To ZmajGoddess- Glad to know I'm not alone in this… but I've decided a few issues, and the story's starting to work with me instead of against me. And Duo saving Wufei was indeed cute! I loved that part!


"You cleaned."

"You noticed."

"I had no idea my walls could look so white,"

"Thank you."

"Where's the patient, Beck?"

"I sent him home."

"By himself!"

"Oh, he's fine, Trowa! It's not like he was sick or anything, it was just a curse, and not a very good curse at that, it only took me half a minute to reverse it, and the caster didn't even mask it, like no one would ever figure out he was cursed! I swear, it's almost insulting how easy it was to reverse it, and I'm almost glad I couldn't stop the backlash in time, because if you're going to curse someone, the least you can do is do it right, and Tasuki called because you didn't come home after school and he wanted to know if Duo had seen you, and some chick named Usagi called for you, Duo, and she said she'd be coming to the party on Saturday, and Lien's house collapsed."

"Lien's house what!"

"Oh, it's okay, Trowa, it's not like he was inside when it happened! He said he'd call me as soon as he found a place to stay, and I'm gonna go home now, okay? See you guys later!"


"Why the hell are you back here?" Rebbekha demanded sharply, glaring emerald fire at Seth.

"I have some information you might be interested in obtaining," Seth said, not even bothering to claim a stool for himself.

"Why would I be interested in anything you have to say?"

"Because it concerns your sister,"

Rebbekha's hands stilled momentarily, then went back to filling mugs and passing them out to the patrons at the bar. "Either tell me or leave, Seth," She said finally. "I don't have time for your games right now,"

"Seems our little girl's gone and got herself a boyfriend," He told her, smiling slightly at the redhead's reaction.

"She's what!" Rebbekha demanded, slamming the mug she'd just filled against the bar so hard that both cracked and the glass shattered.

"She'd dating." Seth elaborated.

"Not while I'm still breathing, she's not! Wait till I get my hands on the slimy little bastard! Then we'll see who's dating my sister!"


"Duo, have you seen my green blouse?" Beck asked, poking her head into the living room. "I can't find the damned thing anywhere!"

"It's in the bathroom, in the hamper under the sink," Duo told her, calmly setting out the before-dinner snacks he'd helped the blond make.

"Arigato!" She thanked him, ducking back down the hall, then popping back out when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!"

"No, you won't," Trowa said evenly, grabbing her arm as she went past him. "I will get the door, and you will go get dressed." He told her, staring pointedly at her bra.

"...Oops…" Beck said, blushing. "Yeah… I'll go get my shirt."

"Good girl," Trowa said, patting her on the head before going to answer the door.

"Hello, Trowa."

"M-Mr. Kushrenada? What are you doing here?"

"Your friend Beck invited me." Trieze explained. "Can I come in?"

"Oh! Uh… sure. Come in." Trowa said, stepping aside and ushering his teacher into the living room. "Have a seat."

"Kushrenada-sensei!" Beck exclaimed, bursting into the living room fully clothed. "You're here! I was afraid you wouldn't be able to make it after all!" She continued, latching herself onto his neck.

"It's not every day a man gets invited to a party like this, you know," Trieze told her, smiling. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. I take it the redhead glaring daggers at me is Tasuki?"

"Oh, hush, Fang Boy." Beck said over her shoulder, sliding down to the floor. "He's too old to tempt me, so you just keep that jealousy where it belongs."

The doorbell rang again, saving someone from certain embarrassment, and Trowa led Quatre, Usagi, and a boy with messy brown hair and hard blue eyes into the living room.

"Wow…" Usagi said, staring at the many platters of food spread across the room. "Are we allowed to eat any of it, or is it just for decoration?"

"Need a bucket for all that drool?" Beck retorted, holding out a platter of bite-sized ice cream sandwiches. "Of course you can eat it! That's why I cooked it! My name's Beck."

