Just a Shadow
Disclaimer: - I don't own Gundam Wing or any of its characters!
Chapter 16: Searching, Birthdays and More Hamsters!
Hey guys. I'm so sorry for the shortness of the last chapter that I decided to update right away, even though my arms are still aching. I didn't even realise how short the chapter was until it was too late! I hope this makes up for it.
Muchacha: I thought people would like the side games! I'm gad you liked the chapter!
TKM: I'm sorry it was so short. My arms were hurting so much I had to stop. Constant writing has caused me to develop RSI (repetitive strain injury). It's mostly in my right arm, but when it starts on the left it gets really bad. I didn't realise the chapter was so short otherwise I would have just saved it and completed it the net day before posting. Sorry.
10-Midnight-01: You will find out all in good time. I can't go giving away the ending after all! Thanks for the review!
Kira May Maxwell: I wish I had the game too! I'd love to feed Duo til he busted or chop Zechs' hair off!
KentouKurige: Hmm … I actually haven't decided where he s yet … d'oh! Hehe, as I said, I make this up as I go along so he may be cuddled up or HE MAY BE IN EXTREME DANGER! But, I hope you like whatever I choose! Lol!
EquineAngel: You guessed Heero's emotions. After being alone for so long, he doesn't want to be alone any more. He needs to be with someone.
Ms Son: My arms are throbbing with pain as we speak, and yet I persevere for my fans! GOD I'M STUPID! Anyway, I hope you like this chapter! Thanks for the review!
Silvertwilight: I'm glad you liked the games! Think most people did! I hope you like this chapter!
Silver Mirror: There seem to be lots of silver reviewers! Lol! Thanks so much for reviewing! I'm really happy you like the fic. If you like this fic, you should try reading 'the price they paid'. It's really good, I've read it myself!
The pilots frantically researched the house for their missing comrade, but found nothing. Duo and Quatre were panicking, Wufei was angry and though he was hiding it well, those who knew him, knew Trowa was worried and annoyed.
"Heero?" Wufei called "Are you here?"
The boys looked helplessly at each other before Quatre's eyes lit up with realisation.
"We haven't checked the garden yet!" he shouted
Within two seconds, the boys were in the large garden, searching for their friend. Ten minutes past and there was still no sign of Heero. The pilots trudged back into the house wearily and sat in the lounge.
"You don't think he ran do you?" Quatre asked
"I don't see why he would" Wufei replied "Though he did seem reluctant to see us go today"
"Maybe this is a punishment for leaving him" Trowa muttered "Even if it was only for a little while"
"Don't be stupid!" Duo scolded "You know Heero wouldn't do that – something probably just came up, or he went out somewhere"
"Without telling us?" Wufei asked sceptically
"We're not his parents ya know!" Duo replied
At that moment, the sound of the door opening caught everybody's attention and their gazes were fixed on the hallway. Shuffling could be heard as somebody took off their coat and shoes and made their way to the lounge. A few more seconds passed before an exhausted looking Heero trudged into the room and sat on the sofa next to Duo.
"Heero Yuy!" Duo reprimanded "Do you know what time it is? We've been looking for you for hours! Where have you been?"
Heero blinked at Duo a couple of times before opening his mouth to talk, but before he had the chance, Duo was bombarding him with a lecture as to why he shouldn't stay out so late or actually be out in the first place when he's sick.
"And he said I was mothering Yuy" Wufei mumbled to Trowa
"So tell me Heero" Duo demanded "Just where have you been?"
"I…"
"I'm waiting!" Duo stated, tapping his foot with his arms folded
"I was out looking…"
"Looking?" Duo asked curiously as his anger subsided "What for?"
"Wouldn't you have had better luck in the morning?" Wufei asked
"We … found … what we were looking for…"Heero replied as he struggled for words
The pilots shared a worried glance at the way Heero was behaving. He seemed disappointed, maybe even depressed, and they weren't too sure that his ashen face was caused by his illness.
"So what was so important that you had to stay out to this time looking?" asked Trowa, when Heero failed to elaborate on the subject any further
"Little Becky Fibhurst" Heero choked out "I found her body washed up along a lake not too far from here"
Quatre gasped and lifted his hands to cover his mouth.
"You mean…"
"Yeah" Heero replied solemnly "She's dead"
"Heero…" Duo sighed "I so sorry man, I mean, I didn't know, and-"
"It's okay Duo, really, I just want to get some sleep"
"Sure"
As Heero made his way up the stairs, the other pilots released a breath they hadn't realised they'd been holding until now.
"At least he's safe" Wufei muttered "I can't believe how worried we were, I mean he is a full grown Gundam pilot after all!"
"I know" Duo smiled "Ever since we met him again, I've felt so protective of him it's unreal!"
"Even I feel the same way!"
"How do you think this will affect him?" Trowa added quietly "We all know Heero doesn't deal well with death"
"I guess we'll just have to keep an eye on him and hope for the best" Quatre replied with a sigh "I hope he doesn't take it too hard"
The next morning, Heero woke bright and early to find several boxes at the end of the bed. He curiously grabbed one and gently shook it before reading the label which was addressed to him. He opened the box quietly and carefully, so not to disturb the other pilots and smiled when he saw what was inside.
