Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. If I did, I would own a private island, home theater, and trained wolves to come at my command. But I don't. I own a computer and a pair of socks.
ALL MY LOYAL REVIEWERS! I WOULDN'T BE ALIVE WITHOUT YOU! Well, I would, but my life would be extremely boring…
Saki- yes she is cool. Thanks for reviewing.
serina lijtvorg- hey! It's good to here from you again! I know how you feel… I could just do a Mexican Hat Dance around him! Thanks. It's hard to keep from day dreaming during school! Usually I think about the next chapter I'm writing, so ya. Thanks for reviewing!
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Sorry guys, it's kinda hard to explain Spit, so I asked my sister, and unfortunately, she was in a pissy mood and was like "Do it yourself!" so I'm gonna see if she's in a better mood by next chapter. Gomen!
And on with the story!
Don't Mess with Fire
Part 5
"Hey guys,"
"Duo! Where in the world have you been?" asked Quatre, sounding an awful lot like someone's mom. "We were worried sick!"
"Oh, really?" asked Duo, looking past the hysterical blonde. "They don't seem too worried to me." Quatre turned around and saw Trowa and Heero playing a game of portable checkers.
"King me," Trowa said boredly. He propped his head up with a fist, while idly scratching his cheek.
Quatre just glared at his "worried" friends. "You guys will never make it to heaven, you know that?" he turned back to an unfazed Shinigami. "Yet again, where were you?"
"You know, off messin' with some friends, pickin' up loose ends, that kinda shit," he stated casually, putting his hands behind his head. Heero raised an eyebrow but let it drop.
"I think Wufei's sleapt off his Chinese food hangover," Trowa said, still looking down at the checker pieces. Duo just laughed.
"What, are you kiddin' me? There's no way- ow! Owowowowow!" suddenly, a tug on Duo's braid stopped his sentence and jerked his head back, forcing him to look into venomous black eyes. "Hey, hey! Look who's joined the party! Now, Wuffers, could you possibly let go of the braid?"
Wufei's deadly scowl deepened. "No." He started dragging Duo back to the hotel by his braid.
Duo, who, by this time, was extremely pissed off, tried resisting his fellow pilot, but to no avail. Then he started kicking like a two year old. "You talk about justice and injustice, and this is just what it is! INJUSTICE!" he ranted, trying to pull out of the Chinese boy's grasp. "INJUSTICE!"
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Meanwhile
All the Pyronics we under their covers, dreaming of what they have and what they had, what they took advantage of and how they were now humble. Of past lives. Of families. Of memories left behind. Of sunny days and rainy nights, resting in their mother's warm embrace. Of games of hopscotch, and running in the sprinklers. Of war. Of heart-wrenching shrieks. Of final "I love you"s. Of a lab. Of living in the sewers. Of stealing to stay alive. Of joining together. Of creating immortal bonds with their fellow gang members. All the covers were tucked under their chins, warming minds that tried to runaway from sorrow and rage, and cling to love and kindness. What they had. What they have. What they left behind. What was inevitable; life.
All accept one. She sat in the worn out armchair, dragon perched upon her shoulder, forgotten book in lap. Kaida was emotionally, if not physically, drained. Remnants of the afternoon's antics flashed through her head. Hasaki lightly butted his owner's cheek, pulling her out of her reverie. The gang leader stroked his head lovingly.
"I never thought it would turn out this way, ya know? I was just a politician's daughter. A daughter who wanted to grow up to be a detective or somethin from Law and Order or CSI: Las Vegas. Just Kaida Michiyo. Daughter of a lawyer and a politician…" she faded of, her eyes clouded in memories. Tears welled up, threatening to fall, but never did. She had cried enough when she was little for a country to be drowned… she wondered if that is what happened to Atlantis. Ever since the lab, the experimentation, all of it… she hadn't cried a drop. And she planned to keep it that way.
