21: The aftermath
"Damnit Duo, would you hurry up with those crates and stop flirting with that woman!" Hilde shouted enraged. Across the scrap/junk yard, Duo and Heero were gathering up crates of scrap metal that was once mobile suits along with various things a mechanic ordered two days ago. Heero took care of the paper work while Duo did all the heavy carrying, of course being the laid back person he is, Duo decided to flirt with a woman that had conveniently walked passed the entrance of the junk/scrap yard catching Duo's attention. Heero simply ignored his friend and continued to sign the agreement papers.
You can say it was woman's fault for stopping when Duo sent a wink in her direction, she simply mimicked his movement and the rest was history. It had been two weeks since Duo had awakened from his comatose state miraculously, however, he had go into rehabilitation because of the injuries he sustained during the mobile suit battle against Jin Toshino who they had no seen since that day. Optimistic, Duo figured he hadn't seen the last of his orphan friend.
"Duo!" Hilde barked stepping out the house wielding a spatula. "Get back to work, or I won't feed you dinner! That goes for you too, Heero!" Both ex-Gundam pilots cringed mentally at the thought. The woman went about her business (but not without winking one last time to Duo). Heero finished up the paper work and sent the man on his way, Duo had the workman stack the last three heavy crates on top each other, grunting Duo stomped unintentionally across the ground with the heavy load in his arms.
Heero had a work man do the same with him, and he also found himself struggling to get across the yard with the load. "Damnit, Duo why'd you have to slack off!" Heero hissed through clenched teeth. Duo said nothing instead he was formulating a plan on how to get the crates across the yard without causing strain on their backs that would effect future developments in their bone structure. "I can't take much more of this," Duo moaned stumbling forward in a quick motion. Heero predicted the worst to happen as he dropped the crates halfway into the yard nearest to the house.
Lifting up from his bent position Heero could feel the aching in his back developing, turning behind he counted four boxes left to carry into the yard. "Hn...." He grunted. [CRASH!!!] Heero jumped and turned to the origin of the crash. He found Duo on the ground with one of the crates ontop of him and the other beside each other against the outside of the house, Heero noticed that Duo was cursing under his breath as he moved the crate off his stomach. Rolling his eyes, Heero made his way over to the fallen American.
Duo brushed his bangs out of his eyes as he attempted to get up until he spotted Heero's outstretched hand offering help, thankful, Duo grabbed his hand and Heero pulled him up off the ground. "Thanks," Duo said briefly. Heero nodded releasing his hand from his. The tension on Duo's arm decreased sending a spike of pain shoot through his entire right arm, he winced in pain careful not flex his fingers. Heero stopped in his tracks eyeing Duo suspiciously. "Duo?" He asked. "Your arm..?" Duo nodded wearily staring down at his arm.
One part of it was still wrapped in bandages that was now a crimson color, Heero stared through the window and found Hilde working busily in the kitchen on their dinner. "We'll change this once we get in the house, right now hide it," Heero ordered. Duo stared down at his black dress shirt's sleeve then the rolled up one; it looked unequal, pulling the other sleeve Duo examined the strange look and smirked at Heero flexing his fingers at him. Heero rolled his eyes and headed back to the end of yard, Duo trailed behind him at a brisk pace. "I wonder how everyone's doing," The American said staring up into the sky.
Trowa, Catherine, Quatre, and Dorothy had decided to stay on earth for a while longer at the Sanc Kingdom until all five ex-pilots got together and talked to eachother, which was something neither of them did since after their mission. "Probably sipping tea with Pegan," Heero mused at the thought of the elderly man. Duo chuckled at the thought until he saw the solemn face on Heero's face, stopping in mid-step he grabbed Heero by the shoulder turning him around. "I think you should just talk to her, buddie, she doesn't hate you," Duo suggested. Heero narrowed his gaze at the braided teenager then resumed his walking. Duo threw his hands into the air feeling as though he were speaking brick wall with a mind made of steel. "Heero, if you don't gather the guts to go and talk to her, I will do something about it! Mark my words!" Duo warned. Heero didn't stop to take a glance at Duo, he bent over and picked a crate up off the ground. Duo rushed over to the nearest crate beside Heero and picked it up off the ground, following after the silent Japanese teenager. Just you watch Heero, I'll get you to talk to Relena when you least expect it...., Duo thought devilishly conjuring up a plan in his mind. Once the two got the last two boxes into the yard, they proceeded into the house where dinner was piping with heat on the table.