"Usagi," Usagi said, inhaling a handful of food. "This is my boyfriend Quatre, and this is my bodyguard, Heero. He wouldn't let me come unless he did, too," She added apologetically to Trowa over her shoulder. "He's paranoid."

"Hn." Heero said, glaring around the room.

"There happen to be ladies present, buddy," Trowa said softly, giving Heero a glare of his own. "Watch your mouth."

"What'd he say?" Beck asked, busy stuffing her face right alongside Usagi.

"You don't wanna know." Trowa told her.

"So you know what all those grunts and noises mean?" Quatre asked politely, watching with a tolerant smile as Heero berated Usagi for eating food that hadn't been tested. "Usagi and I have been trying to figure Heero's secret language out ever since we met him."

"And why exactly does Miss Tsukino need a bodyguard?" Trieze asked, and Quatre jumped.

"Ack! Mr. Kushrenada! What are you doing here!" The blond paused for a moment, then added, "If you don't mind my asking?"

"I invited him," Beck said. "Hi. I'm Beck. I cooked all the food and organized the party. You are?"

"Quatre Reberba Winner. I'm honored to be in the presence of such an excellent cook as yourself." Quatre said with a formal bow.

"Hey, you didn't answer my question, Quatre," Trieze pouted. "Why does your girlfriend need a bodyguard?"

The doorbell rang again, and Beck went to answer it with what could only be described as a squeal.


"Hige, who's she?" Beck asked, staring down at a girl no older than six attached to the latest arrival's leg. "Is she your lo-ove child?"

"Actually," Hige said, stepping inside by main force, "she's my charge. Her parents okayed her coming, and I'll give you a quarter of my pay, but you can't turn us out! I have no idea what to do with a five-year-old!"

"Hey. Hige." The little girl said quietly, tugging on Hige's pant leg. "Who's the crazy lady?"

"Sakura, that's rude." A voice from the hall said softly. "Now how about we all go inside? We wouldn't want to waste Trowa's money on heating the great outdoors."

"Okay, Kiba!" Sakura said cheerfully, skipping into the living room and immediately colliding with Trieze.


Two hours later, Sakura had worn herself out enough for a short nap with Usagi in Beck's room, Heero had managed to scare everyone witless at least once, Seth had come home, and Trieze still didn't know why Usagi needed a bodyguard. Then the surprise guest showed up.

Someone banged loudly on the front door, and Duo went to see who it was before Sakura woke up. Muffled conversation drifted back to the partiers, most of it angry, and Duo appeared, pale and wide-eyed, leading a tall redheaded woman dressed in forest green.

"R-Rebbekha!" Beck demanded incredulously, staring at the woman. "What are you doing here!"

"Where's the son of a bitch who calls himself your boyfriend?" Rebbekha demanded, sweeping the room. "It better not be him." She added, glaring at Trieze.

"If it was?" Trieze asked.

"I'd beat you to a bloody pulp. Twice. Then I'd castrate you."

"In that case, it's a good thing I'm not her boyfriend, huh?"

"I'm 'er steady," Tasuki volunteered, stepping forward. "An' you would be?"

"I'm her older sister, asshole," Rebbekha stated, grabbing the front of Tasuki's shirt in one hand and pulling his face inches from hers. "and you'd better hang on my every fucking word, because I'm only gonna say this once. You make her cry, I make you scream; you break her heart, I break your skull. Do we have an understanding?"

"Uh… yeah?"

"Good." The redhead growled, shoving Tasuki away and turning to Trowa. "Where's that good-for-nothing bastard?"

"In his room," Trowa told her calmly. "Can you take it somewhere else this time? There's a young child asleep in the other room, and she doesn't need the benefit of your advanced vocabulary just yet."

"Fine by me."


Very short chapter, but I figured that would be okay, considering how long it's been since I've updated. Next chapter, we'll finally get going on the prophecy, so just hold on a little while longer, okay?