Hasaki noticed her change in moods and flew of to perch at the inlet's entrance, taking up his duty as night guard. Kaida got his message and walked around the sleeping quarters, extinguishing the lights. As she past by the candles and fire lit lamps, the flames leapt off the wicks, folding themselves into a ball of fire in her palm. She reached her curtained area and absorbed the now blinding orb of light. She drew the curtains of her room shut, an image of Duo popping into her head.
"Good night."
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The morning was sunny, and clear, and full of morning-like noises, and all the pilots were sound asleep… or not. One was missing. In his place, on the balcony, was a slip of paper duct taped to his pillow.
Trowa, who was first up, walked outside, immediately forgetting Duo was "there". He stepped on the blankets and apologized. "Sorry. We have got to rearrange this whole sleeping thing-" he stopped, looking down at where Duo should be, whining for coffee or some other form of caffeine. But no Duo. Just note. The green eyed boy picked up the pillow, because it seemed the braided pilot used enough tape to hold down an elephant.
Dear Heero, Tro, Q and Wuffers,
I'm going to see an old buddy today. I'll be back around 11. pm or am I don't know. Does it matter? Hmm… I supposed it does. Anyway, if you go in the kitchen you'll notice that the coffee and the coffee maker are missing. That's because I took 'em. End of story. If you need some coffee, tell Q to use some of that moolah of his and get you a cappuccino or somethin. Wait a sec, I'm runnin out of room. Please turn over.
Trowa eyed this part oddly. How the hell was he supposed to rip that sheet off? He'd have to use acid to eat away the binding tape. He attempted to tear to paper off, only managing to rip the entire side of the pillow away, sending fluff everywhere. "Stupid idiot. How does he expect us-" as he idly turned the pillow over, he saw the other half of the note by Duo.
I bet ya thought I meant the paper, huh? Haha. I wish I was there to see that. That's why I've posted several cameras around the site for my future enjoyment. Anyway, don't let Wufei out of the hotel room without some form of caffeine in his system. Remember what happened in LA? Ya. I feel sorry for those photographers. I heard recently they'll be out of the hospital in another month! I find that so amusing. Later.
Duo
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Said mischief maker made his way to the warehouse, to, as the note said, visit an old buddy. Duo removed the sewer lid and dropped down into the hole, immediately surrounded by Pyronics. "Hey, come on guys, cool your jets! It's just me," he said brushing past them. He saw a semi-familiar face approach him. "Hey! Your name is Heba, right?"
She nodded. "Yep, that's me. We've been expecting you. Come on and follow me."
Duo smiled. "Hey, any opportunity to hang out with a chick is fine with me. Ow!" he said and a vine whipped out and snapped at his feet. He glared up at the now smiling girl. "That was just mean."
Heba laughed. "Come on, let's go. Kaida wants you at HQ. We're having a council meeting."
Duo rolled his eyes. "Ooo fun," he said sarcastically. Heba laughed again and lead him to the meeting area.
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"Are you sure we should be missing a council meeting?" Helen asked her friend worriedly.
"Hey, don't think of it as skiving, think of it as calling in sick," Keahi replied. She and Helen wandered around, popping in here and there, seeing what's for sale, occasionally buying it with the five-finger discount. Inside their baggy pockets, two necklaces, one bracelet, and three pears were hiding from the world. Keahi had tied her Pyronics jacket around her waist, showing off the design of a flame with the Japanese symbol for fire inside it. Her personal symbol.
"As far as I'm concerned, Kaida won't even notice us missing with that new guy around- umph!" Keahi picked herself off the ground, glaring up at the guy who knocked her down, who, apparently, was wearing the same scowl as she was.
"Watch where you're going, onna," the Chinese boy spat venomously.
"Onna? Who you callin' onna, Mr. Ponytail?" replied the indignant Pyronic. She was thoroughly pissed off at the jackass.
"Mr. Ponytail? I didn't know women were so pathetic."
"OH I'LL SHOW YOU PATHETIC, PANDA BOY-" The dark blonde started towards him, only to be restrained by her British friend.
"Keahi, not today…" Helen said, shaking her head. Keahi and Kaida we by far the most violent of anyone in the gang, and usually took their anger out on each other. Or anyone else within the vicinity.
