Selena: stares at them all Wow....We weren't expecting to get reviews this soon...

Miana: True....

Selena: Anyways....

Demoonica-san – That's true, Duo's are really popular, I-WE, forgot about that. Ok, well, trust me; Duo will NOT get on Zander's nerves. He's not a normal Duo; he's usually a lot more mature and serious than most Duos. He only acts immature around that particular Trowa. (Duo: I did NOT insult myself! glares) Well, there's Duo's opinion, I can't back either of you up, I have mixed feelings on that subject, so....Yeah, sorry about that....But, if you managed to follow and keep track of who was speaking, you would've noticed one of them got confused twice. I will not say which one though. Frowns Does this mean I won't be able to bump into you on the road?

Merina – Good guess. We'll see if it's right in the story. True, this isn't your average Trowa, he's in no way normal. eyes get big I got a Duo plushie!!! I love him!!! (Miana: Shigure, I love Shigure! How'd you know??? cuddles her Shigure plushie 'Gure-sama....) And he's all MINE!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!! calms down Ok, where were we? We definitely don't have these....D-chan is gonna freak though. Don't worry if he's less than hospitable towards you, he doesn't like it when I got all dreamy over Duo....Seeing as he's not a normal Duo, that's understandable. Thanks!! I've been talking to so many people about my fear of High school that I would gladly take the Ordeal of Knighthood rather than high school....Wah! I've changed my mind now! I like it!!! Sure, I have the occasional break down and all that good stuff, but it comes with the package....

Songwind-san – I'm glad you liked it! I know, I would love to see Heero turn into a prankster or something. grins evilly Hmm....Although you're right! Even warriors with the strictest training must have trouble not breaking down laughing sometimes....About what, I dunno, but still....I'm not sure if that's gonna happen or not....Of course it sounds like fun from that vantage!!! Ooooh...Cookie....stares at it with huge eyes Yummy....Thanks for the cookie!!!!

Duo: glares at Merina Did you hafta give her a Duo plushie....Why not Quatre or something? Meanie.

Miana: Yeah, yeah, whatever. frowns It seems that is messing things up again....

Selena: Now on to the story!

Worldly Escape

Chapter 8: Thoughtful Remembrance

By S&M

Quatre smiled. "Hello Duo. Long time, no see, ne?"

Selena stared. "Oh Kami-Sama....Why me? Three Gundam pilots are going to be hard to manage...."

Duo gaped at him and Trowa grinned. Selena glared at both of them.

"I hope you all know that I'm only taking Duo!" She told them warily.

The bishonen nodded. Trowa smirking at Duo, Duo glared back at him. Quatre watched the exchange and then turned amused eyes on Selena.

Selena met his eyes and shrugged. "Although, I seriously wouldn't mind catching Quatre, no offense Trowa, but if I caught you, I'd have huge problems." She turned red after revealing this new information.

Duo laughed, Trowa frowned and Quatre smiled in amusement. Selena realized they had never had the chance to set up camp. She sighed, and, pulling out her Hylpnex once more, she entered the Hoi Poi Capsule Storage and sifted through all the supplies she had until she found what she was looking for. She studied the screen for a moment, and then pushed a button and a house-ball appeared floating above the screen. She grabbed it. Pushing the button and placing it on the ground, a door appeared in a flash of light where the house-ball had been. The Bishonen looked up.

Duo frowned. "Where does that door lead?"

Selena grinned. "It leads to one of my PD Sphere Houses. I picked Mia's house, because we've got guests."

Duo studied the door. "Are you sure it leads to a house?"

Selena laughed. "It's just like the door leading to your apartment! It's no different; except it lets you enter a house. The convenient thing about these is that they don't take up much room. The only thing anyone will see is a door."

Duo shrugged. "Ok, whatever."

Selena opened the door. Duo stood up, grabbing Selena's pack and disappeared through the doorway. Trowa followed rather timidly. Quatre stopped and motioned for Selena to follow Trowa, when she did, he followed her, closing the door behind him.

Quatre found the lock on the door and locked it, and then he turned and surveyed the room in front of him. Trowa was on the couch. Selena had disappeared upstairs and Duo was looking at the books on the bookshelf.

Selena returned a minute later. "Duo, you're going to take the first room on your right. Quatre has the second room on the right, and Trowa has the third room on the left."

Duo nodded. "Which one are you taking?"

Selena grinned. "The one at the end of the hall."

Trowa frowned. "Is anyone besides me hungry?"

Quatre's stomach growled and he turned crimson. "Well, I guess I am..."

"And I most definitely am," added Duo.

"I'll make dinner," Selena said and disappeared into the kitchen.

Quatre grabbed a book off the bookshelf and sat down to read, while Trowa flopped onto the couch and turned on the T.V. and Duo disappeared into the kitchen after Selena.

After dinner, in which Duo almost took Trowa's head off, Selena sent the two troublemaker's to their rooms, making Quatre go to his soon after. She sat on the couch and observed the room, her expression unreadable as she took everything in. She allowed the memories to swamp her, as she'd allowed them to do before, but....Before, she'd been alone....

She sighed and got up, heading for the stairs and her room. She turned off the lights before she headed up the stairs, and floundered her way down a hallway she knew all too well. Reaching her room, she quietly opened the door and slipped in, closing it behind her, and leaning against it. She flicked the light switch, turning the lights on, and looked around.

