Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon … ::glares:: Well? Do you? I think not! Lol. Kidding, kidding. For all I know, you might indeed own one or both. ::shudders::
Editors: Love you guys! I'm surprised you all took the constant examining of emotions so well … personally, it's as boring as heck but ::shrugs:: Thanks for Autumn Hime, Usagi Asia Maxwell, DevilsDarling, and Lady Artemis's wonderful help! ^^
Chapter 5: Perplexity
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Usagi sighed as the modem started emitting its strident, high-pitched sounds. She was taking a stab in the dark by guessing that Makoto was online rather than using the phone. Thankfully, Minako was out doing some photo shoot nearby which left the second phone line free for Hiiro's use. Relief burgeoned from the small fact that he wouldn't need to bother her.
She leaned forward in her chair and grabbed the mouse as new screens popped up on the luminous computer. Pulling up the IM box, her fingers tapped out 'Details of date?'
"Usagi." She jumped in her seat and swiveled around to face the intruder.
Her lips twitched upwards in a weak smile. "Hiiro." She swallowed and winced at the gulping sound. A period of silence passed, static flickering in the air or, at least, so she imagined. Wryly, she assured herself that the stress was unquestionably unilateral. "And your business here is…?"
"You're holding up the phone line."
She frowned and blinked. "Only one of them."
"Just get off, all right?"
Scowling, she glowered at him. "I'm paying just as much as you are for these two lines! You have no right to order me to get offline when you yourself are on 24/7!" she snapped, large blue eyes smoldering acridly.
"Well, excuse me," he retorted harshly. "And you know what? I don't give a damn about that date of yours tonight!"
Blue eyes blinked. "Did you just change the subject?"
"Forget it."
"No, Hiiro. I'm not going to forget it. Are you trying to keep me from dating tonight?" Her heart had long since leapt to her throat and was beating loudly and treacherously. She mentally shook her head. No, I am OVER this. I am OVER him. He can have his oversized ego and his grumpy self! He can have his beautiful eyes and … and … Aw, shoot.
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"Phone line."
The blonde leapt to her feet, eyes flashing with animosity. "Don't feed me that crap, Hiiro Yui! You know as well as I do your laptop only needs one line!"
"Hn." He turned on his heel and strode out of her room. She crossed her arms over her chest angrily as she watched him go, wanting to beg for him to stay but also so much more…
…………………
He felt resentment sitting heavily on his chest. Slamming his door shut, his eyes adjusted to the dim dusk of the study before narrowing at the closed blinds and the faintly glowing laptop. Its ubiquitous humming filled the room and his mind but failed to drown out the raging thoughts. What was he doing in there? What HAD he done in there? Why does it feel as if the world might cease to exist if she went on this date? Questions fired out endlessly but not one answer echoed back.
…………………
Frowning at the driver that cut in front of her, she sighed and leaned back in her seat, resting her head on a propped up arm. The heat blowing in her face was making her nauseous, but she wasn't about to turn it down a notch. Traffic was horrendous and spending precious minutes of her Friday night sitting in a car was not her idea of fun. A high-pitched version of Beethoven's Fur Elise broke her out of her reverie and, groaning, she reached over to grab her cell phone, inching ahead, tailing the car in front of her before pressing the "talk" button. "Usagi speaking."
"Oi, Usa!" chirped over the phone, and she let a small smile drift over her lips.
"Makoto? Something wrong?"
"Change in plans. It is now a double date – I'm going too. The place will be La Luna – you know, the fancy little restaurant off of Midway next to Mountain View Mall?"
"I think so…"
"Great! Well, call me if you have problems getting there! Reservations are under my name. See you soon."
"Bye," she murmured and ended the connection, tossing the phone into the seat adjacent to hers. La Luna … isn't that on the other side of town? Rolling her eyes and inching another meter or so ahead, she reached into her purse and dug out a mirror. Gazing indifferently at wide baby-blue eyes and wrinkling her nose at the slight telltale signs of lack of rest, she snapped it back shut and straightened her posture, smoothing out the wrinkles on the daisy-dotted, chiffon-veiled skirt. The digital clock blinked 6:30.
…………………
"Reservations under Kino," she smiled at the receptionist. The girl nodded politely and motioned for her to follow.
"Your table," she offered softly, and Usagi's eyes brightened as she met Makoto's brilliant emerald ones.
She smiled briefly at the man present before instantly glancing back again. "Duo?!"
"Usagi? Wow … what a coincidence!" he grinned and extended his hand. She was about to shake it before her own was captured and brought up to the braided man's lips in a chaste kiss. Smiling waveringly, she felt her cheeks flush.
