Disclaimer: I don't claim ownership of any of these characters except my own originals, nor do I own Stephen King's work. It obviously belongs to Stephen King.
That done with….on with the story! TALLY HO!
Forgotten Love- Part 6
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The six young people finally packed up and headed home an hour or so before sunset. They had definitely chosen a good day to go swimming; the heat still hadn't burnt itself out yet and each one them was several shades darker then before.
"It's still got to be at least ninety degrees," Wufei said softly, putting their damp towels into Keiko's trunk.
"This doesn't rival the desert one bit though," Quatre added. Wufei simply nodded, the warmth was giving him a lethargic feeling and he didn't feel like being snide.(O_o)
Keiko sighed softly as she climbed into the driver's seat. "Today was fun, but I think I got a little more pink than tan. Stupid fair skin," she grumbled and started the car.
Heero pressed a finger against her shoulder and took note of how the skin turned white and hesitated on returning back to the dark rose color she had acquired that day. "Don't," Keiko said, shrugging away from him. "It hurts when you do that."
"I like your light skin."
She shook her head and kind of laughed. "During these days of fake-baking models and all that stuff…… I'm glad there's one guy out there who still appreciates natural skin color."
"He's not the only one……." Quatre added sluggishly. He raised his head as though it weighed several tons. "People shouldn't hide what they've been given behind layers of cosmetics and fake tanning. No one is truly born ugly; we all just have different features. I'm not against make-up or anything, but wasn't it created to accentuate what you already have- not hide the real you?"
She nodded and poked Heero's side while he was reaching to press her singed shoulder again as they drove down the street. He jerked back, squirming slightly. "Correct. And Heero, I said stop." She jabbed at Heero and he wiggled away. A look of knowing flashed in her emerald eyes. "You're still ticklish aren't you?"
Heero muttered, "Don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do," Keiko replied, eyeing him.
"No."
"Don't argue. You know I'm right."
"N-"
Duo reached up from the back seat and tickled Heero's ribs. He yelped and leapt away. "Knock it off Duo!"
The braided man giggled in a cute childish voice, and made a move to torture the semi-stoic man once more. Heero slapped the hand away with force, making knuckles crack.
"Ow!" The hurt fingers went into his mouth; he nursed them with a pout on his face and an unreal hurt look in his eyes.
Wufei shook his head, but chuckled. "You never learn Maxwell. That will do you in one day I swear."
* * *
"Be right back!" Keiko exclaimed. She ran from the living room to the door and pressed the intercom button. "Hello?"
"Hey Keiko- it's Alex. I just wanted to return your book since I was in the area; the one I borrowed a few weeks ago. I'm just going to pop in because I have a few more errands that I need to run."
"Oh, sure. I'll open the gate, and then come on in."
She unlocked the deadbolt- she kept it locked most evenings out of habit- and went back to the young men. "My friend Alex is going to come in to return something, he'll only be here for a few minutes though. At least you'll get to meet him though. He's an awesome guy."
"The one you worked with being a newspaper editor?" Trowa asked.
She nodded. "The same. Wait, how did you know about that job? The internet I suppose…….," she mused to herself. Trowa smiled and nodded back.
"Keiko?" Alex's voice called as the door opened.
"We're in the living room!"
A man with dusty skin, twinkling hazel eyes and dark auburn hair appeared in the doorway clutching a thick hardback novel. He was casually dressed; just jeans and a red flannel. Keiko smiled at him, took the book and set it in the bookshelf beside the couch. "Did you like it?"
He nodded instantly. "It was awesome-I never thought a twentieth-century novel could be that good!"
"Stephen King was an awesome horror writer," Keiko agreed. "Would you like to borrow The Stand next?"
"Sure," he returned, not noticing how she had stilled immediately after she had asked him that. Another man had shown up behind Alex. His tousled raven black hair had crimson highlights in it and fell softly into his royal blue eyes. He was as tall as Alex, but more muscular. The black shirt he wore was semi-tight against an extremely toned stomach. A thorny vine tattoo could be seen snaking around his bulging upper arm. It was a body that even Heero found himself envying. The man gave a friendly smile, but there was a hint of nervousness in it. "How are you Keiko?" he inquired, his voice velvety.
She returned the smile but it wasn't her full one. She held the brightness of her eyes from it. "I'm doing very well Rykoshi, how about you?" She grabbed another book without breaking her gaze from his and gave it to Alex.
"Holy crap, this one is a monstrosity!" he exclaimed at the same time Rykoshi said softly,
"You must introduce us to your other friends Keiko."
The tone was clear. iTell me who these people are and why they are here- now i Keiko stared back at him, and then said, "These are my friends from Earth. Change Wufei, Duo Maxwell, Quatre Winner, Trowa Barton and this is Heero; my boyfriend." She sat on the arm of the couch and put her arm around his shoulders.
