Chapter Sixteen: Something Old, Something New…
*"My Father gets out of the hospital in three days. No, I haven't been there constantly! Yes, of course I'm taking care of myself. No, I promised I would, didn't I? Maybe. I don't know what Mina thinks half the time! I swear! She's what gives us blondes a bad name. No, I am not dying my hair a different color! She can do that! Yeah. Ok, what time does the plane arrive? I don't think that's such a good idea. Ami… ok. Ok. Sure. I'll see you soon! Bye!"
Serena put the phone down, and Hiiro could have sworn that while he had only heard fifty percent of the conversation, he had only understood about ten percent of it. Women! They had their own way of doing things that drove him crazy.
What he had understood from that ten percent of the phone conversation was that Serena's father was getting out of the hospital, which he already knew, that Serena's friend Ami cared very much for her well-being, that Mina had forgotten to do something and was a scatterbrain- well, that was obvious anyway- that Serena would never dye her hair, and that they were picking Ami up at the airport.
"We're picking Ami up at the airport." Hiiro groaned. He had only just registered that thought! How did Serena get so far ahead of him in thinking? Never mind, he didn't want to know. He was very glad he was leaving. Oh, had he told her yet?
"I'm leaving." He grunted.
"Good riddance." Serena smiled too sweetly at him. Then she frowned. "Where and when are you going and for how long?"
"Check Relena's schedule." He told her smirking. And he was back to being the smart one. Actually, he couldn't believe she hadn't already figured this out. Maybe something was bothering her.
"Why would I check her schedule for something you are doing?" Serena narrowed her eyes. This only foreshadowed something bad.
"Because Relena has a conference in Neo-North Switzerland territory in four days."
"I know that. What does that have to do with… What? Wait a minute!" Serena stood up from her desk so fast that she bumped her elbow. Groaning, she rubbed it and continued. "Don't tell me that you're going with her?"
"Security protocols. Neo-North Switzerland has a history of political unrest and has been known to harbor safe-havens for all types of rebels, mercenaries, assassins, and ex-rouge pilots from the Eve Wars."
"What does that have to do with you going as safety protocols?"
"I'm her bodyguard."
"And? You aren't her shadow around this office constantly! You don't follow her home and sleep on her balcony! You don't chaperone every meeting she has here! Why would you need to do it now?"
"That's just it. Around here she has guards that I have appointed, that I know will do the best around here. Taken out of the environment, I don't know how they would react to a situation."
"If they're the best guards, they should be able to react in any given situation."
"Hnn." He sighed. She did have a point. But… "Look. Neo-North Switzerland is too dangerous of a place for me to let her go alone. I need to be there."
"Like hell you do!" Hiiro looked at her face. She was still standing, but her face wasn't one of annoyance or anger, it was of worry.
"Do you want to risk Relena's life?" He brought out his trump card. When in doubt, play on the woman's sentimentality.
"No…" Her voiced dropped to a whisper and she sank back into her chair.
"We'll be back by the end of the week." He tried to reassure her. Now he was the worried one. She was acting unusually caring. Like she really worried. Or was she… jealous?
He didn't have quite a good grasp on the concept of jealousy yet. After he had heard Relena tell Serena she had been jealous of her engagement with him, he had looked up the emotion. All of the characteristics Serena was exerting fit into the definition of jealousy, but why would she be jealous? And of what?
"Serena?" He asked after a few moments of silence.
"What?" She snapped.
"I was a Gundam pilot. We'll be safe." Serena balked at his words. How dare he!
"I hate you." She replied with a cold stare. Not a glare, just a stare. Her icy eyes ate away at his soul, freezing even the slightest of feeling. He froze up with uncertainty and fear of her.
"I know."
"Look, I need to pick Ami up at the airport in three days. She'll be here the night before you and Relena leave for the conference, so you'll meet her then." Hiiro's head shot up. What was the rush? He wanted ask, but his soldier training kicked in, and he became tight-lipped.
"Hnn."
"Pig." Serena rolled her eyes. "Just you make a good impression on her, you hear?"
"Hnn."
"And if you grunt, I will kick you till kingdom come. There are a lot worse things than dying."
"I know."
"How could you possibly know?" She spat.
"Having your friend betray you, trying to commit suicide, committing huge, life costing mistakes, I know." He glared at her. No, she was not going to get under his skin. But he felt so… weak when he was around her. Like he could trust her. What a joke! She hated him! And he was madly in love with her. What the hell was wrong with him?
