Disclaimers: Not mine, no money, don't sue, me is just a poor undergraduate, me owns nothing.
And I was inspired by Lorena's fic, Chiaroscuro. But it's not the same thing, I'm just borrowing the idea of the nightmare in studying in a private school (which I'm currently experiencing). ^___^
Warnings: AU, Cross-dressing. Language. Lame attempt at humor. Lil' bit o' Shounen Ai? By me, 'nuff to scare you? ^___^
Notes: Um, this is going to have Shounen Ai in it. But that's to be expected since this is taking place in an academy exclusively for boys. So… if you don't like that, there's the back button for you. But it's not really that detailed, just kissing and stuff, it's for the plot. ::grin:: Oh, well. Read at your own risk.
Additional: I'm done with school for the next two months! YAY! ::cheers:: And what's more, no more nuns to get on my case for almost everything. Come June 2003, it'll be Dominican priests I'll be faced with instead of the Paulinian nuns who've terrorized me. ::pauses:: Wait…is that a good thing? Or has my life just turned for the worse? ^____________^
DEDI: This one goes out to one of my best friends, Shengskot. Thanks for putting up with me the past few weeks. I believe I have SHREW stamped on my forehead now. ^_^ I plead student burn out. Thanks for the support and all! ::glompies::
====
Part 8
Relena's face scrunched. She was faced with the most difficult test a man was ever to face. Around her, the other three seated at the table with her waited with bated breaths. The young newcomer was challenged to prove her skill at decision-making. Her future could very well rest on what the result her actions would bring. Please give me strength, she prayed in her head.
Now or never.
"Two pairs," she said, laying her cards on the table and looking intently into Duo's intense violet orbs.
Duo's face crumpled and he sighed, throwing his cards on the table. "Crap. I was hoping to get away with it," he sulked. He didn't have any card that would merit him victory.
Relena sighed in relief. She was afraid Duo would beat her. For the past three hours, she and Duo had been going at each other's throats on winning the poker game. So far, the braided boy was winning. But her winning streak was starting now. She'll be on a roll; she felt it. She's going to win!
All the cramps on various parts of her body from sitting on the chair without standing up for three whole hours were paying off. She was going to beat the self-proclaimed Poker King tonight! She grinned happily as she started to reach for the bag of M&Ms at Duo's side when Quatre cleared his throat.
Right. She forgot about him. Well, she'd be glad to rid him of his candies as well. Trowa, the one occupying the last seat on their square had long given up when Relena and Duo started hurling candies at each other, declaring who was better. She gave the blond a sunny smile and was about to reach for the candies when he shook his head and placed him cards on the table for them to see.
"I think this round's mine," Quatre said cheerfully as Relena stared, dumbstruck at the royal flush.
~*~*~*~
"Stop laughing, you damn hyena!" Relena exclaimed as she forcefully planted a foot on the rocky terrain. She hiked her bag higher on her back and wiped the beads of perspiration on her forehead.
Heero only laughed harder. He clutched his stomach as his companion adjusted his visor to keep the rays off his eyes, therefore sparing himself the risk of blindness. Reynald shot him another glare before storming ahead. It only caused Heero to laugh harder as he followed him.
They were hiking the hill that had been neglected far too long. Relena felt safe to go out of her room without killing a certain senior so Heero had asked her if she was up to the hike that was scheduled two days ago. Not one to back out from a challenge, and definitely hearing one form the tone of Heero's voice when he asked her, she told him to meet her at the foot of the hill in ten minutes. And now she had just finished narrating her embarrassing defeat against the soft-spoken blond.
"I guess nobody warned you," Heero said when he was finally able to rein his laughter, "Trowa's the man to hunt when you need a good poker tutor. And knowing those two…"
"You could've told me that earlier. No wonder Duo seemed relieved when Trowa stopped playing. And I thought I was starting to win!" she wailed.
Heero shrugged. "I wasn't with you, remember? Wufei and I were playing tennis last night."
She paused and allowed Heero to catch up (though he could have done so without much effort) and wrinkled her nose. "I don't see why you had to play that late. It's not like you needed to practice anyway. You can beat whoever you're up against without breaking into a sweat."
The young man beside her grinned and her eyes widened while her cheeks flamed. "I know what you're thinking. Should I tell Duo he needs to resize the doors of your room 'cause your head's growing too big?"
"So you think I'm good, eh?"
"The weather's nice, isn't it?" she asked, hoping to change to conversation. She tired the bandana on her head and grinned. "Race ya!" Then sprinted away, hoping Heero would forget about what she said and turn his attention elsewhere. To the race she started for example. She directed all her energy to get to the lodge at the top before Heero did. She knew if there was something Heero loved, it was a good challenge.