Heero saw Rykoshi's dark eyes flicker with anger, and he looked as though he was fighting back a sneer of malice. Heero stood up and offered his hand to Rykoshi. "It's nice to meet you. Keiko's told us ialliabout you," he jeered. He noted with satisfaction that he was easily an inch or two taller. Less buff maybe, but he would bet his Gundam that he was much more limber and agile.
The other man flinched back slightly. He recovered swiftly and a burning anger flickered in his eyes, but he shook Heero's hand (with a death grip) and murmured, "It's a pleasure."
"You guys are from Earth huh?" Alex smiled, oblivious to the thick tension in the room. "I heard it's lovely there. Would you mind telling me about it another time? We really must be going."
Trowa nodded. "Some other time. Nice meeting you."
"You too!" he said, then they were both gone.
"Damnit, I wish he had told me that Rykoshi was with him!" Keiko spat. "Just so I have a heads up. Ugh…… Well, Alex doesn't mean to be spiteful, he's just so unobservant."
She looked at Heero. "I wish you hadn't said that so snobbishly though Heero."
"Why not? He can't hurt you."
She only shook her head and sighed.
"But did you see the man's body? He must live at the gym for god's sake!" Duo cried indignantly.
"That he does," Keiko replied quietly, her eyes distant. "That he does."
* * *
Heero was exhausted as he lay sprawled upon his soft bed. The day at the park had been tiring and he still hadn't adjusted to L1's independent time.
The night air was heavy and sultry. He welcomed the small breeze that blew in though the open French windows. It was a typical evening to simply relax and listen to the crickets chirp their love songs below in the garden. Tonight, though, the song was slow and slurred, as if the crickets had lost their energy from the heat also. Even the ceiling fan seemed to spin its' circles lazily, in no way helping to cool the hot bedroom.
The young man glanced at the clock and groaned. It was already 8:00; night had fallen and yet it still hadn't cooled off yet. Fed up with the stifling room, Heero pulled his green tank top over his head and tossed it in the direction of his suitcase, then flopped back horizontally.
His breathing slowed and became deeper as he listened to the night surrounding him. Drowsily, he thought he heard Wufei and a soft, angry voice-more than likely Trowa- yelling. What about exactly was unimaginable.
There was a soft tap at the door and Keiko entered, carrying lemonade glass. "Today was such a scorcher that I figured that all you boys would like something cool to drink," she said pleasantly.
"Boys?" Heero countered, sitting up sluggishly as Keiko stepped gracefully over to him, a smile on her face. Her transparent blue robe swirled around her bare feet. And even though her nightgown was loose, it still clung to every curve.
"Perhaps 'young men' would be a better term."
"Perhaps. But would you like me to call you a girl instead of a woman?"
She shrugged and set the glass down on the nightstand. "I don't care which I am called really. The age of the speaker will determine which I am classified un……der……"
Heero's naked chest gleamed with a soft layer of perspiration; it had caught Keiko's attention and caused her to go temporarily blank. Heero noticed the sudden attention loss and followed her gaze. Finally she tore her eyes away from what lay before her.
"It's warm in here," she said softly and stood to leave. "Don't hesitate to open your window- oh, it's already open- well…….the lemonade…… I brought it in……There, take it-" Keiko stammered breathlessly, pushing the glass towards him. She spun to go, but Heero caught her wrist.
"Why are you running?"
"I'm not."
"Yes you are. Don't argue you know I'm right," he answered, using her lines from earlier that day.
"Maybe I'm just scared……"
"Of what?"
"My past. Certain things remind me of it," Keiko replied. Heero tugged her to his side.
"I promised that I would protect you. I don't back out of my promises."
She smiled. "I believe you. But what has happened has wounded me. It's almost healed, but reminders will rip it savagely open again, just so it can bleed some more. One day I'll be over it and I'll have no regrets whatsoever."
Heero lay back down, bringing Keiko with him at his side. They wrapped their arms around each other and he played with Keiko's long golden hair.
"Do you ever regret fighting in the wars?" Keiko whispered.
"All the time," he returned after a short pause. "But I can't go back and change the past, so I just cope with living with it.
"What about you? Do you ever regret meeting me? Getting involved with someone who has the blood of thousands stained on his hands?"
She shook her head. "No, I've never regretted you. You helped me grow up faster, but I've not regretted that either."
Heero smiled gently. "I'm glad." They kissed, long and sweet, in each other's arms. They kissed the night away. And the forgotten passion returned, like the steps of a ballroom dance; clumsy and slow at first, but then graceful and elegant.
* * *
When she awoke, Keiko couldn't quite remember where she was. Then she saw Heero lying beside her and it all came back. She sighed happily. The night had gone well; she had slept through the whole thing. On the floor beside the bed lay her blue robe, which she had cast off sometime during the night
Heero stirred and opened his blue eyes. "Why are you up so early love?"
"I was thinking."
"About what?"
Keiko kissed his cheek softly. "Bring me back to earth with you."
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Squee! Done! AND ON TIME!!! *dies from shock* Wow, okay…….hmm I actually have nothing to say really. Except the usual begging for reviews ^_^ and to all those who reviewed- I thank you! *bows*