"Hey Wufei, we don't have time for this…" said a blonde behind the Chinese boy.
The black haired ass just turned away, mumbling, "Stupid girl not worth my time anyway."
Keahi's eyes burned with fury, anger dangerously flashing across them. She yanked herself from Helen and kicked out at the retreating figure, catching him in the back. He stumbled slightly, turning around to shout angrily at her.
"An attack from behind! That's dishonorable!"
The blonde threw her jacket to her friend, lowering herself into a fighting stance. "Street fighting knows no honor, just as thieves know no rules."
He smirked. "I see what you're getting at. All right then. Come!"
The rest of the pilots and Helen just watched, shaking their heads. Helen spoke first. "They're pretty evenly matched."
"I don't think so. Wufei's gonna knock her out. Poor girl," Quatre said, shaking his head at the thought of beating up a female.
"I place 2 bucks on Keahi," Helen simply stated.
"I got 3 on Wufei," Heero said.
"I'm betting 10 they both get knocked out cold," said Trowa.
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Duo looked at the maps adorning the walls of the chamber. One showed the streets of the colony, another showing all the jewelry and art collectors, and still another showing the food, clothing, and shoemaker stores.
"We pretty much have all the streets and shops memorized, but we put these here just in case," said Heba from behind him.
Duo turned and looked around the room. Square floor pillows were formed in a circle, with one in the middle. Heba had earlier explained that the pillows we for the council members, and the center pillow was for the speaker. She and the pilot sat upon two pillows; she on a green and brown with leaf embroidery, he on an all black visitors pillow.
Eventually, Zach came in, Saki behind him. He sat cross legged on a light blue and light gray with and ice sickle on it. The red head just plopped down unto hers, a yellow and white one with a light bulb, with a sigh. "My fingers hurt."
"That's what you get for trying to win against Alger in a thumb war," replied Zach coolly, receiving a scowl from the girl.
Kaida marched in, looking extremely frustrated, Hasaki on her shoulder. The dragon flew instantly to Duo, obviously afraid of his owner in such a bad mood. "Has anyone seen Keahi or Helen!" everyone in the room, too frightened to speak, quickly shook their heads. "GAH!" suddenly the speaker's pillow went up in flames and crumbled into ashes. (A/N: oh how much I wish for that to happen to my school!)
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Trowa collected the money from his fellow betters, counting the dollars as he sorted though them. "Heero, you still owe me a buck."
Heero glared. "I'm short some cash. Deal with it."
Helen turned to the guys. "If we get them back to our meeting place, they should be fine." The guys nodded.
"But how are we going to wake them up?" Quatre inquired confusingly.
"Like this," the blonde suddenly whipped up two balls of water, dropping it on the unconscious Keahi and Wufei's heads.
They bolted upright glaring at the water manipulator. "WHAT THE HELL?" they yelled simultaneously. Trowa couldn't keep a small smirk from his face.
"Let's get going."
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They walked through the alley ways towards the warehouse, talking amongst each other. Helen glanced back at her friend, who was in conversation with Trowa. Looks like she's not gonna chew this guy's head off. He is kinda quiet, though. O well.
Keahi felt strangely at ease with her new green eyed friend, talking about random things in particular. Trowa's kinda quiet, but he is sarcastic, and has a little sense of humor… but he's too uptight to let it show. He is kinda cute though… DAMMIT! I DON'T THINK THOSE THOUGHTS! SAKI DOES! I DON'T! He's not cute, he's not cute, he's not cute... she chanted in her brain while kicking a pebble that accidentally popped up and hit Heero in the back of his head. He whirled around only to find an innocent looking Keahi talking to his fellow pilot, who responded quietly.
As soon as he turned around again, he leaned down some. "Nice goin'. Usually Heero suspects a stranger right away, but good acting," he whispered in the Pyronic's ear. She smirked.
"You gotta be to get anywhere in my career."
