LONG VACATION

By : angelofvenusl3

CHAPTER NINE

Several days passed by like a breeze for both of them, although not without the occasional arguments about their present status as a betrothed couple. Quatre had tried to talk to her numerous time about the marital contract, with every intention to persuade her relentlessly until she agreed to disagree with the upcoming marriage but the conversation was very brief and Minako never seemed to take it seriously either so the outcome was pretty much the same as before. As much as Quatre loved to press on the matter, he couldn't possibly keep track of their encounters and juggle his business dealings at the same time, not even the skills and abilities he acquired from being a Gundam pilot could assist him in this. So knowing that it was futile to argue at this point where Minako was completely bent on her decision, he decided to devote his time to his work for now. Though one thing was for sure, he was not giving up just yet and beneath his silent treatment, he began forming various schemes that could possibly contribute in his attempt to break the contract.

Minako, on the other hand, grew very uncomfortable when the subject of the contract was brought up. Given the fact that Caroline had not informed her the intimate details of the contents, she was not able to discuss their position properly so instead, she chose either to joke about it, playing about with Quatre's words until she confused the poor man (and sometimes herself because she had the tendency to babble when she was nervous), or avoid the subject, which she decided to sum up by avoiding Quatre altogether. Though it proved to be much easier now when Quatre had all of a sudden decided to stuff himself in the office twenty four seven. Vowing to make the best out of each day of her vacation while she still had the chance, she spent most of her time at the city with some of Quatre's personal assistants. Although she preferred to spend some time alone, she was still unaccustomed to the city and was clearly unready to go out without an escort to guide her way.

There were times when Minako longed for Quatre's company, always very tempted to drop by his office for lunch or 'accidentally' stroll into his study after dinner but she was afraid that would provoke any forms of disagreement from the blonde man for bothering his work. As disturbed as she was by the thought, she could not deny he resented her presence anywhere near him. So she resolved to stay out of his way and try to enjoy herself as much as possible. Her daily involvement in shopping sprees and random tours had managed to distract her and thus, she was not aware of the severity of Quatre's condition due to the long working hours he inflicted upon himself.

However, one night, when Minako woke up to get a drink, she caught sight of the slender light beneath the door to the study. Pondering over it, she turned the knob slowly and very gently as though the faintest creak would alert the servants and poke her head in. She was startled to find Quatre's form crumpled over the desk, his head was resting in his folded arms and turned slightly sideways so she could see that he was asleep. Papers, files and various documents were scattered all over his desk and the computer screen was still bright, displaying various figures and details that were on its way into completion. Quatre's breathing was soft but his features were clearly contorted in a frown, which hardened his subtle image and made him seemed older than his age. His blonde hair was tousled and there were lines of fatigues etched on his forehead, indicating the pressure of the burdens that was placed on his shoulders.

His appearance was so sordid that Minako couldn't possibly close the door back and simply walk away. When her hand reached out to touch his shoulder, a sense of melancholy suddenly washed over her and her movement stopped abruptly at the sensation. A further close-up of his appearance provided her enough detail to study his mental state and it ached her at this discovery. With the lack of confidence that was usually presented in his demeanor and the physical trait that no longer portrayed the young, powerful entrepreneur who had conquered most of his rivals, he seemed very weak and vulnerable.

She was horrified that Quatre would go to the extent of neglecting his health, which she was very certain was not in as good a condition as it should be. It made sense though, she decided wistfully as her hand reached out to stroke his hair. These days Quatre did not present himself at dinner even when he was at home. Until now, it never occurred to her he had been overexerting himself and she felt a little guilty for her own ignorance. She pondered whether the servants were aware of this, because none of them had told her of his predicament nor appeared concerned enough that would alert her own senses. Another disturbing thought toyed with her mind. Has he always been like this? So absorbed in his world of business dealings and intricate projects that he was not aware of anything else? He was no perfectionist but there was a definite streak in him that always needed everything to be in order. In a political world surrounded by uncertainties and shrouded webs of deceit, one needed to have everything in control in order to survive and that was apparently what Quatre seemed to be doing. Minako understood that, having spent most of her life being acquainted with government and royal figures. Yet she still could not find any reasons good enough to justify his present state.

