~ Real Life 9 ~
By: Anime Redneck
10-29-03
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Disclaimer: I don't own 'em people! The GW Guys & SM Gals surely ain't mine so stop askin'! ^_^ BEEEDA! ::grin::
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IX. Vacations Happenings
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Three weeks had passed since the girls landed on the ancient Moon Kingdom ruins, even with them, they managed to have a blast while there. The Inners practiced sparing with one another, Haruka being the main instructor and practice partner for them, while the others sat back and watched the younger girls hone in their skills. They were improving, better then when they had first taken the job up. But Usagi still lacked in the hand to hand area; she was good with magical attacks though, managing to shock them all with new ones she created. How, was anyone's guess. She wasn't telling.
"What're you up to Koneko?" a husky voice spoke, up startling the one standing in front of the seemingly larger then normal birdbath.
Trying to hide her surprise Usagi smiled glancing up from the waters reflection, "Nothing much" flashing the smile she turned back to the swirling liquid. It captivated her, drew her towards it. She wasn't sure why, there was just something about the way the waters moved, parted and changed colors; forming random patterns.
The voices owner smirked, sure it was something other then 'nothing' like she insisted. Moving to the girl's side gazing into the bowl as well she blinked, "What are you looking at?"
The 'bowl' as she referred t it as, was actually the Lunar Eye. One of three magical looking pools set up within the palace; one in the throne room, queen's room and the princess' room. At the moment they were alone in the throne room, watching subtle shades of blue and silver dance around each other. It was starting to give her a headache.
Usagi giggled, small grin starting to form on her lips. She wondered, how long the Senshi of Wind could keep staring at the waters before she got dizzy? It was rather... confusing, at best, watching it spin and sway around like that.
When one wished to use the Lunar Eye, all one had to do were state the object of observation, then watch as the waters shifted and changed, bringing that object into view. If you didn't wish to view something, then it stayed an ever-swirling rainbow of colors. Giggling again finally looking over at the taller woman she smiled. The other rule to the Lunar Eye was only the viewer could see what was shown unless other wise told.
For instance, if she wanted to watch something the other girls were doing off the other side of the palace, she would softly request, 'Inner Senshi' and the image would appear. Now if someone were to walk up on her to peer over her shoulder, all they would notice were the mixing colors. But, if she were to willingly tell the other what she was viewing, then they to would be able to watch the goings on of the Inner Senshi as well. This rule allowed the royal heirs to use the Eye with calm, knowing no one else were permitted to view what was not in they're best interest to see.
Sailor Uranus tapped her foot, brow raised as she looked at her Hime pointedly, knowing she was being teased. She never did like secrets... her Hime just knew how to get at her. "Well?" giggling met her ears; she sighed.
"I'm just checking up on something Ruka-chan..." softly smiling up to her protector she winked playfully, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear.
The Senshi of Wind nodded. "Home sick?" She couldn't help but wonder as the younger girl turned back to the bowl. Despite her Hime's not saying anything of it, Haruka knew the girl's never been away from her family this long before, it had to of been a little hard on her, even if her 'other' family were here with her.
"Kind of..." came the reply after a moments silence. The blonde bunny whispered something she couldn't catch, next thing she knew, she was staring at a picture in the bowl. "I'm just worried about leaving the Earth unprotected for this long." Turning her worried blue orbs upwards staring at the older girl, "Do you think it's safe Ruka-chan? Won't the youma attack again?" she asked ringing her hands in the shirts cloth.
Smirking Uranus leaned over grabbing the startled girl in a headlock, issuing a nuggy to her head. "Aw, was that all you were worried about?!" rubbing a spot raw she stopped with a nod. "Come on Koneko, Earth'll be fine. The youma haven't attacked in nearly two months. I don't think they'll attack right now. Even if they were to, we have alerts here to warn us."
Usagi nodded still in the headlock. She knew that, but it didn't help the feeling in her stomach. Times before this feeling only came when something was about to happen... or she just worried for nothing. But Haruka was right... her mother had ways of knowing when an attack happened... all they had to do was transform and teleport down there to take care of it. But... the Outers would probably make them stay here - they're vacation, they'd say - and handle it themselves, makes sure all injured were safe, before teleporting back. She sighed letting the tension in her shoulders she didn't know they had, go.
Uranus nodded, "Good girl!" Releasing her captive smiling she motioned to the pool. "So... who are these guys and which one do you like?" The last part told Usagi all she needed to know of what not to say. The protectiveness practically dripped from the words spoken.
Chuckling Usagi sweat dropped waving her arm at the picture, making it zoom in on the boys shown, who were currently at a beach somewhere, playing around... Well, she corrected herself, as much playing around as they'd do anyways... "Just some friends." Two were running around with a frisbee, being used as a weapon. What was that frisbee tag? That had to hurt... another two were playing chess, one silently watching the running two while the other shook his head at them. The final one she noticed, was laid back on a beach chair, face in the shade, seemingly asleep to the world.
"Ri~ight..." she didn't believe that for a second. That many boys, and she didn't like one of them... Something was up; but if her Hime said she didn't like them like that, then she didn't like them like that. Reluctantly, she admitted that her Koneko would never lie to her... that meant she couldn't threaten them. "Darn it!" snapping her fingers with a frown.
Usagi laughed at her. "You're such a baby Ruka-chan."
Turning slowly, eyeing the smaller 'pray' before her one tan brow rose, "Really now?"
"Erm... heh" she didn't like the way it was turning out to look... that voice wasn't... right. "Would you hurt me if I said no?" Her best bet was to run. 'Cause when the Senshi of Wind got that look in her eye... that's all you could hope for... of course you couldn't hope for long, even with a head start, she wasn't called the Senshi of Wind for nothing you know!
Uranus smirked, "Of course not Koneko... but you know" a step forward, "You know that I can see right through you..." pointing to the petit figure. "I can see your nervousness... see your fear..." another step forward; Usagi took two back. "And I'm gonna.... GET YOU!"
"AHH NO!" Usagi was off like a rocket. The girl couldn't fight hand-to-hand combat worth a day's trip of shopping. Credit, however, had to be given for her running skills... she was faster then the average bunny.
The chase was now on.
Laughter could be heard as they ran past the others; Haruka's - who downshifted to her normal self - laughter at trying to catch the running bunny, and said running bunny's yelling for her to stop and leave her alone, among her own twinkling sounds.
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~ * @ * ~
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They were bored. Who would have thought summer vacation was going to be like this? It was boring. Duo sighed... again... the fifteenth time in twenty minutes. He'd already done everything he could think of to keep himself busy over the last few weeks.
Make messes, clean messes. Annoy Heero and Wufei to no ends. Playing pranks on everyone; getting unexpected pranks played back on him self. Reading every manga he could find in the joint. Even cleaned several rooms! He'd swum in the pool to many times his skin started looking like prunes! Playing with the cook almost resulted in his precious braid being hacked off. Apparently she didn't take kindly to having food dye added into her cooking's. A shiver went through his being... lady with a curving knife... "A FEMALE WUFEI!! Hades HELP ME!!" he had run from the room like water ran from oil, ignoring the others laughing as he made way for his room.
But now... now he was bored again...
Being bored wasn't a good idea when it was Duo Maxwell... the things his mind could cook up to entertain himself... would most likely kill him one way or another. The others didn't have a great sense of humor.
He was bored... bored... bored... bored... BORED!
"Hey guys!" Running from his room slamming the door, jumping down stairs he rounded the living rooms corner sliding to a stop, "GUYS! We've gotta do something seriously!"
Wufei gave him an annoyed look, "Maxwell your breaking the calm, what is it?"
"I can't stand it anymore!" hands flew in the air, "I'm goin' crazy man! I've done everyin' I can *think* of to keep busy! I've made messes, cleaned, bugged y'all, nearly got killed..." counting on his fingers the braided boy went on and on with his list of things he's done. When he finished the others looked slightly startled at the things accomplished, things they had been wondering how had gotten done.