They arrived at the warehouse, slipping in and closing the door. They dropped down into the sewer, only to be surrounded like Duo. "Let us through, guys," Helen said. They wouldn't budge.
"Who are these guys?"
Keahi walked straight up to the speaker and looked him straight in the eye, and air of authority surrounding her. "It doesn't matter who they are, Ember. You're here to guard the manholes not question your superiors!" she said, using the term for the lowest ranking of Pyronic. The guard cringed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you, ma'am! Go right ahead!"
Keahi turned around smiling at the confused pilots. "Come on, let's get going! The meeting should be out by now, so we can just go to HQ."
As soon as they reached the passageway to the chamber, they heard Kaida ranting inside. "Dammit… she's in a bad mood… Helen, go in there and explain what happened, and then we'll come in if she says. If not," she paused, looking each of the guys in the eyes. "run like hell."
Helen ventured into the room, only to be berated by Kaida's yells. The lead Pyronic marched into the main sewers, glaring at the group. "Who. Are. They."
"The dudes we ran into. Calm down. We just need to bandage them up and then they'll be on their way," Keahi said evenly. Unlike the other gang members, she wasn't afraid when her best friend got this angry.
Kaida looked at them and pointed down the corridor. "Fine. Go in. You and Helen's absence screwed up the meeting anyway." She seemed exhausted. She was like that. Getting frustrated about something, her anger building, then she blows like Krakatau. Unfortunately, it leaves her eerily calm and contemplative afterwards. (A/N: like me after I've meditated… lol Neko-chan)
The small group walked into the headquarters, or what used to be the headquarters. The maps were either burned to a crisp or peeling, the pillows incinerated. Helen whistled. "What happened here I wonder?"
"Kaida the Furious happened here. I haven't seen her eyes that red in a long time," came a muffled reply from a corner of the room, where Zach, Heba, Saki, and Duo were huddled together in a sad attempt to escape their leader's wrath.
"Hey guys! How'd ja make it down here?" asked Duo, cobalt eyes sparkling under slightly singed bangs. "Did you make sure Wufei got his caffeine?" A glare from the Chinese boy settled the question. "Guess not. Oh well. Did ya get my note?"
Trowa pushed past a slightly shocked Keahi and walked over to his friend. "You're sleeping without a pillow tonight."
Duo laughed. "So YOU were to one to fall for it! HAHAHAHA! Even if you DID manage to get the duct tape off, you would have never been able to get off the super glue! I'm so glad I set up cameras."
"Wait waitwaitwaitwait. So they," Keahi pointed to the group of pilots, "are your friends? Wow. Strange coincidence. It feels kinda weird that I beat up one of the Gundam pilots." A new look spread across her features. "Awesome!"
Heero, Quatre, Wufei and Trowa glared at Duo, who rushed into explanation. "Hey, hey! Don't go blamin' me! They guessed on their own!"
Kaida, who was still under the influence of the calm after the storm, nodded. "It's true. I guessed it by myself." Hasaki suddenly flew to her owner's shoulder, visibly glad that her hot temper had cooled.
"Is that a dragon?" asked Wufei, his eyes suddenly shining with curiosity. The brunette nodded and sighed.
"I guess we had better explain everything to everyone. Wait, what are your names again?"
Duo sat cross legged on the ground, waving his hand like an eager first grader. "OO! PICK ME!" he stood up pointing at each of the guys at turn. "Wufei Chang, Quatre Winner, Heero Yuy, and Trowa Barton. Meet Kaida, Heba, Saki, Zach, and you've already met Keahi and Helen."
Kaida examined each of them. She pointed to them in order. "China, Rich Boy, Kamikaze, and Pirate. I think I got it." Nearly everyone sweatdropped. "Grab a pillow and sit." Only then did she look around, noticed every pillow in the vicinity was a pile of ashes. "Um never mind. Uh… just sit."
"Now this is how all this shit began…"
A/N: sorry this was out so late! But I gave you an extra long chappy! GOMEN NASAI! Anyway, please review! I need opinions! Review please!
-DML