Sighing, Minako turned to leave until she caught sight of something vibrant at the corner of her eye. What she found triggered something in her heart and instinctively she knew what it was and immediately understood why he savored it, prompting a faint smile to grace her features. Her heart softened at the realization as something inside her began to stir.

There, at the corner of his desk, nestled in a crystal vase, was the rose which she had given him in Venus.

Quatre woke up to the sound of birds chirping. Through his half-lidded gaze, he could see the amount of unfinished work scattered across his desk and he detected the familiar surrounding of his study. His body weighted like lead, his bones ached from the long hours he had spent last night and he felt very reluctant to rise. Yet not knowing why, he felt warmth enveloping him in a comforting manner, and there was a faint scent of peaches lingering around him that was so drugging, his body was simply content with this position and despite knowing his tardiness would eventually cost him, he made no attempt to move.

Pondering over this sensation for awhile, he finally lifted his eyelids just enough to acknowledge that he was wrapped in an orange blanket. As far as he remembered, he had never purchased blanket of this sort and he tried to drag himself up to study the material. However he was so intoxicated by the fragrance and still groggy from his sleep, he could not inspect it properly and only managed to confirm that it wasn't his. Yet he couldn't be bothered to figure out from who. Almost immediately, he drifted off into a deep slumber, wrapped with the lingering warmth of her scent.

"So it's not uncommon? He's always like this?" Minako inquired in disbelief as she spread some butter on her toast.

Lyon's normally stiff figure was shifting uncomfortably as she drilled him about Quatre's predicament. "Well, it certainly did not come as a surprise to us here. He has always been very busy and none of us wish to disturb him …"

"That's ridiculous," Minako remarked in disgust, taking a careful bite out of her toast. "He may be a former Gundam pilot but he doesn't seem to be able to handle his job as well as being a pilot. His health could be terribly affected by this. Aren't you at all concern about your own employer?"
"Do not accuse us of being unconcerned when you do not know any better," Lyon pressed firmly, his features twisted in an angry scowl at her comment. "I've known the Master since he was small and nothing means more to me than his good health. Where my duty is concerned, I've taken every measure, within my powers, to ensure that he is well treated and taken care of."

Minako sighed as she lowered her toast to the plate. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend you. But as you can clearly see, I'm worry about him, too."

"As you should be," Lyon said softly, his features slowly softening, much to Minako's relief. "We are well aware of his condition. Not just the household but even his close friends had tried to advice him. Yet the Master was very persistent about his work, so there is very little we can do to convince him otherwise."

"Perhaps I can drop by his work and invite him for a picnic lunch or …."

"Miss Calvert, I'm afraid that is not possible," Lyon intruded, shaking his head. "He does not appreciate this sort of surprises, even if he did plan to have any lunch on that particular day."

Minako smirked. "But he's not one to show his disapproval towards an invitation, is he?"

"Yes but he is one to decline an unwanted invitation and will relentlessly stand by his decision." Lyon hesitated as Minako looked thoughtful, then he added with caution, "Miss Calvert, in my honest opinion, it is better that you leave him as he is."

Minako's heart jumped at such suggestion but she maintained a calm and dignified expression. "Why do you say so?" she inquired quietly, although she suspected the answer.

Much to her surprise, Lyon's voice was more sympathetic than scorn, "You know why, Miss Calvert. I may not fully comprehend the issues between you and Master Winner but it is no secret that both of you are not entirely keen with one another. It did make some of us wonder why you are very persistent of this marriage, though I am not about to question your motive. But I am going to plea for your favor, leave him be as he is already facing enough difficulties balancing his schedules. A marriage is clearly unnecessary and it will only be an added burden for him, if not already."

"You sound quite certain he will be unhappy with this marriage," Minako pointed out, forgetting momentarily of her position.

