DISCLAIMER: See previous chapters…
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here's the fifth instalment, hope you like it J
Chapter 5
The sunlight streamed golden through the gap in the drapes. Quatre rubbed his eyes with one hand, trying to force away the overwhelming need for sleep. Blinking rapidly, he pushed the covers from his body and slid off the bed.
Landing with a gentle thump, the boy padded softly around the room until he arrived at one of the large windows. Pushing the velvet hangings aside, he slid back the glass door and stepped out onto the balcony. Inhaling deeply, he took in the sight of the glistening snow, now even deeper than before. He shielded his eyes from the sunlight with his hand, wrapping the other arm around himself in an attempt to ward off the chill. The sunbeams, though undoubtedly bright, did little to warm the morning.
Trunks, what's wrong? Why are you in so much pain?
Quatre resolved that he would find out exactly why he could feel so much anger in the other boy. He would do his best to help.
As he stood in quiet contemplation, tiny cold flakes again began to fall.
A while later, Quatre showered and dressed, having resolved what he intended to do about their visitor. He opened his bedroom door and was not surprised to find Trowa standing, arms folded and leaning against the banister. "Good morning Trowa." Trowa looked directly at the golden-haired boy. "Quatre, are you okay?" he asked, searching his friend's face for any sign of what was bothering him.
"I'm okay Trowa," he replied. Seeing the disbelief on the taller boy's face he added, "I couldn't sleep last night; I'm overtired." This response seemed to satisfy the green-eyed pilot and they both proceeded downstairs for breakfast. Walking in to the dining room, they saw Wufei, sitting with Trunks.
"Good morning," Trunks greeted the pair. Wufei merely inclined his head.
"Good morning," Trowa replied politely. He looked over at Quatre, who had taken his usual seat at the breakfast table, looking deep in thought. "Quatre?"
The Arab looked up, opening his blue more widely and seeming to focus more clearly on his surroundings. He smiled reassuringly at Trowa and then spoke, directing his question at their guest. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you. I was just telling Wufei that I feel completely refreshed and ready for our duel," Trunks said breaking into a half-grin.
Refreshed? Quatre didn't think so. He'd been up half the night struggling with the inner turmoil and the continuous stream of hazy thoughts that plagued the boy's mind. He'd been relieved when Trunks had finally fallen asleep.
"A duel? What's going on," asked a female voice wryly.
"Good morning Relena, Hilde, Duo," Quatre greeted his friends.
"Hey Quatre," Duo replied.
"Morning," Hilde smiled.
"Good morning," Relena added. Then with a toss of her hair she asked again, "What's this about a duel?"
Wufei grunted. "Our guest and I have plans to duel."
"Why?" she asked curiously.
"I need a challenge and Trunks seems to be at an appropriate level as a training partner."
"Hm," Relena murmured. "This could be interesting." Sitting down she said, "Do either of you have any great objection to my watching your duel?"
"I don't mind," Trunks said warmly. Relena flashed him a smile.
"It's not a spectator sport," Wufei said indignantly.
"What's wrong Wufei?" Duo said. "Scared you'll lose?"
"Of course not," he shot back. "When matched against a superior opponent, even defeat has its rewards."
"Well said," Trowa murmured.
"Well then, it doesn't matter if we watch, does it?" Duo said calmly. He reached for a fruit pastry. "Are you going to watch this with Relena and me, Hilde?"
"Sure, love to." She smiled and added, "Maybe you could have a go yourself."
"Me with a sword?" Duo asked grinning. "No thanks, I'll stick to a scythe."
The door opened then and they all looked up to see Heero walk in.
"Hey Heero, you're up late aren't ya?" Duo said impudently.
Heero looked over at him. "Hn." He sat at the table. "I went back to the area with the light flash to see if Trowa and I had missed anything. The snowfall was heavy last night. There's no evidence of that strange thaw."
"Did you find anything else Heero?" Trowa asked.
"Nothing out of the ordinary. I'm going back in a while."
"I'll come with you."
"I think I'll join you," Quatre said. Heero nodded his agreement.
"Heero," Relena said then. "Wufei and Trunks are going to duel after breakfast." Heero looked mildly interested. "Would you like to come and watch with the rest of us?"
He shook his head. "Sorry Relena, but I have a few things to take care of."
"Oh come on Heero! Take a minute to relax," Duo moaned. "You're so wound-up you make my teeth hurt."
