bears as my name. Oddly, it sort of sounds right."
Duo took her wrist and looked at the bracelet, and grinned.
"You're right, it does fit you," He looked up at her and added,
"Kitten."
Kitten grinned and Duo released her hand.
"Well, now that that's settled, lets go eat!" The braided boy
exclaimed. Kitten laughed as he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into
the kitchen. At least Duo seemed to have accepted her. Seeing Wufei's
glares, Quatre's polite -but still somewhat cautious- look along with
the guarded expressions of Trowa and Heero, she knew her welcome would
not last long.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
"It worked!" Zephra's joyful, but bodiless voice cried. "And
now we even know where she is!"
"Now all we can do is wait," Kiros agreed.
"Wha-?" Zephra wailed.
"She has no memories, remember?" Zion said calmly to his
cousin's sister. "To reveal ourselves would create pandimionium should
anyone find out where we've been and how, make our hosts extremely
annoyed, and probably only cause Kiticatya more emotional anguish."
"We wait until They make a move, then *we* move." Kiros said
firmly. "That is the plan, isn't it, brother?" There was silence in
the dark void that the voices echoed in, though there was not a single
grain of dust, let alone bodies. It was only voices.
"Axis?" Zion called to his cousin's lover. "You will be with
her again. You know that."
"Will I?" Axis whispered. "None of us can really say for sure,
can we? All we can do is wait and hope."
"Hope is one of the most powerful Emotion Elements there is,
Axis," Zephra pointed out. "We can wait, as we have no choice. Have
more faith."
"Do we have a choice?" Axis asked. He recieved no answer.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
A week.
It had been one week since Kitten had been wondering around in
the middle of a storm, memory-less and nameless. At least she now had a
name. But as for memories, before that moment that she realized she was
awake and walking, she still remembered nothing.
She had quickly managed to find a job at a local diner - a real
one, this time- and was saving every penny. Even thought she had
enough -though barely- Quatre had insisted she stay with them a little
longer until she became more reaqcuiated with herself. It made sense,
and Kitten was glad for the company, however reserved, and so she had
accepted.
While Heero and Wufei remained distant and untrusting, she
found acceptance in Trowa, and companionship and lessons on learing how
to laugh again with Duo and Quatre. Indeed, Quatre seemed to have
appointed himself guardian of her welfare, and Duo was every bit an
overprotective big brother.
Kitten had long ago found out the details of the 'war' and who
Vice Foreign Minister Dorlain was. She was amused, but oddly not
surprised to find the Minister to be a young woman, in her late teens
or early twenties, max. Listening to some of the woman's speeches,
while Kitten did not agree with many of the things the Vice Foreign
Minister belived in, she did find herself greatly respecting the
determined pacifist.
One odd event that had taken place the day before still puzzled
the blonde young woman. While she had a steady -however small- income,
now, she was far from being able to affored anything other than
nessecities. So it was with a sorrowful heart, the day before
yesterday, that she had walked away from a lovely, elegent sword she
had seen at the mall.
Oddly, the next morning, she had woken up and found the
sheethed (AN: A sheeth is the casing a sword goes in when not in use or
on display) sword in her grasp, glimmering in the sunlight that poured
in through her open window. There was no card, no sign of who had
bought/(and) left it for her.
Now, the next day, sitting at her window on the window seat,
she fingered the unsheethed sword delicately and with loving admiration
for its elegence and hidden fierocity. It was long and polished, the
handle not too long and not to shoot, perfect for either single handed
wielding or double handed maneuvering. Wrapped around the hilt was
lithe, graceful, fierce silver dragon with flaming sapphire opals for
eyes. Its flared wings that resembled a cross of bat wings and faerie
wings formed the hilt guards, and its tail wrapped around the top of
the blade just beneatht the hilt.
Kitten had already found out first hand that it was
exceptionally sharp, as she had accidently cut her thumb neatly and
deeply while handling it the day before.
The grandfather clock down the hall struck three on Saturday,
and now, giving the blade a wave and smiling at the way it flashed in
the light, Kitten sighed as she slid it into the black leather sheeth
with silver, sapphire opal inlaid rings that were at the top of the
sheet, in the middle, near the bottom, and on the silver encased
pointed end.