"He is already unhappy with the sudden reconciliation with a fiancée he did not know exist," Lyon answered impassively but with shocking conviction that Minako was slightly taken aback. "And I have no doubt it will intensify if the marriage takes place. Please do not misunderstand, Miss Calvert, we appreciate your concern for our Master but I am afraid whatever measures you have taken to assist him, will not be at all successful and even worst if it backfires." There was a tensed silence as Minako's gaze lowered to her plate of half eaten breakfast. She hesitantly reached out for the cup of coffee in an attempt to conceal the growing confusion that might had aroused. Thinking she had finally shared his revelation, Lyon proceeded in a softer tone, "I can tell you do not want this anymore than he does. Please do not sacrifice both of your happiness for a marriage that only seem so convenience at this time. It may not be so in the future. At least speak to him about it until both of you reach an agreement. That is the only thing that can prove to have the most success in easing his troubles. And it is the only thing you alone can accomplish."

Minako stared thoughtfully at the cup in her hand. "The only agreement he seek is a permanent release from the contract which I myself am obligated to follow and have no intention of breaking it. A contract is still a contract and as you implied earlier, I have no intention of breaking it." She paused when it occurred to her she was as ignorant of the actual contents of the marital contract as Lyon was but she proceeded anyway, "And as you mention before and I do not mean to sound rude, it is not your place to intervene."

"Perhaps. However at this moment, my only concern is his well being. Your interference might cause him even more distress."

"That maybe so," Minako suddenly agreed in a lighthearted tone, which triggered Lyon's suspicion. "I will only be in his way, perhaps even to the extent of affecting his business affairs. If his friends had failed to advice him, I certainly have no such influence to convince him otherwise. After all, I am his unwanted fiancée who's partly responsible for his misery. I can be another reason why his health deteriorates and his business affair crumbles." Minako closed her eyes momentarily as precious memories of their time spent together in Venus and a brief recollection of the rose in his study flashed in her mind. When she finally opened her eyes, she shifted her gaze to Lyon and a reassuring smile graced her features, taking the butler by surprise. "Or I can be everything he need to remind him that life isn't base solely on careers."

Her conviction penetrated the butler's expression as his dignified features cracked and gave way into amazement. Minako didn't seem to notice this as she rose to her feet and gathered the plates and cup. He watched her in speculative silence as she made her way across the room and disappeared into the kitchen. Slowly, a vague smile of approval formed on his lips.

"Perhaps you can be …"

After three long, agonizing hours, Quatre finally approved the detailed proposal and signed his agreement. Thrilled that he had finally made a decision, he leaned back to stretch himself and sighed contently as he allowed a moment to revel in the soothing atmosphere of a beautiful Sunday afternoon. His eyes shifted to the floor-to-ceiling window behind him, exposing almost the entire view of his well-trimmed backyard which sprouted intricate pattern decorated with blossomed flowers of radiant colors. The scenery always provided some form of serenity and being a nature lover, he always made certain his garden was given an appropriate trimming every now and then and always appeared at its best. Although he wasn't around much to really appreciate the changes made or to supervise those particular changes, Lyon had took over the role for the elder man knew how much Quatre adored nature.

The household was quiet this morning, not an unusual occurrence. He could sense the servants' movement as they walked down the hallway outside. He wondered briefly where his fiancée had went to. He did not see her at breakfast nor was he informed of her whereabouts as the other servants were not even aware the young lady was missing. Perhaps scuttling around at the dark corners of the mansion, Lyon had suggested, for the young mistress seemed to develop an interest in exploring inner areas of this house. Quatre decided to grasp that notion, refusing to even consider other worrying possibilities. Frankly because, he didn't have the time to be fretting about his missing fiancée.

A soft knock on the door broke his reverie. Once Quatre permitted entry, Lyon entered stiffly and informed him the arrival of his head committees. A second later, three men in their mid-forties entered the room.

