Disclaimer: I don't own either GW or SM.
Chapter 9
"First of all, Hiiro, my buddy, you have obviously not taken dancing lessons. The way you danced with Usagi! It was as if you two were standing on opposite banks of the Mississippi! And secondly, you don't go up to a pretty girl standing by herself on the balcony and say you went to guard her!" Duo glared at him but gave up after five seconds of futility, sighing. "It disrupts all codes of conduct between the two sexes! It makes the world unbalanced! It's like…" he fished fruitlessly for a comparison, "…like a fat woman trying to stand on one leg!"
That had to have been one of his worst similes ever. The mental picture it called up was halfway between droll and excruciating.
Only Quatre laughed and Trowa suppressed a smile. Wufei had long fled the room, giving some ridiculous excuse about needing to floss his teeth. Duo had the impression that the Asian had no idea what was coming out of his mouth.
Hiiro had stopped paying attention to him when he started nitpicking about his fashion sense. That was perhaps fifteen minutes ago.
"Are you finished yet?"
Duo made a face. "It was your choice to stay the night here with us, not mine. I'm simply giving you some pointers. After all, Lady Luck is infatuated with you and fate loves you to pieces – I would give anything to be the personal guard of those two." He rolled his eyes and plucked a mint from the glass tray on Quatre's coffee table. "Honestly, you could be a little more accommodating. It's not as if we're asking you to giggle or anything."
"I see that it was a mistake to stay here after all," Hiiro sighed, staring glumly at the mint tray.
Duo ignored him, eyeing him critically. "You could try smiling … that might brighten up your complexion. That is, if you're not too busy enjoying that perpetual rain cloud of yours."
"I do not smile. At least not at your disposal," he paused and pondered his next move, "moron." Hiiro mentally groaned. He has now fallen from his pedestal of self-righteousness to two-syllabled words that kindergarteners used to look "cool".
"I'm a moron? I'll show you a moron! A moron is somebody who doesn't recognize opportunity even after it roughs him up a bit! A moron is somebody wh-"
"Please, you two," Quatre interjected. Duo stopped short and realized he had leapt to his feet due to his frustration. "We spent less than a week planning for a party of that magnitude to welcome 'Miss Relena' back … I really want to just … rest for tonight."
Trowa nodded. "And you're arguing like a bunch of pregnant women."
Duo blinked and Hiiro's right eye twitched.
…………………
"Nothing in there." Hiiro threw the morning paper down almost triumphantly. "The entire article about the welcoming back yesterday did nothing except shout praises to Relena and Quatre. The word peculiar didn't even come up."
Quatre offered him a smile while the others continued drowning themselves in coffee. "That's a relief." He nodded at Hiiro's cup, inviting for him to sit down as well but Hiiro shook his head no, declining.
"I need to head back to Relena's. There's a diplomatic meeting tomorrow morning in Dallas and we're flying there this afternoon."
The blonde put his cup down and frowned. "I never got the memo."
Hiiro shrugged shortly. "It wasn't announced to the press either."
"That's unusual. Perhaps it'd be better to watch things more closely."
"They specifically forbade me from the meeting room." Hiiro thinned his lips and looked ready to roll his eyes.
Quatre sighed. "If the ESUN weren't so supportive of Miss Relena at the moment, I'd think they're trying to drug her or something." He frowned to his reflection in the coffee mug and shook his head. "Keep a close eye on them, okay?"
"I always do." With that terse, almost unpleasant reply, Hiiro swung his jacket over his shoulders and headed for the front door.
Duo glanced up blearily from his coffee and squinted dazedly. "Did Hiiro just leave?"
Quatre shot him a faintly maternal look. "Go back to drinking your coffee, Duo."
…………………
"We're leaving," he clipped authoritatively, barely glancing at his audience. "There is a Dallas conference tomorrow morning and you need to be ready to go before 4:00 today."
Minako stared at him puzzledly. "Why so early?"
Hiiro shrugged dismissively. "So that terrorists and assassins don't know exactly when Relena would get there." He paused and glanced around. "Where is Miss Usagi?"
She sighed and pursed her lips. "Usagi's still sleeping."
"Wake her up then. We need to leave as soon as possible."
Minako raised an eyebrow and shot him a look. "Have you ever tried to wake Usagi up?"
He waved an indifferent hand, already heading out of the room. "Jump on her, drag her – I don't care. Just wake her up."
She made a face and stared sourly after him.
…………………
"She's still asleep," Hiiro observed darkly, shooting Usagi a sidelong glance. The limousine was gliding smoothly toward the Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Hiiro's watch informed him that though they weren't going to be late, they certainly were cutting it close.
Minako glared at him. "Really now."
"When does she usually wake up?"
