Perfection

Chibi Tsuki

A/N: It's been too hot in Australia for me and I haven't been feeling up to typing any stories lately.

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Chapter 8

Holidays

For the following week, Zechs had been unable to find the one named Lucretzia unless he was in her class but then she would disappear ever so quickly as if she was avoiding him. He didn't understand why though but always tried to keep himself from going all soft and sentimental around her and because of his strange waffling attitude, his female school-mates continued to believe that he was more or less in love with someone and they were jealous. Glancing up from his desk, he gazed at Lucretzia's back dreamily while she scribbled the answer onto the whiteboard with a marker. Although Treize was in a year above his friend, he had immediately realised that Zechs had been intoxicated by that particular girl, the one with the cute smile and dark wavy hair. "Zechs? Zechs Merquise? Please head to your next lesson now," a voice uttered in a stern tone. Slowly, he turned to the speaker and suddenly, he was out of his trance and nearly off his seat.

"Sor… Sorry sir," he mumbled when he realised the teacher was standing right in front of him. He recollected himself, grabbed his books and fled the classroom as the last of the female students chuckled at this cute episode. Zechs brushed his bangs back behind his ear as best as he could and sighed. His ponytail swung hopelessly as he moved. Just as he walked around the corner, he noticed the familiar back of the girl he had been staring at during his last lesson. She was chatting cheerily with Louie Erans, with something black settled against her neck. The thing looked up at him, its blue eyes gleaming at him before settling back against her neck. Suddenly, a strange emotion ran through him, as if the creature was trying to talk to him. But it had definitely lightened his dim mood at the when he saw the pair walking.

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Lucretzia dumped her books on the opposite bed and stretched with a wide grin on her face. Currently it was the holidays and basically everyone was going home, other than several of the house keepers and students, along with the principal who was a permanent resident. Apparently, she had learned that this school was actually owned by some rich family within the area, although their names were never mentioned. Altogether there were about eleven students staying within the school during the holidays because their family insisted that they stay at the school. Usually it was because their parents didn't particularly want them back home, thinking that boarding school would be better than at home where they can slack off and this was Lucretzia's case. But her sister had promised that once they were able to arrange their new home and organise everything properly, Aleena would take her to her home sometime during the fortnight of freedom. Until then, Lucretzia was stuck in the boarding house. Promising to return early to keep her company, Louie had left late in the afternoon on the plane, back to his own home somewhere not too far away. At least Midnight would always be by her side and she could spend the money her father had left in the bank. It definitely wasn't a small amount but she never really bought much except perhaps some clothes and a new pair of track pants, not to mention cat food.

She walked out of the dormitory and towards the main hall to watch the other students leave the school. It was often interesting to watch the reunion between a boarder and their parents. "They seem so happy to reunite, I wish it was the case between my father and I," she mumbled to her kitten who merely mewed in reply. She leaned against the railing and watched the students leave via the front entrance. Suddenly she noticed the particular blonde-haired gentleman, placing a gentle hand on his sister's shoulder. Beside Relena was another student whom Lu recognised as Hilde Schbeiker; Duo's 'girlfriend'. She pondered for a second, Hilde didn't have any luggage with her at all. Perhaps Hilde would be leaving later in the day or week. She cast a glance at Zechs and their eyes came in contact and for a second she was unable to take her eyes off his icy and yet beautiful blue eyes. Then she noticed his bangs obscuring his eyes partially, much like her own bangs. His strong and elegant face didn't stay unnoticed but Lucretzia tore her eyes away and walked away, back to her own dormitory to change into more comfortable clothes.

Zechs felt a tinge of disappointment as she turned away but was secretly happy to have held her gaze for sometime. He would visit her, sometime probably soon just to get to know her better.

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After Lucretzia changed into her cargo pants, a plain T-shirt and some sneakers, she set off to the computer room. Hopefully she would be able to finish some holiday assignments given to her by the teachers. It would use up some of her extra time, just like her daily sessions of sport. The gym had recently opened to female users as well since it was proven that female bodies were able to handle the same equipment as the male population within the school, something Lucretzia had been grateful for.

As she stepped into the computer room, she accidentally knocked into someone and immediately apologised before bending down to pick up her books. The person she bumped into nearly beat her to picking up her books and handed Lucretzia the books. "Thanks," Lu uttered and began to walk away until the person called out to her.

"Excuse me but are you by any chance staying here these holidays?" Lucretzia turned around and faced the boy who stood quite a bit shorter than her with gentle hazel-green eyes and short blonde hair. Lucretzia nodded with a smile. "There aren't many students I know that board here and so would it be alright if we became friends?"

Looking slightly surprised at the random comment, Lu stifled a giggle and avoided saying what was in her head. Although I must admit that you are a rather strange person, I wouldn't mind. "Sure, my name is Lucretzia Noin. I'm not much of a lady so I hope you don't mind," she admitted truthfully as Midnight purred in agreement. I seriously think that this kitten knows what I'm talking about.

The boy laughed happily and shook his head. "I don't mind whether my new friend is a proper lady or not. By the way, my name is Quatre Raberba Winner, I'm pleased to meet you," he seemed to a cheerful fellow and certainly had a polite side. "I'm in Year 8 this year so I'm turning fourteen this year."

