The Pirate's Soldier

by operation meteor

Heero's career as a Preventers operative takes a strange turn when he gets caught up in a fight between a Juraian royal and a notorious space pirate. As the two alien beauties settle in with him on Earth and more soon follow, the former Gundam pilot soon finds himself to be the target of their affections, with a certain lovely outlaw at the front of the pack! M for some language.

3. Chapter 3

Author's Notes: Well, the story's moving along at a decent clip so far, right? Unfortunately after this the pace of releases is going to slow up. Remember, I am working on this alongside my Gundam Wing/Gundam Seed crossover saga after all.

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: No Need For New Friends!

"Well," said Heero as he turned off the black car, "here we are."

They hadn't left Preventers HQ until quite late at night. This was intentional; Heero wanted to minimize the chances of witnesses as he took his new roommates to his residence. He wasn't worried about Ryoko and Ayeka; while their clothes may have been unusual by contemporary Earth standards they wouldn't attract more than a curious glance. The real concern was Azaka and Kamidake, who were both stowed away in the truck that had followed Heero into the underground parking lot of his apartment complex.

In the front passenger seat Ryoko looked out the window. "You live down here?"

Heero shook his head. "I'm towards the top floor. Come on, we need to unload Azaka and Kamidake and get them into the elevator fast."

"Lead the way, sir Heero," said Ayeka from the back seat, "We will follow you wherever you wish."

He opened the door and scanned the garage for signs of anyone else. Heero was still sore as he stood up, and he knew he would remain so for a few days, but the bandages were off and he counted that as progress. Seeing that the garage was quiet he signaled for Ryoko and Ayeka to get out and motioned for the truck behind him to unload Azaka and Kamidake.

"This way," he said as he headed towards the elevator.

It was a tight fit but somehow the five of them were able to squeeze into the elevator. The building had eight floors not counting the underground parking lot, and Heero hit the key for the seventh floor.

"Sir Heero," said Ayeka as the doors closed, "Please do not take offense, but I pray that your domicile is not as confined as this primitive contraption."

"It's fine," Heero replied, "and don't worry, there's plenty of room."

"Can this thing hurry up?" asked Ryoko, "It's cramped in here."

"We're almost there," said Heero.

There was a chime a few seconds later and the doors opened. Stepping out and going left down the hall and seeing that no one else was out and about, he led the way to his apartment.

Coming up to a door with the number 717 on it, he pulled out his key and unlocked it. "This is it."

He led the way into the apartment. It was a very nice upper-class residence; his salary as Preventers' top operative was considerable. The entryway had a coat and shoe closet just to the right of the door. After about a meter it opened up into a large central living area. There was a big right-angle couch in the middle, along with a large coffee table with a laptop on it and a flat screen TV mounted on the wall. A spacious kitchen was to the left of the living area, while a sliding glass door led out to a balcony with an excellent view of the ESUN's capital city. A hallway to the right led to the bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, a storage room, a closet, and a small office room.

Looking behind him, Heero saw Ryoko smile. "This is nice! You've got a sweet setup here, Heero!"

Ayeka gave a nod of approval. "This is quite a lovely residence, sir Heero. You've done very well for yourself."

"Quite so," said Azaka, "Staying here shall be quite pleasant."

"Indeed," said Kamidake, "I'm so glad Princess Ayeka approves."

Heero went over to the door to lock it after everyone was inside. "Did you want something to eat? I need to go grocery shopping, but I should have some food around here."

He heard the sound of stomachs rumbling, and looking back he saw both Ryoko and Ayeka smiling sheepishly.

"Food sounds good," said Ryoko.

Ayeka nodded. "If it would not be too much trouble, sir Heero."

"Make yourselves comfortable," said Heero as he went to the kitchen, "I'll see what I've got in the fridge."

….

Sitting down on the couch while Heero was in the kitchen, Ryoko took a moment to look around and admire the apartment. It definitely hadn't been what she was expecting someone like Heero to live in; she'd thought a government agent would've had something smaller. If she had to spend time on Earth this wasn't a bad place to live at. It was very well kept, but then again Heero didn't strike her as a slob.

She leaned back into the cushion. "I could get used to this."

"Yes, I'm sure this is considerably above the accommodations a low-class criminal like yourself is used to," said Ayeka as she sat down at the far end of the couch.

Ryoko folded her arms and scowled at her. "Well you'd better not spend the whole time we're here complaining that this isn't as luxurious as that damn palace of yours."