"When people stop disturbing her sleep." Minako jumped as Usagi straightened and yawned. "You really shouldn't talk about other people when they're right next to you." She paused and glanced around. "I'm in a car."
"How astute." Hiiro frowned to himself, ignoring the annoyed glance Usagi shot him. It was a line he often used with Duo but certainly not with blonde strangers.
"…to Dallas for some kind of meeting," Minako explained.
Usagi leaned back in the seat. "Oh."
"And you're going to be Miss Relena this time."
She shot back up. "What!?"
"Don't worry about it, you just have to listen to what is said and report it back to Hiiro."
"B-b-but! I haven't even practiced! I've forgotten everything! I-I-I have amnesia!"
Minako placed both hands firmly on Usagi's shoulders and shook her. "You do not have amnesia and if I have to pose as Miss Relena, then so do you."
Usagi sighed and pouted, whining, "Why me? Hiiro knows the most about Miss Relena! Make him do it."
"Well I'm sure if Hiiro grew his hair out, dyed it blonde, and got rid of that horrid I-hate-the-world look, he'd be happy to. But until that happens, you have to go as Miss Relena."
Hiiro scowled and shot Minako an I-hate-the-world-but-I-hate-you-more look.
Usagi whimpered. "Must I?"
Minako grinned. "You must."
…………………
Hiiro slowly let out a long breath and gingerly relaxed his shoulders. They ached from tension.
One hour had passed since they boarded the plane together. One hour of an approximately three hour ride. Upon boarding, Usagi had scrambled for the window seat while Minako bartered with him for the one next to the aisle, demanding it because she hated the cramped spaces between seats and because she wanted first dibs on the promised airplane dinner.
So now he was in the middle seat, between two blondes, who had both nodded off and decided the most comfortable item to use as a pillow was his shoulder. Duo would be in ecstasy had he been in the same situation but Hiiro, instead, was barely able to keep himself from bolting.
He glared blatantly at the airline attendant who walked by and smiled at the cute picture of two almost identical dozing blondes each leaning on one shoulder.
Strange. That was the only word to describe the feeling. Not because he had never experienced a girl borrowing his shoulder – Relena had often unconsciously leaned upon him in sleep, the sweet smell of her hair intoxicating. Hiiro frowned to himself and tried to settle more comfortably in his seat. No, it wasn't the situation in itself that was strange. Instead, it was the inexorable desire to not disturb them, to keep their faces in that sweet, unpretentious, and unadulterated mold. To refrain from contaminating them like he did Relena.
Hiiro sighed again, this time more heavily. His chest hurt and a dense layer of melancholy fog seemed to have followed him ever since he could remember. But for this moment, this brief, white, singing moment of peace, he was surrounded by innocence and chastity, by two girls that together created and image of the completely unsoiled Relena. And he would surrender all of him, what he was and what he will be, to keep them as they are.
…………………
He shrank back in his seat as both Minako and Usagi blinked blearily at the sound of the approaching food cart and stretched their arms out, yawning and barely missing his head.
"Are we almost there yet?" Usagi asked dazedly, gazing out of the window at the climax of a sunset.
"We should arrive within half an hour of finishing dinner," he replied and glanced up, gauging the progress of the airline attendant in distributing food. Minako was staring at it equally intently though most likely not making estimates of its speed of travel like he was.
"Are we going anywhere after we get there?" Usagi pressed, reluctantly turning her eyes away from the food cart as well. Even airplane food seemed like nectar and ambrosia at the moment.
Hiiro nodded shortly. "We'll head to the hotel then the rest of the night is free time for you and Miss Minako," he paused before adding ominously, "but I would have to follow the two of you wherever you go."
Usagi blinked and sighed at Hiiro's glowering expression. Minako was ordering her share now.
"And you, miss?"
Usagi started and grinned sheepishly. "Can I have both choices?" The airline attendant shot her a perplexed look but complied.
"And you, sir?"
"Just coffee is fine."
Both Minako and Usagi turned to stare at him worriedly.
"You really should eat something, Hiiro," Minako urged. Sometime between staying in the same house with him, sharing meals, and falling asleep on his shoulder, she had lapsed into informality.
Usagi nodded vehemently. "Yes, yes, you really should. Skipping meals is horrible for your health."
"I know that," he snarled but regretted it as Usagi's eyes widened and watered. He glanced to Minako and saw her glaring at him.
Usagi glanced down and away. "I'm sorry. It reminded you of Miss Relena, right?"
He didn't reply.
"We understand how deeply hurt you are by her state but the least you could do is pull yourself together and stay healthy for her so that when she comes back, you wouldn't have to recuperate for a few months before the two of you celebrate." Minako's glare had softened but her tone wasn't altogether kind.