And if there was one thing Relena hated, it was losing a challenge. Heero shrugged when their eyes met at the lodge. Collapsing on the wooden floorboards of the cabin, she struggled to catch her breath. Meanwhile, Heero took a few deep breaths then he was breathing normal again.
"Not fair at all" Heero heard Reynald mutter from the floor. He took off his backpack and snatched the bottle of water from inside and threw it to him. "Drink this." He caught it easily and nodded his thanks. "You've increased your stamina from the first time but it's still not enough."
"I'm just playing for a few weeks, not for my whole life," the blond replied and when one of Heero's eyebrows rose, she cleared her throat. "I mean… I'm think maybe basketball's not for me. I was thinking of fencing." Dorothy had always bugged her about that. Might as well give it a try.
"You should've signed up for fencing earlier then, you could've saved me my time and energy," Heero replied gruffly. So the idiot was considering changing courses, eh? Stupid. He took the bottle from him and drank from it. He paused, eyebrows knitting. Why the hell did it smell like one of those strawberry-flavored lip gloss his cousins always used?
"Would you mind telling me what's with the mood swings?" Relena rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you've got your period."
"Very funny," Heero replaced the cap and shoved it in his bag irritably but smiled despite himself. "What would you bet to see me make you eat dust racing you back down?"
"No bet. You'll reach it faster since you'll be rolling," she replied while she attempted to get up from where she was sprawled on the ground. After much grunting and struggling she finally managed to stand up. "Are you ready for the roll of your life?"
"If you dare so much as to lay even a finger on me, I swear you'll be the one rolling down this hill!" Heero threatened.
"Bah! Empty threats," she waved them off. She gave him a predatory grin and dove for him. She caught him squarely by the shoulders and pushed, intending to make it seem like she was really going to do it. But she was surprised by her own strength.
Heero's eyes widened and a small undignified sound escaped his lips before he could stop himself. He caught the other's arm as he flailed his arms wildly in a vain effort to regain his balance. He only had a second to open his mouth before they both found themselves rolling down the hill. "AAARRRGGGHHHHHH!"
"This is—ow!—all your—ugh!—fault," Relena said as Heero tumbled underneath her then on top of her then underneath again. She was aware of every bit of dried leaves and twigs attaching themselves onto her hair and body parts.
"Me? You—(grunt)—were the one who—pushed me," Heero protested, his voice a bit muffled as they continued to roll downward. "You're lucky we haven't encountered stones yet—"
"You just had to say it, didn't you?" Relena grunted as the jagged edges of stones and pebbles embedded themselves on her exposed skin. She was sure Heero was having the same acupuncture treatment.
At last their Calvary ended and when they stopped, both were panting. Relena's eyes were closed and she was distinctly aware of the weight on top of her. "Geroff," she said weakly. She used her elbows to support her weight as she stood up. She finally opened her eyes to find herself face to face with Heero, his face mere inches away. Her breathing hitched and she found trouble breathing yet again.
Heero stared at the beautiful shade of purple in front of him. He knew that shade. But his eyes seemed more beautiful under the filtered light of the sun through the foliage. Reynald's thick lashes brushed against his cheeks and his eyes fell on the lips that seemed to invite him for a kiss. Not being able to resist himself, he closed the distance between them and claimed those soft yielding lips.
When they broke apart, Relena stared at Heero in disbelief. What was going on? This wasn't in the plan. Actually, there was no plan. When will her lightning ever be delivered?
Before either of them could say or do anything, Duo's voice broke the silence surrounding them. "Rey? Heero?" their loudmouthed called out from a good distance. It was apparent they had not been spotted yet.
Heero quickly stood up and held out his hand for Reynald to take to get to his feet. She took it shyly then started to brush the leaves, twigs and leaves that found comfort in her body. A discreet glance on her right confirmed that Heero was doing the same thing.
After calling out to Duo, Relena started looking around her, looking anywhere but at Heero who was doing the very same thing. She marveled at the untamed beauty around her, momentarily forgetting the boy who had been occupying her mind for the past few days. The trees grew in soaring heights and she could feel the foresty-smell of the hill as if she were really in a mountain rather than a hill. The leaves scratched her skin while roots crept on the ground by her feet.
Duo reached them at long last and Relena greeted him with a smile. "Hey," she said. "I wasn't expecting to see you. Joining the hike?"
The one addressed the question to shook his head. "Not really. I'm the bearer of bad news, unfortunately."