"No, Duo." He got up and left the room once more. Duo immediately followed him. He watched as Heero opened the massive front door and walked outside; he left the door open. Duo walked through the doorway and pulled it closed behind him. Heero was standing at the top of the driveway, arms folded. Duo stopped next to him. They stood in silence for a few minutes.
"Well?" Heero prompted.
"What's your problem?" Duo said.
"I don't have a problem."
"I think you do. You know, I really thought you'd changed. But you're still the same as you always were. Miserable, irritable and too damn focused on one thing to notice anything else."
Heero said nothing. He merely watched Duo, an indecipherable expression on his face.
"You really should spend some time with her, you know?" Duo sighed as Heero walked away. "You'll regret it if you don't."
* * *
Duo followed the others towards the back of the house, outside to the immense floral gardens. From the corner of his eye, he saw Heero standing in close proximity to Relena. He smiled. Heero caught his look and smirked back. Duo shook his head, muttering quietly to himself. He never knew how Heero was going to respond to anything.
Trunks looked over at Wufei. The Chinese had raised his katana in salute; his face held a look of intense concentration. Trunks gave his own salute, inclining his head, all the time keeping his eyes on his opponent. His blade gave a steely ring as it came sliding out of its scabbard. Their eyes locked, and Wufei lunged.
* * *
Bulma looked at her computer screen silently. She didn't know what to do. She had no idea where her son was, whether or not he was okay, or if he was even coming back. She wanted to cry. But the tears wouldn't come.
* * *
Trunks knew that he could end the fight almost immediately. He also knew that he wouldn't. He could tell that Wufei was regarded as a highly skilled swordsman; he had already realised that if he defeated Wufei too easily, everybody would become suspicious. It was obvious that Saiyans did not exist in this place; they would have much difficulty in accepting his differences.
I'm can't let them find out... He grinned inwardly. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna lose either.
He looks distracted, Wufei thought, watching Trunks carefully. So, he thinks he can beat me without paying attention .His eyes narrowed. Suddenly, he changed the direction of his sword arm mid-swipe, attempting to catch the demi-saiyan off guard. To his surprise, the blow was countered easily, almost effortlessly. Wufei stumbled backward. It's like he can read my mind! Nobody's reflexes are that fast! Wufei managed to keep his disbelief from being read in his expression; no one noticed. Except for a certain Japanese pilot, who had been thinking exactly the same thing.
Wufei flipped backwards, trying to regain his footing, but Trunks wasn't going to allow it. He pushed forward immediately, trying to use Wufei's slip to his advantage. Wufei parried Trunks' next blow but the Saiyan had been counting on that. While Wufei was still caught up with blocking, Trunks twisted his blade slightly, jerking Wufei's own sword from his grasp. The sword was swept upward, landing point-first in the middle of Relena's yellow roses.
"Wow!" exclaimed Duo enthusiastically. "That was great."
"Indeed," said Wufei. He bowed to Trunks. "That was a most remarkable display."
"Thank you," Trunks replied.
"I will train harder," Wufei declared. "One day I will ask you for a rematch, so you'd better not stop training in the meantime."
"And I'll be only too happy to comply," Trunks replied, a little of his natural cockiness returning.
"Well done."
Five heads snapped round. Even Trowa's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Thank you," Trunks said again simply. Heero inclined his head, whispered momentarily to Relena, causing her to giggle, and left the room. Quatre stood silently, a look of concentration on his face.
"Quatre?" Trowa said then. Quatre didn't reply. He had been trying, was still trying, to tap into Trunks' thoughts. He had reasoned that the duel would be the best time, as Trunks would let his mental guard down since he would be concentrating on the ensuing fight. So far, all he had been able to come up with was the image of a pretty blue-haired woman, her arms wrapped around a little boy with lilac hair.
That's Trunks… and his mother.
Trowa tried again. "Quatre?" he repeated, louder this time. Quatre broke out of his reverie to see Relena, Hilde, Trowa and Duo looking at him concernedly.
"Hey Quatre, you okay?" Duo asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, just a little tired," Quatre replied quickly.
"Um okay, if you're sure."
Everyone then filed slowly out of the room, leaving Wufei to retrieve his sword from the roses. Inside, Trowa sat down next to Heero. "Are we going?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Quatre," called Trowa. "You coming?"
"Yeah sure, be right with you," Quatre said.
I'm still no closer to getting any answers from Trunks. Maybe I should just ask him.
It was with this in mind that Quatre joined Trowa and Heero outside.