"I thank you all for coming at such a short notice," Quatre said with heavy courtesy, forcing a weary smile at the grim gentlemen seated across from him. "I am dreadfully sorry to call for a meeting on a lovely Sunday afternoon but I'm afraid there's been an incident that I must draw your immediate attention. Any later action would affect our progress with the ongoing project on Colony X13339."

As the discussion commenced, Quatre became engrossed with the task in hand and took on a solemn expression, one that he usually wore when he was dealing with business matters. He spoke with unusual calm and handled the issues with careful analysis, gaining immediate respect and strengthening the other men's confidence of his credibility. Despite Quatre's relaxed demeanor, the men noted the severity of the issue taking its toll on their president and the proof was from the concern lines etched on his features. They were not as alarmed though, having faced this sort of situation more than once and the atmosphere was always sizzling with tension, mostly asserted by the blonde man himself who had the tendency to make startling decisions which always produced astounding results.

A faint bubble of mirth drifted into the room, a welcoming change of air that was vaguely appreciated by the occupants. The men looked up from their documents, each wearing a distracted expression on their face as they glanced at each other. As though sensing their attention, the laughter died down almost immediately and dissolved into silence. When the men were about to resume back to their discussion, a sharp cry suddenly penetrated the silence, followed by collectives shrieks, giggles and laughter which were later punctuated with a loud 'splat'. Then, the round of giggles started again, this time even more louder as they yelled incoherently with joy and sheer excitement. Several more rounds of 'splat' were heard after that and it became increasingly difficult to ignore.

Disorientated and confused, Quatre turned to the window behind him and just when he was about to peer down, a flurry movement in blue hurled right in his direction. He cried out in surprise when it hit the window, the impact producing a flat 'bang' and sending splotches of liquid onto the glass. Quatre stared half in terror, half in bewilderment at the trailing water while the remnants of the objects stuck to the glass, which he later comprehended was a balloon.

"Mr. Winner!" one of the men exclaimed, raising to his feet in alarm when the 'attack' took place. "What was that? What's going on?"

Quatre gaped at the view below and he was taken aback to discover not only was his fiancée laughing and sporting several water-filled balloons in her arms but so were several of his servants and what surprised him the most for his unexpected visit, was Duo. All of them were either half soaked or completely drenched, laughing and running about while throwing their ammunition at one another. The shredded pieces of balloons littered around his garden and the entire lawn was suspiciously glinting brightly in the sun.

"What the …" another man trailed in indignation as he stepped over to the window. He squinted his eyes to get a clearer look. "Are those your servants? And …isn't that Calvert's daughter?"

"Seems to be quite a commotion down there …" another pointed out unnecessarily.

After he recovered from the shock, Quatre cleared his throat and muttered under his breath, "Excuse me, gentlemen." With that, he strode to the door.

"Cheap shot!" Duo exclaimed, shooting Minako an indignant look once he recovered from the aftermath of having a balloon thrown directly at his chest.

Minako giggled and dodged another hit while a distress Lyon looked on behind her, making sure to stay at a safe distance from the parties of the ensuing war. The war which she had instigated was getting even more merrier than she anticipated, thanks to Duo who had instantly pursued the opportunity to assist her. She had a hard time trying to convince the servants to join in the fun so instead of wasting her time trying to persuade them, she had launched into an all out war and started throwing water balloons at anyone wandering about in the garden to complete some chores. Duo's company only served to ensure that everyone had their share of fun, his laughter ringing in the air and his friendly nature making everyone at ease and relaxed enough to indulge in a harmless game without the fear of being reprimanded by their employer. It was indeed, quite a sight for there was never a merrier moment than this.

"Miss Calvert, don't you think this is a little too much?" Lyon asked, peering warily at the mess and frowning in disapproval at the servants who, after years of serving under the Winner family in a stiff, formal environment, had remarkably forgotten the rules of etiquette and currently laughing hysterically as another staff started throwing balloons at them.

"Nonsense," Minako replied, giving him a dismissive wave. "If anything, I think we need an even bigger attraction, like fire crackers or …."