Ayeka gave her an indignant glare. "I would never! Unlike a rogue such as yourself, I have a proper sense of decorum and manners. I'm profoundly grateful that sir Heero has agreed to take me in, and while I would rather he not extend you the same courtesy I will not question his decision or raise a fuss about his residence! Of course, I wouldn't expect a corsair like you to understand such grace or appreciate the burden sir Heero is taking on in providing sanctuary for us."

"Hey!" Ryoko snapped, "I am plenty grateful that Heero's taken me in! What I don't get is why he's willing to put up with a spoiled brat like you!"

"Insults again!" snarled Ayeka, those small cylinders appearing in the air again and energy crackling around her, "I will make you pay for your insolence!"

Ryoko brought her hands together, gathering crimson energy between them. "Try it, you royal pain in the ass!"

The air between them sparked with their fury as the two women prepared to resume their earlier battle…

…only for both of them to be brought low by another round of grumbling from their stomachs.

Ryoko sighed and leaned back on the couch again. "I really don't have the energy for this right now."

"Me too," Ayeka mumbled, "I'm so hungry…"

"It'll be ready in about ten minutes," said Heero from the kitchen.

"Oh!" said Ayeka, looking over at him and smiling, "Please, no need to rush on our account, sir Heero!"

Ryoko winked at him. "Whenever you're ready, hotshot."

The handsome young pilot turned back to whatever it was he was cooking while Ryoko and Ayeka slumped on the couch. With nothing better to do the two of them started looking around the apartment again, although it was so well kept that there was really not much to see.

"Hmm," said Ayeka after a few minutes, "That's rather strange…"

"What is?" asked Ryoko absently.

"Look around this place," said Ayeka, "Do you know what is missing?"

"Food?" Ryoko quipped.

Ayeka shook her head. "No, you imbecile. Pictures!"

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"For your information," said Ayeka, "I haven't spent my entire life in the palace or the villas of the imperial aristocracy. I have visited the homes of the common people before, and in them without fail I have always found pictures of one sort or another. Some are of friends and family, some of places they've been, events they've witnessed… they may vary, but I have always seen pictures in the homes I have been to, whether they are commoner dwellings or the Jurai Royal Palace."

"Fascinating," Ryoko deadpanned, "Your point?"

"My point," said Ayeka with a glare, "is that there are none here. Take a look around and tell me I'm wrong if you dare!"

Ryoko sighed. "Fine, if it'll get you off my back."

Looking around, Ryoko saw that Ayeka was right. Not only were there no pictures, but it seemed that there were no mementos of any kind to provide insight into their host's past. Either such items were in his bedroom or somewhere out of sight, or there were none to speak of.

Just who is this guy?, she thought, All I really know about him is that he's a good pilot, a government agent, and handsome… I guess I'll just have to learn more as I go. He seems like a decent guy at least.

She was snapped out of her thoughts by the sight of Heero walking over with two plates. As he set them down on the coffee table Ryoko saw they each had three triangular slices of what looked like some kind of bread crust with sauce, cheese, and circular slices of meat on the top.

"What's this?" she asked.

"It's called pepperoni pizza," Heero replied, "Go ahead and try it."

"Do we just… use our bare hands?" asked Ayeka nervously.

"I can get you utensils if you prefer, Ayeka," said Heero.

"Come on, princess," said Ryoko as she grabbed a slice, "Stop trying to be so proper and just dig in!"

She took a bite and smiled at the taste. "Hey, this is good! Thanks, Heero!"

Ryoko saw Ayeka gingerly pick up a slice and take a small bite. "Oh, my… this is quite good."

Heero nodded. "I'll get you two some water."

"Thank you," said Ayeka.

"Just water?" asked Ryoko with a sly look in her eyes, "Come on, Heero, how about something stronger?"

Heero shook his head. "Not tonight. I'll break out a bottle of the good stuff some other time."

"Oh, so you do have a stash," said Ryoko, smirking, "Where's it at?"

The young man didn't reply, leaving Ryoko to pout as he went back to the kitchen.

"Really, Ryoko?" asked Ayeka between bites, "Heero's invited us into his home and is feeding us and you insist on imbibing alcohol? It's our first night here! Show some dignity!"

"Come on, Ayeka," said Ryoko, "It's not a welcome party without some good booze!"

"This isn't a welcome party," said Heero as he came back with two cups of water, "I didn't exactly have time to prep one, after all."

"Don't listen to her, sir Heero," said Ayeka, "I perfectly understand your situation. It's a pity Ryoko can't appreciate it."

"Hey, hold on there!" Ryoko snapped, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you're still being an ungrateful houseguest!" Ayeka replied, "We have been given shelter and you expect to be thrown a party? Have some consideration for our host!"

Ryoko grimaced. She wouldn't admit it openly, but Ayeka did have a point.

