Author's Notes: Yah,. sorry it's taken so long to get this out. Bekki's
been working on the college thing. taking a break from homework and
posting. this chapter was done by the wonderful and talented Marika
Webster! * cheers *
Extra Note: Musha turned 16 on Monday! Everyone wish her a sweet sixteen! ^^
~*~*~*~*~
Tainted Dream
Chapter Ten
~*~*~*~*~
"Tensei, it's okay. Don't beat yourself up about not being able to hold up under pressure. Everyone's entitled to get stressed, but you shouldn't pressure yourself like this. It's not good for you." Quatre passed another tissue to the girl sobbing in his arms, silently wondering what was really going on.
Tensei sniffled pathetically and accepted the tissue with a soft snort. Damn that snot. "I.. I know Quatre, but I can't go on like this. It's like living three different lives. And I suck at it. I don't know who I am anymore." She snuffled once more before blowing her nose into the tissue and tossing it onto the coffee table. Quatre's suite was none other than the penthouse, and as such she'd found the couch quite the comfortable place to let loose with the tears that had been threatening her for days. Even when she'd been blindly running through the city, she'd somehow knew she would find solace here, in the arms of the man who loved her.
"You may not know who you are, that's fine. I don't know anyone who can claim to really know that. Sometimes I'm confused myself as to whether I'm Quatre Winner, Winner heir, or just plain old Quatre. I like plain Quatre. I mean, I'd pretty much feel the way you do if I let myself wallow in my confusion the way you are now." He gently ran his own over the length of her spine, an unconscious movement that soothed him as much as it did her.
She pushed away from him, staring at him through bloodshot chocolate eyes. "You really care about me for some strange reason, don't you?"
"Of course I do silly." He chuckled lightly. "I love you in case you hadn't forgotten. I love you whether you call yourself Renee, Tensei, and Hikari, because you're still all the same beautiful person I see. You're name doesn't matter. And neither does your personality, I really think that what I feel goes beyond something so superficial." He pulled her back closer to him once more and nuzzled her nose lightly. "Just rest easy, I'm here with you."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Kashoku stared at the infant in dismay. After Trowa had left, he'd kept screaming. Then he'd screamed some more. And then just for a little variety. more screaming. Something was amiss; she was supposed to make sure he didn't. what was the term she'd used before. Explode, yes that was it. And the little demon did look like he was about to explode. He was turning all red in the face, not at all like a baby should look. But what to do?
Before she could help herself she had reached for the phone and dialed in Trowa's number. A sleepy voice answered even as she screamed at the baby. "SHUT UP WOULD YOU? CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION HERE?"
"Kashoku?" Trowa's voice, undeniably threaded with concern barely reached her ear over the tyke's screaming.
"TROWA! It's me. Okay. All right? I have the baby. Please come get it. Arrest me. Whatever! Just make it stop screaming! Please!"
"Kashoku, what the hell are you talking about? It's almost 12 and I have to get up in 4 hours for questioning a suspect." Trowa seemed less than thrilled at this sudden admission of guilt at such a late hour.
"I'm saying that I have Odin Yui, now will you PLEASE come arrest me?"
Her desperate plea was answered with a longsuffering sigh. "Fine, I'll be over in 15 minutes, then we'll sort this out. But if this is a joke, I warn you I am going to be very upset."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Wufei, you could have sprung for the double room. I'd have liked to have the Jacuzzi." Musha mock-complained as they headed for the elevator. She barely registered Wufei behind her answering with some smart remark as she noted a familiar presence standing only a few feet away in their path.
The person was embracing someone else tightly, a kiss that seemed to be taking the breath from the female in the man's arms from the looks of it. "Quatre!" She called out, a smile spreading across her face. A smile that disappeared as quickly as she realized who he'd been kissing. Tensei.
She did register Wufei falling silent as she closed the distance between them and balled up her fist, slamming it into Tensei's face as hard as she could. There was a moment of silence from everyone in the foyer. Musha did not notice, as all she was focused on was the effect of her blow. As though in slow motion she saw Tensei's head snap back, her body falling back against Quatre's.
Tensei stared at her for a moment then pushed herself off Quatre, staring at Musha in open anguish before turning on heel and dashing for the door. Musha watched her go. Quatre stared at her, obviously astonished by this behavior. A stormy expression, almost deadly passed over his eyes as he spoke to Wufei over Musha's head. "You should learn to control your woman."