"Miss Calvert, I understand what you are trying to do here …well, at least I think I do but is it necessary to involve the rest of the household?" Lyon asked exasperatedly, mentally assessing the amount of damages done to the garden.

"Oh, Lyon, loosen up," Duo suddenly exclaimed, giving the elder man a slap on his back. Lyon staggered forward before quickly regained his composure and gave Duo a dignified scowl. "It's not like we've committed a horrendous crime. We've done many stuff more perilous than this and some of them even involved the police."

"Yes, I'm very aware of those …unfortunate incidents," Lyon murmured, narrowing his eyes at Duo.

Duo chuckled. "Of course, I know I can trust you to contact them. You always got the numbers right. Those were the good times." His tone grew a little forlorn and his expression dimmed in nostalgic at the memories. "You know, the guys and I used to pull this kind of prank all the time. Well, actually, I was the one who usually pull it on them but we always had fun, albeit the occasional death threats and all. It's been less than two years back but it seem like such a long time ago. Somehow in that period, Quatre had changed quite a lot. Now he can't even take a joke. What's worst, he can't even seem to understand one. Sometimes I think even Trowa can make a far entertaining company than him."

Minako hesitated. "It can't be that bad."

"No, of course not," Duo quickly agreed, noting her concern. "But it's no secret that Quatre's been pushing himself harder than necessary to run his father's business. That kid is in some serious need of fun. I just hope this is a good enough distraction."

"Well, it seems like you've succeeded," Lyon's said distractedly as he gazed behind Duo. "Here he comes now."

Both Minako and Duo turned to find the blonde man trotting towards them, an inscrutable expression on his face but when he came closer, he appeared more preoccupied than upset.

"What is going on here?" Quatre asked, keeping his voice concealed from any hint of annoyance as his gaze swept across the garden. Then, his eyes rested at Duo. "Duo, I certainly didn't think you would be involved in this."

Duo rolled his eyes and said in exasperation, a half smile lifting the corner of his lips, "And hello to you, too, old friend. Just dropping by to check on you. It's always nice to be here."

Quatre flustered a little. "Gomen (Sorry)," he said apologetically. "It's just that …I'm currently having a meeting and you people are making so much noises we had to …"

Duo waved off Quatre's protest and slung an arm around his friend's shoulder. "Listen, Kat, I know the guys and I've been bugging you all week to take it easy and stuff. And you know we're doing that because, well, you might find this hard to believe but somewhere deep in our cold little hearts, we care for you. We understand how much your business means to you and we're cool with it, you know. But having a …a meeting on a beautiful Sunday afternoon totally cuts the cake and I'm afraid I have to interfere. Kat, what you really need is a …"

"Hey, Quatre!!"

Something smacked his back and he almost stumbled in the process. At first he thought it was a gunshot and he actually waited for the sharp pain to shoot through him. He was so stunned that it took him awhile to acknowledge the damp splotches on his back was actually water, not blood. He whirled around in dismay, after several attempts to calm his pounding heart and found Minako standing several feet away from him. Her melodic laughter floated in the air. Quatre was momentarily caught off guard by her display of infectious merriment. His heart softened involuntarily at this view. At this point, it seemed like another personality of hers began to surface, one that he was familiar with and he felt an immediate attraction to her.

All of a sudden, her movement became increasingly slow to him as he subconsciously memorized each fiber of her delicate features in this state. His breath was caught in his throat when she flicked her hair and flashed him a triumphant smile. Her long blonde hair was damp and glinting brightly under the sun as several tendrils clung to her back. Her skin was also damp and somehow seemed even softer and more delicate to touch. Her top clung to her body, outlining her curve that fit perfectly to a goddess and her denim shorts which was inappropriate for a sophisticated, high-class heiress to don, seemed to complement her figure and was tantalizing to the eye as it displayed her long, slender legs.

Snapping his thoughts and mentally shaking his head, Quatre managed to utter between his amazement and confusion, "C-Caroline, this is not the time to …"

"Aw, Quatre, you're so uptight!" Minako exclaimed, tinkling with laughter. "Loosen up a little."