"Bad news? What happened?" Relena asked, worry laced with concern apparent in her voice.
"Heero, you've got visitors. It's them."
She heard a litany of curses from behind her and frowned. Visitors for Heero? That was good, wasn't it? So he wasn't alone as she thought he was after all. Those were most likely his family waiting at the school.
"We'll continue our hike some other time, Dorian," Heero said before brushing past her and Duo as he started his solitary journey back.
Relena turned to her friend. "What's wrong? He doesn't seem that happy to have someone visiting him."
Duo shook his head. "Heero's got issues with his family. It's best to leave him alone for a while. Until they leave anyway. They don't really stay long, just about an hour or so then they'll be on their merry way."
She nodded but she was frowning inside. She didn't understand. Weren't visits like this supposed to last very long? Her family used to visit her from morning until late in the evening. She wasn't that well acquainted to the visitation rules and guidelines of SKA but she was sure relatives were free to visit their sons as long as it was at a reasonable hour and day. But she noticed the students enrolled for the summer program rarely got visits from any of their family and friends. "Will Heero be okay?"
"I guess so. It's the same every summer for him anyway."
~*~*~*~
"Look, there he is now, honey, doesn't he look handsome?" Heero cringed. He always did whenever he heard his stepmother's shrill voice. After the hike, he hadn't bothered to take a shower or at least make himself presentable. He was positively reeking of leaves, molds and perspiration but he didn't care a jot. Let that be another bad trait added under his name in the list Mrs. Yuy kept.
The vice-principal who, up until then, was keeping a lively jabber with Mr. Yuy's lovely young wife, smiled. "I shall leave you to spend some time with your son then. Good day."
Heero watched the plump man nearing baldness leave. When he was left alone in the visiting lounge where most parents waited for their sons to show, he sighed inwardly. Here we go again. "How have you been, father, mother?" he asked, almost having to spat the last word out.
Mother. Yeah, right. His father might have "moved on" from his wife's untimely demise three years ago but not his son. He knew how miserable his mother had been with his father even until her last moment. Mr. Yuy had been openly cavorting with the younger woman just when Heero had turned nine and now, she finally succeeded in snagging her prize: wifehood to the powerful Army General.
He had been strongly opposed to the idea of remarriage that his father decided to send him to a boarding school since it was obvious Angeline wouldn't have anyone else's child but her own in the house. He was even restricted to go home for summer. And now she had the gall to act all excited at seeing her stepson. She might have fooled everyone else but not him.
"We've been really well, Heero," Angeline smiled, blinking quite adorably at him. "That nice man has been telling us all about you, dear. How nice that you're the captain of the basketball team. Oh, and he told Ichitaka and I you're at the top of your class again. We're so proud of you." She wrapped her arms around him and Heero struggled to be free of her hug but he caught the fierce look his father sent him. He endured the breath-stealing hug in tortured silence.
"Angel, why don't you tell him about the good news," his father said, regarding his son with flat blue eyes.
"Oh, yes! The good news!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. "Heero, you're going to have a baby brother!" she grinned. "Isn't that great? We're going to have a baby just like you. A mini-Heero. Isn't that adorable?"
"Fantastic," he deadpanned. "Let's hope he also inherits my brain, since it'll be quite sad if he gets his IQ from his mother."
"Heero!"
The pretty brunette cleared her throat. "I think I'll go to the powder room for a minute," she forced a smile as she left the room in hurried steps.
"Well? Are you happy now? Your mother's upset, no thanks to you," the older Yuy's voice boomed and Heero flinched. He remembered the times he had to lie on his stomach at night because of the pain his father's belt caused his rear.
"Stepmother," he corrected. "And I was merely stating a fact. How is married life with the girl ten years your junior? A baby, huh? Couldn't get any better, I guess."
"I'm warning you, young man, show respect to her. She's your new mother, whether you like it or not."
"I can see that. And apparently, my opinion doesn't really matter. But I believe all's well at home since I'm at the boarding school. My dark presence won't upset lovely, fragile Angel and her new baby." He ignored his father's murderous glare. "Oh, wait, I forgot gold-digging in describing her."
"You will stop calling her names this instant!" Mr. Yuy cleared his throat and when he reined his temper, he spoke again. "It is most unfortunate that you're still bitter for whatever ridiculous reason that I've wedded Angeline. We were hoping that you could join us for the rest of summer vacation in Europe but it seems like you'll be staying here with the rest of the boys."
Ridiculous? Was mourning for his mother ridiculous? It seemed so to the husband who never cared for his dead wife. Heero also knew they really had no intention of letting them join the trip. "Better here than with sweet little Angel. Thank you very much for the offer though."