The small fair-haired boy reading a book by the bay window placed it in his lap, "Sorry Duo, but what do you purpose we do?" folding his hands over the book Quatre smiled, "As you've said, there's not much to do on summer vacation. You've seemed to have done it all."
"It has been mundane the last few days."
Little more then surprised at the quiet gruff voice, everyone turned towards the Japanese pilot, questioning looks of... wonder? On their faces, "Heero?"
"It has been" was all he said. He never talked unless it was something worth saying; he wasn't about to explain 'why' he felt the days were overly slow enough to be grating on his nerves as well. They should know after such time it would. Simple fact is that he is a warrior, breed to be one. He needed to be doing something, anything at all times, other wise even the Perfect Soldier would get bored. You did not want him bored.
Grinning satisfied Duo pointed a finger, "SEE!" it came out as an indigent cry for no on believing him, "Even HEERO thinks it's been ghostly boring around here!"
"Pray tell, what do you purpose we do?"
Turning Duo faced the question asker, Trowa, whom was sitting suspiciously close to his Japanese prank target. "Well someplace sandy would be nice!"
"Right." The Chinese nodded, "Where?"
Now that he wasn't sure on. He was the idea man; he didn't plan things. "Umm... well... Isn't there like a national park or something that's seaside? Something?"
"Sono Fuko Koen."
Duo blinked. "Say what?"
"The Misfortune Park." Wufei looked amused at his dumbfounded ness, "It is the national park you were asking about. Quite an unusual name, wouldn't you say?"
"It sounds freaky."
"Yes well, be that as it may... it is the park you requested." Adjusting the small wire rimmed glasses on his nose Wufei gave a ghost of a smile, "I do know however, that there is available camping sites there." The dull routine he had set into day after day since they graduated was starting to secretly get to him. For once, he was glad the Braided Baka liked to talk so much... for he surely was not going to admit defeat to boredom.
That did it.
A slow smile spread across his pale heart shaped face, "YES!" as he bounced around the room hyperly, "CAMPING!! CAMPING!! CAMPING!!" Braid swinging around after its owner looked like a snake on speed trying to catch an irate pray that wouldn't set still. Duo was crackling giddily as he finally bounced himself upstairs to his room. He had packing to do and mischievous plannin' to plan!
Sitting back in the living room rubbing his eyes, Quatre blinked shaking his head, "You know" he started, rising to put his book away, "We're going to have to interrogate him one of these days to find out what he eats." Stretching a un-Quatre like smirk appeared, "Being that hyper has to have its drawbacks."
Slowly, two pair of eyes lit up with the sly suggestion. It was true, being that hyper had to have some type of drawback. Hyper like that took vast amounts of energy, energy in which had to be gained back by resting... or sleeping. Two more joined in on Quatre's smirk before all departed for their rooms.
This camping trip was going to be interesting indeed. Surely no animals would attack during the nights.
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~ * @ * ~
'
"Usagi-chan...?" a soft voice quarried rounding the doors corner, "What's wrong?"
There was no answer.
A soft sigh escaped frowning, worried lips. He hadn't been expecting an answer, if he was honest with himself; only pure hope that nothing was seriously wrong with his beautiful Bunny, kept him optimistic. Sitting on the beds side, a small smile curled his tiers, seeing the other was actually sleeping, what looked to be peaceful, this time.
There had been a youma attack nearly two weeks ago. The pain and suffering of the people hit from it had brought the bouncing blonde to her knees, panting, trying to catch her breath and push the pain aside, only succeeding enough to Order - not tell - the Outer Senshi to go back to Japan; then after they had teleported out, Usagi had lost her battle and slipped into unconsciousness.
Slowly, tenderly, slipping a hand through golden silk, Mamoru shook his head wonderingly.
No one could figure out why the Tsuki no Hime had been struck with the people's pain so badly. It wasn't widely known that the small young woman could feel some peoples emotions if they're strong enough. Not unlike Rei's being able to sense a person's aura... or, that new boy he'd learned about the other week from Sokai's stories... What was his name again? Quatre? Yes, that was it - Quatre could sense and feel people's emotions because he was Empathic.
Usagi was not.
Her heart just seemed to 'pick up' on some things, without her trying... He and the girls had come to the loose decision that, Usagi's heart was so pure, so open and caring to everyone around her - that such an attack as it was, would be enough for all the emotions put out to reach her - even high above on the Moon.
It was a guess, but the only one they had.
Since then, she had been out of her room very little. Two people at all times were stationed at the Lunar Eyes, keeping a closer watch on Earth, on the main points that youma seemed to love attacking. There appeared a higher concentration of energy on these points, but still, Ami could not discern why the youma would want to attack just for the concentration of energy? From what he had learned from the Mercury genius, the energy could not be withdrawn, or 'used' by the youma alone, there would been to be a higher in power being there, someone attuned to the Earth to tap into that energy.
Mamoru was no lackey. He knew he was the best option when it came to the Earth - after all, he was Her Prince. But he was also not so prided on this fact to let it cloud his knowing, that others were born with the ability to 'tap into' some Earth-bound magick. Just like others were born with a connection to the Sky, the Rain, Fire, etc... Earth had many children of varying skills.
Usagi could very well be considered one of these children... but her skill would be Heart. She seemed to be the Heart of everything, everyone - being able to sense what people needed to be happy, what plants felt (even as strange a thought that was to him, for her to be able to do such a thing, but Mamoru reasoned - she had been connected to him for the longest time, and he to the Earth, it was possible she still retained some of his magick from their joining long ago).
Even still, that did not help wash his heart of the feeling something else was wrong, something they had yet to learn of and only Bunny knew... or had a 'feeling' of.
Queen Serenity, nonetheless, had assured them that she felt nothing happening on Earth at the moment but the usual happenings. She did not know why her dearest daughter was aching, why Usagi refused to get out of bed for more then a few small hours a day - and even then, it was mainly to play with Sokai and assure the over protective Haruka that she was indeed fine...
But she wasn't fine! Something was eating away at her, at her sense, telling her something was dreadfully wrong and the young Hime was unable to point a finger to what it was. Several times, he or one of the others, had caught her staring into a Lunar Eye, watching something down on Earth, a soft smile playing on her lips, sometimes giggling, other times frowning deeply... Each time, they were unable to draw from her lips what she had been watching.
Haruka (in one dire time) had confessed to them there was a group of young men her Koneko had been keeping an eye on for some reason. She confessed to not knowing why, but said there was something different about them, not necessarily something 'wrong', just 'different'. She did, however, threaten them with minor death if they so much as brought the subject up with her Koneko and caused un-aimed pain to her charge.
They never questioned their Hime about the boys. Notwithstanding, they held the right to keep an eye on them their selves when they reached earth again... seeing as how only Usagi knew exactly which group of boys, and the Inner Senshi only had vague ideas. No one, however, was willing to go against Haruka or their Hime, so they left it be.
"Onii-chan?"
Turning at the worried voice, to the small child standing in the doorway, Mamoru opened his arms, smiling softly as the young girl ran into them, hugging him tightly. Heart lightening on a warm high, the Earth Prince hugged back just as fiercely.
Ever since meeting the small silvery-black haired child, he'd felt a connection to her, whether it be just that they were alike in not knowing their parents, not having a home and flocking to the Tsuki no Hime for caring love, or just naturally growing to like her... Whichever the case may be, he had been gifted with the title of Onii from her, a standing of older brother... and one he took to heart greatly. He had not admitted it to anyone other then Usagi at the time - but he sorely missed his little girl - his Chibi-Usa. It wasn't the same without her, without having someone there when Usagi was not... But this, having someone consider him family, when he truly wasn't, touched him in ways Chibi-Usa had not.
