Chapter 6
The six pilots were tired and angry. Sitting down they couldn't help but complain and argue with each other. Sally, Noin and Une just sat to the side watching. Mariemaia was in a room upstairs sleeping and Yuriko was to the side thinking and listening to the g-boys complain. Treize was alive and she didn't like that. Keep her promise she would. And she would let Lily take care of Koji. He was not of her concern.
"We have to stop Treize," boomed Wufei's voice. "If he's alive and with OZ then he can't be up to no good."
"Wow Wufei," said Yuriko very sarcastically. "Aren't you just such a smart boy?" Wufei felt himself shrink and just glared at Yuriko. "Anyway, even if he wasn't with OZ you would plain out know he was up to something. No one can tell Mariemaia that her dad is alive. I mean it."
"But," started Une.
"No one," interrupted Yuriko. "Not one person. Not even a hint that he's alive. Got me?" Everyone nodded. "Good."
"But what are we going to do about Treize?" asked Quatre.
"Nothing. I'm going to kill him," explained Yuriko.
"But you can't do that alone. You'll need help."
"Don't try to talk her out of it Quatre," ordered Noin. "Once she's made up her mind there's no stopping her. Besides, I think that Yuriko knows what she doing, ne Yuriko?"
"Hai," came Yuriko's cold response.
"I just can't believe he's alive," said Duo. "I mean all this time we thought he was dead and yet he was alive."
"None of us knew Duo," Heero told him. "How were we supposed to?" That's when Trowa decided to join in on the conversation.
"Because Lily told us."
"What?" Heero and everyone else turned to look at Trowa. "What do you mean she told us?"
"Remember sometime in the beginning when Lily had first arrived? I think it was on her second day that she told us 'It's not over yet. He's still alive.' No one knew what she meant at the time so we just threw it aside but now I do."
Yuriko looked at Trowa and smiled. He was pretty smart. They all were at certain times and those times she just had to praise them. That was pretty much the only time that she appreciated them though. Other times she just wanted to strangle them. She hated this working together thing. She was a loner, but she had to push that aside and work with these boys.
"I think you're right Trowa," agreed Heero. "Lily did tell us but I wish she would have explained what she meant at the time then we wouldn't be in this mess."
"Well did you piss her off or anything when she told you?" Yuriko finally asked. She watched as each g-boy started to think about that day and got a few nervous nods. "Well there's you answer. Never get Lily pissed or she'll leave you confused."
"How are we not supposed to get her pissed?" came Duo's loud obnoxious voice. "She's always pissed no matter what. You can say the nicest things and she'll still get pissed."
Yuriko stood up, took a deep breath and said, "Then don't say nice things." Each g-boy looked at her confused. "Lily isn't the type that likes to be nice. Say something nice to her that's an insult. Say something mean and that's a compliment. I know it sounds weird but that's how she is. It comes from being alone most of her life. She doesn't like to get close to people and so she pushes herself away from everyone. One way that she knows their distant is their insults." The g-boys looked at each other and shrugged. In a way it did make sense, but it was also very confusing.
"It's late," explained Une. "Everyone should get home and get some sleep. You've school tomorrow then work."
"Yuriko goes to school?" asked Duo.
"No I don't. I come straight here and do whatever mission I'm assigned."
"Oh." Everyone got up and finally left, Noin, Une and Sally plus Mariemaia being the only ones left.
* * *
"Ohayo Lily," greeted Duo. Lily came in, took her seat and ignored him. "Fine! Be that way."
Lily smiled and said, "okay."
"You feeling better Lily?" asked Heero.
"Hai. Thank you for asking though. Did you guys get Mariemaia back?" Now Lily turned around and looked at the boys. For once the girl looked happy, and peaceful. Was Yuriko really telling the truth?
"Yeah. She's with Sally and them," explained Wufei. He was a little surprised to see Lily so calm and smiling for once.
"Good."
"Lily, I was wondering," started Quatre. "How exactly do you and Yuri..."
"Class we have a new student," announced the teacher. "Everyone please welcome Nikki Meiou." A young girl with purple hair to her knees and green eyes walked in. She wore a long purple skirt and a black shirt. "Take a seat next to Lily," ordered the teacher. Nikki smiled and nodded. Then she took her seat to the right of Lily.