Serena listened to Hiiro. She listened. Just listened. As he spoke, she slowly opened her eyes wider and unconsciously leaned in to hear him more clearly. He was mumbling some of his words, but she caught the general meaning of his words. Such horrible things. And she wondered. If he knew…if he knew the truth, would still think they were so horrible?
"Those are bad." She whispered. He nodded. "But there is worse."
"What could be worse?" Hiiro asked innocently. Serena shook her head. Such purity in such a filthy, soiled, stained soul. It made her feel sick to her stomach.
"You'll meet Ami, won't you?"
"Yeah."
"I'll bring her by your apartment that night then."
"Fine." He blinked. "My friends are coming in six days." He told her.
"Oh? The ushers?"
"Sure."
"But you won't be here! And where are they staying? Certainly not a hotel?" She ranted. Hiiro waited for her to finish before he began again.
"Trowa and Duo are staying with Quatre."
"Quatre my parent's neighbor Quatre? That Quatre?"
"That Quatre."
"And the last one?"
"With Sally Po."
"Oh yeah, they're apparently seeing each other. Well. I certainly can't wait to meet him."
"You could."
"Why's that?"
"He's a sexist man."
"Your friend and Sally Po's boyfriend is sexist? Then why are you friends with him? Certainly you don't agree with his views… do you?" She narrowed his eyes.
"No. But. Wufei is an honest man with a strong sense of morals. He is a good man and a fine pilot."
"Pilot? Let me guess. He's one of your Gundam boys, isn't he?"
"They all are. Even Relena's brother is one." She gasped and Hiiro smirked. So she didn't already know about the famous Zechs Marquis?
"Not Milliardo!"
"Milliardo Peacecraft, otherwise known as Zechs Marquis, the Lightening Baron, Gundam pilot 06 of the Talgese."
"No!"
"Yes. The Wars- they were a different time than this. People were different too."
"A person cannot change who they are."
"Pessimist."
"Realist."
"Do you believe the glass is half full or half empty?"
"Neither."
"Indecisive."
"Shut up Hiiro!" He smirked. Her eyes were so pretty when they smoldered as they were now.
)(
"Oh Ami!"
"I know! So then she said to me 'No! You're a doctor, not a tailor! You cannot cut this dress off!' It was the funniest thing."
"So what did you do?"
"I cut the dress off." The two women laughed as they entered the building. "Well, it was the only way I could get to her hip. And it turned out she had broken it! Imagine, suffering through all that pain for a designer dress!"
"Some people are so very materialistic." Serena shook her head. It was nice to see her old high school friend.
"Speaking of materialism… how is your fiancé? Is he good about it?"
"Not bad, I'll admit that. But Ami, he's a terrible man, really! I'm still so mad that I let my parents coerce me into something again! And with my Mother's death so fresh… I can't possibly back out of it."
"You wouldn't anyway. I know you Serena. You're one who makes a promise and keeps it."
"How unlucky for me." They laughed, and then stopped. "This is it Ami, this is his apartment. Now keep in mind he's a savage- doesn't understand a thing about decency."
"Alright then, I'm prepared fro the worst and hoping for the best. How's that?"
"I can't believe you're hoping for anything." Serena replied sarcastically as she knocked on Hiiro's door. They didn't have to wait long before Hiiro answered.
"Hello." He grunted out, just barely. What did one say to a person that was Serena's friend? Who knew what she thought about soldiers.
"Hello." Ami smiled cheerfully.
"Ami Mizuno, may I present Hiiro Yui. Hiiro, Ami Mizuno." Serena quickly introduced everyone. Hiiro looked Ami over. Her physical appearance was what he might have expected- short, blue hair and matching blue eyes. She was taller than Serena by a few inches, and she had a grace about her that Serena only had when she wasn't angry.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Hiiro. I do hope our dropping in on you the night before you leave won't be too much of a hassle." Ami laughed lightly.
"No."
"Aren't you going to invite us in Hiiro?" Serena asked annoyed.
"Yeah." And he held the door open wider for them. After they had entered and removed their coats, Hiiro sat down in his armchair by the fire and waited for them to follow in suit. Ami cleared her throat, and Serena rolled her eyes.
"Of course Ami, let me get you something to drink. Settled down, make yourself comfortable." And she padded into the kitchen, muttering the whole way. Ami did as Serena told her too and settled herself on the couch.
"So, Hiiro. What do you think about your impending marriage?" She smiled lightly. Hiiro could see she was trying to make conversation, trying to be friendly. But for some reason, he didn't take to it. It was like Duo- too friendly for his taste. It was a turnoff.