"Onii-chan..." looking up from her warm spot hugging the slim waist, Sokai's misty gray eyes sparkled at him worriedly, "...is Usa-ma going to be alright? Why won't she come play with us anymore? Is she sick?"
For one so young it must be very confusing to see someone so bright and full of life, to be lying to still, lacking the motivation to get up and join the others in play. Usagi was certainly not being her normal self, and for someone like Sokai to see this and not understand it... it must be hard... Mamoru was certain the next question on Sokai's mind would be something akin to 'Is she mad at us... me?' Which was a question he would not have asked for it had no air in the matter.
He could not in good consciousness, belittle her knowledge. Sokai may be eight years old in looks, but she was fourteen in mind. There was something strange about this child from what he learned listening to Ami talk of her... Sokai seemed to age one year, for everyone else's two. If this was true, the slower aging, then Sokai understood more then her appearance let on.
"I don't know Sokai-chan... She doesn't appear to be 'sick' in the sense of the word you know - no illness, no flu, no fever... She's just - overly tired." And that didn't settle well to his own ears. Usagi had an extreme amount of energy in her small body, it as almost a disbelieving amount, that kept her hyper, bouncy and... well, Usagi! Without it, she wouldn't be the girl they all knew and loved.
"So she's just tired?" Sokai's soft voice asked, her eyes trained on the unmoving teen lying in bed.
Mamoru nodded, "Yeah. I'm sure she'll be up in playing in no time Sokai-chan." smiling softy the Earth Prince stood, picking the small beautiful girl up as he went, then turned, lifting one corner of the blondes bedding to slide the small one in with her. "Why don't you stay to watch over her for a while, ne? Maybe even take a nap, and when Usagi wakes up, you can ask if she'll play or read to you, all right?" covering her over, Mamoru leaned down pecking her cheek. "Don't worry so much Sokai-chan, Usagi has been through much worse then this before.
That, was what had the poor child worrying... The possibility that whatever was happening to affect her adopted mother like this, was something really, really bad. Worse even then what Usagi had had to face before... either as Serenity Hime or Sailor Moon... that something seriously wrong was going to happen soon, and Usagi was just now feeling the tip of the iceberg - as everyone says.
Sighing sadly, Sokai snuggled deeper under the blankets, closer to her mother, and swiftly fell into slumber, both arms tightly clasped over the tiny waist.
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~ * @ * ~
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"YEEOOWWWW!!!" dropping to the sand in a roll, long braid getting drenched in the rough stuff, violet eyes narrowed into slits as he jumped back up, scrambling for the flying disc and chunked it back to the offender; he smirked as it hit its mark.
Well, grinning as he looked around, one eye managing to stay on his one time mission buddy, Duo ran for cover, They had finally reached Sono Fu-whatever Fei had called the place! 'The Misfortune Park.' The American could find nothing in its beauty that would deem the name 'The Misfortune Park'... It was wonderful!
Trees lined every space there was - Oaks, Pine, Maple, Pecan, Acorn... all types he'd seen and even more he hadn't! There were even a few fruit trees somewhere down the beach line Qat had found while wondering around the second day they had gotten here.
It took Heero a while of driving around before he found a campsite he deemed "exceptional" for their usage. And, pride forced behind him of never agreeing with the Japanese L1 teen - Duo had to agree anyways. It was a perfect place to camp.
They set the tents up a little into the wood line where a small trail opened into a clearing, made a small fire pit lined with large stones, made a place for their 'kitchen' - though how in the woods you made one of those was beyond Qat until Tro-man stepped up to show him. Smirking no less!
"OMPFF! ASSHOLE!!!" returning the favor, decking the ex-Wing pilot in his fine toned ass for decking him in the shoulder, Duo smirked before running for dear life. He had to find cover and fast!! This little game of frisbee kinda morphed into something alone the lines of Frisbee Dodging, and the results of NOT dodging hurt like Hell!
So, they had they're camp all set up, they had yards long and miles wide of sandy beach in front of them and even more of water to swim in! It was clean, the sand shone like fine iridescent glitter in the early morning sun and late evening dying light, the water sparkled, waving and twinkling like millions of perfect sapphires, was cool and refreshing. Duo would stay out in it all day if not for turning into a prune and having the others kid him about it. That was all right though, 'cause when they paired up for water war, him and Qat usually won out. That was, when they weren't pitched again Tro-man and Heero. That, my dear friends, was a pair that lost at nothing!
Currently, said pair was NOT paired together - shockingly as that might be. Heero was busy trying to kill him (or so it seemed from his point of view) with the frisbee for accidentally hitting him in the head when he turned to stare at his lover, and well... their game had turned into a 'bruise for a bruise' kinda deal. Not that Duo minded! It was hellova fun!
Tro-man, with his massive bangs blocking the sun. Wasn't it just nifty at what those were capable of instead of just hiding his face? Chuckling Duo ducked the flying frisbee, watching as it turned, like a boomerang, and headed back to the thrower. He swore silently, that one damn day he would figure out how the Hell Heero defied so many rules.
Turning back to his friends once he was safe again Duo smiled. Tro-man and Qat were locked in a game of Chess. He wasn't good at chess, got beat every time he played unless he was double teaming one of the other guys, and even then, sometimes, he lost. That worked out though, because there were many games he was good at, and the others sucked at. He grinned. Qat seemed to be having some problems though, frowning at the board, looking up every now and then to glare at his thin companion, whom, was currently watching his lover wield a frisbee like it was a nature weapon trying to chop his lovely braid off! And the damned dolt was actually grinning!! Well... it was small, but he was!
The last of them five, appeared to be sleeping in one of the reclining lounge chairs they had brought with them. Duo knew better though. He wasn't asleep, most likely he was watching what was happening to him. Trying to kill Duo was a group sport that only Qat on most occasions, didn't try to involve himself in. For that, the grinning American was forever grateful.
Fei was smart, he had to give him that. He was lying with his head under the shade of some trees, with the rest of him in the sun. He'd move every now and then when the precious shade shifted backwards on him with the waning light. There was a book somewhere, Duo was sure of it, he'd seen the martial artist walk over with one, but he had to have White Short Space or something akin to Heero's Spandex Space, 'cause he couldn't find it now that he was looking again.
And. "DAMNIT!!" He shouldn't have been looking anyways! That's it. Heero died. That damned frisbee felt like there was a rock rotating around in it! How the hell Heero did that, Duo'd never know, but he knew one thing... And that thing was ex-Wing was in for it now!
Heero smirked at the braided boy, turned, gave his uni-banged love a smile, chuckled and returned to smirking at the L2 teen.
He hadn't the foggiest clue why Trowa wanted him to "go play" with the American... but, sadly, he had never been one to deny the Latin boy anything after the wars had ended and his heart could finally have more of a say in what he did. When set free, it screamed for something, something new, something known and something it wanted NOW. Come to find out later, after "settling down" into peacetime - that that something was one Trowa Barton.
Unusual as it was for all his years of training, coupled with his dislike of being near anyone (other then his wartime friends), in any large groups of people... Heero found himself relaxing while in the presence of the Latin youth. He could do nothing to figure out why that was. Had no training on dealing with people he knew, was fine being around, and no training whatsoever when it came to trying to figure out what his body was telling him... trying to understand all the new emotions, new feelings that assaulted him once he forced most of his war used ones behind a mental wall, letting the others have some sort of freedom - even if that freedom caused him more headaches then he liked in trying to understand what the hell they wanted!
Thankfully for him, sometimes, the others knew him well enough to know when to let him alone, and when to ask the correct questions. Duo was a great help to him, had secretly been helping the Japanese understand some strange feelings he had while fighting... Afterwards though, Quatre, bless the Arabian's soul, had become a lifesaver on more then a few occasions. The times when it had been weeks, with little sleep, on trying to decide what it was he was feeling, or why he was acting how he was around someone else.