"Konanachiwa Lily-chan."
"Hm...Ohayo Nikki. How have you been?" came Lily's response. The g-boys all stared wide-eyed. She was friendly to someone and she even let her call her Lily-chan.
"Fine. So this is where you've been the past three weeks. Why didn't you ever answer any of my e-mails or ever call?"
"Nikki-chan, do you think I had the time?" To tell the truth Lily really didn't want to answer her e-mails or even call. She didn't really like Nikki, but no matter what Nikki always found ways to annoy her.
"Are you two friends?" interrupted Duo.
"Friends?" Lily raised an eyebrow and sighed. "Look Braid Boy, I thought I told you before that I have no friends. They would just get in the way."
"Family then?" asked Heero.
"Oh God no. Thank goodness we're not related. Like I'd ever want to be related to this happy go lucky weirdo. I don't really even want to be found around her, yet, always she finds a way to annoy me."
Nikki just smiled and said, "Oh come on Lily-chan, you know you love me." She laughed when Lily glared at her and growled. "Now now, don't be like that. It's not nice, but then again, you're not a nice person. I forgot."
"What about Yuriko?" asked Wufei, trying to interrupt their conversation and to keep Lily from killing Nikki. "If you don't have any friends then she must be family or something."
"No, we're not related," Lily explained. "Yuriko is just a very good partner. We do most of our missions together, even though it may not seem like it."
"Speaking of which Lily-chan, how is Yuri-chan?" Lily glared at Nikki for a second then sighed. She wished that Nikki wouldn't use the chan, but she does it to everyone. Even after Lily had threatened her, she still continued.
"She's fine I guess. Nikki, why exactly are you here?"
"To learn, see?" She motioned to the fact that she was in school.
"Oh right." But Lily still didn't believe her. She felt something was going to happen and she didn't know what yet. She would find out though no matter what. Nikki wouldn't come all this way for no reason at all, especially to the same school as Lily. Even though Nikki didn't act like it she also didn't like Lily. The two shared a hate for each other, one that probably would never be solved.
* * *
"Boys, meet your new partner," Noin told them. The five boys and Yuriko, who as usual was in her corner, looked up. In walked Nikki.
"Nikki?" Yuriko jumped up from her seat. "What are you doing here?"
"Didn't you hear her?" asked Nikki. "She said that I was the new pilot." Yuriko suddenly felt dizzy.
"I think I need to sit down." Duo ran over to help her and sat her down in a chair. "Nikki, did Queen Relena send you?"
"Huh? Oh yeah and this letter was for you." Nikki handed the letter to Yuriko. "Don't ask me what it says because I wouldn't know. I don't go spying into other people's business."
"Ok." Yuriko opened the letter and silently read it to herself. When she was done she tried not to tear the letter and cry. "She really doesn't trust me that much?" Nikki, knowing Yuriko for years now, knew she was ready to cry. She had cried once and only once but there will still times when she was very close to it. She was hurt and knew that never would Queen Relena be able to trust her, even though she's been working for her for a few years now, and never once had she failed a mission. Even with all that, Queen Relena still wouldn't trust her.
Yuriko got up, dropped the letter and ran out of the room. Wufei picked up the letter and silently read it.
"Injustice. If you want someone to work for you then you have to trust them."
"Wufei, what does the letter say," asked Heero.
"Yuriko, sending you on this mission might have been a mistake. I don't know. All I know is that I can't trust you. I'm afraid that you might kill those wonderful boys in the process and get out of hand. I don't think they can control you long. I have sent Nikki in your place this way it's someone I can trust. You are free to go. You no longer work for me. Queen Relena." Wufei crumbled up the letter and looked at everyone else. "It's not right to send someone on a mission and in the middle of it say that they don't trust you."
"Well, we won't let Yuriko go," stated Sally. "She's part of us now and we trust her." The g-boys all nodded. Yuriko may not be all that friendly but they sure have learned to like her. They were used to her being around now, and it just wouldn't be the same without her. Besides, they needed her help with the war ahead.