His father glared at him until Angeline came back from her long toilet break. "Heero, dear, I'm so sorry to cut this visit short but I've been terribly fatigued. And I have to watch my health because of the baby," she said wistfully. "But you'll join us in Europe won't you?"
"I'm afraid Heero's too busy to go to Europe. But he promised to write us," her husband said, taking her hand and holding her close to him. "As you can see, your mother's not feeling too well. We'd best be on our way."
Heero shrugged. "Goodbye, father." He merely regarded his son with a nod.
"Until next summer, darling," Angeline kissed his forehead before leaving. The second they were out of sight, he furiously scrubbed his forehead with a handkerchief. Darling my ass.
Relena shoved her hands in the pocket of her shorts. Duo told her he had to go back to the pool so she was left to walk to her dorm alone. As she neared the building she noticed a couple walking away from the direction of the main hall. The man who was dressed in a general's uniform was holding a pretty young woman.
She wondered whose parents they could be. Though the man looked commanding and impregnable he was supporting most of his little wife's weight as she leaned on him. The woman, dressed in an elegant and obviously expensive white dress shook her head, causing the ebony hair to cascade down her shoulders. She looked just like a sweet little angel. She was sure whoever the couple's son was, he was sweet-tempered as his mother. She heard snatches of their conversation as she neared.
"How dare that devil spawn say such vile things about me!" the woman shrieked. "I'll be damned if my baby takes after that little creature you call son!"
"Hush, now, now," the man said, caressing her back in an effort to soothe her. "He's still sad about his mother's death, try to understand him."
"Sad?" she spat incredulously. "That docile deer you called wife died three years ago! She's dead, rotting six feet under the ground, for Christ's sake. Don't try to defend that boy of yours, Taka. He simply likes to make my life hell. And I'm telling you, if he sets foot in our house again, I'm packing my bags and you can be damned sure that divorce papers are on the way after."
"I know, that's why I'm keeping Heero in the boarding school. Now, watch your temper, it's not good for the baby…"
Relena watched them go in silence. Heero? They were Heero's parents? No wonder Heero wasn't jumping with joy when Duo announced their arrival. She spied Heero's form leaving, probably heading to his dorm, and she hid behind the hedges adorning the front yard as he passed by. She looked down on the ground, embarrassed for the past things she told him.
He had been right when he told her she didn't understand. But now, she did. Heero was hurting from inside.
~*~*~*~
Heero looked up when he felt someone sit next to him. He was sitting at the edge of the school garden, the very same spot he and Rey had spent the night at when he was drunk. He turned his attention back to the principal's cat lounging around three meters away.
Reynald watched with him in silence for another minute before he cleared his throat. Heero ignored him still.
Relena glared at the young man next to her. Obviously, he wasn't going to make it easy for her. "A sanctuary," she whispered softly.
He stiffened then turned to her. "What did you say?"
"A sanctuary," she repeated. "We all need a sanctuary. I guess for you, this place gives you some degree of comfort. It usually helps to wander off on your own after a grueling encounter with something or someone unpleasant."
"What did Duo tell you?"
"Nothing. I, uh, I overheard your parents talking," she admitted in a small voice.
Heero felt his cheeks flame. It was one thing to know how pathetic his family life was, it was another when someone else becomes aware of it. "And what sweet words did you hear pour forth from my lovely stepmother's mouth?" He wasn't really expecting a response. That would've been even more degrading; to hear foul words repeated for his ears to hear.
She shrugged. "You can guess what she said. But either way, it just proved to me that a person can't be judged merely due to appearance." A pregnant pause. "Don't let it get to you."
"I don't. I don't give a shit if she thinks I'm the devil's spawn."
She reddened. She remembered distinctly calling him that few days ago when they were hiking. But she meant it in a purely different context. "I think they're wrong. You're not horrible like they say you are."
"Be sure to tell them that next summer." Heero leaned back, palms flat on the ground to support his weight.
Relena's brows knitted. She wasn't used to Heero like this. She didn't know what to say to help him, alleviate the pain somehow. "They're wrong about you," she stated, surprising herself and Heero with the sincerity strongly evident in her voice. She gently placed her hand on top of Heero's and gave it a soft squeeze while looking straight ahead, staring at the tabby cat.
Tbc
===
Sorry it's a bit short. What can I possibly say? The call of GRAVI's too strong. ^_^
NOTES: Btw, please be reminded this fic has Shounen Ai. It's inevitable especially in a school exclusive for boys. If that doesn't sit well with you, there's always the back button. ^_^