Just a Shadow
Disclaimer: - I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters!
Chapter 9: More Company, Cinema and Chinese
Thank you so much to all who reviewed!
Yaeko: When you said 'send me the updates', did you mean send you the document or the email that lets you know when I've updated? Your email address didn't come up when you wrote it because for some reason doesn't allow it. Thanks for the review; I'm glad you're liking the fic!
El Terrible Fizzy: You could be right, and you're definitely right about the fact that Relena not calling Heero 'Yuy'. I hope you like this chapter!
Silversilence0: It makes me really happy to know people are really into this fic! I will be going over what happened, but all in good time my friend! Be patient and all shall be revealed!
Lisa Joanna: As requested, here is the update! I hope you like it!
Ms Son: I tried for a while to give shout outs on my other fics, but I was just getting too many reviews! I know that cliff-hanger was evil, but what can I say? It brings in the reviews! Don't worry though, unlike on my DBZ fics, I'm not quite as evil and here is the next chapter! As I said before, it all depends on how fast I get reviews!
EquineAngel: What can I say? You completely and utterly made my day! I was grinning from ear to ear! You're very welcome to join the circle of reviewers for this fic! The more the merrier I say! I apologise for the typos, but I spent the last 4 years typing on a pc keyboard and now I have a laptop the transition am kind of hard, I run spell check, but it doesn't always fix everything!
I think the transition between past and present is one of my main strengths in this fic, but it's getting a little bit confusing as the chapters go on, I'll try to keep it as simple as possible though. It makes me so happy to know how much my writing affects people. A couple of chapters ago I was ready to give up on this fic, but for the reviewers like you kept on going and now I know it was well worth it.
I tend to have an ability to create the evilest cliff-hangers when I want to, but hopefully the result in the next chapters doesn't disappoint and I never keep my reviewers waiting too long for an update. You're the second person who thought it was going to be Relena in this chapter and then changed your mind. You also put across the same argument as to why it wouldn't be her. I don't really mind Relena in fics, you see I like both Relena/Heero and Duo/Heero. I was thinking about doing a couples vote.
I'll be honest with you and say I completely forgot to put why Heero cries in the chapter! I just got into the story line and forgot! It will be in the fic at some point, I just need to find the right spot! Thanks for the great idea of explaining how Heero learnt his emotions; I might just use that idea to bring along the story line. Maybe he could learn love in the end, but with who I haven't decided yet … maybe there will be no pairings? It depends on what the readers want. As for the accident and why the pilots left, that will be explained in a later chapter, I have it planned out in my head, so don't worry too much, it will be revealed. I must make a point though, they promised to come back ad stay after they had quit their jobs in 1 – 2 years, that's why they are all back now. Then they were only on a month's vacation.
The accident for now is a secret, but it too will be explained, I'm not giving anything away other than saying it happened in an airport. All of the answers to your questions about the 'accident' will come eventually. I'm so happy you liked the flashbacks, I thought I was making Heero too OOC, but obviously you like it. I thought it would be sweet for Heero to remember the names of the pilots, so I'm glad you liked that too.
Unfortunately, Heero will need the machine to make a full recovery and repair his mind as explained in the 'elastic band' explanation; he will be making a lot more progress though. So far I have managed to write up to chapter 10 and I think you will like that chapter. I think that his friends helping him heal is sweet too and they do bring him a long way.
Don't worry I don't plan on ending the fic so soon. We still have a months activities and the accident to explain! I had though about how Heero would feel when/if he gets better and so far I haven't decided if he will remember it, but I think he will.
I look forward to another review from you. I had tons of fun reading this one. It was the longest review I ever received! Thanks so much! This chapter is dedicated to you! I hope I managed to answer al of your questions!
Krage: You know, you might not believe this, but when I started this fic there was supposed to be NO humour, but I guess I just can't manage to write a fic without humour! I'm glad you liked it! I also liked the part where Trowa almost swore. I thought it would be funny and I guess it was! Thanks for reviewing!
Armygundamgirl: Nobody's ever called one of my fics awesome before! Thanks! I've got lots of different kinds of compliments, but ever awesome :huge grin:. I know I was mean leaving it there, but I updated quickly! Thanks so much for your review!
Normal – Present day
Bold Italics – Past/Flashbacks
Normal Italics – Flashback whilst in the past
"Why do you want to see Heero?" Duo asked warily "I mean, it's not exactly like you two are the best of friends"
"I respect him and would like to know how he is doing" the man at the door replied
"Who's at the door Duo?" Quatre called from the lounge "Can you try and hurry? Heero's getting restless!"