"I am not uptight!" Quatre retorted indignantly. "All I'm saying is you're disrupting my meeting upstairs and I appreciate it if you tone it down a little."

Minako giggled, picking up one of the balloons and began tossing it in one hand. Her gesture was suspiciously smooth and casual. At that point, his body went stilled.

"Well, I'm sorry but your meeting will just have to wait until we run out of balloons."

She demonstrated her determination by assuming a stance that seemed a little too threatening than Quatre had preferred. She feigned a throw at him and when Quatre reacted by flinching, she grinned and her eyes narrowed slyly.

Quatre scowled, his eyes still trained at the balloon. "You wouldn't …" he whispered, half in horror.

Minako raised an eyebrow in amusement, then a slow, devilish smile crept to her lips and Quatre felt his heart quicken its pace. Strangely, not out of anxiety or dread …

"I would …" Her voice seemed to tease him and he was distracted by the glint in her eyes when she finally hurled the balloon at him. However, he wasn't distracted enough to not prepared for the attack. Equipped with speed and dexterity he acquired from his previous involvement in the war, he easily avoided the balloon which landed behind him and burst at the impact. Minako gasped and quickly made a break for it.

Quatre, all of a sudden felt an impulse to run after her and before he even realized it, he was already on the trail for his fiancée. At first he simply wanted to persuade her to end her childish game yet the atmosphere was so merrily infectious, he found himself a minute later armed with water balloons which he discovered scattering at the corner and aiming it at either Duo or his fiancée. Less than fifteen minutes later, his laughter echoed along with the others, ringing through the garden and drifting slowly into the study.

"Will you look at that …." One of the men uttered in amusement from the study as they watched the scene below. "Seeing him acting foolishly like this …makes it hard to believe that people actually cower behind him, doesn't it?"

"Amazing," his partner murmured thoughtfully. "And it's all because of Calvert's daughter. Well, I shouldn't be surprise. I always knew he would mellow down to the right woman someday."

"Thrusting a young lady into his life unexpectedly like this can be a good change for him," another man implied. "I find it rather interesting that four of his closest friends and sisters who he knew personally can hardly affect him to switch his disposition. This girl, to whom he's unwillingly betrothed, is a stranger and yet in less than ten minutes, she has managed to drag him off from work and indulge him in a childish activity which have never, if I recall correctly, appealed to him before."

The second laughed. "Well, if that's the case, then I'm convinced this lovely lady is certainly a keeper."

"I don't think it's really because of that woman," the first man disagreed lightheartedly. "The notion lies in who he really is. And all of us seem to have forgotten about that."

"What do you mean?"

The man paused as Quatre's laughter drifted into the room, instantly breaking the tension in the air. At that point, all three men were struck by the distinguished change in Quatre's demeanor.

A wry smile lifted the corner of the man's lips. "He's still a young boy."

About an hour later, the betrothed couple laid on the grass, trying to catch their breath. Their clothes were soaked, their hairs matted to their face and their damp skin glinting under the sun. Minako didn't plan for the game to get this far but she was so caught up with the fun, she had forgotten the actual purpose of conjuring such an event, though the result had been as what she anticipated. Shifting her gaze to where Quatre laid, she was satisfied to see him at ease. His cheeks were flushed and a faint smile graced his face, lighting up his entire features and it had the impact of enhancing his boyish charm. He looked so adorable Minako couldn't help admiring him, unconsciously memorizing his features and resisting the urge to brush the damp strand of hair from his face.

As his breathing finally steadied, Quatre had his attention fixed at the clear, blue sky. Somehow, he couldn't look away, struck by such soothing element that provided him the serenity he sought. Suddenly, the problems, the burdens he acquired over the previous years were banished from his mind and for that one moment, he was at peace, as though he was as carefree as he used to be when he was a child.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Quatre turned slightly sideway to find Minako next to him, gazing at the clear sky in open admiration. "Hai (Yes)," he murmured in uncertainty, momentarily spellbound by her beauty before he forced his gaze back to the sky. All of a sudden, he felt very conscious with her presence so close to him. There was an indescribable feeling descended upon him as this intimate moment they seemed to share reminded him of their time in Venus. The air lingering between them was familiar, pleasant and somewhat harmonious, as though the hostility and resentment that trailed their presences had dissipated completely.