Steeling her nerves as she strapped the sword to her waist,
Kitten took a deep breath and headed out of her room, intent on the
person that always occupied the eastern garden at three o'clock every
day.
The Febuary air was crisp and cool, and Kitten was glad that
her form fitting black, long sleeved, v-necked t-shirt was warm, as
were her thick black jeans. Her hair was pulled back into a tight
french braid tied with a silver scrunchie. She wore simple studd pearl
earrings, her throat was bare, and her on her wrist was the kitten
bracelet that she never took off.
Feeling extrememly nervous within, and looking determined and
confidnet without, Kitten pushed open the gate to the eastern garden,
and walked onto the large cement circle in the center of the garden.
In the middle of the circle, Wufei, shirtless despite the
chilly afternoon air, was whirling and thrusting and jabbing expertly,
almost like a fiery dancer, a long, slightly curved sword in his hand.
A katana, Kitten had learned it was called. And from observation she
had learned that Wufei was a master of it.
Kitten had wondered quite a few times if Wufei had been the
one to leave her the sword. Was this his attempt at trying to make
peace? Looking at his determined, sweaty, glaring face, Kitten grinned.
She highly doubted it. Still, what was the use of having a sword, no
matter how lovely, if you didn't have the slightest inkling of how to
use it?
Taking a deep breath, Kitten took a step forward.
Wufei took no notice.
Kitten took another step. Still, the young chinese swordmaster
did not look at her, and apparently did not know she was there.
Just as she was about to clear her throat and announce her
prescence, Wufei aburptly stopped his spar dance and turned to face
her, staring at her with piercing black eyes. Kitten took in a sharp
breath, and froze.
"What do you want, onna?" He asked firnly. Kitten blinked.
There was no malice, nor distaste, nor disgust in his voice. His eyes
were guarded, but at least they did not radiate the obvious dislike for
her as they had before.
"I-I..." Kitten fumbled at her side and held up the sword.
Wufei eyed it with an appraising look, then looked at her face, his
expression unreadable. Kitten gulped.
"An annonymous somebody gave this to me yesterday as a gift, I
suppose, but I've never even touched one before." She stopped and
wetted her lips. She was aware that outwardly, except for her voice,
she was the pure picture of determined humbleness. She closed her hands
around the sheethed dragon blade once more and lowered it, clutching it
tightly.
"But I... I would really, *really* like to learn." She met his
eyes evenly. "I've seen you practice. You are a master." Her voice was
not coaxing, nor 'buttering-up' or sly sounding; it was simply the
truth. Kitten took a deep breath and closed her eyes as Wufei eyed her
with an expression she didn't recognize. When she opened her eyes
again, she opened her mouth to finally blurt out what she had come for.
"You want me to train you to use that blade." Wufei beat her to
it. Kitten blinked in surprise. His voice was not scorning or disgusted
as she had expected it to be. Wufei abruptly turned and walked to a
chest by a bench on the other side of the ring. Opening it, he quickly
retrieved a long wooden sword, placing his own katana on the bench.
He stood, took a few steps, and tossed her the blade. She
gasped, resisted the urge to shriek, and grabbed it gingerly out of the
air. She breathed a sigh of reliefe when she realized she had caught it
perfectly. Blinking in confusion, she looked up to meet Wufei's -once
again- apprasing eyes.
"Does-does this mean-"
"First we'll see how your reflexes are," He said emotionlessly,
cutting her off. "Go put your blade by mine. We start now."
Kitten grinned and trotted across the ring to obey. He may not
like her, he may still think she was weak, but at least the chinese boy
had finally accepted her.
"Four down, one to go," She murmured to herself, thinking of the
one whom was nicknamed 'the Perfect Soldier' as she put her sword down
and turned to face Wufei, armed with a second wooden blade.
And thus the first sword-arts lesson began.
To Be Continued...
A bit boring of a chapter, I know, but at least it was longer than
the last one! Somewhat... *sweatdrop* PLEASE review! I reeeeeally need it!
Ja ne!
-Alexia Goddess aka ShadowAngel (