Hilde came storming out the kitchen with a heated spoon in her grasp making her way over to Duo. The 16-year-old cringed when she tapped him on the chest with spoon wearing a scowl. "What is your problem? You can't flirt with every woman that passes the yard, Duo. We do have work to do! Flirting is not permitted!" Hilde chastised. Duo raised his hands in defeat with a smile and with blink of his coalbolt eyes, he calm Hilde down (or so thought) quicker than he expected. "Oh come on, babe, you know I love you," He said playfully. "S'yeah right," Hilde folded her arms across her chest in protest turning her back to him.
Duo began to feel a bit nervous, he looked to Heero for help but the Japanese teenager was on the couch typing away on his laptop completely emerged in his own little world. "If I promise not flirt with every woman that passes the yard, will you not be angry?" Duo begged. Hilde turned her head toward him feeling the need to laugh at him, since she was just pretending to be angry at him. Turning around the German teenager gave him a quick nod and in return Duo scooped her up in his arm giving her bear hug. "See I knew you couldn't stay angry at me for long!" Duo chuckled victoriously.
Hilde pushed away from the young man successfully landing on her feet in front of him, Duo hid right arm behind his back as felt sticky warmth of fresh blood seeping through his bandage. "Go and get cleaned up, Duo," Hilde instructed. "Dinner'll be waiting for you when you come back." Duo nodded and dashed toward the bathroom. Heero watched Hilde enter the kitchen once more before he returned to his work, as he typed away he was caught by surprise at the blinking of an envelope icon that appeared on the middle of the screen. Curious he moved the mouse toward the icon and clicked on it.
Jeez, your laptop is one hell of a system to hack Heero;
Don't look surprised, your not the only super hacker around! Anyway, I wanted to tell you, I have enrolled in the St. Gabriel institute. You remember that place right? Its where you met Relena Darlain. I've got myself an admirer too; goes by the name Mariemaia, but that's besides the point. I wanna meet you and Duo at your house, but I figure I'm a wanted "kid" so you have to promise not to rat me out to the preventers. I'm trusting you, so I'll be there tomorrow, Saturday morning when Hilde's most likely to be sleep. Listen for a tapping on the window! Bye for now!
Jin
Heero almost swallowed his tongue. Jin had hacked into his laptop and he snooped into his life, that wasn't even on the St. Gabriel files?? He gritted his teeth in annoyance, this feat the young boy had pulled off only made him dislike him even more. Deleting the e-mail, Heero turned his computer off and headed to the bathroom. When he entered the bathroom he found Duo struggling with wrapping the bandages around his injured arm. The American looked up surprised. "Oi Heero-san," He grumbled in Japanese. Heero nodded in response. "Need help with that?" Heero asked. Duo looked down at the mess of loose bandages on his arm and nodded. Heero sighed trying push Relena and Jin's e-mail out of his mind for the present moment so he help out Duo in his crisis. "Dinner's read, we should hurry with this. Wouldn't want Hilde to want walk in here and find out you were still partly injured," The Japanese teenager grumbled. Duo simply nodded as he helped him out with the wrapping of the bandages.
The next Morning, Heero laid on the couch feeling a bit on edge. He stared out the window at the gray morning, Jin could pop up at anytime so he couldn't fall asleep suddenly. Groaning he turned on his back flinging an arm over his eyes but kept an ear out for someone tapping at the window. However, it felt like an eternity of waiting for a tapping on a window and Heero began to wonder if he had imagined the e-mail as a result of working out in the sun too much with Duo. As Heero's eyes slowly began to close he was brought out of his half slumber by a loud double tap, rising from his sleeping position he groggily stared out the window beginning he was hearing things because he was so tired from lack of sleep.