Particularly Trowa.
That, he remembered while watching Duo scrounging the surrounding sand for something, had been a tiring time. Quatre had helped a great deal in explaining how to build mental blocks - blocks Heero used to trap and keep most of his Soldier instincts hidden away. They were in peace now, it was time to learn to be Human and what others did while there wasn't a war to fight.
When it eventually did strike him (quite forcefully) what he was feeling, and towards whom it was directed - unbidden fear struck with a side dose of something he guessed was like anxiety.
He couldn't do this - that - what his mind and heart wanted... what his body eventually would no doubt want. He couldn't do that to Quatre. Not when he had been so patient and helped him so much in understanding the changes taking him over. Quatre had been a blessing (something Heero knew next to nothing on) with assisting in making Heero acknowledge what he was feeling, being stubborn and forceful when Heero tried denying what he was feeling. Quatre gave no grounds when it came to helping his friends and he was dead set on getting his Japanese friend to understand what everyone else took for granted.
For this, Heero Yuy would be forever grateful. And for near that alone, he could not grant his being, what it wanted. He would not harm a friend to content himself.
There were no blinds covering his eyes as to the friendship that had blossomed between the Latin and Arabian during the Eve Wars. They had become very close. Though he had no idea at the time, what type it was, nor even now did he know, he was not going to be one to try edging between them to see what might happen. Heero was content enough to be in the other's presence while he visited, or while Heero ran into him on errands.
Heero would never know, or maybe he did and refused to acknowledge it, how the little blonde (the term used lightly) had known what he'd been thinking, feeling. Feeling. Quatre was an empathic. Yes, that should have 'clicked' a year before hand, but it had not. Either way, the Arabian knew what he was feeling and had given him a gentle push in the direction.
Using his natural stubbornness usually reserved for OZ Soldiers and bubbly, hyper braided teens, Heero shook his head declining Quatre's prodding with some seemingly invisible excuse about not wanting to try it, not wanting to come between them. However, given his honest intentions of his declining, Quatre surprised him by laughing heartily then smiling brightly. It never failed to send a tingle down Heero's spin at Quatre's warm laughter, to know that despite all they had been through, some of them had retained Innocence. Regardless of the blonde's arguments to his sights, Heero knew Quatre would forever be the most innocent of them all.
"DIE HEERO!!!!" the frisbee was coming back, extremely fast, with something attached to it.
Heero smirked, steadying his footing, waiting.
Come to find out by the lively Arabian's own mouth, he and Trowa were merely best friends, nothing more. Reviewing what he knew of the two, Heero wasn't sure what had got him thinking otherwise. Perhaps it was his futile understanding of what everyone called "friends" back then and how there are more then just one type of friends - how some friends could be closer then others. Whichever it might have been, he now had his friend's good blessings to pursue Trowa...
Ohh if only it was that easy! For Heero had no one sense about how to 'pursue', anyone. True to form, Quatre had stepped in once more after several weeks of watching Heero's almost comical attempts at conversation. 'Bless both their hearts!' Heero had heard Quatre telling Duo one evening; 'They're both so quietly calm neither knows what to do!' They had both had a nice quiet laugh over it before they mellowed down into whispers Heero couldn't hear.
A week later, Trowa made the first move. Two next, the pair seemed to have gotten their act together while getting together. It was weird, Duo had commented one night; the two hardly talked, what did they see in one another? What did they do? Quatre, Heero remembered, had laughed waving a hand for him to mind his own business while winking to the quiet pair. He knew.
Snapping from his musing at the sound of a whistling drawing nearer, Heero brought a hand up quickly blocking the flying disc with forearm, quickly diving to catch it with his left Heero tossed it back in mid stand, his other hand holding a stick, staring at it oddly. Fully standing, idly rubbing his arm, lips turning down in a small frown, Heero stared at Duo, trying with will alone to melt his precious from the airy head.
Chuckling quietly watching the frisbee dueling pair, olive orbs glimmered in mirth, observing the braided wonderful 'haul ass' for dear life as a playfully fuming (a term never thought to be used for this particular lad) broken winged angel flew after him, stick still in hand, death threats leaving his mouth like a waterfall, loved laughter leaving the other teen's as he was chased.
Beautiful.
Deciding to vacation at Sono Fuko Koen had been a wise idea. Each of them, whether saying so or not, had been feeling the strain of doing basically nothing since graduation. Wufei's martial arts and kata routines were starting to ware him thin; Duo, proved he had done everything short of visiting the moon to keep busy; poor Quatre managed to play through all his music, memorizing some... While he and Heero, had kept busy in... other ways... and reading... But like with Wufei, one could only read the same books so many times...
The week they had been at the Park had been a lively one. Not a day went by that their American didn't manage to rile one of them into playing some game, swimming or just hiking through the massive Park, amazed and over flowing with questions to the most Nature knowing of them all, on what was around them. Duo was not alone in this fascination; Quatre too, had been curious about the world around him. Living on a colony all your life did little to learn one of the real world, Earth. Books could only teach so much about the actual living planet and all that inhabit it.
There stood another week between now and the day they would return to their home to plan the rest of Summer out; plan what they would do come the next year. But for now, watching his lover's smiling face, hearing his deep rumbling laugher every now and then, was more then Trowa felt he deserved. It was still hard to imagine they were together at all. Neither had seen themselves as worthy of the other, their pasts too dark, their emotions lacking in training, of usage.
They were both morons - per the loveable American's words.
Mentally shaking his head, bringing his attention back to the board where Quatre had yet to make his move, Trowa smiled. He whole heartily agreed.
Cracking an eye open, shifting a hand below his head, dark orb surveyed their surroundings. "The kids" were still playing, he snorted amused, "The thinkers" still challenging each others minds at chess - another way to test lesser battle strategies. Quatre appeared to be in trouble, Trowa had his army marching to surround his King already, his Queen captured. Poor Quatre...
As much a joy it was to watch his friends, his brothers, having fun - something not known to any of them for the most of their lives - there was something tickling the back of his mind... something demanding his attention yet not giving him any idea as to what that 'something' was. Only a vague feeling that something was wrong, 'off'... something was going to happen soon that would snatch and drag them into the fray once more.
However much this worried the lazing young man, he was rest assured by the fact it was not another war where blood would have to he shed by their hands; being part of the Preventers staff did have its advantages for keeping them informed.
No this was not a war, not of that sort... closing his eyes Wufei sighed, shifting once more. He did not know what was causing the tickling in the back of his mind, this need for attention and warning of wrongness to come... but he would not ignore it. He would wait, bide his time while trying to sort it out - and in the meantime he would enjoy his friends company like he had since meeting up with them in the first war.
Whatever was coming; they had time.
He thoroughly intended to enjoy the peace they had before the storm hit.
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~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~
'
WELPS! There ya go lads, lass'... a day late, but there ya go. ^_^ ::points:: first half was what originally I had done before writers block and a strong dose of nothing but Gundam Wing ideas hit me... It becomes nearly added with Duo and his 'bored, bored, bored' part. ^_^
I've gotta go now! Have to work on my SOGOA site. Please review and let me know whatcha think! No promises on how soon the next will be out. I'm going to give a shot at my other GW/SM or the SM/DBZ I've got out there... but I'll try having it out soon. This one, I'm planning it as I go. _ Which isn't that bad considering I KNOW where I want to go, and have some "future" parts written... its just GETTING there that's proving a hassle.... along with writing on other stories.. which there's tons... BUT I WILL DO IT! ::crackles then coughs sweat dropping:: Erm, yeah, anyways... heh Arigatou gozamasu for all those that've reviewed and like this one. It means a lot to me. I hope y'all continue to stick with me, I'll have it getting more into the SL soon. Welps, I'm off now! Please review! Thankies!