"That's enough, you two," said Heero as he sat between them on the couch, "You really should eat and then get some rest. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Oh?" said Ryoko between bites, "What are we doing?"

"Shopping," Heero replied, "I'm not really prepared for long-term guests, so I need to stock up on food and some other things. I also need to take you two out to get some new outfits. Sorry, but what you're wearing right now stands out around here. I need you two to blend in."

Ryoko smiled. "Aw, you're taking us out shopping? Well, aren't you a generous guy, Heero! This'll be fun!"

"Are you sure this is all right?" asked Ayeka, "I mean… I wouldn't want to impose any greater burden on you than I already am."

Ryoko smirked. Ayeka could play the demure, modest royal all she wanted, but the space pirate could tell by the look in her eyes that the princess was fighting to hold back her excitement. She was just as eager to buy some new clothes as Ryoko was.

"It's fine," said Heero, "I do well enough for myself that I can afford it."

"All right!" said Ryoko with a grin, "I can't wait for tomorrow!"

Ayeka nodded and smiled. "I agree. It promises to be a joyful excursion!"

Studying Heero, Ryoko was surprised to see a very small smile form on his face. "Maybe…"

"Excuse me, sir Heero?" Azaka cut in, "What about us?"

"As Princess Ayeka's guardians, we must accompany her on this shopping expedition!" said Kamidake.

Heero shook his head. "I can't allow it. I'm sorry, but you two stick out far too much."

"We insist on going!" said Azaka firmly.

"We must protect Princess Ayeka!" cried Kamidake.

"Azaka, Kamidake, that is enough!" Ayeka cut in, "I'm sure that I will be quite safe with sir Heero. You will remain here. Is that understood?"

The lights flashed on both guardians. "Yes, Princess Ayeka."

Ryoko glanced over at Heero and saw that he didn't have any food. "Hey, Heero, what's up? Aren't you going to eat anything?"

"Don't tell me you provided us with the last of your food!" cried Ayeka.

Heero shook his head. "It's fine, I'm just not hungry. I had something to eat earlier while you two were in the interrogation rooms. I'm good for now."

"If you say so," said Ryoko as she continued to chow down.

"Very well," said Ayeka before doing the same.

After the two of them finished and Heero put their plates and cups in the dishwasher and sat back down with them. He was quiet for a moment, and Ryoko wondered what was on his mind.

"Listen," he said, "I've got some spare blankets, but I'm afraid I don't have any bedrolls here. Tonight you two will have to share the couch. I'll pick you both up bedrolls among the other items I grab on our shopping trip tomorrow. Can you two promise me you won't try to fight each other anymore tonight?"

Ryoko sighed. "Fine, but only because I don't have the energy for it. I'm too tired to argue."

Ayeka nodded reluctantly. "It can't be helped for tonight. You will have peace from us this evening, sir Heero. I give you my word."

Heero nodded, and Ryoko thought she saw him relax slightly. "Thank you."

He looks tired, she thought, I guess I shouldn't stir anything up until tomorrow. He really needs to rest tonight.

He stood up and went down the hallway towards the closet. "I'll be right back."

Ryoko watched as the young man dug through the closet and pulled out two folded blankets. He then came back to the living room and set both down on the floor in front of the couch.

"These are all I have for tonight," he said, "You can use these and the couch pillows. I hope that's okay for now."

Ryoko smiled. "It's fine. Don't worry about it."

"Yes," said Ayeka, smiling as well, "Thank you, sir Heero."

Heero nodded. "Well, it's late, so if you two are good here I'm going to turn in. I'll make you both breakfast in the morning, and then we'll head out for shopping."

"You got it," said Ryoko, winking at him, "Looking forward to it, Heero!"

"Good night, sir Heero!" said Ayeka, "I eagerly await tomorrow. Do rest well."

"Thank you," said Heero, "Good night, both of you."

Both women watched as the young man went down the hallway before entering his room and closing the door behind him.

"Well," said Ryoko, "he's an interesting guy."

Ayeka nodded. "Quite so. He's very gracious, and he seems to be well disciplined. I imagine he wouldn't be out of place in the Jurai Imperial Fleet."

Ryoko shook her head. "In your dreams, Ayeka."

Ayeka chuckled. "What's the matter, Ryoko? Afraid I might recruit him to join our ranks? Why, if I did that, he'd be beyond your reach, wouldn't he?"

Ryoko glared. "Why, you… there's no way he'd become the lapdog of you and your father!"

"Our soldiers are hardly lapdogs!" Ayeka replied, "They are the guardians of peace and justice in the Empire, both highly valued and respected! I would give Heero a place of honor within Jurai! What could an outlaw like you possibly offer him when compared to that?"

