Author's note: Thanks everyone for the reviews! They were really appreciated, and I changed some bits and pieces of chapter one (plus the spelling mistakes I picked up) since I realized one of my mistakes, thanks to a reviewer who pointed it out :glomps:

This chapter isn't really as eventful as the first but, enjoy! Now, onto the reviewer responses!

Okay enough pish-posh and on with the next chapter of…

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Shades of Sunshine

By: Lost-Remembrance (Red Tail)

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Chapter Two:

Tea Leaves and Troubles

Heero had his eyes closed and the aura around him was filled with silence and serenity as he gently sipped from his tea cup, thankful that earth had at least that much. He opened his eyes to look at Duo Maxwell, who looked rather downcast at the moment. Heero felt himself somewhat guilty, knowing that it was their fault they were stuck here in his sister's house.

"Heero?" The brunette looked up and blinked upon hearing his name and stared at the man he was 'connected' to for…a very, very long time. Ignoring the stare from the braided teen, he looked back down at his tea, the mist swirling around his fingers.

He chose the moment of silence to then speak, "I'm sorry." Duo tilted his head in a curious manner. "It's my fault you were disowned from your dwelling." To his surprise, Duo laughed and Heero blinked, his turn to be confused.

"It's all right, man!" He clapped Heero on the shoulder, getting a slight tensing of his muscles before the younger boy (or, at least he looked younger) relaxed with him so close.

Mentally, Heero sighed as he knew that he would have to get used to the constant talk of Duo. His wish was rather specific, the reason why they were kicked out of the complex.

"We can't allow people that have no record in the school to stay in the same dorm with us!" Trowa crossed his arms, hating to do this to his friends but not risking to break the rules and get them all caught and kicked off on campus.

His emerald eyes showed his regret towards his friend. Too bad Duo was in such an outrage to notice that.

Duo looked like he was about to protest as Heero stared at the strange people in a curious manner, looking at the Chinese one who stared back at him in turn, with a slight blush to his cheeks and smudges of oil on him also.

"B-but! You can't kick me out!" Duo protested as he and Heero were dragged from the dorm, boxes of his stuff following as they were, quite literally, thrown from the room and house.

Duo sighed heavily, looking at his boxes before he looked back at Heero with a what looked like forced smirk on his face, offering his hand to the oddly dressed teen who blinked at the brash manner of what he assumed Duo's friends to be.

"Don't worry, we'll find a place to stay." So, they piled up the stuff as best as they could onto the motorcycle with a side-car in it, Heero holding some boxes as they took off down the street after everything was tied down.

"This place is cheap enough!" Duo proudly showed Heero a picture of a rather large, if a little run down, building that had a low rent and plenty of space. It was also within a reasonable distance of the campus, which made it good enough for Duo.

"It looks lovely." Heero looked at the picture, scrutinizing it as he looked at the detail of the black and white photo. Why would it be so cheap when the other's weren't.

"Let's go then!" Duo eagerly grabbed Heero's hand and they took off towards the direction Heero looking at the trees and birds along the way with a smile on his face. He had to admit, it was quite fun riding in Duo's metal contraption that hummed with joy every time Duo rode it.

He serenely closed his eyes, his spirits lifting. Maybe it wasn't so bad as he thought after all, though he was sure to get an earache after listening to the insane chatter of Duo, who seemed to have a rather large daily word count.

The contraption jerked to a halt, which brought Heero out of his musings as he looked up as Duo announced, "We're here!"

"Uh…" The realtor looked at the two teens as he wondered what business they would have with the haunted apartment he had been working on months to sell. He looked at them, noting that one of the boy's had a rather long braid of chestnut hair and purple eyes and the odd state of apparel for the short-haired one and the earrings?

He must have been behind in times for teens and their weird trends. He shook his head in exasperation.

"Yo!" He looked up at the braided one that raced up to him, looking by all means like he was going to run over him before screeching to a abrupt halt, keeping his balance at the same time, and grinned widely.

"Hello?"

Heero jogged up, the tight pull on his body dragging him close to Duo before he felt the pressure weaken. He sagged his shoulder's in relief. The first thirty minutes of the spell were the strongest, having the most energy in them before they loosened and allowed more freedom.

He bowed before the elder man, "Hello." He greeted, bowing his head as he smiled slightly. Hopefully, they would be able to get this house that Duo was hoping for.

"Uh…we were looking for a place to stay and found this," Duo took the newspaper and held up the circled location in the advertisement's section, pointing to it, "And wanted to check out the location if it's still up?"