He did not give Musha time to respond but immediately gave chase after Tensei. Musha heard the short snort of laughter behind her and turned to face Wufei. He instantly stilled. "Sorry."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
The doorbell, the beautiful sound of the doorbell! Kashoku ran and snatched the door open, extending her wrists out to Trowa, handcuffs held in her grasp. "Here. Take me, please. I'm sorry I was involved, but it was something I couldn't help. Here, just take me away."
A soft hiccupping cry could be heard from a crib in the corner of the room. Trowa brushed past her and made a beeline for it. He lifted the baby from the crib. Kashoku was stunned when the child instantly stopped crying and fell asleep in the arms of his Uncle Trowa. Trowa remained silent for a few minutes before placing the baby back into his crib. "Why'd you do it?" His question was direct as was his manner.
Kashoku stared at him helplessly. "I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm so glad you came. You really rescued me Trowa."
He merely sighed and stifled a yawn. "You abused your power and lied to everyone in the Preventers. You committed a felony."
Her eyes lit up for a single brief moment. He didn't appear to be upset with her. "You mean you're not going to arrest me?"
"Don't be stupid. Of course I'm going to arrest you. You kidnapped my friend's kid. You really are insane." He accepted the cuffs from her and pulled her hands behind her back. "You know your rights so I'm not even going to bother. Sit on the couch, right there, and don't move. I'm calling a unit to take you in."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Quatre pulled in front of Tensei's apartment building and cut the engine. By the time he'd found her, she'd just gotten into a cab and was headed home. Her address was easy enough to get, after all, he had connections. There was no doubt in his mind that she wouldn't want to let him in after what he'd just witnessed. But then, she was as stubborn as Duo with a slice of chocolate cake.
He found her door and rapped lightly, "Tensei, it's me. Open the door."
"Go away, Quatre."
He heard the muffled reply and knocked again. "No, I'm not going anywhere, so you might as well open the door."
There was a marked snuffled and some shuffling on the other side. Finally the door was pulled open. She stared at him through teary eyes again. "You might as well go away, I'm busy."
"Busy doing what? Getting ready to run again?" He stared her down, baby blues meeting cinnamon orbs ready to restrain her physically if necessary.
"I'm having a pity party if you must know." She moved to shut the door. Quatre braced one hand against it and pushed his way inside.
"You aren't going anywhere and I won't let you have a pity party." He shut the door behind him and locked it. "From this moment on, you belong to me, Tensei. I won't let you go anywhere without me. Ever. Marry me." With those words he moved closer to her closing his lips over hers and sealing his words.
Extra Note: Musha turned 16 on Monday! Everyone wish her a sweet sixteen! ^^
~*~*~*~*~
Tainted Dream
Chapter Ten
~*~*~*~*~
"Tensei, it's okay. Don't beat yourself up about not being able to hold up under pressure. Everyone's entitled to get stressed, but you shouldn't pressure yourself like this. It's not good for you." Quatre passed another tissue to the girl sobbing in his arms, silently wondering what was really going on.
Tensei sniffled pathetically and accepted the tissue with a soft snort. Damn that snot. "I.. I know Quatre, but I can't go on like this. It's like living three different lives. And I suck at it. I don't know who I am anymore." She snuffled once more before blowing her nose into the tissue and tossing it onto the coffee table. Quatre's suite was none other than the penthouse, and as such she'd found the couch quite the comfortable place to let loose with the tears that had been threatening her for days. Even when she'd been blindly running through the city, she'd somehow knew she would find solace here, in the arms of the man who loved her.
"You may not know who you are, that's fine. I don't know anyone who can claim to really know that. Sometimes I'm confused myself as to whether I'm Quatre Winner, Winner heir, or just plain old Quatre. I like plain Quatre. I mean, I'd pretty much feel the way you do if I let myself wallow in my confusion the way you are now." He gently ran his own over the length of her spine, an unconscious movement that soothed him as much as it did her.
She pushed away from him, staring at him through bloodshot chocolate eyes. "You really care about me for some strange reason, don't you?"
"Of course I do silly." He chuckled lightly. "I love you in case you hadn't forgotten. I love you whether you call yourself Renee, Tensei, and Hikari, because you're still all the same beautiful person I see. You're name doesn't matter. And neither does your personality, I really think that what I feel goes beyond something so superficial." He pulled her back closer to him once more and nuzzled her nose lightly. "Just rest easy, I'm here with you."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Kashoku stared at the infant in dismay. After Trowa had left, he'd kept screaming. Then he'd screamed some more. And then just for a little variety. more screaming. Something was amiss; she was supposed to make sure he didn't. what was the term she'd used before. Explode, yes that was it. And the little demon did look like he was about to explode. He was turning all red in the face, not at all like a baby should look. But what to do?