"No offense everyone," interrupted Nikki, "but you don't know Yuriko as well as I do. She's very dangerous and eventually she'll stray from you. She's not a trusting type and she most definitely doesn't hesitate to kill. She'll be after all of you soon especially since you're all guys. Really I'm surprised that you could handle her this long."
"Nikki, but I do know Yuriko," said Une. "I raised her."
"Lady Une. I'm sorry. I didn't know that you were here."
"Don't ever talk about Yuriko like that. You don't know her Nikki. What you know is her shell. These boys know her better than you do. She's never opened up around you before. With these boys it's different. I've seen her actually open up to them a few times. Get that, a few and for you not once. So you can't tell these boys that they don't know her because they sure as hell know her better than you ever could." Nikki didn't have anything to say about that. All she knew was she'd have to learn to get along with Yuriko otherwise she wouldn't be able to get along with anyone else. Why they would actually stick up for her, she didn't know. It made no sense to her. Never has anyone stuck up for Yuriko.
"Fine, do what you want," said Nikki. "She can stay for all I care. She just better not get in the way of my job." That said, Nikki stormed out of the room. She hated Yuriko and was hoping that she could actually get rid of her for once, but these boys actually wanted her around. Relena wouldn't be too happy about this.
"Duo can you please check on Yuriko?" asked Une.
"Sure." Duo ran out of the room.
* * *
"Yuriko? Hey Yuriko!! Ya up there?" Duo searched for his friend in the tree but couldn't find her. "Yuriko?"
"Go away!!" he heard her shout. He looked further up the tree and saw why he couldn't find her. She had climbed up further than usual and did her best to hide from him. He started to climb the tree.
"Yuriko, don't let those two get to you. You don't need them anyway."
"You don't understand. All my life people have put me down, saying that I was dangerous and that I couldn't be trusted. I grew up doing missions and never failing them. I finally gained the trust of someone and I don't want to lose it. Normally it wouldn't bother me, but... I don't know. Being you guys actually makes me want to open up to people."
"You won't lose our trust and just because you were kicked off the mission doesn't mean that you were kicked off the team. Trust me Yuriko, you haven't failed yet. And you should open up to people. Yuriko, we want to help you, but you have to open up to us first. You have to tell us what exactly it is that is bothering you and why you are always alone."
"Duo?" Yuriko could feel warmth surround her. It was weird, but ever since she had met these boys, she didn't want to be alone anymore and she had actually felt wanted. It was like as if they actually cared for her, but why? No one cared about her.
"We want you to stay Yuriko. We've actually grown fond of having you around. We don't want you to leave us. You're a part of the team."
Yuriko nodded and said, "Thank you Duo." She couldn't believe it but she was actually accepted into their team. She was wanted around. She felt a tear run down her cheek and she smiled brightly for the first time since she had first turned five.
"Can we go back in now or do you have somewhere to go?" Yuriko chuckled and looked at him.
"Sorry but yeah, I have to go now." Always. She could never stay around them. She always had other things to take care of, but one of these days she would. She would stay and talk with them because.... because she really did care for them. Very much.
"Understandable. You're a busy woman. Just promise me that from now on if something is bothering you that you'll come and talk to one of us."
"It's a promise."
"Good. Now go on and do whatever it is that you need to do." Duo offered to help her down but she refused so he climbed down himself.
Yuriko stood up and walked to the end of the branch that she was standing on. Duo looked up and nearly had a heart attack. He watched as she bounced on the branch.
"Yuriko, what the hell do you think you're doing? Get down here now, the careful way. That branch will break if you keep doing that."
"Oh come on Duo, you said that you trust me right?"
"I do trust you. I just don't think that you should be trying to fly at a time like this." The panic in his voice was evident. He was worried, very worried. Yuriko liked that. No one had ever been worried about her before.
"Don't worry. I'll be perfectly fine and I'll prove it to you now." She jumped off the branch and Duo held his breath. She performed a series of flips, on the last one preparing herself to land. Gracefully landing on her feet, she looked at Duo. He waited a few more seconds before he let his breath out.
"You crazy maniac. You could have killed yourself doing that."