"Are you…?"
"Your date? No, of course not! I'm accompanying the lovely Lady Kino tonight." He grinned cheekily at his date who raised a skeptic eyebrow before relenting and smiling back.
The blonde blinked at this twist of events and glanced at Makoto. "And my date…?"
"Still has five minutes to make it on time," her friend, chestnut hair no longer restrained in its usual ponytail interjected quickly. Nodding, she carefully sat down, sipping the lemon-tinged water for lack of anything better to do. Voices drifted over to her ears as she thoughtfully stared at the gilded wallpaper borders and Corinthian columns.
"Reservation under Kino, please." Makoto's face broke into a broad smile as Usagi turned in her seat. Her sky-hued eyes met a similar pair of ethereal blue as her date greeted her with an apologetic smile. His dark, three-piece suit fitted him wonderfully as he strode towards them. She smiled back.
"Miss Usagi, I presume?"
"Quatre! Made it with twenty-seven seconds to spare!" Duo laughed.
…………………
With a flick of his wrist, the TV clicked on. Absentmindedly, he flipped through a few channels and turned it off again, barely noticing the advent and departure of the blaring noise.
"Hii-chan! Let's go!"
Sighing, he got up and the wrinkles of his dress shirt straightened themselves. "Where to?"
"Somebody recommended this nice little restaurant called … hmm. Well what'd you know? …I forgot."
"Address?"
"I have it written down somewhere … aha!" Triumphantly, she handed a slip of paper torn from a previously larger sheet to him.
"Hn." He swept a brief gaze over it and stuffed it into his pocket.
…………………
She surreptitiously watched her date laugh as Duo cracked another lame blonde joke and had to giggle as Makoto groaned. The affable blonde beside her charmed her and filled her with a comfortable feeling. Plus, not to sound superficial, he wasn't too harsh on the eyes either. Platinum blonde hair fell boyishly in front of soft, warm blue eyes that sparkled as he smiled.
The waiter came back with their food, and she slid forward in her seat. Duo, however, gazed suspiciously after the tall man. "Does he look familiar to you, Quatre? He's already passed our table seven times," he questioned slowly, arching his neck to follow the diminishing form. The blonde beside her blinked and glanced up shortly before doing a sharp double take as Makoto and she looked curiously on. Quatre seemed to pale a couple of shades and glanced uneasily at his braided friend.
"Do you think it's Rashid?"
At this mysterious question, Duo blanched. "He couldn't have followed us!"
Usagi cleared her throat. "What is this all about?"
Quatre smiled nervously up at her. "The Manguanacs. They're my personal guard … and tend to get a little protective at times…"
Makoto started laughing. "We're being spied on?"
The blonde blushed adorably, and Usagi unconsciously smiled. "I think so."
"But it's only for your protection, right? No harm done?"
"Invasion of privacy?" he managed weakly.
Duo scowled at this. "Q-man has absolutely nothing to worry about. They don't hate him."
"Duo, the Manguanacs do not hate you," Quatre chided. "They just … frown upon the pranks you have pulled around the mansion. Like that last time when you set the Christmas tree on fire? And that other time-"
"Okay, okay! I get the point!" Duo sulked. She and Makoto shared a grin.
Inwardly, though, she frowned and delved into her emotions. The man beside her was perfect – handsome, charismatic, polite, loving. The list went on endlessly. However … a slight feeling of indifference tinged her admiration of him. Her smile fell as a mental picture of her roommate flashed through her mind, and her breathing and pulse sped up. Mentally shaking her head, she realized that Quatre would never by Hiiro. Their love would never be passionate. But, at the same time, he could easily make her happy. She attacked her salad vigorously.
I really should have gone into psychology like Rei…
…………………
He stole a glance at the vivacious girl Makoto had set him up with and had to smile. She was perfect – everything a man could wish for. Her slender form looked relaxed in the decorative chair as her hands played with the napkin in her lap. Golden strands of hair were pulled up in an endearingly childish hairstyle, lending more to the sweet, polished aura she emitted. Her bright eyes shimmered as she giggled at the banter between Makoto and Duo. Suddenly, she turned to him and met his assessing gaze, catching a vestige of the blush that tinted his cheeks and sending him into another wave of crimson.
Cerulean eyes framed with dark lashes danced with mirth at his discomfort and rosy lips pulled up in a smile. He caught his breath and gazed at the heavenly sight in front of him. At the moment, he experienced the strongest urge to capture those smiling lips with his own. Instead, he settled with a returning, abashed smile.
………………….