"I'm on my way Quat!" Duo called, and then turned to the man standing in the doorway in front of him "Come in Zechs, but don't pull a face when you see Heero, he doesn't like it"
Zechs stepped into the large house and followed Duo to the lounge. Once there, the braided man quickly calmed Heero and made room for the lightning count.
Zechs glanced at Heero and then quickly turned away. Duo looked angry for a moment before sighing and taking a deep breath to calm himself.
"It's hard at first Zechs" he explained "But you're going to have to face him sometime"
Duo moved from his seat next to Heero and offered it to Zechs. The older man stared at the seat for a few seconds before slowly approaching and sitting down.
"How has he been doing?" he asked
"Actually" Duo replied smugly "He's been trying to talk to us!"
"Really?" the older man asked, obviously shocked "I thought the doctors said he wouldn't be able to"
"They did" Duo grinned "But you know how Heero loves to prove doctors wrong!"
Zechs smirked and turned to Duo.
"I respect you for what you've done Duo" he smirked "I don't think I could learn to live with Yuy after such a change in him"
"Thanks Zechs" Duo replied "I respect you for taking the time to come and see Heero before the operation – you could have easily waited for it to be over"
"Though I don't like to admit it" Zechs smiled "Yuy is somewhat of a friend to me"
"That's good to hear" Quatre smiled "But why do I have the feeling you didn't come alone?"
"I didn't" Zechs confirmed "Relena, Noin, Hilde, Sally, Lady Une and I have come for the week until the operation is over"
The pilots sat there gaping at their guest for a few seconds before Duo and Quatre broke into identical grins.
"That's great!" they bother shouted
"I think it will do Heero good" Trowa added
"Yuy seems to like company anyway – when will they be here?"
"They should be arriving within an hour or so – they said they wanted to go to the hotel first"
"What hotel are they staying at?" asked Duo
"I think it was called the 'ov air bouked'"
"Isn't that the hotel we were meant to stay at?" Quatre asked
"Yeah" Duo replied
"I'm glad we didn't though"
"I know man"
A small chuckle escaped Trowa's lips and Zechs turned towards the usually silent man.
"What's so funny?" he asked
"I think we had best prepare the spare bedroom and the sofa beds" Wufei smirked
"What do you mean?" Zechs asked
His only reply was light laughter as the men filed out of the room.
Heero gasped as he struggled to breathe from laughing so hard. They had just run for a good ten minutes from the police after the zoo keepers had informed the officers of their actions in the animal cages.
The pilots were all hiding in the cinema toilets, waiting for the officers to leave.
"At least we made it to the cinema!" Duo grinned "What good movies are on bud?"
"I don't know" Heero admitted "I tried going to the cinema a few times, but I didn't really enjoy it too much – I think it might have been because I went to see war films"
Duo gave Heero a long suffering look before he turned to the other men.
"How does comedy sound to you guys?"
Simultaneous nods was his reply, and so after waiting a further 10 minutes, just to make sure they were not being pursued any more, they left the toilets and bought their tickets.
During the film, it took a while for Heero to get into the mood, but once he started laughing, they couldn't stop him! In the end, Duo had to take Heero out of the room to calm down before he was thrown out for disturbing the other people.
"What the heck was that Heero?" Duo asked "Why were you being so loud?"
"I'm sorry Duo" Heero apologised "It's just that, since I'm still not used to expressing my emotions, I can't really control them very well"
"Really?"
"Duo, I cried when you guys said you'd stay with me!"
"Yeah, I guess you're right" Duo laughed
Duo and Heero waited until the movie was finished for the other pilots to come out rather than going back to watch the movie in case Heero lost control of his emotions again.
By the time the others came out of the cinema, it was early evening. Duo and Heero had taken the time they had alone to talk and catch up. They explained Heero's small emotion expression problem which resulted in a few small laughs and then headed out.
"Where are you taking us Yuy?" Wufei asked
"I'm taking you to that restaurant I told you about earlier" Heero explained "I think even you will like it Fei"
All of the boys suddenly stopped and Heero turned round inquisitively towards them.
"What?" he asked
"You … you just called me 'Fei'" Wufei stated amazed "You've never called any of us by a nickname before"
"I did?" the messy haired man asked "Yeah, I guess I did … I'm hanging around Duo WAY too much!"
The other boys started laughing and Heero grinned widely. Wufei held back the urge to shriek at the unfamiliar sight of his comrade grinning and instead settled with a small shudder and an uneasy look.
"You gotta get used to it Fei!" Duo laughed "He's gonna be doin that alloy more now!"
Duo's teasing was cut off as Heero abruptly stopped walking, resulting in the rest of the pilots crashing into him and each other.
"You know what guys?" Heero stated "For trained killers, we're not all that graceful are we?"