"But I didn't, now did I?" It was obvious that she was smiling by the tone in her voice. It was just too cheerful. "Anyway, I better go now." She picked up a bag next to the tree. "Ja Duo!" Then she ran off.
Duo smiled. "She really is dangerous, but I think I like that about her."
"I think that's what we all like about her." Heero and the rest of the group walked up behind him.
"What? You guys don't like the controlling side?" asked Noin.
"Or the deadly side?" asked Sally.
"Only the daring," put in Une. "That's all guys like about girls."
"Can't blame us," said Duo. "We like the action. Some women are just so boring. They don't do anything but sit at home."
"Is that how you think of us?" asked Sally. The three women planted their hands on their waists and glared at the five boys. The helpless, defenseless five backed up away from the three women.
"No way," said Duo. "We love ya three. No way we could think that way of ya." The three still glared at them. "Look, would we still be here working together? I don't think so. What do you say guys?" His four companions desperately nodded their heads, not able to get a yes out.
"Really?" asked Noin. "Thank you but..." All three women pulled squirt guns out from behind them and started chasing after the five guys. Screams and shouts could be heard as the five guys each grabbed hoses and went after the three women.
Far in the distance Yuriko stood behind a tree and watched them. She wished that she could be part of the fun, but knew she couldn't. She wasn't yet completely part of the group and wasn't sure she ever would be. That included opening up completely. Besides, she had a mission to finish and a promise to keep. No offense to them, but that was the only reason she stayed around. Forget about opening up to them. She didn't want to get close to them, otherwise when it's time to leave she won't want to. She was afraid though. Afraid that she was already that fond of them.
She shook her head. It may be too late but she had no choice. She made a promise, for both her and Lily. Mostly for Lily though. She cared deeply for these boys, but she wouldn't be able to stick around much longer. It was too dangerous for her to stay around them and for her to get too close to them, but she didn't know anymore. She sighed deeply and leaned back against the tree. Why did she care so much about them anyway? What made them different from him? They could easily do the same thing, then why? A few tears ran down her cheeks and soon she was crying. "WHY?!" She pushed away from the tree and ran away as fast as she could. Away from all the things that she cared most about. Away from all the pain.
The six pilots were tired and angry. Sitting down they couldn't help but complain and argue with each other. Sally, Noin and Une just sat to the side watching. Mariemaia was in a room upstairs sleeping and Yuriko was to the side thinking and listening to the g-boys complain. Treize was alive and she didn't like that. Keep her promise she would. And she would let Lily take care of Koji. He was not of her concern.
"We have to stop Treize," boomed Wufei's voice. "If he's alive and with OZ then he can't be up to no good."
"Wow Wufei," said Yuriko very sarcastically. "Aren't you just such a smart boy?" Wufei felt himself shrink and just glared at Yuriko. "Anyway, even if he wasn't with OZ you would plain out know he was up to something. No one can tell Mariemaia that her dad is alive. I mean it."
"But," started Une.
"No one," interrupted Yuriko. "Not one person. Not even a hint that he's alive. Got me?" Everyone nodded. "Good."
"But what are we going to do about Treize?" asked Quatre.
"Nothing. I'm going to kill him," explained Yuriko.
"But you can't do that alone. You'll need help."
"Don't try to talk her out of it Quatre," ordered Noin. "Once she's made up her mind there's no stopping her. Besides, I think that Yuriko knows what she doing, ne Yuriko?"
"Hai," came Yuriko's cold response.
"I just can't believe he's alive," said Duo. "I mean all this time we thought he was dead and yet he was alive."
"None of us knew Duo," Heero told him. "How were we supposed to?" That's when Trowa decided to join in on the conversation.
"Because Lily told us."
"What?" Heero and everyone else turned to look at Trowa. "What do you mean she told us?"
"Remember sometime in the beginning when Lily had first arrived? I think it was on her second day that she told us 'It's not over yet. He's still alive.' No one knew what she meant at the time so we just threw it aside but now I do."
Yuriko looked at Trowa and smiled. He was pretty smart. They all were at certain times and those times she just had to praise them. That was pretty much the only time that she appreciated them though. Other times she just wanted to strangle them. She hated this working together thing. She was a loner, but she had to push that aside and work with these boys.