A moment passed and the tapping came again, this time he caught a glimpse of a hand wearing a shredded glove with no fingers. Throwing his cover off of him he advanced toward the door, he groaned stretching his arms. Grabbing the door knob Heero unlocked the door then opened it revealing a half-sleep Jin, glaring Heero pulled the young man inside before shutting the door. "Hi Heero," Jin yawned tiredly pulling his jacket closed. Heero scratched his back as he tried to wake himself up from his half-sleep or lack of sleep. Jin opened his mouth to speak but the sound of the bedroom door opening alarmed him, dashing form his place he hid behind Heero's legs as Duo poked his head out into the living room. Blinked tiredly careful not flex his right arm too much as he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"Heero, what are you doing up this early........ opening the front door?" He sounded very annoyed. Heero figured the cool breeze that danced inside the house and into his and Hilde's bedroom. Jin jumped from behind Heero with a smirk, Duo rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't sleep and seeing things. "Jin....?" Duo said bewildered. Jin nodded hesitantly, worried that the Shinigami would remember what had happened and attempted to kill him or strangle him near death for it. "Hai, its me....," Jin trailed off as he watched the braided American advance toward him and Heero. Duo stopped about two inches away from the two folding his arms across his chest in suspicion, he shifted his glance at Heero who kept up is impassive expression. "What's he doin' here, Heero?" Duo asked suddenly.
Heero looked down at the eleven year and kicked him in the ankle, Jin reacted in fear and leapt away from the Japanese teenager. "Look's a bit jumpy, doesn't he?" Heero pointed. Duo smirked with a nod. Jin was beginning to realize that Duo knew what happened in the end of their battle. "Look, I'm sorry, I meant to stop my attack, honest!" Jin exclaimed nervously. Heero smiled mysteriously shifting his attention to his duffle bag beside the couch. Jin noticed and felt as though he stepped into hostile area. "I said I was sorry," Jin sniffled. "Doesn't matter. You almost killed me," Duo snapped. "I hope you didn't come looking forgiveness, because you aren't getting any." Heero nodded in agreement.
Jin's shoulders slumped as he dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out two boxes, both teenagers glanced each other then to the boxes curiously. Heero extended his arm and Jin placed the boxes in his hand. "I figured you guys would be angry at me. So I bought something for you," Jin explained. "It's not a bomb by the way." Heero tossed the blue box to Duo who snatched it out of the air with ease, Jin shoved his hands into his pants pockets glancing the at wall clock above the couch. Both ex-pilots put the boxes in their PJ-pockets returning their attention back to the young boy in their presence. "Why'd you come here, Jin?" Duo asked fiddling with the end of his braid. Jin shrugged staring into space. Heero stared the boy and felt he was hiding something, which brought the memory of his fight with Relena into his mind.
Groaning, Heero decided to taunt the child despite the guilty feeling in his stomach. "That's not much of an answer, kid," He said. Jin glared at the tall Japanese teenager beside him, feeling as though he felt obligated to tell them what was on his mind. As though he felt he should tell them that much after the trouble he caused. "Err.... Truth be told, I like-- uh--- hanging around you guys," Jin mumbled in embarrassment. "Unlike Tomeki and his gang. You....... well, you just don't act like you want something from me all the time, that you care less about what I did and your cool....... every one of you Gundam pilots despite your bad dispositions!" Heero wanted to grab the boy by his collar and toss him out of the house for that very comment but the warning glance he got from Duo advised him not to.
"...Also, your like my brothers..... it sounds corny, but its the truth. Your like substitutes for my dead parents," Jin added nervously. "I feel safe around you." Despite this, Duo suddenly wanted to do what Heero wanted; toss him out of the house; he was ranting far too much. "Thanks for the complement. I'll be sure to tell the others," Duo said dryly. Jin smiled hesitantly making his way pass Heero quickly in fear that the older man would grab him by the collar. Duo watched the young boy make his way toward the door and pull his jacket's hood over his head. Heero fiddled with the box in his pocket, curious of what it contained inside. "I'll see you around I guess," Jin smirked nervously. The two watched the young boy leave the out the house shutting the door behind him.
A long moment silence befell the room and Heero and Duo were still as statues staring at the front door. Heero turned to stare at the American with a slightly confused face as to why they just let him the house. "We'll talk to the others about this later. Let's get some sleep until then," Duo muttered tiredly. "Hn..." Heero grunted heading back to the couch. Duo ran his hand through his hair silently entering the bedroom. He looked to find Hilde still asleep curled up beside his empty space, yawning he made his way back into the bed and underneath the covers. Hilde draped her arm over his side breathing a sigh of relief, smirking Duo closed his eyes hoping to get at least another hour of sleep before Hilde decided to wake him.