"Hnn."
"I see. Well, do you think you'll be ready for life with Serena?"
"There is no ready." He grunted. His goal was simple: keep it plain.
"I see." Ami's golden smile disappeared. "Well. Serena tells me you're going on a trip to Neo-North Switzerland. Are you scared? I've heard some horrible things about their citizens."
"I don't get scared."
"Sure you do! Everyone does! And trust me, even if you only get scared one time in your entire life, it will be when you're standing at that alter with Serena saying your vows." She winked.
"Hnn."
"Well…" The conversation died, and they sat in silence for a moment before Serena returned from Hiiro's kitchen with three glasses, cheese, and crackers set on a tray. In her other hand she carried a wine bottle.
"Hiiro, your kitchen has enough food to feed an army." She grumbled. Hiiro smirked.
"Duo's coming."
"And?" She turned to Ami. "Duo is one of the ushers, and one of Hiiro's old friends."
"Ahh, I see." Ami nodded understanding.
"But that doesn't explain all the food if he and Trowa are staying with Quatre."
"They'll break in here anyway." He told her smirking. Ami's jaw dropped.
"They wouldn't dare! It's against the law!"
"They're killers, they don't believe they fall into the parameters of the law." Serena scoffed. Hiiro's eyes narrowed.
"Don't stereotype us." He mumbled. "We do not think that in any way shape or form. But Duo is a special case."
"Why is that?" Ami asked. Hiiro grasped in thin air for an explanation.
"Duo is the male equivalent of Mina." He finally sputtered. Serena blinked at him, and then she giggled. Ami was already laughing.
"He's that terrible?" Ami asked.
"Hnn."
"Hiiro, don't grunt." Serena ordered him.
"Hnn."
"Good lord Hiiro, where are your manners?"
"Never learned any." He rumbled. Serena rolled her eyes.
"And here we go again. Didn't you promise to behave in front of my friend?"
"No. I clearly remember grunting in response to your request." He smirked.
"You're impossible!" Serena stood.
"Hnn." Her jaw dropped. Hiiro was just having fun. He liked getting her angry for some reason. It took fairly little effort to do, but once she got started… she was a menace. It took most of his energy to keep up with her when she was angry. Still, he had no problems expanding the energy. All he had to do was make sure to eat more to make up for the lost fuel.
"Come on Ami, let's leave." And she stormed out of the apartment.
"Bye Hiiro, it was nice meeting you!" Ami called as she ran after Serena, slightly laughing. This Hiiro fellow, though he wasn't one to talk, certainly had Serena in a huff. It was nice to see her friend thrown so off kilter. As long as Ami could remember, Serena had always been the cool, calm and collected girl. And now, this Hiiro, was bringing out the side of Serena she had always wanted to see! It was too good!
Hiiro just shut the door behind them. Pulling off his shirt and quickly unbuttoning his pants, he let them drop to the floor in the middle of his apartment and smirked. Then he made his way to his room and flopped down on the bed. Good riddance, he was tired.
)(
"I know I shouldn't have left Ami with Mina for the day, I just know it. But I have to screen Hiiro's friends before I can do anything with them all together. God knows what might happen if I didn't!" Serena mumbled as she stepped under the overhang in front of Quatre's home. Ringing the doorbell, she prepared herself to be greeted by the worst men imaginable.
They were Hiiro's friends for crying out loud! They had to be stoic and freakish, just as he was! But Quatre wasn't. And if Duo was supposed to be like Mina… well, that still left the other two, Trowa and Wufei. She had heard nothing on Trowa, but Wufei… from her conversation with Sally the other day… she was not going to have a fun afternoon. The door opened and a large man greeted her.
"Hello Miss Serena. Master Quatre and the others are in the parlor awaiting you." She smiled delicately. Rashid was always such a friendly, sweet man.
"Thank you Rashid." He nodded and walked off. Serena found her way to the same room she had been in the last time she had… visited… Quatre's home. The moment she stepped into the door, she was greeted with a loud wolf whistle and a large arm was wrapped around her shoulders.
"Hey honey! Looking good! Hey Quatre! Why didn't you tell us you were hiding angels in your house?" The man above her grinned wolfishly. She shuddered. But it was kind of nice in a way…to be complimented felt good.
"Duo!" Quatre ran up to them looking stressed. "That's Hiiro's fiancé!" The room's entire ambiance went from relaxed to tense. The arm dropped from around her shoulder and she heaved a sigh of relief.