The gift was from Quatre, and it was a GIANT plush hamster which looked exactly like little Quatre. The young blonde had had it made in town yesterday while they were out.
Heero moved on to the second box which was quite small and was from Wufei. He again carefully opened the present, not tearing a piece of the wrapping and folding it neatly by his side before unravelling the gift inside. Heero stared wide eyes at what he held n his hand. Beside it was a note which the Japanese youth read.
'Dear Heero' it read 'After the destruction of our Gundams, I collected several shads of Gundanium from each wreck site. I thought you might like this as a reminder of the old days. Fei'
Heero stared awed at the ring that dangled on the end of the platinum chain. It was a blend of Gundanium from each Gundam moulded into one.
Heero gently looped the chain around his neck before moving onto the next colourful box. As before, he removed the wrapping with great care before turning to the gift inside. When he saw what lay there, he couldn't help but grin.
"Thanks a lot Trowa" Heero mumbled sarcastically as he lifted the black spandex shorts ands green tank top from their container. He eyed the shorts sceptically for a moment before snorting and placing them by his side next to the GIANT plush hamster.
Finally, Heero came to the final present. He peeled off the wrapping and lifted the lid to find…
"OH MY FUCKING GOD!" Heero screamed as something leapt onto his chest.
The shock forced the Japanese man to reel back and hit his head on the wall, waking up the houses inhabitants. When they came to investigate, they found a very dishevelled Gundam pilot death-glaring a rubber spider dangling from a spring in his hands. As soon as they entered, the death-glare was redirected to a certain braided youth and intensified by 50.
"Duo…" the Wing pilot growled
Duo laughed nervously before looking around the room and busting into peels of laughter. Heero's anger drained away as he watched the god of death fall to his knees in laughter pointing in the room.
"What's so funny?" Heero asked
"There's … there's a giant … hamster … on your bed!"
Heero glanced behind him at the hamster before sighing and shaking his head. How could anyone stay mad at that idiot?
"Hey Tro, could you pass me that T-shirt?" Duo asked
"Sure" Trowa replied
The uni-banged man passed the T-shirt to his comrade before his eyes fell on his lover feeding Heero. Duo turned around to ask Trowa for another tem when he caught the look in his friends eye and stopped.
"You're really lucky, you know that?"
"Huh?" Trowa asked, snapping out of his daydream "What do you mean?"
"You and Quat" Duo smiled "You're so perfect for each other"
"I'm sure you'll find someone"
"Yeah" Duo sighed "Well, c'mon, this stuff isn't going to pack itself!"
"Whether this operation works or not, Heero will still hate staying in the hospital for a week"
"Tell me about it" Duo laughed "We'll have to chain him to the bed, night watches and security guards at every exit and window!"
Trowa smiled and a snort was heard from behind them. They turned to find Wufei leaning on the door frame.
"That all?" he smirked "I would have thought you would know best about underestimating him, Maxwell!"
Duo stuck his tongue out at the Chinese man and laughed. Wufei rolled his eyes before returning to his morning katas and training.
Heero watched as Wufei petted little Wufei the hamster on his lap and cooed him. Over the last day or so, the Chinese man had become quite attached to the little rodent and one couldn't help but smile at the sight. The Netaku pilot set the hamster back in the pen and wandered off and Heero approached the spot he had just vacated. He sat down and watched the hamsters.
Little Duo approached little Wufei and gently nuzzled his fur. Heero smiled and opened the cage lid.
"I guess you two are finally getting along eh?" he asked the hamsters
All of a sudden, Duo hamster mounted Wufei hamster and began pushing his hips forward in a rhythmic motion. Heero's jaw fell slack as he watched the hamsters hump before he shrieked and grabbed little Fei from the cage. Little Duo squeaked in protest and Heero sighed in relief.
He eyed the little hamster in his hands suspiciously. Was he gaining weight. Then a horrible thought hit him.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" Heero begged as he lifted the hamster in the air "Oh God no!"
Heero cringed as he gently poked his fingers at the hamster stomach and cringed.
"Wufei's going to kill me!"
"What am I going to kill you for? You didn't hurt him did you?"
Heero jumped about ten feet in the air and spun around only to come face to face with Wufei himself. He had chosen this time to quickly check on little Fei before breakfast.
"Um … no"
"Is he alright?"
"Well, you see that's the thing Wufei"
"Huh?"
"He's not a he, he's a she"
Wufei stared at Heero for a good five minutes before laughing.
"You thought I would kill you for that?"
"No, II thought you'd kill me when I told you she was pregnant with Duo's child"
A thud was heard as Wufei hit the ground. Heero gulped and gently placed the pregnant rodent back into the run.
"Have fun you two" he said meekly as he made his way in the house
Heero wasn't looking forward to this afternoon. He had promised he would tell them about how he was feeling and what happened the other night, and he just didn't feel like it right now.
Okay, there ya go. Super fast update … oh god my arm just fell off … oh well!
Until Next Time!
Clarobell