"I'm only one grade higher and one year older than you. This here kitten is Midnight."

"Pleased to meet you, Midnight." The kitten mewed again and snuggled back against Lu's neck.

"Well it is best that I do my work or else I won't have much free time left," Lucretzia stated. "I'll see you at dinner." Quatre nodded and waited until she had disappeared from his sight before leaving.

By the time it was dinner, Lucretzia had managed to complete an assignment and had even showered; refreshed for dinner. She entered the basically empty hall, feeling rather small in such a large area. But Midnight reassured her that she wasn't alone by pawing at her trousers. Lu glanced down at the kitten and smiled before heading towards the front of the kitchen, to the serving area. They still had cooks and of course the boarding students' own families had to pay extra for their boarding, food, use of school facilities and the supervision during the holidays. But the food during the holidays were even better than during normal school days although the quality was already high standard. Tonight's course was spaghetti, the Italian dish that Lucretzia had missed dearly. Although the spaghetti tasted delicious, it would never beat Eva's and that was something Lu didn't deny. Quatre had entered the dining hall not long after her and together they seated at the table as the other school-mates entered the hall. Familiar faces stepped into the hall and immediately, Lucretzia grinned at them. Filing in behind Hilde Schbeiker was Sally Po. They seemed to be chatting happily to each other and were even more thrilled when they noticed Lu.

There were several others students, two supposedly from Year 10 and another from Year 11, all three being males but then there were Hilde's friend and several Year 7 students. Seated in a distance away from the students were the two cooks and several supervisors who were to make sure that everything was under control during the student's stay at school. Towards the end of the meal, a teenager looking around Quatre's age entered the dining hall and collected his dinner. He settled at a table by himself and seemed as if preferred isolation. Lucretzia sympathised him. She stood up and approached him in a friendly manner.

"Hey, do you want to sit with us?" Lucretzia asked in a gentle tone.

Glancing up, the boy cast her a rather cold glance and replied, "No thanks, I'll be fine." His words didn't turn out as cold as his eyes but Lu had the feeling that she was unwanted.

"Alright then, if you ever get bored then come and sit with us."

"Hn."

"See ya then." Slowly making her way back towards her friends, she shrugged and finished her dinner with Midnight pawing hungrily at her trousers. Then she started climbing onto Lu's lap with seriously sharp feline claws which made her mistress wince.

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Changed and ready, Noin was going to stay up slightly longer before finally retiring to sleep. It had been a long day with lessons and then working hard in the computer room. Her father believed her to be a rather disorganised and faineant being when it came to school work even though her grades and marks from her previous private school were all top marks. That was because he never stayed at home long enough to see her work. If he wasn't leaving for a conference with China, he was invited to visit Germany. Lu pouted at the thought but then her mind had turned to her mother who had supported her all along; although subtle, she could feel it was there. "Perhaps it's time to write a letter to Mother but then Father will also read it," she frowned at what she had said and sighed. "I'll just write to Eva then." Settling at her desk she found several sheets of fancy letter paper that Eva had managed to sneak into her suitcase and picked up her pen. She stared at the piece of paper for a while, wondering where to start from since there was so much to talk about even though they had chatted last time at her sister's wedding. Suddenly the door knocked and Lu dropped her pen to open the door. Who would be visiting her so late?

"Lu?" her visitor smiled and shifted on her legs, "Do you think I'll be stay in the same room as you during the holidays?"

Lucretzia chuckled and replied, "Sure Sally, as long as you don't mind the cat and her stuff around the room."

"I don't mind at all." So the pair started moving Sally's belongings to Lu's room; the room being quite spacious anyway. They felt exhausted after rearranging items and unpacking books and instantly fell asleep on their beds. Midnight came back from relieving herself of her thirst and clamoured up the books Lu had made for her as a ladder to her bed. She walked over the hills that were formed and finally stumbled next to her owner's head and snuggled against her neck.

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Already in her track pants and favoured sports top, Lucretzia readjusted her cap and checked her basketball for its flatness. It had been a while since she pumped it and it was squished into her luggage when she came here since her father was definitely going to complain if he realised what she'd brought with her. She made her way to the storage room and gathered the machine used to pump up any time of sporting ball which needed air. It was much faster than pumping it manually. Once she was done, she exited the storage room and tested out the basketball. Casting a glance at her kitten, she smiled when she saw that the creature hadn't moved and in fact was watching intently in a sitting position. Lucretzia bounced the ball steadily as she eyed the ring and then shot. The ball went through perfectly and bounced before rolling on the polished indoor ground.

Standing at the gym entrance was the boy who had isolated himself from everyone else, a smug grin on his face. He approached Lucretzia, letting his footsteps be loud enough for her to hear so that she knew his presence. Lu shot the ball and glanced around at the boy, her emotions hidden under her cap. His grin had disappeared before she saw it. "So you're the one who wins against Zechs Merquise; the one they call Noin right?" he asked in a monotone.

"I am," Lu uttered in reply and smiled.

"Let's have a match to see whether you really are as they say."

Noin laughed and accepted the game in a firm response.

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A/N: Slightly shorter than usual but please bear with me. As you've probably guessed that 'boy' is who else other than Heero Yuy. Hopefully I'll have a next chapter up soon. Ja ne!