There was that familiar warmth again, he noted in content as he closed his eyes to savor the sensation. The same comforting warmth which only her presence could radiate, the same warmth that he yearned to hold in his arms ever since he returned from Venus. And strangely enough, this solace came from the one person responsible for the added burden of his misery.

"Perhaps if you come out more often, you'll be able to enjoy a much beautiful scenery."

Quatre's eyes snapped open and he glanced at her in confusion. "Huh?"

Minako peered at him with a half smile. "The sky," she pointed out flatly. "You might find this hard to believe but there is a more beautiful view than this. If you have the time, I can show you where it is and I'm pretty sure you'll like it." Turning away, she added proudly, "It's amazing what you can find if you just look hard enough. When the car broke down last week, I'm sure Lyon have informed you about that, I stumbled upon this great place just a little bit outside the city. It's really beautiful, great if you're up for a night out and feel like you need to take a break from your work and all. If you want, I can show you where it is and …"

"That's alright," Quatre interrupted as he dragged himself to a sitting position. He didn't know why exactly he rejected her but there was something inside of him that refused to get too attached with her. Noticing the hurt look on her face, he quickly added, "I appreciate it but I'm afraid I won't have the time to spare."

The sparkles in her eyes dimmed at this comment. Instead of an angry remark which he expected, her expression softened to reveal her understanding and somewhat mixed with hints of sympathy for his disposition. Then, she lowered her gaze to the grass, staring at it blankly as she compiled her thoughts.

Thinking he had offended her terribly, he tried to conjure some jokes or witty remark to break the tension but nothing came to his mind and what alarmed him the most was his complete inability to think of anything funny or even remember the last time he heard a joke. "Caroline, please try to understand," he blurted out, his mind frantically searching for the appropriate words. "I have my hands quite tied up lately and it's not just about the empire. Our position doesn't exactly comply us to …"

"Tell me, Quatre," she spoke up all of a sudden, as though he had never spoken before. "What color is that?" She pointed to a row of neatly trimmed bushes in the distance. Quatre squinted his eyes to get a clearer view. He could make out tiny sprouts of something fluffy in pastel among the bushes but they were too far for him to confirm. "What color is it?" she repeated, staring at him expectantly.

"I can't make out the colors," Quatre reluctantly admitted, silently wondering why was it any importance or even relevance to their present topic. "I can't even tell what kind of flowers they are. White? Pink? Is it pink?"

"Perhaps I should ask you something simpler," Minako exclaimed with an air of arrogance he came to recognize fairly well. She motioned her head to the sky. "Now tell me, what do you see?"

Offended yet equally curios at this game, he answered her without even glancing at the sky. "The sky. It's cloudless."

"And?"

"It's blue."

"And?"

Quatre frowned. "Without going into details the scientific explanation as to how it became as such, it is cloudless and a beautiful shade of blue."

Minako had a thoughtful expression on her face. "It is beautiful," she agreed, a sad smile touched her lips. "And it's no wonder you're drawn to it, Quatre. At first I find it interesting that a complex fellow like yourself would be impressed with a simple blank scenery." She turned away from his probing gaze to peer at the sky. "Then, I realize why. Even when you arrange your answer, it only serve to emphasize your thoughts, what you really think about your life." She chuckled bitterly. "Cloudless? Empty is more like it. Isn't that right, Quatre?" He didn't answer her. Instead, his features were frozen, rigidly controlled so any reaction was kept at a bare minimum while his mind raced frantically at the revelation. "No matter how far you exceed people's expectation or no matter how much you accomplished in these past years, you don't feel it's enough. No matter how skillful or highly knowledgeable you are, it never satisfy you. That's why you keep pushing yourself to stretch your limits."