"I think you're right Trowa," agreed Heero. "Lily did tell us but I wish she would have explained what she meant at the time then we wouldn't be in this mess."
"Well did you piss her off or anything when she told you?" Yuriko finally asked. She watched as each g-boy started to think about that day and got a few nervous nods. "Well there's you answer. Never get Lily pissed or she'll leave you confused."
"How are we not supposed to get her pissed?" came Duo's loud obnoxious voice. "She's always pissed no matter what. You can say the nicest things and she'll still get pissed."
Yuriko stood up, took a deep breath and said, "Then don't say nice things." Each g-boy looked at her confused. "Lily isn't the type that likes to be nice. Say something nice to her that's an insult. Say something mean and that's a compliment. I know it sounds weird but that's how she is. It comes from being alone most of her life. She doesn't like to get close to people and so she pushes herself away from everyone. One way that she knows their distant is their insults." The g-boys looked at each other and shrugged. In a way it did make sense, but it was also very confusing.
"It's late," explained Une. "Everyone should get home and get some sleep. You've school tomorrow then work."
"Yuriko goes to school?" asked Duo.
"No I don't. I come straight here and do whatever mission I'm assigned."
"Oh." Everyone got up and finally left, Noin, Une and Sally plus Mariemaia being the only ones left.
* * *
"Ohayo Lily," greeted Duo. Lily came in, took her seat and ignored him. "Fine! Be that way."
Lily smiled and said, "okay."
"You feeling better Lily?" asked Heero.
"Hai. Thank you for asking though. Did you guys get Mariemaia back?" Now Lily turned around and looked at the boys. For once the girl looked happy, and peaceful. Was Yuriko really telling the truth?
"Yeah. She's with Sally and them," explained Wufei. He was a little surprised to see Lily so calm and smiling for once.
"Good."
"Lily, I was wondering," started Quatre. "How exactly do you and Yuri..."
"Class we have a new student," announced the teacher. "Everyone please welcome Nikki Meiou." A young girl with purple hair to her knees and green eyes walked in. She wore a long purple skirt and a black shirt. "Take a seat next to Lily," ordered the teacher. Nikki smiled and nodded. Then she took her seat to the right of Lily.
"Konanachiwa Lily-chan."
"Hm...Ohayo Nikki. How have you been?" came Lily's response. The g-boys all stared wide-eyed. She was friendly to someone and she even let her call her Lily-chan.
"Fine. So this is where you've been the past three weeks. Why didn't you ever answer any of my e-mails or ever call?"
"Nikki-chan, do you think I had the time?" To tell the truth Lily really didn't want to answer her e-mails or even call. She didn't really like Nikki, but no matter what Nikki always found ways to annoy her.
"Are you two friends?" interrupted Duo.
"Friends?" Lily raised an eyebrow and sighed. "Look Braid Boy, I thought I told you before that I have no friends. They would just get in the way."
"Family then?" asked Heero.
"Oh God no. Thank goodness we're not related. Like I'd ever want to be related to this happy go lucky weirdo. I don't really even want to be found around her, yet, always she finds a way to annoy me."
Nikki just smiled and said, "Oh come on Lily-chan, you know you love me." She laughed when Lily glared at her and growled. "Now now, don't be like that. It's not nice, but then again, you're not a nice person. I forgot."
"What about Yuriko?" asked Wufei, trying to interrupt their conversation and to keep Lily from killing Nikki. "If you don't have any friends then she must be family or something."
"No, we're not related," Lily explained. "Yuriko is just a very good partner. We do most of our missions together, even though it may not seem like it."
"Speaking of which Lily-chan, how is Yuri-chan?" Lily glared at Nikki for a second then sighed. She wished that Nikki wouldn't use the chan, but she does it to everyone. Even after Lily had threatened her, she still continued.
"She's fine I guess. Nikki, why exactly are you here?"
"To learn, see?" She motioned to the fact that she was in school.
"Oh right." But Lily still didn't believe her. She felt something was going to happen and she didn't know what yet. She would find out though no matter what. Nikki wouldn't come all this way for no reason at all, especially to the same school as Lily. Even though Nikki didn't act like it she also didn't like Lily. The two shared a hate for each other, one that probably would never be solved.