Keep it kickin'! ~ Anime Redneck
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By: Anime Redneck
10-29-03
'
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em people! The GW Guys & SM Gals surely ain't mine so stop askin'! ^_^ BEEEDA! ::grin::
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~^.^~ * ~^.^~
IX. Vacations Happenings
~^.^~ * ~^.^~
'
Three weeks had passed since the girls landed on the ancient Moon Kingdom ruins, even with them, they managed to have a blast while there. The Inners practiced sparing with one another, Haruka being the main instructor and practice partner for them, while the others sat back and watched the younger girls hone in their skills. They were improving, better then when they had first taken the job up. But Usagi still lacked in the hand to hand area; she was good with magical attacks though, managing to shock them all with new ones she created. How, was anyone's guess. She wasn't telling.
"What're you up to Koneko?" a husky voice spoke, up startling the one standing in front of the seemingly larger then normal birdbath.
Trying to hide her surprise Usagi smiled glancing up from the waters reflection, "Nothing much" flashing the smile she turned back to the swirling liquid. It captivated her, drew her towards it. She wasn't sure why, there was just something about the way the waters moved, parted and changed colors; forming random patterns.
The voices owner smirked, sure it was something other then 'nothing' like she insisted. Moving to the girl's side gazing into the bowl as well she blinked, "What are you looking at?"
The 'bowl' as she referred t it as, was actually the Lunar Eye. One of three magical looking pools set up within the palace; one in the throne room, queen's room and the princess' room. At the moment they were alone in the throne room, watching subtle shades of blue and silver dance around each other. It was starting to give her a headache.
Usagi giggled, small grin starting to form on her lips. She wondered, how long the Senshi of Wind could keep staring at the waters before she got dizzy? It was rather... confusing, at best, watching it spin and sway around like that.
When one wished to use the Lunar Eye, all one had to do were state the object of observation, then watch as the waters shifted and changed, bringing that object into view. If you didn't wish to view something, then it stayed an ever-swirling rainbow of colors. Giggling again finally looking over at the taller woman she smiled. The other rule to the Lunar Eye was only the viewer could see what was shown unless other wise told.
For instance, if she wanted to watch something the other girls were doing off the other side of the palace, she would softly request, 'Inner Senshi' and the image would appear. Now if someone were to walk up on her to peer over her shoulder, all they would notice were the mixing colors. But, if she were to willingly tell the other what she was viewing, then they to would be able to watch the goings on of the Inner Senshi as well. This rule allowed the royal heirs to use the Eye with calm, knowing no one else were permitted to view what was not in they're best interest to see.
Sailor Uranus tapped her foot, brow raised as she looked at her Hime pointedly, knowing she was being teased. She never did like secrets... her Hime just knew how to get at her. "Well?" giggling met her ears; she sighed.
"I'm just checking up on something Ruka-chan..." softly smiling up to her protector she winked playfully, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear.
The Senshi of Wind nodded. "Home sick?" She couldn't help but wonder as the younger girl turned back to the bowl. Despite her Hime's not saying anything of it, Haruka knew the girl's never been away from her family this long before, it had to of been a little hard on her, even if her 'other' family were here with her.
"Kind of..." came the reply after a moments silence. The blonde bunny whispered something she couldn't catch, next thing she knew, she was staring at a picture in the bowl. "I'm just worried about leaving the Earth unprotected for this long." Turning her worried blue orbs upwards staring at the older girl, "Do you think it's safe Ruka-chan? Won't the youma attack again?" she asked ringing her hands in the shirts cloth.
Smirking Uranus leaned over grabbing the startled girl in a headlock, issuing a nuggy to her head. "Aw, was that all you were worried about?!" rubbing a spot raw she stopped with a nod. "Come on Koneko, Earth'll be fine. The youma haven't attacked in nearly two months. I don't think they'll attack right now. Even if they were to, we have alerts here to warn us."
Usagi nodded still in the headlock. She knew that, but it didn't help the feeling in her stomach. Times before this feeling only came when something was about to happen... or she just worried for nothing. But Haruka was right... her mother had ways of knowing when an attack happened... all they had to do was transform and teleport down there to take care of it. But... the Outers would probably make them stay here - they're vacation, they'd say - and handle it themselves, makes sure all injured were safe, before teleporting back. She sighed letting the tension in her shoulders she didn't know they had, go.
Uranus nodded, "Good girl!" Releasing her captive smiling she motioned to the pool. "So... who are these guys and which one do you like?" The last part told Usagi all she needed to know of what not to say. The protectiveness practically dripped from the words spoken.
Chuckling Usagi sweat dropped waving her arm at the picture, making it zoom in on the boys shown, who were currently at a beach somewhere, playing around... Well, she corrected herself, as much playing around as they'd do anyways... "Just some friends." Two were running around with a frisbee, being used as a weapon. What was that frisbee tag? That had to hurt... another two were playing chess, one silently watching the running two while the other shook his head at them. The final one she noticed, was laid back on a beach chair, face in the shade, seemingly asleep to the world.
"Ri~ight..." she didn't believe that for a second. That many boys, and she didn't like one of them... Something was up; but if her Hime said she didn't like them like that, then she didn't like them like that. Reluctantly, she admitted that her Koneko would never lie to her... that meant she couldn't threaten them. "Darn it!" snapping her fingers with a frown.
Usagi laughed at her. "You're such a baby Ruka-chan."
Turning slowly, eyeing the smaller 'pray' before her one tan brow rose, "Really now?"
"Erm... heh" she didn't like the way it was turning out to look... that voice wasn't... right. "Would you hurt me if I said no?" Her best bet was to run. 'Cause when the Senshi of Wind got that look in her eye... that's all you could hope for... of course you couldn't hope for long, even with a head start, she wasn't called the Senshi of Wind for nothing you know!
Uranus smirked, "Of course not Koneko... but you know" a step forward, "You know that I can see right through you..." pointing to the petit figure. "I can see your nervousness... see your fear..." another step forward; Usagi took two back. "And I'm gonna.... GET YOU!"
"AHH NO!" Usagi was off like a rocket. The girl couldn't fight hand-to-hand combat worth a day's trip of shopping. Credit, however, had to be given for her running skills... she was faster then the average bunny.
The chase was now on.
Laughter could be heard as they ran past the others; Haruka's - who downshifted to her normal self - laughter at trying to catch the running bunny, and said running bunny's yelling for her to stop and leave her alone, among her own twinkling sounds.
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~ * @ * ~
'
They were bored. Who would have thought summer vacation was going to be like this? It was boring. Duo sighed... again... the fifteenth time in twenty minutes. He'd already done everything he could think of to keep himself busy over the last few weeks.
Make messes, clean messes. Annoy Heero and Wufei to no ends. Playing pranks on everyone; getting unexpected pranks played back on him self. Reading every manga he could find in the joint. Even cleaned several rooms! He'd swum in the pool to many times his skin started looking like prunes! Playing with the cook almost resulted in his precious braid being hacked off. Apparently she didn't take kindly to having food dye added into her cooking's. A shiver went through his being... lady with a curving knife... "A FEMALE WUFEI!! Hades HELP ME!!" he had run from the room like water ran from oil, ignoring the others laughing as he made way for his room.
But now... now he was bored again...
Being bored wasn't a good idea when it was Duo Maxwell... the things his mind could cook up to entertain himself... would most likely kill him one way or another. The others didn't have a great sense of humor.
He was bored... bored... bored... bored... BORED!
"Hey guys!" Running from his room slamming the door, jumping down stairs he rounded the living rooms corner sliding to a stop, "GUYS! We've gotta do something seriously!"
Wufei gave him an annoyed look, "Maxwell your breaking the calm, what is it?"
"I can't stand it anymore!" hands flew in the air, "I'm goin' crazy man! I've done everyin' I can *think* of to keep busy! I've made messes, cleaned, bugged y'all, nearly got killed..." counting on his fingers the braided boy went on and on with his list of things he's done. When he finished the others looked slightly startled at the things accomplished, things they had been wondering how had gotten done.