After finishing her nightly examination of her room, she exchanged her day clothes for some pajamas. The pair she picked was a dark bluish-purple with suns, moons and stars on them. She wore a v-neck shirt and the sleeves of the shirt were bell-sleeves, which reached her finger tips, and the pants had bell bottoms, which engulfed her feet and reached the floor. Sitting down on her bed, she slowly undid her braid. Shaking her head to loosen up her hair a little, she got up and placed her hair tie on the dresser, then grabbed her brush.

Sitting down again, she started at the crown of her head and pulled the brush down. She felt a jerk and then a sharp flash of pain from her sensitive scalp and she immediately grabbed that area of her hair and fought with the tangle, grimacing slightly. Gentle hands caught her hands and pulled the brush out of her grip. Startled, her hands limply fell into her lap. Instead of the brush, a comb appeared in that area and began combing the tangles out of her hair.

After a moment she pulled one leg up and hugged it to her as the other one curled itself underneath her. The comb never tugged, pulled or yanked at her hair, but patiently worked at the large knot in her hair.

After a moment, her mysterious "rescuer" spoke. "I would've thought that anybody with this long of hair would not try to rake her brush through it."

She winced at his reproving tone. "I let my emotions get the better of me, I wasn't thinking. I usually don't rake my brush through my hair."

He sighed. "Were you thinking of you're world? You're home? You're family?"

Her vision became blurry as her eyes filled with tears. "In a way, yes....I was....Remembering...."

He never stopped combing her hair. "Do you usually wait until no one's around to cry?"

"I don't want to make anyone worry."

"Well, people are going to worry if they never see you cry, and....One day, you will come across someone whom will figure it out." He replied.

"Did you?" She asked.

"Yes, you have to remember Selena; I've grown up around Duo's. I know that that cheerfulness is just a mask. Being Shinigami never was easy."

"Don't I know it...." She said bitterly.

Finishing with her hair, he set the comb on the dresser. "How?"

"The GP's aren't the only ones with bad pasts, Duo...." She said softly.

Duo smiled. "GP's....Hmmm....Might that mean Gundam Pilots?"

She laughed softly. "Yes, it's been my nickname for you guys since I watched Gundam Wing."

Smirking slightly, Duo got up. "Well, we do need to get some sleep tonight. Remember Lena, I'm just in the next room if you need me. Oh, and, you can brush or play with my hair whenever you wish, just say the word."

Selena turned in surprise. "Are you serious?"

Duo nodded solemnly. "You let me brush yours."

She grinned and got a smirk in reply. In that moment she noticed that Duo had taken his own braid out and his hair hung loosely in slight curls, just like her own. She also noticed he didn't have any PJ's.

"Hey Duo?"

"Yes ma'am?"

She laughed. "When we reach the next town, I'm gonna get you some more clothes....And some PJ's."

He mock-saluted her. "As you wish, ma'am."

She watched him leave, then switched off the lights, climbed into bed and fell asleep, for the first time in a long time, with a smile on her face.

The next morning, Selena tiredly crept out of bed, combed her hair and padded out of her room, down the hall and down the stairs. Disappearing into the kitchen, she went about preparing breakfast, still half asleep. Not long after her, Duo appeared. She gave him a smile and then returned to making breakfast. Hesitating only a moment, he joined her in making breakfast.

Half an hour later, breakfast was ready. It was then that Quatre appeared in the kitchen. Duo glanced at him and Selena smiled cheerfully. Quatre returned her smiled and took a seat at the table on the side that wasn't occupied by Duo. Breakfast was eaten in silence, seeing as it was still morning.

Selena cleared the table when breakfast was finished. "How about we hang out in the living room and watch T.V. while we wait for Sleeping Beauty to get up?"

Duo nodded silently, pushing back some of his long hair. Quatre nodded with his trademark smile, making Selena's heart melt, and got up, heading for the living room. The other two followed him. Selena went to her room and got her comb, brush, and some hair ties. On her way back to the living room, she stopped in Duo's room and grabbed his hair tie as well. Then she went back to the living room.

Duo looked up when she entered the room, noticing the hair ties, he smiled. Conveniently, he was seated on the floor with his back to the couch. She clambered onto the couch and sat down behind him. Quatre glanced at them and quickly turned away, hiding a small smile. Selena set down her items, grabbed her brush and began to gently brush Duo's long silky brown locks.

They watched T.V. while Selena worked, and when she'd finished braiding Duo's hair, she gave Quatre a questioning look. "Would you like to brush my hair?"

Quatre looked up from idly studying the floor, startled. "Ano...." He took a minute to process her question, "Actually, if you wouldn't mind...."

She grinned. "Not at all, with the exception of last night, it's been a long time since someone last brushed my hair for me."

She got off the couch and went over and took a seat in front of the lounge chair Quatre was sitting in. She placed her brush and hair ties on the table beside the chair. Duo didn't move from where he was seated, yet he had a smirk on his face.

TBC....

Selena: Sorry it took so long....I had writer's block for quite a while and couldn't decide how to end this chapter....I really hope you like it, though.....

Duo: Ja ne!!