* * *
"Boys, meet your new partner," Noin told them. The five boys and Yuriko, who as usual was in her corner, looked up. In walked Nikki.
"Nikki?" Yuriko jumped up from her seat. "What are you doing here?"
"Didn't you hear her?" asked Nikki. "She said that I was the new pilot." Yuriko suddenly felt dizzy.
"I think I need to sit down." Duo ran over to help her and sat her down in a chair. "Nikki, did Queen Relena send you?"
"Huh? Oh yeah and this letter was for you." Nikki handed the letter to Yuriko. "Don't ask me what it says because I wouldn't know. I don't go spying into other people's business."
"Ok." Yuriko opened the letter and silently read it to herself. When she was done she tried not to tear the letter and cry. "She really doesn't trust me that much?" Nikki, knowing Yuriko for years now, knew she was ready to cry. She had cried once and only once but there will still times when she was very close to it. She was hurt and knew that never would Queen Relena be able to trust her, even though she's been working for her for a few years now, and never once had she failed a mission. Even with all that, Queen Relena still wouldn't trust her.
Yuriko got up, dropped the letter and ran out of the room. Wufei picked up the letter and silently read it.
"Injustice. If you want someone to work for you then you have to trust them."
"Wufei, what does the letter say," asked Heero.
"Yuriko, sending you on this mission might have been a mistake. I don't know. All I know is that I can't trust you. I'm afraid that you might kill those wonderful boys in the process and get out of hand. I don't think they can control you long. I have sent Nikki in your place this way it's someone I can trust. You are free to go. You no longer work for me. Queen Relena." Wufei crumbled up the letter and looked at everyone else. "It's not right to send someone on a mission and in the middle of it say that they don't trust you."
"Well, we won't let Yuriko go," stated Sally. "She's part of us now and we trust her." The g-boys all nodded. Yuriko may not be all that friendly but they sure have learned to like her. They were used to her being around now, and it just wouldn't be the same without her. Besides, they needed her help with the war ahead.
"No offense everyone," interrupted Nikki, "but you don't know Yuriko as well as I do. She's very dangerous and eventually she'll stray from you. She's not a trusting type and she most definitely doesn't hesitate to kill. She'll be after all of you soon especially since you're all guys. Really I'm surprised that you could handle her this long."
"Nikki, but I do know Yuriko," said Une. "I raised her."
"Lady Une. I'm sorry. I didn't know that you were here."
"Don't ever talk about Yuriko like that. You don't know her Nikki. What you know is her shell. These boys know her better than you do. She's never opened up around you before. With these boys it's different. I've seen her actually open up to them a few times. Get that, a few and for you not once. So you can't tell these boys that they don't know her because they sure as hell know her better than you ever could." Nikki didn't have anything to say about that. All she knew was she'd have to learn to get along with Yuriko otherwise she wouldn't be able to get along with anyone else. Why they would actually stick up for her, she didn't know. It made no sense to her. Never has anyone stuck up for Yuriko.
"Fine, do what you want," said Nikki. "She can stay for all I care. She just better not get in the way of my job." That said, Nikki stormed out of the room. She hated Yuriko and was hoping that she could actually get rid of her for once, but these boys actually wanted her around. Relena wouldn't be too happy about this.
"Duo can you please check on Yuriko?" asked Une.
"Sure." Duo ran out of the room.
* * *
"Yuriko? Hey Yuriko!! Ya up there?" Duo searched for his friend in the tree but couldn't find her. "Yuriko?"
"Go away!!" he heard her shout. He looked further up the tree and saw why he couldn't find her. She had climbed up further than usual and did her best to hide from him. He started to climb the tree.
"Yuriko, don't let those two get to you. You don't need them anyway."
"You don't understand. All my life people have put me down, saying that I was dangerous and that I couldn't be trusted. I grew up doing missions and never failing them. I finally gained the trust of someone and I don't want to lose it. Normally it wouldn't bother me, but... I don't know. Being you guys actually makes me want to open up to people."