"Because it is highly expected," he retorted indignantly. "It is highly expected when you're in the position as the heir of an empire. It's my responsibility, I have people relying on me and I cannot let them down."

Something in his words triggered her own conscience and for that fleeting second, the realization of her royal duties hit her. "Spoken like a puppet," Minako muttered sardonically, turning away to shake her head. "I never thought the war could have done so much damage on a person."

"You'd be surprise, Caroline," Quatre replied calmly, concealing the hurt behind his cool façade. "Compare with most, I am considered fortunate under these circumstances. And that's all the more reason to remain where I am today. I was raised in an environment where conflicting ideals and battles were common, situations which I can't control. I was always in a helpless position and it came to some point, that I was convinced of my own weaknesses. By monitoring the empire …."

"By monitoring the empire, you obtain at least some degree of control," Minako hastily finished for him. "At least I understand where that nature of yours derived from. But it's the responsibility that burdens you. Don't you ever feel the need to let go of it all, at least just for a day? People will always expect more than what you can give and you keep on giving until eventually one day, you'll burn out."

The corner of his lips lifted in the right combination of understanding and amusement as his eyes fastened her with empathy. In a fleeting second, Minako had a terrifying feeling that he could see right through her disguise. But despite it all, she needed his answer, perhaps to justify many of her selfish actions and also, to understand him better.

"My only concern is giving what I can. Of course I'll work hard to reach their expectations but I know my limits. I know what I am, what I'm capable and incapable of doing. But the fact remains, there are people who rely on you and you have to acknowledge that at some point. The only difference that distinguish one person from another is how they acknowledge it and the consequences derive from it."

Somewhere in his speech, he had discreetly reversed their position, stripping away her defenses and exposing her true nature. Minako felt the knot in her stomach tightened as she thought about her state and quickly dismissed those unpleasant sensation. "But we're still kids," she said stubbornly, unconsciously giving him hints that her sudden outburst had stemmed from personal experience. "It's bad enough that our childhood is spent learning how to shoulder burden of a whole planet …I mean, the burden acquired from the war. But to be deprived completely from your prerogatives in favour of those responsibilities, that's really too much! We're still kids. People should acknowledge that."

"They do, I'm sure," Quatre replied with a chuckle. "That's why they keep telling me to take it easy and plan many devious schemes to trick me into it, like launching an all-out water balloon war in the middle of my lawn." Minako suddenly blushed at that statement. "I have to admit, I had fun. But I'm also inclined to remind myself that there are more things in life than simply having fun. Like responsibilities to the people you care about."

Minako frowned. "So you work your heart out for the sake of others?"

Quatre thought about her question, then he shrugged. "If you insist on putting it that way, then yes, I suppose so."

Minako nodded in understanding, staring thoughtfully as she tried to conceive what she understood so far. "So, if helping others is what you're so passionate about, then why do you still feel empty?"

His body tensed as her words struck him. He turned to her in uncertainty and bewilderment. She didn't seem to be mocking or sneering at him, as he expected. She seemed merely curios and …puzzled. The fact that she appeared empathic towards his situation was ….strange, for lacked of better word and at that point, he couldn't quite react. He was rendered speechless and too astonished to reply.

"Master Winner."

Almost jumping in surprise, the couple whirled behind them to see Lyon standing in his usual stiff and excessive courteous manner. "Forgive me for interrupting but I am inclined to remind you of your current meeting with the board members. They are getting a little restless and request your immediate return, if that is possible."

Mentally kicking himself for forgetting such an important affair, he instructed Lyon to inform them he would be returning shortly after he changed into something more presentable and dry. Then regarding Minako with a weak smile, he said, "Please excuse me."

AN : Thank you for those of you who have reviewed the previous chapters. I hope this chapter isn't going too slow in the romance department but I promise, their relationship will pick up somewhere in the upcoming chapter. Hope you guys enjoy this one