Quatre traveled around the large corridors of the Sanc kingdom searching for the illusive Dorothy Catalonia. When she had overheard the conversation Quatre was have with Une about her sister Phareil who was to be sent to a special Jail where she would be treated for her problems concerning the death of their father and how it would help her get over the trauma of it, Quatre could've sworn he saw Dorothy dodge him. He caught but a glimpse of her figure when he came out of the communication room dash down the hall nearest to the garden.
Turning the corner he made his way outside into the massive garden; he looked around at the surrounding area and began to wonder how he was going to find her the maze that someone called a garden. Shaking his head he ventured deeper into the garden in the more less flower populated area of the garden, Quatre noticed someone sitting on the edge of an extravagant water fountain that spouted water from the center of a large sunflower a small girl in a flower dress held in her hand. Silently he made his way off the grass toward the fountain keeping himself out of sight as much as possible.
He studied the shape and figure of the body and confirmed that it was a woman, Quatre continued to step lightly as well as silently across the paved path that led to the fountain. He stared at the woman's hair as best he could through the shimmering water, it appeared to a platinum blonde color. He figured it was safe to say that it was Dorothy, exhaling he called out to her. "Psst! Dorothy!" He said. The blonde's head shot up and turned in his general direction. Quatre smiled, he was right: it was Dorothy, but she red in the eyes and puffy in the face. She didn't attempt to move, she patiently awaited him to get closer.
Quatre walked to a normal pace since he didn't have to tiptoe. "What's wrong, Dorothy?" Quatre asked concerned. Dorothy shook her head pulling her hair behind her ear, she scooted closer to Quatre causing him to flinch in surprise. "Are you scared of me?" Dorothy asked curiously. Quatre shook his head quickly wrapping an arm around her shoulder, Dorothy leaned her head down on his shoulder with a sigh. "They won't hurt her will they?" She asked. "Who?" Quatre asked. Dorothy stared down at his unoccupied hand. "My sister," Dorothy said. "No, they just want to help her. Une'll make sure they won't hurt her," Quatre reassured her. Dorothy breathed a sigh of relief, her body relaxed in Quatre's arms and the two stayed in that position for a good while.
Duo yawned with a mouth full of food for the second time in a row as he slowly chewed his breakfast with one eye open. Hilde watched the two men across from her nod off to sleep from time to time and didn't know it unless Hilde started talking about a random thought. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as Duo rubbed his eyes and yawned for the third time. "Duo, didn't you get enough sleep last night?" She asked reaching over and ruffling his hair.
Duo grimaced yawning, he shrugged barely able to keep his eyes open. "Heero was sleepwalking. I hard time keeping him on the couch, so I stood guard," He lied swallowing the last morsel of his eggs. Heero had no strength to glare at Duo, he quietly continued to eat his hashbrown avoiding eye contact with Hilde. "You sleepwalk Heero?" Hilde said in awe. Heero looked up from his plate at the curious German female in front of him and nodded reluctantly. Hilde's eyebrows raised in alarm when she noticed Duo had fallen asleep beside his empty plate, his glass of orange juice was tilted in his hand and snoring could be heard coming from the slumbering American. Heero shifted his leg from in front of him and kicked Duo in the back of his leg rousing him out of slumber. Duo lifted his head off the table and gulped down his orange juice.
"Gomen-nesai," He grumbled blushing. Hilde stared at the two feeling as though they were hiding something from her, despite this she had to think of a way to wake this two up from their sleeping state of mind. Clapping her hands together causing Duo and Heero to jump in their seats, Hilde said; "I know, why don't we go over to the Sanc Kingdom to see the others! I'm sure that'll wake up for sure!" Duo shifted his heavy eyes toward Heero who was trying to contain his surprise. "S-sure, why not Hilde....!" Duo trailed off nervously. "Heero, wanna come?" Heero shook his head quickly proceeding to rise from the table in an attempt to escape but Hilde grabbed him by the arm and pulled back down into his seat. "Your comin' Heero, whether you like it or not. Your need the activity," Hilde said sternly.