"You won't lose our trust and just because you were kicked off the mission doesn't mean that you were kicked off the team. Trust me Yuriko, you haven't failed yet. And you should open up to people. Yuriko, we want to help you, but you have to open up to us first. You have to tell us what exactly it is that is bothering you and why you are always alone."
"Duo?" Yuriko could feel warmth surround her. It was weird, but ever since she had met these boys, she didn't want to be alone anymore and she had actually felt wanted. It was like as if they actually cared for her, but why? No one cared about her.
"We want you to stay Yuriko. We've actually grown fond of having you around. We don't want you to leave us. You're a part of the team."
Yuriko nodded and said, "Thank you Duo." She couldn't believe it but she was actually accepted into their team. She was wanted around. She felt a tear run down her cheek and she smiled brightly for the first time since she had first turned five.
"Can we go back in now or do you have somewhere to go?" Yuriko chuckled and looked at him.
"Sorry but yeah, I have to go now." Always. She could never stay around them. She always had other things to take care of, but one of these days she would. She would stay and talk with them because.... because she really did care for them. Very much.
"Understandable. You're a busy woman. Just promise me that from now on if something is bothering you that you'll come and talk to one of us."
"It's a promise."
"Good. Now go on and do whatever it is that you need to do." Duo offered to help her down but she refused so he climbed down himself.
Yuriko stood up and walked to the end of the branch that she was standing on. Duo looked up and nearly had a heart attack. He watched as she bounced on the branch.
"Yuriko, what the hell do you think you're doing? Get down here now, the careful way. That branch will break if you keep doing that."
"Oh come on Duo, you said that you trust me right?"
"I do trust you. I just don't think that you should be trying to fly at a time like this." The panic in his voice was evident. He was worried, very worried. Yuriko liked that. No one had ever been worried about her before.
"Don't worry. I'll be perfectly fine and I'll prove it to you now." She jumped off the branch and Duo held his breath. She performed a series of flips, on the last one preparing herself to land. Gracefully landing on her feet, she looked at Duo. He waited a few more seconds before he let his breath out.
"You crazy maniac. You could have killed yourself doing that."
"But I didn't, now did I?" It was obvious that she was smiling by the tone in her voice. It was just too cheerful. "Anyway, I better go now." She picked up a bag next to the tree. "Ja Duo!" Then she ran off.
Duo smiled. "She really is dangerous, but I think I like that about her."
"I think that's what we all like about her." Heero and the rest of the group walked up behind him.
"What? You guys don't like the controlling side?" asked Noin.
"Or the deadly side?" asked Sally.
"Only the daring," put in Une. "That's all guys like about girls."
"Can't blame us," said Duo. "We like the action. Some women are just so boring. They don't do anything but sit at home."
"Is that how you think of us?" asked Sally. The three women planted their hands on their waists and glared at the five boys. The helpless, defenseless five backed up away from the three women.
"No way," said Duo. "We love ya three. No way we could think that way of ya." The three still glared at them. "Look, would we still be here working together? I don't think so. What do you say guys?" His four companions desperately nodded their heads, not able to get a yes out.
"Really?" asked Noin. "Thank you but..." All three women pulled squirt guns out from behind them and started chasing after the five guys. Screams and shouts could be heard as the five guys each grabbed hoses and went after the three women.
Far in the distance Yuriko stood behind a tree and watched them. She wished that she could be part of the fun, but knew she couldn't. She wasn't yet completely part of the group and wasn't sure she ever would be. That included opening up completely. Besides, she had a mission to finish and a promise to keep. No offense to them, but that was the only reason she stayed around. Forget about opening up to them. She didn't want to get close to them, otherwise when it's time to leave she won't want to. She was afraid though. Afraid that she was already that fond of them.
She shook her head. It may be too late but she had no choice. She made a promise, for both her and Lily. Mostly for Lily though. She cared deeply for these boys, but she wouldn't be able to stick around much longer. It was too dangerous for her to stay around them and for her to get too close to them, but she didn't know anymore. She sighed deeply and leaned back against the tree. Why did she care so much about them anyway? What made them different from him? They could easily do the same thing, then why? A few tears ran down her cheeks and soon she was crying. "WHY?!" She pushed away from the tree and ran away as fast as she could. Away from all the things that she cared most about. Away from all the pain.