Before she could help herself she had reached for the phone and dialed in Trowa's number. A sleepy voice answered even as she screamed at the baby. "SHUT UP WOULD YOU? CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION HERE?"
"Kashoku?" Trowa's voice, undeniably threaded with concern barely reached her ear over the tyke's screaming.
"TROWA! It's me. Okay. All right? I have the baby. Please come get it. Arrest me. Whatever! Just make it stop screaming! Please!"
"Kashoku, what the hell are you talking about? It's almost 12 and I have to get up in 4 hours for questioning a suspect." Trowa seemed less than thrilled at this sudden admission of guilt at such a late hour.
"I'm saying that I have Odin Yui, now will you PLEASE come arrest me?"
Her desperate plea was answered with a longsuffering sigh. "Fine, I'll be over in 15 minutes, then we'll sort this out. But if this is a joke, I warn you I am going to be very upset."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Wufei, you could have sprung for the double room. I'd have liked to have the Jacuzzi." Musha mock-complained as they headed for the elevator. She barely registered Wufei behind her answering with some smart remark as she noted a familiar presence standing only a few feet away in their path.
The person was embracing someone else tightly, a kiss that seemed to be taking the breath from the female in the man's arms from the looks of it. "Quatre!" She called out, a smile spreading across her face. A smile that disappeared as quickly as she realized who he'd been kissing. Tensei.
She did register Wufei falling silent as she closed the distance between them and balled up her fist, slamming it into Tensei's face as hard as she could. There was a moment of silence from everyone in the foyer. Musha did not notice, as all she was focused on was the effect of her blow. As though in slow motion she saw Tensei's head snap back, her body falling back against Quatre's.
Tensei stared at her for a moment then pushed herself off Quatre, staring at Musha in open anguish before turning on heel and dashing for the door. Musha watched her go. Quatre stared at her, obviously astonished by this behavior. A stormy expression, almost deadly passed over his eyes as he spoke to Wufei over Musha's head. "You should learn to control your woman."
He did not give Musha time to respond but immediately gave chase after Tensei. Musha heard the short snort of laughter behind her and turned to face Wufei. He instantly stilled. "Sorry."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
The doorbell, the beautiful sound of the doorbell! Kashoku ran and snatched the door open, extending her wrists out to Trowa, handcuffs held in her grasp. "Here. Take me, please. I'm sorry I was involved, but it was something I couldn't help. Here, just take me away."
A soft hiccupping cry could be heard from a crib in the corner of the room. Trowa brushed past her and made a beeline for it. He lifted the baby from the crib. Kashoku was stunned when the child instantly stopped crying and fell asleep in the arms of his Uncle Trowa. Trowa remained silent for a few minutes before placing the baby back into his crib. "Why'd you do it?" His question was direct as was his manner.
Kashoku stared at him helplessly. "I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm so glad you came. You really rescued me Trowa."
He merely sighed and stifled a yawn. "You abused your power and lied to everyone in the Preventers. You committed a felony."
Her eyes lit up for a single brief moment. He didn't appear to be upset with her. "You mean you're not going to arrest me?"
"Don't be stupid. Of course I'm going to arrest you. You kidnapped my friend's kid. You really are insane." He accepted the cuffs from her and pulled her hands behind her back. "You know your rights so I'm not even going to bother. Sit on the couch, right there, and don't move. I'm calling a unit to take you in."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Quatre pulled in front of Tensei's apartment building and cut the engine. By the time he'd found her, she'd just gotten into a cab and was headed home. Her address was easy enough to get, after all, he had connections. There was no doubt in his mind that she wouldn't want to let him in after what he'd just witnessed. But then, she was as stubborn as Duo with a slice of chocolate cake.
He found her door and rapped lightly, "Tensei, it's me. Open the door."
"Go away, Quatre."
He heard the muffled reply and knocked again. "No, I'm not going anywhere, so you might as well open the door."
There was a marked snuffled and some shuffling on the other side. Finally the door was pulled open. She stared at him through teary eyes again. "You might as well go away, I'm busy."
"Busy doing what? Getting ready to run again?" He stared her down, baby blues meeting cinnamon orbs ready to restrain her physically if necessary.
"I'm having a pity party if you must know." She moved to shut the door. Quatre braced one hand against it and pushed his way inside.
"You aren't going anywhere and I won't let you have a pity party." He shut the door behind him and locked it. "From this moment on, you belong to me, Tensei. I won't let you go anywhere without me. Ever. Marry me." With those words he moved closer to her closing his lips over hers and sealing his words.