Duo's chuckle was drowned out by his own yawn, Heero balled his hand into his a fist underneath the table vowing to get Duo back for making fun of him. "Now go wet your faces, and get ready. We're going to the Sanc Kingdom!" Hilde proclaimed rising from the table. Heero shifted his sight toward Duo who raised his hands in defense. "You have something to do with this don't you Duo?" Heero sneered under his breath. Duo shook his head quickly and dashed out of the kitchen with Heero trailing behind him.
Mariemaia sat down in library with her nose in a book called Behavior of orphans. Since the day she had heard about him, she was determined to meet the mysterious Jin Eriol had told her about. But she had met him, his personality was a cold as stone in the winter. Everytime she tried to talk to him during lunch he would get up from the table leaving his lunch behind, when she tried to get near by saying one of the nuns said for him to help with an assignment he would simply walk away with his tex and note books hanging out of his messenger bag. To her surprise one of his books fell out of his bag and he was totally unaware it had.
And now she sat on a window in the library with a book of his that had no title and a lock on it to keep unwanted eyes from seeing what was inside and a book about War orphan's behavior in her hands. Mariemaia knew he always came to this end of the library to read by himself, so she waited for him in his usual spot so she could return the book to him and attempt to talk to him. Which was harder than it sounded in her mind. Glancing up she scanned the library for Jin, there was no sign of him anywhere in the room. Huffing in frustration, she rose from the window seat with both books tucked under her arm and made her way across the library floor. "Mariemaia," Came a voice.
The orange-red haired girl turned to meet the friendly face of Dido, the only friend she had made since she had came to St. Gabriel. Dido's hair was a usual shade of blue done in a wavy short haired style, her eyes were chocolate brown, her skin was a fair color and her nose was pudgy. Dido was also sixteen years old. "Hello Dido," Mariemaia replied with a wave. Dido stopped briskly with a bit of a hop in her halt, Mariemaia stared curiously at the folders in her hand and wondered what or who they were for. "Is there something you need?" She asked. Dido shook her head blowing her bangs out of eyes before handing the folders to Mareimaia.
"Father Walker wanted be to send these folders to Jin, because he missed all his classes on account of his sleeping in late. But I figured you wanted to talk to him, so I was wondering if you can get me off the hook and take these with you?" Dido explained extensively. "Pretty please??" Mariemaia pondered on the situation for a moment, she knew Dido had a tenancy to slack on her work and play around with her older friends during and out of class, but from the sounds of it Dido had something else she rather be doing and she did want to talk to Jin. "Fine, but you better study for tomorrow's test, or I won't speak to you," Mariemaia warned taking the folders. Dio smirked in acknowledgment and rushed off. Sighing Mariemaia headed off to find Jin's dorm room.
"Room111," Mariemaia murmured staring the dorm number on the folder. She stared the plain hardwood door the longest of times before she knocked on the door. The sound of rustling inside alarmed her slightly, another moment passed and Jin had knock come to the door. Huffing, Mariemaia turned the door knob and to her relief the door was unlocked. Stepping inside the morning sun lit room she stared at Jin's still form underneath the covers of his bed; His head was propped up on his left arm, his right arm hung out from the cover, his hand held a pendant on a blue chain in its grip.
Curious Mariemaia placed the folder and his locked no-titled book on his desk before striding quietly across the room to his bed and kneel down in front of him curious. His brow was furrowed and his mouth was partly open, but the thing that interested her was that he was eleven years old and exceeded a normal eleven year old's height. He appeared to look like a teenager but his young face said otherwise. Reaching out she tapped the purple jewel hanging on the chain embroidered in gold.
It wasn't a boy thing to be holding, so the red-orange haired girl figured it belonged to his mother who he had probably lost. Just like she had. Rising from ground level she made her way toward the door but paused; pulling her hello kitty pen out from her hair, Mariemaia noticed a blank piece paper and drew a smiling Kitty in the corner of the paper then left the room quickly the second he started to move. "Whew," She grumbled zooming down the hall.
Sally drove down the dirt rode in her Ford mini-van thinking of how great it was to take a break from work from time to time. Looking up into rearview mirror she stared in amusement at Wufei's thoughtful expression. He stared out the window watching the blur of trees and grassland pass the mini-van in blinding speed. "Why didn't want to see the others, Wufei?" Sally asked. Wufei turned away from the window with a shrug. "I didn't feel like being around them," Wufei replied.