Such optimistic words.
The airline attendant glanced from Minako to Usagi to Hiiro, not knowing what to do but settling for pouring the coffee.
"Fine," he finally agreed, grudgingly.
Minako and Usagi shared a victorious glance.
…………………
"Come on now, Hiiro! Usagi and I want to go shopping!" Minako grinned at his faintly annoyed look while Usagi giggled. He refused to stoop to pleading.
He barely suppressed a gasp as both girls, again one on each side, caught hold of his hand and held it, continuing chattering as if the gesture was not almost as momentous as Relena's kissing him.
And as they climbed out from the limousine in front of Dallas's Galleria Mall, the action was repeated. But this time he relaxed into it, forfeiting himself for one evening.
When he had first been told of Relena's hospitalization, he had been exposed to the sharp wind from which he was protected for the year or so they were together. Once again, he had to provide shelter for himself and summon warmth without her there. Relena's presence had been like white wings, beautiful and majestic, surrounding him in soft sanctity, her smile producing a radiant glow, glorious and calm. When she had left, the wings had withered, died, rendered to brittle, slate gray slivers, sharp enough to cut.
But here he was, his heart still beating painfully within his chest, holding hands with two girls who laughed without inhibition, smiled so cheerfully, and spread supremely magnificent wings around him. And as they stepped into Macy's, clasped hands swinging back and forth frivolously, a small smile touched his lips. The few months of strife that had passed without Relena there was worth it in exchange for this ephemeral night … this evanescent moment.
After all, life did have loveliness to sell. And two examples were standing right beside him.
He tightened his hold onto their hands.
And it was warm.
…………………
There it is~! I haven't updated in so long. xD But hopefully this semi-makes up for it. :D The relationship between the three has become warmer and more personal, Hiiro has relaxed a bit … I suppose only from here can I develop things romantically. --; [we're making progress after all … xD] However … I had to push various other … vital events back. xD;; Which means that this fic has been lengthened another chapter … --; How depressing. xD But anyhow~ Thanks for reading~! 3 Yours, Angel.
Notes:
1. The repeating idea that life had loveliness to sell and that to trade years of strife for one moment of joy is worth it is inspired by the poem Barter by Sara Teasdale. :D
LiLSeReNiTiE: xD Relena isn't dead – she just has anorexia. --; As for Hiiro/Usagi … we'll see. :D
Anonymous: Lol … is unique good? xD ::offers you sugar cubes::
Ashika: Ack~ I do care, I do care!!! Where are you…? ;-;
Leeana-Marie-Malfoy: Lol … it seems like a possibility … what with the previous chapter and all. xD But again … we'll see. :D
Mimi: Haihai~ I updated … but this time it took me … two months-ish. xD
AznxAngel: I don't know … ::sigh:: xD I keep changing my mind. xD
Black Aura-sama: Thankyouthankyou~ :D I luff the word "luff" xD And I think it continues to be twisty. xD
Tenshi-Hotaru: Still! Acting … it sounds fun. :D [veryvery] Good luck~ [is it too late already? O.o;;]
Gackt Camui Loves You: Lol … I love that thought … Minako hating Hiiro. xD I luff Minako … xD I'm not sure what exactly is going on with Hiiro … --; Andand … I think that I meant in the rush of things, they forgot about briefing on acquaintances so Hiiro squeezed a portion of it in while traveling to the welcome back party itself. xD;;; And I love Gackt Camui back, by the way~ :D
Kazzeh Sodapop: Lol … --; I think my idea of "romance" is twisted… xD ::sigh:: It's painful to write. xD I cringe whenever I do. :D But I'll try my hardest~ And sooner or later, there will most definitely be romance. xD
Water Angel1: Thank you~ ::happysigh::
Bjv: Lol … I'm still trying to build up to romance in general … xD;;; But there will definitely be more Minako/Hiiro scenes later on. :D
Usagi Asia Maxwell: O.O;;; I'd like to see you write it. :D ::dokidoki:: Onegaishimasu~ :3 I really don't think I'd be able to pull it off. xD
Liquid Ice: And an interesting life story at that~ ::nodnod:: :3 I actually never meant to confuse anybody .. .I was trying to keep it fair … and indiscernible. xD;;; But … I got a little carried away with the Hiiro/Minako conversation … xD;;; I really don't know how much explanation I'm going to do … lol … I forget to sometimes. xD;;; And I agree … there's just something about Hiiro/Usagi … but, strangely, I don't quite as attached anymore … maybe it's because I'm being exposed to other ideas … but either or, Hiiro/Usagi still seems to provide a sanctuary. xD;;; I still love the couple. :D And I still feel incredibly flattered … being compared to a drug and all … xD ::dokidoki:: Thank you~ 3