The elder man laughed, "Of course it is! It's been up for month's!" He wouldn't let out a sigh of relief until it was a done deal.

"Great!" Duo cheered, raising his hand to punch the air with a grin on his heart-shaped face. He coughed, looking back at the elder man who looked at him with a small smile at Duo's antics.

"Can we check it out?"

"Of course, it's this way." Gesturing with his hands, Heero walked forward first as he looked around, smiling when he saw the trees and small courtyard with flowers that needed tending and care.

They stepped into the house and looked around, the realtor explaining certain points to the house and the cost of the rent.

"Wow!" Duo whistled, "Why is the rent so low?"

The man hesitated, something Heero picked up on. "There's some…" he paused, as if trying to figure out the best way to word it, "…supernatural activity in this house."

Heero looked at the door leading to the basement, eyeing it before walking towards it, silently opening the door and closing it as he made his way down the stairs.

"Cool!" He heard Duo shout. He chuckled lightly, he should have assumed that Duo would like ghouls and demons, judging from his clothing but his cheery disposition was what tricked many.

He wandered down until he felt the cool dampness of the air hit him and his bare feet hit soil. His anklets jingled as he stepped forward some more towards some pipes, which he gingerly touched. Mist began to form around the old pipes and Heero stepped back.

"Who goes there?"

"So I was right." He crossed his arms and waited for the 'supernatural' being to take it's form, revelaing a person dressed in blue toga-like robes.

The spirit raised it's eye brow, looking at Heero as he eyed him up and down. "A 'Goddess'?" Heero nodded his head and offered a small 'yes' in response.

"Why are you at my abode?"

"Why are you scaring off people?" Heero returned softly, looking at the spiri who lowered his head and slouched his shoulders. Pointing off to one of the pipes, the spirit sighed heavily.

"The people last time hired a priest who assumed I was a demon haunting the shrine—" ,Heero walked over to the part where the spirit was now pointing to. Old sutra seals were placed on some of the pipes.

"—And you can't rest with them on?"

"Yes." Heero reached forward and ignored the crackling feeling and burning of his flesh and ripped them off of the pipes, a hissing emitting.

"Ah!" The spirit's eyes brightened and the dark feeling Heero was picking up vanished as he closed his eyes and felt the sutra's burn and crumble up in his hands, disappearing. "Thank you so much!"

Heero turned and smiled, bowing his head. "You're welcome." He walked over towards the stairs and began to climb them when he heard the spirit call back up towards him.

"Are you purchasing this house?" It called. Heero turned and faced the water spirit, nodding his head, "I believe so."

"Great!" Clapping his hands, he added, "I shall make sure no harm comes to this house while you are roofed under it!" Heero gave a smile in appreciation and turned once more, making his way back up the stairs.

As he opened the door silently, he closed it and was about to turn to find Duo, until he was stunned to silence when arms encircled him from behind.

"Guess what, Hee-chan!" Heero raised his eyebrow, confused at the name. "We got the house!" He hopped up and down happily, proceeding to glomp the life out of hid new friend.

Heero smiled, making Duo's heart melt before he shook his head to clear his mind. "Great!" The Japanese youth merrily added, "The spirit in this house said that he would protect us as long as we are housed here."

"Aw…" Duo pouted, "I was all for some spooky stuff!" Heero laughed lightly. For some reason, when Heero laughed, Duo wanted to make the Japanese 'Goddess' laugh more.

"So…should we get unpacked?" Heero nodded as he walked outside and went for the tea cups and tea pot. He walked back inside and smiled at the confused look Duo gave him as he carried in some boxes and put them on the floor.

"Celebrate?" Duo laughed and took the cup from Heero who sipped his gently. Duo blushed when he found himself staring at the small Japanese once more. Sure he was pretty and everything, but…

He jerked his eyes back up suddenly when he felt a light touch brush against his forehead. He saw Heero leaning towards him, hand on forehead. "Your cheeks are red. Are you sick?" Duo laughed nervously.

"No, I'm fine." He took Heero's hand in his own. "Thanks for worrying though." Heero nodded.

A pregnant silence fell over the two of them as Duo still held Heero's hand in his own, earning a blush from the two of them.

Duo was sure that his friends would be laughing their asses off if they saw him, speechless for once in his life. Hell, he even talked to the machine's he worked on, somehow feeling that they could hear him.

Clearing his throat, he smiled at the innocent Heero who just tilted his head back at him in a cute manner. "How 'bout we get those futon's out?"

TBC