Sally blinked in acknowledgment before speaking. "But you do know they'll be leaving tomorrow and you might not see each other for a while?" She said in question. Wufei nodded. It wasn't problem with him; they had gone their separate ways numerous times and hadn't seen each other for a long time unless Relena invited them to a big party or a time of crisis when Une called them in. It was way it was with them and always would be because of what had gone through. Wufei knew none of them were "close buddies" in the sense that they bothered each other all the time by coming around every other two weeks and came to the point where they all became annoyed with one another and never wanted each other again.
Wufei liked the long periods of time that were between them when they went their separate ways after a party or crisis. It only made him want to see his friends more and when he did he felt a sense of happiness when they did come together to talk or hang. It reminded them exactly why they were still friends. "Doesn't matter to me. We'll meet again," Wufei replied bluntly. Sally sighed and turned off the road and drove through grassland. The two were headed to a vacant tea house that stood out deep in the grasslands, far from the city.
Sally had been to the tea house numerous times before Wufei had began to use it after deciding to live on earth. She lent to him when he wanted to use it to meditate, which wasn't often since he was always working away with her or by himself training would-be preventers. The mini-van came out of the grass landing on the dirt road that now lead to the tea house about two miles ahead of them. "We're here, Wufei," Sally announced. Wufei stared out the window gazing upon the brown, red and gold structured building with red dragons painted on the sliding doors with a look relief.
He loved to work, but after going two weeks training loud mouth and cocky would be preventers Wufei decided he deserved the break. "Thanks for bringing me out here, Sally," Wufei said. Sally smiled as she pulled up in the make shift drive way across the tea house. "Not a problem, Wufei," She replied. "You looked like you needed it." Wufei smirked amused as he opened the car door. Both of them stepped out of the vehicle and stared dreamily at the tea house before shutting the car doors.
Hilde, Duo and Heero stood upon the large white stairs of the Sanc Kingdom waiting for someone (namely Pegan) to come and answer the door as Duo yanked at the door knob. "Hello, is there anyone home??!" Duo called loudly knocking on the door. Heero sighed pushing his sunglasses up on the bridge of his nose he continued to watch Duo pounded at the door until the sound of someone unlocking the door. The 16-year-old stepped back from the door shoving his hands into his pants pockets looking clam and polite as he tried keep his yellow tinted sunglasses on his nose.
The door opened revealing a high spirited Relena with a glass of water in her hand. Duo's slid down his nose indicating his shock, he was expecting Pegan to answer the door, not Relena. Man, I had this really good joke for him too..., He thought just as Hilde came up from behind him. "Hi Relena!" Hilde cried happily. The braided teenager grunted in alarm as Hilde shoved him backward leaping forward to see Relena, Heero stepped to the side and let Duo stumble down the stairs and fall on his back. Both women stared down at the fallen Duo before resuming their chatter.
Heero sighed as he bent down to help Duo up on his feet, Duo glared at the girls retreating backs gritting his teeth in attempt not to explode in anger. "Just brush it off. Hilde's bound to be like this, everytime she see's Relena. Girl's are strange that way," Heero muttered heading inside the building. Duo frowned at his comment but followed Heero inside nonetheless. "I wonder where Trowa and Quatre are?" Heero said aloud staring at the extravagant hallway and stairs. Duo shrugged as he placed his yellow-tinted sunglasses up on his head, the caolbolt blue eyed teenager stared at the hall on the right then the one on the left.
"They could be anywhere," Duo replied scanning the area. As if on cue Trowa, and Quatre came trotting down the stairs with Dorothy and Catherine not behind. Heero shifted his glance toward Duo who shrugged. "Hey you guys made it," Quatre cried happily. Both of them smiled as the other two ex-pilots touched the landing of the stair way. "How have you all been?" He asked. Duo smirked flexing his arm slightly. "We've been fine, right Heero?" The braided American turned his attention to his friend with a silly gleam in his eye.
"Anyways, we sorta understood you guys were leaving for your respective homes in the colonies tomorrow so we thought it would be best to come visit you before then," The 16-year-old explained. "What he said," Heero replied blandly. Both Quatre and Trowa laughed at the two in front of them causing looks of confusion among Duo and Heero. "Thanks.... we appreciate it," Quatre said.
[TBC]