Hey everyone! How are my favorite fanfic readers? Hehehehe…just kidding! Well, as I said, I'll be updating my fics from now on but before I start on to chapter 8, I'd like to thank the following people first. Key1- I used poor judgement in chapter 6. I don't think I'll be able to finish the story in this chapter. Sorry. I guess a few more chapters wouldn't hurt would it? Hehehe..thanks for reading! Vegeta-Babu-chan- thanks for reviewing. Majorly cute, eh? This one, I think, will be majorly sappy. Hehehehe… Okashira Paige- Yaten's your favorite but you just had to describe him as bitter and sarcastic! Hehehe…but it's the truth isn't it? Yes, I agree Mina and Yaten has chemistry but so does Mina and Heero. You think Yaten's explanation was good? Really? Thanks! ^_^ Jade Stellar- hahahaha…you still stand by Minako and Yaten. Well, up to now I haven't made my decision on who gets Mina. Stay tuned! Venus of Love- I'm wondering what Yaten'll do to get Mina, too. Hehehe…any suggestions? Transcendent- I know how you feel. Now that Heero's leaving, how'll Mina take it? If I were Mina I'd go for Yaten while Heero's away and then get back with him when he comes home. Hehehe…kidding! Ashleigh-Kaiba- thanks for your support! I really appreciate it. I'll update soon. Black Lady- most people are hoping Yaten wins, too. Just keep your fingers crossed! Aino Yuy- that's ok. I understand. You really are an Usagi-hater, aren't you? Hehehe…
Well, folks here's chapter 8! Hope you enjoy it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHAPTER 8 Time For a Sad Goodbye
Minako sighed contentedly as she put her head on his shoulder. Heero in return held her hand as he continued to stare straight ahead. "I'm so happy, Heero," she uttered, nuzzling his neck. "You're right. It is a great day today and I'm very happy you asked me out."
"Really, Minako?" he asked and turned to look at her. She scooted closer and encircled Heero's narrow waist, her head still nestled at the crook of his neck. "Yes, really," she answered happily. "You picked the right day, said the right words, acted the right way…it's all perfect! I could die happy."
Suddenly, he gripped her and shook her with such ferocity that she felt a twinge of fear. "Don't you dare say that!" he demanded seriously. Then he hugged her tight and mumbled, "Don't you ever say that again." She heard worry and concern in his voice. Minako pulled away from his fierce embrace and saw distress in his eyes before he could put on his usual frown. "OK, Heero enough fooling around," she declared and gave him his best dead level glare. "Something is bothering you for the last couple of days and don't you try denying it. Out with it."
Heero's frown sank deeper and stared back at Mina with an equal amount of resolution. "Mina," he started after breathing in deeply. "I have to tell you something." A few seconds passed and still no continuation. Minako was getting impatient but kept her thoughts to herself.
"I'm…well, I'm…" stuttered the oh-so-brave-in-battle pilot. It's now or never, Heero. "I'm leaving on a mission," he said finally. No certain reaction was registered on Mina's face so Heero decided to keep on going before he loses his guts. "We received the mission almost a week ago and I, with the rest, have been preparing for it. I don't know how long it will last but you can be sure that I'll…I'll be thinking of you every time." He breathed a great sigh of relief and looked at Minako.
"Oh," was her only answer. Heero didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. She folded her legs, her knees touching her chest. "When will you be going?" she inquired quietly. Heero was at a loss for words. Of all the reactions he thought she'd give, this wasn't one of them. Somehow her calm appearance agitated him more than her stubborn pout.
"Tomorrow morning," he replied softly. "Be careful," she answered back, not sparing him a glance. The sun shone brightly above their heads and it was getting near noon. Without a word, Minako stood up and started dusting off her skirt. "I guess we better go back now," she suggested and stooped to pick up the picnic basket but Heero yanked her hand and she landed on his lap. "Heero," she gasped and looked into his Prussian blue eyes filled with love and sadness at the same time.
"I don't exactly want to do this, Mina," he whispered solemnly. "But I have to, you know that." The blonde leaned her head to his chest and basked in the warmth and safety of his embrace. "Of course, I do," she said shakily. "Mina," Heero muttered and as if cast by a spell, Minako turned her head and looked at his rueful face staring down at her.
"I wish I could stay here with you and not care about anything else. But I can't," he softly spoke. "Just promise me you'd take care of your self while I'm gone. Ask Yaten to carry your bags when you go shopping and to pay for whatever it is you're going to buy. That way, his thoughts of making you fall in love with him will fade and I won't be too worried," he joked but his face didn't show a trace of a smile. Then, ever so slowly, his face came down on hers, his lips touching hers.
"I love you," he said through the kiss. Upon hearing those words, tears spilled from Mina's closed eyes and she clutched on to Heero's neck tighter, too afraid to let go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He watched from afar as the two displayed their affection and turned to go back. His heart felt constricted when he saw Mina controlling her emotions after Heero told the truth. His mind went back to the time when he had to just disappear out of her life and wondered what would've had happened.
Would she mask her sadness like she did with Heero? Would she have kissed him as passionately as she did to Heero? Would she have waited for him to come back no matter how long like her eyes told Heero?
"Stop it, Yaten," he scolded himself. Tomorrow, he'd go to her house first thing in the morning and be the best friend that he could be…for the moment. "You better come back soon, Yuy," he challenged his adversary. "Or else you'll be wishing that you've killed me before you went away."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hmm…chapter eight is finished. What do you guys think? Fluffy, huh? Well, I don't know why it turned like that. It's not supposed to be so mushy but I think I got a virus that makes my fics turn very sappy and lovey-dovey instead of serious. Noticed Heero? Kinda out of character isn't he? Don't blame me, please! Hehehe…I just don't know what's happening to me. Please don't forget to review!
PS. If you have any suggestions on what Yaten should do to win Mina back, please feel free to e-mail me at jd_anney@yahoo.com. Thanks!