"Hiiro's? Well then. I suppose no angel for Duo today." The man above her pouted. Serena looked up to see who he was, and knew instantly it must be Duo. His violet eyes had the mischievous gleam as Mina's usually did. His long chestnut hair was pulled back into a braid that reached his waist, and for some odd reason he wore a preacher's outfit.
"Serena, let me introduce you to them." Quatre suggested politely. She nodded, and he began. "That's Duo Maxwell behind you. To your right in the arm chair is Trowa Barton, the one sitting at the chess table is Wufei Chang." Serena looked first at Trowa. He was tall and thin, with a tinge if red in his brown hair. She blushed as she saw his green eyes look her over and nod in approval. Then came Wufei. He was just as Sally had described- black hair in a tiny ponytail at the base of his neck, large onyx eyes that scorned, and a proud a regal stance about him.
"It's nice to meet you all." Serena managed to gulp out. She was in a room with killers… murderers… this was like her worst nightmare come true. Not to mention they were some of the world's most feared men. She was sick and scared.
"Nice to meet you Miss Serena." Trowa nodded at her. Another Hiiro.
"Woman. Sally has spoken highly of you." Wufei nodded as her as well.
"Hey guys, lighten up! This is Hiiro getting married! Not one of us!" Serena looked at Duo and raised her eyebrows.
"What does that mean?"
"Come on babe! It's like this: Hiiro is the world's most perfect soldier that ever lived. Or he was. He was Perfect."
"What Duo means is that Hiiro was trained well." Trowa supplied.
"Yes? Continue." Serena implored them.
"Hiiro is Hiiro! He's uptight, doesn't know how to have fun, never speaks and always grunts, and constantly pulls his gun out for no reason." Duo laughed. Serena could see the others shaking their heads, but their eyes all confirmed what Duo had said was true.
"I have noticed he is incredibly stubborn, boorish, and likes to grunt." Serena confirmed sadly. "Well." She sighed, sneaking a peak at her watch.
"I'm supposed to meet a few people soon." She tried to worm her way out early.
"Of course." Quatre nodded in understanding.
"But wait! We didn't, well, you know!" Duo shot up, smiling widely. Yes, he and Mina were two peas in a pod.
"He's right. Quatre, let's do it now." Trowa, stood, and Serena was surprised. He was much taller than she had thought. She felt so small compared to them all.
"Well, alright." Quatre smiled. "I'm sorry Serena, but we wanted to do something in honor of your engagement to Hiiro- even if it is forced."
"You really don't have to…"
"We already did!" Trowa nodded, and held out two boxes. Serena's heart melted. These were Hiiro's friends? These were the hardened killers she'd been so scared of? But they were so sweet…
"Thank you." She breathed.
"Open the woman!" Wufei barked. She glared slightly, but couldn't keep it up.
"Alright." She took one of the boxes and quickly opened it. And she gasped. Inside was one of the most beautiful lockets she had ever seen. Gingerly she pulled it out of the box and gasped. It was an antique, she could tell. It was in the shape of a star, and the golden edges had been toned to a deep copper color. As she opened the locket, she gasped again. The inside was lined with tiny gems- rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, and in the center a circle of diamonds surrounded a picture of both her and Hiiro… and both of them were smiling!
"Oh my… it's gorgeous!" She breathed.
"I took the picture of Hiiro a few years back. It's the only time he's ever smiled, not smirked. Then your father gave us a current photo of you, and with a little bit of Trowa and Quatre's computer skills, we made ourselves a picture perfect photo of the Perfect Soldier and his fiancé." Duo told her, gentler than he had been before.
"Thank you…" Serena didn't know what to say…
"Open the next one!" Quatre urged her. She nodded, unable to speak. Slowly she unwrapped it, and once again she gasped.
"Earrings? They're beautiful." She smiled.
"We got the locket, and then thought, we should follow through with the old rhyme." Quatre smiled.
"Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue." Trowa repeated for her.
"But we thought we should let Hiiro do the last two things- get him in the wedding mood!" Duo laughed. Serena laughed with them.
"Well Serena, you said you had to meet a few…"
"They can wait. No matter how much damage they're capable of doing; they can wait. I never thought Hiiro the slob could have such wonderful friends. Come, sit, let's talk." She smiled brightly. And the other laughed and did the same. *
~~~Well! That was a long ch! (For me!) Ok. I'm aiming to finish this in three to four chs- think I can do it? I already know it won't be under one hundred pages, which is what I wanted. Oh well! More for you all! PLEASE REVIEW! Much love- Vixen~~~