They picked themselves up and entered the restaurant Heero had brought them to. The moment they entered, their noses were assaulted with some of the most delicious smells they had ever smelt.
"Oh my God Heero!" Duo asked "What is that?"
"That" Heero smirked "Is dinner"
"Dinner anybody?" Quatre asked "It's not much, but it's something"
Zechs and the pilots started eating as Duo fed Heero.
"Has he ever tried to feed himself?" Trowa asked "Heero I mean"
"Hmm?" Duo replied "Oh, no he hasn't – I tried to teach him, but believe me, Heero is the master of tantrums when he wants to be!"
"This is good" Zechs commented
"But it's no egg fried rice" Quatre smiled
"Or chicken chow mein" Duo added
"Or house special" Trowa smirked
"Or crispy aromatic duck" Wufei grinned
A second of silence passed before the pilots burst out laughing. The lightning count was left to stare in confusion at his hosts.
"Relena should have called me by now" he whispered to himself
"Slow down Fei!" Duo shouted "You're about to beat my all time eating record!"
"Injustice!" Wufei shouted
"Alright, alright, carry on eating!"
Heero eyed his friends warily as more people turned to stare at them. Wufei was tearing into his duck like a madman, Duo was just being Duo, which meant he wasn't being much better with his chicken chow mein, Trowa was being very unlike his usually silent self and grunting as he dug into his house special and Quatre seemed to have forgotten all of his elocution lessons with pieces of the house special flying in all directions from his eating.
"Um … guys?" Heero called "Do you think you could calm it down a bit?"
The pilots gave a Heero a long look saying 'What do you mean? What are we doing?' before speaking up.
"I'm sorry Heero" Quatre apologised "But this is one of the best meals I have ever eaten!"
"This food!" Wufei mumbled with a full mouth "Is very justified!"
Heero rolled his eyes and turned to Trowa. The silent man shrugged and they all continued to gulp down their food at quite alarming rates.
"Guys!" Heero protested "People are staring at us! I've had enough social training to know that's not a good thing!"
Wufei stared at him before turning to the rest of the restaurant and screaming "INJUSTICE!" That certainly did the trick as all the staring eyes quickly turned away.
Heero sighed as he watched his friends continue to scoff their food when a wicked plan formed in his head. He smirked at the though and cleared his throat to gather his friends attention. They all turned to him and he leaned low to the table, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"Hey, I need to tell you something" Heero whispered "Get closer so I can whisper"
The pilots did as they were told and turned their ears towards Heero and lowered their heads to the table. Heero waited with a grin until they all took a large mouth full of their food and whispered "Boobies!"
Duo and Quatre burst out laughing, whereas Wufei started choking and spluttering, trying to wipe the blood trickling out of his nose. Trowa stopped moving all together, a blush creeping up to his face. The laughing and spluttering had resulted in 3 out of 4 of the pilots spitting out their food all over their friends.
Heero peeked out from his hiding place under the table and chuckled lightly.
"I'll go get us a doggy bag" he smiled "I think you guys need to go home and change!"
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The men in the house looked at the door and smiled at one another. Zechs looked at them warily before getting up to answer it. The pilots waited in silence for the confirmation of their suspicions to who was at the door.
"Relena?" Zechs asked "what are you doing here?"
The pilots burst out laughing as their other guests walked in the door and received many funny looks.
"I don't see what's so funny!" Relena huffed "The hotel was overbooked and we had to wait there for three hours just to find that out!"
"We know how you feel princess!" Duo grinned "The same thing happened to us! That's how we found this place!"
A hug-a-thon started as everybody greeted each other. Duo's eyes darkened slightly as he watched the greetings and noticed how nobody had acknowledged Heero yet. He was about to speak up when another voice beat him to it.
"Hello Heero" Mariemaia greeted "It's been so long since I've last seen you, I hope your operation goes well!"
Duo smiled as this greeting seemed to start a chain reaction and everybody began greeting Heero.
"Hey Mai!" he called to Mariemaia "You've got big! I didn't think you were coming!"
"Lady Une couldn't find anybody to take care of me" she explained "she said 'thirteen year olds can't take care of themselves!' but I wanted to come anyway"
"I guess this means the whole gangs back together!" Duo smiled
"I just wish it could have been this way 2 years ago" Quatre smiled sadly "Heero would have loved that!"
All eyes turned to the Japanese man and he glared back at them. Most people in the room burst out laughing and others smiled at the typical reaction from their friend.
"I see he's still with us" Noin smiled
"He's even talking a little now!" Duo explained
"You'll have to tell us all about it" Relena stated, taking a seat. Most followed her example and sat on the available seats and the floor.
"Well" Duo started "It all started like this…"