The small fair-haired boy reading a book by the bay window placed it in his lap, "Sorry Duo, but what do you purpose we do?" folding his hands over the book Quatre smiled, "As you've said, there's not much to do on summer vacation. You've seemed to have done it all."
"It has been mundane the last few days."
Little more then surprised at the quiet gruff voice, everyone turned towards the Japanese pilot, questioning looks of... wonder? On their faces, "Heero?"
"It has been" was all he said. He never talked unless it was something worth saying; he wasn't about to explain 'why' he felt the days were overly slow enough to be grating on his nerves as well. They should know after such time it would. Simple fact is that he is a warrior, breed to be one. He needed to be doing something, anything at all times, other wise even the Perfect Soldier would get bored. You did not want him bored.
Grinning satisfied Duo pointed a finger, "SEE!" it came out as an indigent cry for no on believing him, "Even HEERO thinks it's been ghostly boring around here!"
"Pray tell, what do you purpose we do?"
Turning Duo faced the question asker, Trowa, whom was sitting suspiciously close to his Japanese prank target. "Well someplace sandy would be nice!"
"Right." The Chinese nodded, "Where?"
Now that he wasn't sure on. He was the idea man; he didn't plan things. "Umm... well... Isn't there like a national park or something that's seaside? Something?"
"Sono Fuko Koen."
Duo blinked. "Say what?"
"The Misfortune Park." Wufei looked amused at his dumbfounded ness, "It is the national park you were asking about. Quite an unusual name, wouldn't you say?"
"It sounds freaky."
"Yes well, be that as it may... it is the park you requested." Adjusting the small wire rimmed glasses on his nose Wufei gave a ghost of a smile, "I do know however, that there is available camping sites there." The dull routine he had set into day after day since they graduated was starting to secretly get to him. For once, he was glad the Braided Baka liked to talk so much... for he surely was not going to admit defeat to boredom.
That did it.
A slow smile spread across his pale heart shaped face, "YES!" as he bounced around the room hyperly, "CAMPING!! CAMPING!! CAMPING!!" Braid swinging around after its owner looked like a snake on speed trying to catch an irate pray that wouldn't set still. Duo was crackling giddily as he finally bounced himself upstairs to his room. He had packing to do and mischievous plannin' to plan!
Sitting back in the living room rubbing his eyes, Quatre blinked shaking his head, "You know" he started, rising to put his book away, "We're going to have to interrogate him one of these days to find out what he eats." Stretching a un-Quatre like smirk appeared, "Being that hyper has to have its drawbacks."
Slowly, two pair of eyes lit up with the sly suggestion. It was true, being that hyper had to have some type of drawback. Hyper like that took vast amounts of energy, energy in which had to be gained back by resting... or sleeping. Two more joined in on Quatre's smirk before all departed for their rooms.
This camping trip was going to be interesting indeed. Surely no animals would attack during the nights.
.
~ * @ * ~
'
"Usagi-chan...?" a soft voice quarried rounding the doors corner, "What's wrong?"
There was no answer.
A soft sigh escaped frowning, worried lips. He hadn't been expecting an answer, if he was honest with himself; only pure hope that nothing was seriously wrong with his beautiful Bunny, kept him optimistic. Sitting on the beds side, a small smile curled his tiers, seeing the other was actually sleeping, what looked to be peaceful, this time.
There had been a youma attack nearly two weeks ago. The pain and suffering of the people hit from it had brought the bouncing blonde to her knees, panting, trying to catch her breath and push the pain aside, only succeeding enough to Order - not tell - the Outer Senshi to go back to Japan; then after they had teleported out, Usagi had lost her battle and slipped into unconsciousness.
Slowly, tenderly, slipping a hand through golden silk, Mamoru shook his head wonderingly.
No one could figure out why the Tsuki no Hime had been struck with the people's pain so badly. It wasn't widely known that the small young woman could feel some peoples emotions if they're strong enough. Not unlike Rei's being able to sense a person's aura... or, that new boy he'd learned about the other week from Sokai's stories... What was his name again? Quatre? Yes, that was it - Quatre could sense and feel people's emotions because he was Empathic.
Usagi was not.
Her heart just seemed to 'pick up' on some things, without her trying... He and the girls had come to the loose decision that, Usagi's heart was so pure, so open and caring to everyone around her - that such an attack as it was, would be enough for all the emotions put out to reach her - even high above on the Moon.
It was a guess, but the only one they had.
Since then, she had been out of her room very little. Two people at all times were stationed at the Lunar Eyes, keeping a closer watch on Earth, on the main points that youma seemed to love attacking. There appeared a higher concentration of energy on these points, but still, Ami could not discern why the youma would want to attack just for the concentration of energy? From what he had learned from the Mercury genius, the energy could not be withdrawn, or 'used' by the youma alone, there would been to be a higher in power being there, someone attuned to the Earth to tap into that energy.
Mamoru was no lackey. He knew he was the best option when it came to the Earth - after all, he was Her Prince. But he was also not so prided on this fact to let it cloud his knowing, that others were born with the ability to 'tap into' some Earth-bound magick. Just like others were born with a connection to the Sky, the Rain, Fire, etc... Earth had many children of varying skills.
Usagi could very well be considered one of these children... but her skill would be Heart. She seemed to be the Heart of everything, everyone - being able to sense what people needed to be happy, what plants felt (even as strange a thought that was to him, for her to be able to do such a thing, but Mamoru reasoned - she had been connected to him for the longest time, and he to the Earth, it was possible she still retained some of his magick from their joining long ago).
Even still, that did not help wash his heart of the feeling something else was wrong, something they had yet to learn of and only Bunny knew... or had a 'feeling' of.
Queen Serenity, nonetheless, had assured them that she felt nothing happening on Earth at the moment but the usual happenings. She did not know why her dearest daughter was aching, why Usagi refused to get out of bed for more then a few small hours a day - and even then, it was mainly to play with Sokai and assure the over protective Haruka that she was indeed fine...
But she wasn't fine! Something was eating away at her, at her sense, telling her something was dreadfully wrong and the young Hime was unable to point a finger to what it was. Several times, he or one of the others, had caught her staring into a Lunar Eye, watching something down on Earth, a soft smile playing on her lips, sometimes giggling, other times frowning deeply... Each time, they were unable to draw from her lips what she had been watching.
Haruka (in one dire time) had confessed to them there was a group of young men her Koneko had been keeping an eye on for some reason. She confessed to not knowing why, but said there was something different about them, not necessarily something 'wrong', just 'different'. She did, however, threaten them with minor death if they so much as brought the subject up with her Koneko and caused un-aimed pain to her charge.
They never questioned their Hime about the boys. Notwithstanding, they held the right to keep an eye on them their selves when they reached earth again... seeing as how only Usagi knew exactly which group of boys, and the Inner Senshi only had vague ideas. No one, however, was willing to go against Haruka or their Hime, so they left it be.
"Onii-chan?"
Turning at the worried voice, to the small child standing in the doorway, Mamoru opened his arms, smiling softly as the young girl ran into them, hugging him tightly. Heart lightening on a warm high, the Earth Prince hugged back just as fiercely.
Ever since meeting the small silvery-black haired child, he'd felt a connection to her, whether it be just that they were alike in not knowing their parents, not having a home and flocking to the Tsuki no Hime for caring love, or just naturally growing to like her... Whichever the case may be, he had been gifted with the title of Onii from her, a standing of older brother... and one he took to heart greatly. He had not admitted it to anyone other then Usagi at the time - but he sorely missed his little girl - his Chibi-Usa. It wasn't the same without her, without having someone there when Usagi was not... But this, having someone consider him family, when he truly wasn't, touched him in ways Chibi-Usa had not.
