Hey, I'm back and very upset but I won't let the severe lack of reviews bother me. I feel so unappreciated. (;_;) You guys don't like my writing. Well I don't care. At least three people do. I can't believe 'Redemption' got more reviews, then again I did get a few reviews when it was posted in my 'Body Swapped' fic as a side story. Unfortunate some readers got confused thinking that it was part of 'Body Swapped' which it wasn't. So I'm gonna finish it now but I'll keep removing and reposting this part so that it gets maximum publicity. Smart, huh? : )

And I know I should get on with the fic. I'm listening to Eminem right now. Great inspiration but I'm gonna have to switch to love songs. Much better for something romantic. Like Selena's 'Dreaming of You'. Man, she was a great singer.

* Holds sword above head in the usual manner before charging * On with the fic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: Same as previous chapter.

Fortune's Gift

Lilaclight

Heero still could not figure out why he went along. He was anxious about meeting her friends. When they had been together they had been by themselves. No outside interferences except for her cousin, Minako, and her sister, Hotaru but they had approved of the relationship. He had never been quite sure why.

The braided baka was walking besides Serena and she was laughing at whatever he was saying. She should have been looking at him with her glorious smile, not laughing with that bakayarou.(Heero jealous of Duo. What a thought!!)

Heero had tried not to think of her all the while they had been apart but he had not succeeded, and now there she was to tempt him. He could not get over the fact that she was there. She should have still been on the earth. What she was doing here he did not want to know and tried not to care. Too bad it was not working.

He sent them a quick glance up front. They had decided to walk to the park instead of driving. Serena had had much influence in the decision. She had a kawaii pout and face with hopeful eyes that put Duo's to shame. They had not stood a chance. Memories of how often she had pulled that face on him came flooding back. So many things he had done then that he would have never tried on his own. Serena had brought out the devil in him; she had made him human for those few months he had spent with her.

Serena laughed at the joke Duo made but her heart was not truly in it. Sure Duo was funny and interesting. She could sense that his comical façade hid a scarred soul. The result of years of hardship. Heero had turned out differently, more of an introvert than anything but beneath it all they shared similar pasts. That was why Duo had told her he considered Heero to be his best friend. Little did he know that almost a year before Heero had told her the same thing.(meaning that Duo thought they were best friends)

Serena came out of her reverie to notice that she was approaching the park. She constantly marvelled about how they made trees grow on the colonies. Everything seemed so similar to Earth that she was not as homesick as she expected but as the saying goes, 'There's no place like home'. Not matter how similar the colonies were, she still missed the little things like the wind blowing in her hair and the rain and thunderstorms.

"There they are," she said while pointing to her friends. They were waiting for her just of the main pathway.

Duo let out a wolf whistle when he saw the beauties that awaited them. He was very much impressed. They were long legged with awesome figures. The only letdown was that there was a guy present. He was tall with short sandy blonde hair and had an athletic figure, lithe and well muscled. Next to him was an aqua-haired beauty with eyes that reminded him of the ocean. To his left stood a short black haired girl with deep violet eyes and an air of fragility. There were two girls with waist length hair. One was blonde and the other was a raven haired fire cracker, if he was accurate in his guess. Last but not least was a navy blue haired babe with deep blue eyes that sparkled with intelligence.

"Where have you been Odango Atama!! Can't you for once be on time?!" snapped Rei.

"Never mind that," inserted Minako. "Who are these cuties with you?"

Wufei immediate began to spew words of insult and complaints of injustice, which definitely drew Rei's attention away from Serena. Duo's reaction was to introduce himself with a wink.

"I'm Duo Maxwell, a.ka. Shinigami but you pretty ladies can call me whatever you like."

"Baka, lay off Michiru and Hotaru. They're under my protection." warned Haruka.

"Sure man, whatever you say."

Haruka gave him a pleased smile. Once more someone was fooled into thinking she was a guy. Michiru smiled indulgently and signalled to Duo not to take Haruka too seriously. Hotaru just frowned.

"You good for nothing konoyaru!!!! Who do you think you are calling women weak!!" came Rei's enraged shout. She was ready to attack poor Wufei whose ear had just gotten blasted off.

"Would you please stop fighting. Excuse him for his attitude. He is not accustomed to women." apologized Quatre.

"Would you please behave and let me introduce everyone!" Serena commanded. Ofcourse, her friends immediately quieted down.

"You've already met Duo, that sexist pig was Chang Wufei, the kawaii blonde is Quatre Winner, the still quiet guy with the bang is Trowa Barton and this expressionless fellow is Heero Yui. You two already know him." She said, indicating Hotaru and Minako.

"Hey Heero. What's up? It's been ages." greeted Minako.

Hotaru nodded at him. She was aware of the circumstances under which they had parted.

"Hnn."

"These hotties I know you're dying to check out are Hotaru Tomoe, Haruka Te'noh, Michiru Kaiou , Rei Hino, Ami Mizuno and Minako Aino." Serena continued with a grin.

"Hello. Will you be joining us," asked Ami.

"Yup," responded Duo with a wink at Minako.

"If that's no problem." added Quatre.

"No way," denied Minako. "It's about time these girls found boyfriends. Ehh Haruka?" She gave Haruka a conspirational wink.

"Not me, I've already got what I need." She replied with a mischievous smirk.

The boys looked at her suspiciously and tried to figure out what she meant by that. Duo was quite clueless and did not bother with it. He wanted to check out Minako. As each guy figured it out, the girls serious expressions slowly turned to one of mirth. Quatre had turned so red that underwater, his face would have been mistaken as a lobster. Trowa's jaw had dropped open as he starred at Haruka in shock and Wufei was shocked speechless. His expression was so comical that Rei had to let her laughter loose. Heero's reaction was subtler but Serena still noticed it. She smiled at him when he glanced at her and just for a second she saw an answering smile in his eyes.

"Yes.. that's.. right." Haruka gasped out between laughs in response to the poor guys unspoken question.

Duo looked at them as if they were losing their minds and asked, "Why are you laughing? Why don't I know the joke?"

"That's because you haven't realised yet that Haruka's a girl," giggled Hotaru.

"WHAT!!!" exclaimed Duo. "But that mean that he…no she and…Michiru are, no that's wrong. Are you? I mean… Michiru… and Haruka, that's not possible." he stammered.

"Oh yes it is," replied Serena with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

Just then a terrified shriek pierced through the air putting everyone on the alert. Dropping whatever they were holding they all ran I the direction of the scream. What met their eyes when they got to the scene ha them all skidding to a halt. Before them was a girl lying on the ground and looking down at her was a…

I'm too tired. I still have to finish chapter 8 of Body Swapped. So this will be through in two more chapters. At least guys get more to read. Please review anyway. I'm so tired I can't think straight. I'm going in circles here. Oh well, I hope you liked the cliffie. I'm terrible at those but with practice I'll get better. And don't worry, this fic will be revised in a few months.

Ja ne.