She followed Duo and Quatre's conversations on the recent movements towards peace made by Relena and interjected at appropriate times. She smiled at the thought of her honey-haired friend speaking on behalf of pacifism and persuading various world leaders to agree whole-heartedly to her plans. Relena really was something…
Out of her peripheral vision, she saw Makoto's eyes widen and her jaw drop. She instantly snapped to attention. With difficulty, it seemed, the brunette suppressed her expression before either of their dates caught sight of it. Usagi shot her a look, silently asking what was going on. Makoto shook her head violently, obviously wanting to keep the information from her as well. Emerald eyes were trained on something directly behind her. She turned to look.
Hiiro and Minako walked into the restaurant, looking very much like the idyllic couple.
…………………
It's so typical I hate myself. ^^''' That's why I refrained from using Duo or Darien (Darien didn't even cross my mind … o_O) as the date … notice that I ALWAYS use one or the other. It's pathetic, really. So, since I'm not that familiar with Trowa, and Wufei didn't seem to really fit into this situation, Quatre came up as the final decision! ^^ It works, no? Review, please! ^^ (This is exactly four pages. I could make it five but … why waste the space? :D)
My biannual note to reviewers. ^^''' :
____: Well, fanfiction.net has done it again. Your name didn't show up. ::sigh:: But here's the update anyhow! ^^
AmyAngel: Lol. Yeah, most definitely. Sorry to make you wait anyhow. ^^'''
DevlishFirefly: Wow … you almost made me go into cardiac arrest (because I planned everything around Quatre). I checked previous chapters though I definitely could easily have missed something (if I did, please tell me!). Usagi's friends have met Hiiro and constantly hear of Hiiro from Usagi. Hiiro's friends have met Usagi and Minako both, Minako in LA and Usagi from their … "business trips". That was all I found, but if you can tell me where I messed up, please do! ^^'''
Kiwi: Lol. Is this considered long? ^_~ I'm working on the speed at which I write. Really, I am! ^-^
Nya-chan: Well … he is a friend of Hiiro's … Lol. ^^
MarsMoonStar: Hiiro impression? *_*
Moon Dreamer: So many people guessed Darien (sorry – I have a thing against the name Mamoru. It looks ugly. Lol. -_-''')! WHY?! I probably use Duo more than I use Darien … hmmm … oh well! At least I surprised people! ^^
Silver_punk: Only Usagi would get dealt a hand like this? Hmmm … I should use that phrase somewhere … Lol. Watch out for it – it may pop up. I'll give you full credit when it does. ^_~
Moonlight Hour: This IS going to get finished! I'll keep writing! ^^
Tenshi-chikyuu: O_o I hope you didn't bet a lot. ^_~ Anyhow … hmmm … I don't make it a habit to pity my characters. Lol. Sorry … I seem so cruel, no? ^^
Leslie Hellstone, Chamos: Oh gosh. You make me feel bad. ^_~ After the "make it Milliardo!" comment, I REALLY wanted to … like you said, somebody who would literally make Hiiro want to murder him, but … can you imagine gentle, polite Quatre defying Hiiro? I can't decide if it was worth it though… ^^'''
Alexz: Soon enough? ^_~ Thanks for being so faithful to my writing. It means a lot. ^^ (sounds so cliché but…)
Sailor Grape: Hmmm … guessing isn't fun? Lol. I agree but … couldn't you make an exception in this case? ^^ ::GRRRR:: Have you realized HOW many times you have guessed my plots? ARG! -_-''' Not fair. ::sniff:: I agree it is utterly not Mina's fault. It's not difficult to believe people would hate her for the situation she is in right now but … I kind of feel sorry for her. Lol. The bomb is going to drop soon on poor Mina … and it's not going to bash her in any way. ^^
Sweet Sere: Never figured out how to pronounce "Sere" (se-REE or sear as this one author did it…) Ah well. Here's the update! ^^
SerenityLNguyen: Another Darien supporter. Not really supporter but ::shrugs:: I have this uneasy feeling that I know you from the real world (real world … O_o) … it's odd. That's okay. ^^
Xtreme Nuisance: I wrote more. ^_~ And yet another vote for Darien … ::sigh:: Do I seem that predictable to you guys??? T_T
Lilaclight: Okay … ummm … this is KINDA long but not because I wrote a long chapter, per se. Lol. It's these notes that make it long. And even so … it hasn't gone past six pages yet. -_-''' (Last line on fifth! Gimme a break! ^^''')
^_~: I updated! Soon too (for me at least)! Wow! Two wishes fulfilled! ^^'''