"Onii-chan..." looking up from her warm spot hugging the slim waist, Sokai's misty gray eyes sparkled at him worriedly, "...is Usa-ma going to be alright? Why won't she come play with us anymore? Is she sick?"
For one so young it must be very confusing to see someone so bright and full of life, to be lying to still, lacking the motivation to get up and join the others in play. Usagi was certainly not being her normal self, and for someone like Sokai to see this and not understand it... it must be hard... Mamoru was certain the next question on Sokai's mind would be something akin to 'Is she mad at us... me?' Which was a question he would not have asked for it had no air in the matter.
He could not in good consciousness, belittle her knowledge. Sokai may be eight years old in looks, but she was fourteen in mind. There was something strange about this child from what he learned listening to Ami talk of her... Sokai seemed to age one year, for everyone else's two. If this was true, the slower aging, then Sokai understood more then her appearance let on.
"I don't know Sokai-chan... She doesn't appear to be 'sick' in the sense of the word you know - no illness, no flu, no fever... She's just - overly tired." And that didn't settle well to his own ears. Usagi had an extreme amount of energy in her small body, it as almost a disbelieving amount, that kept her hyper, bouncy and... well, Usagi! Without it, she wouldn't be the girl they all knew and loved.
"So she's just tired?" Sokai's soft voice asked, her eyes trained on the unmoving teen lying in bed.
Mamoru nodded, "Yeah. I'm sure she'll be up in playing in no time Sokai-chan." smiling softy the Earth Prince stood, picking the small beautiful girl up as he went, then turned, lifting one corner of the blondes bedding to slide the small one in with her. "Why don't you stay to watch over her for a while, ne? Maybe even take a nap, and when Usagi wakes up, you can ask if she'll play or read to you, all right?" covering her over, Mamoru leaned down pecking her cheek. "Don't worry so much Sokai-chan, Usagi has been through much worse then this before.
That, was what had the poor child worrying... The possibility that whatever was happening to affect her adopted mother like this, was something really, really bad. Worse even then what Usagi had had to face before... either as Serenity Hime or Sailor Moon... that something seriously wrong was going to happen soon, and Usagi was just now feeling the tip of the iceberg - as everyone says.
Sighing sadly, Sokai snuggled deeper under the blankets, closer to her mother, and swiftly fell into slumber, both arms tightly clasped over the tiny waist.
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~ * @ * ~
'
"YEEOOWWWW!!!" dropping to the sand in a roll, long braid getting drenched in the rough stuff, violet eyes narrowed into slits as he jumped back up, scrambling for the flying disc and chunked it back to the offender; he smirked as it hit its mark.
Well, grinning as he looked around, one eye managing to stay on his one time mission buddy, Duo ran for cover, They had finally reached Sono Fu-whatever Fei had called the place! 'The Misfortune Park.' The American could find nothing in its beauty that would deem the name 'The Misfortune Park'... It was wonderful!
Trees lined every space there was - Oaks, Pine, Maple, Pecan, Acorn... all types he'd seen and even more he hadn't! There were even a few fruit trees somewhere down the beach line Qat had found while wondering around the second day they had gotten here.
It took Heero a while of driving around before he found a campsite he deemed "exceptional" for their usage. And, pride forced behind him of never agreeing with the Japanese L1 teen - Duo had to agree anyways. It was a perfect place to camp.
They set the tents up a little into the wood line where a small trail opened into a clearing, made a small fire pit lined with large stones, made a place for their 'kitchen' - though how in the woods you made one of those was beyond Qat until Tro-man stepped up to show him. Smirking no less!
"OMPFF! ASSHOLE!!!" returning the favor, decking the ex-Wing pilot in his fine toned ass for decking him in the shoulder, Duo smirked before running for dear life. He had to find cover and fast!! This little game of frisbee kinda morphed into something alone the lines of Frisbee Dodging, and the results of NOT dodging hurt like Hell!
So, they had they're camp all set up, they had yards long and miles wide of sandy beach in front of them and even more of water to swim in! It was clean, the sand shone like fine iridescent glitter in the early morning sun and late evening dying light, the water sparkled, waving and twinkling like millions of perfect sapphires, was cool and refreshing. Duo would stay out in it all day if not for turning into a prune and having the others kid him about it. That was all right though, 'cause when they paired up for water war, him and Qat usually won out. That was, when they weren't pitched again Tro-man and Heero. That, my dear friends, was a pair that lost at nothing!
Currently, said pair was NOT paired together - shockingly as that might be. Heero was busy trying to kill him (or so it seemed from his point of view) with the frisbee for accidentally hitting him in the head when he turned to stare at his lover, and well... their game had turned into a 'bruise for a bruise' kinda deal. Not that Duo minded! It was hellova fun!
Tro-man, with his massive bangs blocking the sun. Wasn't it just nifty at what those were capable of instead of just hiding his face? Chuckling Duo ducked the flying frisbee, watching as it turned, like a boomerang, and headed back to the thrower. He swore silently, that one damn day he would figure out how the Hell Heero defied so many rules.
Turning back to his friends once he was safe again Duo smiled. Tro-man and Qat were locked in a game of Chess. He wasn't good at chess, got beat every time he played unless he was double teaming one of the other guys, and even then, sometimes, he lost. That worked out though, because there were many games he was good at, and the others sucked at. He grinned. Qat seemed to be having some problems though, frowning at the board, looking up every now and then to glare at his thin companion, whom, was currently watching his lover wield a frisbee like it was a nature weapon trying to chop his lovely braid off! And the damned dolt was actually grinning!! Well... it was small, but he was!
The last of them five, appeared to be sleeping in one of the reclining lounge chairs they had brought with them. Duo knew better though. He wasn't asleep, most likely he was watching what was happening to him. Trying to kill Duo was a group sport that only Qat on most occasions, didn't try to involve himself in. For that, the grinning American was forever grateful.
Fei was smart, he had to give him that. He was lying with his head under the shade of some trees, with the rest of him in the sun. He'd move every now and then when the precious shade shifted backwards on him with the waning light. There was a book somewhere, Duo was sure of it, he'd seen the martial artist walk over with one, but he had to have White Short Space or something akin to Heero's Spandex Space, 'cause he couldn't find it now that he was looking again.
And. "DAMNIT!!" He shouldn't have been looking anyways! That's it. Heero died. That damned frisbee felt like there was a rock rotating around in it! How the hell Heero did that, Duo'd never know, but he knew one thing... And that thing was ex-Wing was in for it now!
Heero smirked at the braided boy, turned, gave his uni-banged love a smile, chuckled and returned to smirking at the L2 teen.
He hadn't the foggiest clue why Trowa wanted him to "go play" with the American... but, sadly, he had never been one to deny the Latin boy anything after the wars had ended and his heart could finally have more of a say in what he did. When set free, it screamed for something, something new, something known and something it wanted NOW. Come to find out later, after "settling down" into peacetime - that that something was one Trowa Barton.
Unusual as it was for all his years of training, coupled with his dislike of being near anyone (other then his wartime friends), in any large groups of people... Heero found himself relaxing while in the presence of the Latin youth. He could do nothing to figure out why that was. Had no training on dealing with people he knew, was fine being around, and no training whatsoever when it came to trying to figure out what his body was telling him... trying to understand all the new emotions, new feelings that assaulted him once he forced most of his war used ones behind a mental wall, letting the others have some sort of freedom - even if that freedom caused him more headaches then he liked in trying to understand what the hell they wanted!
Thankfully for him, sometimes, the others knew him well enough to know when to let him alone, and when to ask the correct questions. Duo was a great help to him, had secretly been helping the Japanese understand some strange feelings he had while fighting... Afterwards though, Quatre, bless the Arabian's soul, had become a lifesaver on more then a few occasions. The times when it had been weeks, with little sleep, on trying to decide what it was he was feeling, or why he was acting how he was around someone else.
Particularly Trowa.
That, he remembered while watching Duo scrounging the surrounding sand for something, had been a tiring time. Quatre had helped a great deal in explaining how to build mental blocks - blocks Heero used to trap and keep most of his Soldier instincts hidden away. They were in peace now, it was time to learn to be Human and what others did while there wasn't a war to fight.
When it eventually did strike him (quite forcefully) what he was feeling, and towards whom it was directed - unbidden fear struck with a side dose of something he guessed was like anxiety.
He couldn't do this - that - what his mind and heart wanted... what his body eventually would no doubt want. He couldn't do that to Quatre. Not when he had been so patient and helped him so much in understanding the changes taking him over. Quatre had been a blessing (something Heero knew next to nothing on) with assisting in making Heero acknowledge what he was feeling, being stubborn and forceful when Heero tried denying what he was feeling. Quatre gave no grounds when it came to helping his friends and he was dead set on getting his Japanese friend to understand what everyone else took for granted.
For this, Heero Yuy would be forever grateful. And for near that alone, he could not grant his being, what it wanted. He would not harm a friend to content himself.
There were no blinds covering his eyes as to the friendship that had blossomed between the Latin and Arabian during the Eve Wars. They had become very close. Though he had no idea at the time, what type it was, nor even now did he know, he was not going to be one to try edging between them to see what might happen. Heero was content enough to be in the other's presence while he visited, or while Heero ran into him on errands.
Heero would never know, or maybe he did and refused to acknowledge it, how the little blonde (the term used lightly) had known what he'd been thinking, feeling. Feeling. Quatre was an empathic. Yes, that should have 'clicked' a year before hand, but it had not. Either way, the Arabian knew what he was feeling and had given him a gentle push in the direction.
Using his natural stubbornness usually reserved for OZ Soldiers and bubbly, hyper braided teens, Heero shook his head declining Quatre's prodding with some seemingly invisible excuse about not wanting to try it, not wanting to come between them. However, given his honest intentions of his declining, Quatre surprised him by laughing heartily then smiling brightly. It never failed to send a tingle down Heero's spin at Quatre's warm laughter, to know that despite all they had been through, some of them had retained Innocence. Regardless of the blonde's arguments to his sights, Heero knew Quatre would forever be the most innocent of them all.
"DIE HEERO!!!!" the frisbee was coming back, extremely fast, with something attached to it.
Heero smirked, steadying his footing, waiting.
Come to find out by the lively Arabian's own mouth, he and Trowa were merely best friends, nothing more. Reviewing what he knew of the two, Heero wasn't sure what had got him thinking otherwise. Perhaps it was his futile understanding of what everyone called "friends" back then and how there are more then just one type of friends - how some friends could be closer then others. Whichever it might have been, he now had his friend's good blessings to pursue Trowa...
Ohh if only it was that easy! For Heero had no one sense about how to 'pursue', anyone. True to form, Quatre had stepped in once more after several weeks of watching Heero's almost comical attempts at conversation. 'Bless both their hearts!' Heero had heard Quatre telling Duo one evening; 'They're both so quietly calm neither knows what to do!' They had both had a nice quiet laugh over it before they mellowed down into whispers Heero couldn't hear.
A week later, Trowa made the first move. Two next, the pair seemed to have gotten their act together while getting together. It was weird, Duo had commented one night; the two hardly talked, what did they see in one another? What did they do? Quatre, Heero remembered, had laughed waving a hand for him to mind his own business while winking to the quiet pair. He knew.
Snapping from his musing at the sound of a whistling drawing nearer, Heero brought a hand up quickly blocking the flying disc with forearm, quickly diving to catch it with his left Heero tossed it back in mid stand, his other hand holding a stick, staring at it oddly. Fully standing, idly rubbing his arm, lips turning down in a small frown, Heero stared at Duo, trying with will alone to melt his precious from the airy head.
Chuckling quietly watching the frisbee dueling pair, olive orbs glimmered in mirth, observing the braided wonderful 'haul ass' for dear life as a playfully fuming (a term never thought to be used for this particular lad) broken winged angel flew after him, stick still in hand, death threats leaving his mouth like a waterfall, loved laughter leaving the other teen's as he was chased.
Beautiful.
Deciding to vacation at Sono Fuko Koen had been a wise idea. Each of them, whether saying so or not, had been feeling the strain of doing basically nothing since graduation. Wufei's martial arts and kata routines were starting to ware him thin; Duo, proved he had done everything short of visiting the moon to keep busy; poor Quatre managed to play through all his music, memorizing some... While he and Heero, had kept busy in... other ways... and reading... But like with Wufei, one could only read the same books so many times...
The week they had been at the Park had been a lively one. Not a day went by that their American didn't manage to rile one of them into playing some game, swimming or just hiking through the massive Park, amazed and over flowing with questions to the most Nature knowing of them all, on what was around them. Duo was not alone in this fascination; Quatre too, had been curious about the world around him. Living on a colony all your life did little to learn one of the real world, Earth. Books could only teach so much about the actual living planet and all that inhabit it.
There stood another week between now and the day they would return to their home to plan the rest of Summer out; plan what they would do come the next year. But for now, watching his lover's smiling face, hearing his deep rumbling laugher every now and then, was more then Trowa felt he deserved. It was still hard to imagine they were together at all. Neither had seen themselves as worthy of the other, their pasts too dark, their emotions lacking in training, of usage.
They were both morons - per the loveable American's words.
Mentally shaking his head, bringing his attention back to the board where Quatre had yet to make his move, Trowa smiled. He whole heartily agreed.
Cracking an eye open, shifting a hand below his head, dark orb surveyed their surroundings. "The kids" were still playing, he snorted amused, "The thinkers" still challenging each others minds at chess - another way to test lesser battle strategies. Quatre appeared to be in trouble, Trowa had his army marching to surround his King already, his Queen captured. Poor Quatre...
As much a joy it was to watch his friends, his brothers, having fun - something not known to any of them for the most of their lives - there was something tickling the back of his mind... something demanding his attention yet not giving him any idea as to what that 'something' was. Only a vague feeling that something was wrong, 'off'... something was going to happen soon that would snatch and drag them into the fray once more.
However much this worried the lazing young man, he was rest assured by the fact it was not another war where blood would have to he shed by their hands; being part of the Preventers staff did have its advantages for keeping them informed.
No this was not a war, not of that sort... closing his eyes Wufei sighed, shifting once more. He did not know what was causing the tickling in the back of his mind, this need for attention and warning of wrongness to come... but he would not ignore it. He would wait, bide his time while trying to sort it out - and in the meantime he would enjoy his friends company like he had since meeting up with them in the first war.
Whatever was coming; they had time.
He thoroughly intended to enjoy the peace they had before the storm hit.
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~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~ * ~oOo~
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WELPS! There ya go lads, lass'... a day late, but there ya go. ^_^ ::points:: first half was what originally I had done before writers block and a strong dose of nothing but Gundam Wing ideas hit me... It becomes nearly added with Duo and his 'bored, bored, bored' part. ^_^
I've gotta go now! Have to work on my SOGOA site. Please review and let me know whatcha think! No promises on how soon the next will be out. I'm going to give a shot at my other GW/SM or the SM/DBZ I've got out there... but I'll try having it out soon. This one, I'm planning it as I go. _ Which isn't that bad considering I KNOW where I want to go, and have some "future" parts written... its just GETTING there that's proving a hassle.... along with writing on other stories.. which there's tons... BUT I WILL DO IT! ::crackles then coughs sweat dropping:: Erm, yeah, anyways... heh Arigatou gozamasu for all those that've reviewed and like this one. It means a lot to me. I hope y'all continue to stick with me, I'll have it getting more into the SL soon. Welps, I'm off now! Please review! Thankies!
Keep it kickin'! ~ Anime Redneck
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