Ryoko smiled. "That's easy; freedom. For someone like him I bet that'd be quite appealing."

"Princess Ayeka," Azaka chimed in, "This hardly seems proper."

"Quite so," said Kamidake, "You've only just met sir Heero. What would your father or mother say if they saw you behaving like this over a man you're barely acquainted with?"

Ayeka looked down and blushed. "Oh, my… I had not considered that. What has come over me?"

Ryoko could've pounced on such an opening, but she didn't. Truth be told, her mind had gone in a similar direction as Ayeka's; why was she acting this way over a guy she'd just met yesterday?

Well, she thought, he's hardly an ordinary guy. He's… interesting….

She sighed. "Look, Ayeka, I'll argue with you more tomorrow. I told Heero I wouldn't fight you anymore tonight, so I'm just going to get some shuteye."

Ayeka flushed with embarrassment. "Oh, dear! I gave him my word on that! Now look at me… this is shameful!"

Ignoring her, Ryoko got up and went over to a nearby wall where she flicked a light switch. As darkness fell over the room she went back to the couch, grabbed one of the blankets Heero had left them before laying down on her side of the couch. On the other side Ayeka grabbed her blanket and settled in as well, laying on her side with her back to Ryoko.

She's lucky I told Heero I wouldn't cause any more trouble tonight, Ryoko thought with a smirk, Any other night and her back would be an impossible target to resist.

Lying on her back, she looked up at the ceiling and smiled. It was hard to believe that a little over twenty-four hours ago she had been flying through this star system in a running fight with Ayeka. Now here she was with her enemy, the two of them settling down for the night in the apartment of the pilot that had interrupted their battle. It was such a strange turn of events, and Ryoko was sure that it wouldn't be the last surprise she'd find on this world.

I hope you're ready, Heero, she thought, because if I have anything to say about it, you're going to be in for a wild ride!

….

September 4th, A.C. 198

"This is our first stop," said Heero as he parked the car.

Shutting it off and stepping out of the vehicle, the Perfect Soldier patiently waited for his two female companions to join them. A refreshing breeze rustled his thick brown hair, and he was glad that he had worn his dark blue jacket today. When they were out of the vehicle he saw both of them turn towards the large building that they had arrived at.

"What is this place?" asked Ayeka.

"It's a grocery store," said Heero, "I need to stock up on food since you two are staying with me. We'll pick up some toiletries here too. After we're done here we'll drop the food and supplies off at my place and head back out to grab your bed rolls and new clothes."

"All right!" said Ryoko, "Let's go!"

Heero nodded. "Try not to start a fight in there. You two stand out enough as it is"

"No promises!" said Ryoko with a smirk, "Ayeka makes it too much fun."

Ayeka folded her arms. "If you start a fuss, Ryoko, I will make sure you regret it. You got lucky in the orbital battle; I suggest you don't push your fortune."

Heero shook his head. "No fighting. Is that clear?"

"Aw, come on, Heero!" said Ryoko as she put her arm around him, "Can't I have a little fun with Ayeka?"

"If by 'fun' you mean 'be an uncivilized brute', you most certainly may not!" said Ayeka as she grabbed Heero's arm, "And just what are you doing, grabbing sir Heero like that?"

Ryoko chuckled. "You tell me, Princes. You're doing the same thing!"

"Yes," said Ayeka as she pulled on Heero's arm, "in order to get him away from a foul outlaw such as yourself!"

"But he doesn't want to be kept away from me!" said Ryoko as she tightened her grip on Heero, "Come on, Heero, you know I'm a lot more fun than this uptight snob could ever be!"

"Why, you…" growled Ayeka.

What the hell, thought Heero, thoroughly bemused by the situation, have I gotten myself into?

He shook the two women off of him. "That's enough. Control yourselves or I'll take you both back to the apartment and handle this myself."

Ryoko chuckled. "Come on, Heero, do you really think I'd stay there? I can fly and go through walls, remember? You're going to have to come up with something better than that!"

"Azaka and Kamidake can bind her, sir Heero!" said Ayeka, "Just say the word and upon our return I will have them both restrain her!"

"Hah!" said Ryoko, "I'd like to see you try!"

Heero wouldn't openly admit it, but Ryoko was right. Ayeka's guardians might be able to restrain her, but could he really expect to be able to get her back to the apartment so they could do that? Could he also count on Ayeka to stay put? She acted noble and proper, but the Gundam pilot had caught on to the energy that she was trying to conceal; she was just as feisty as Ryoko.

How the hell am I supposed to manage these two?, he thought, I can't believe Sally and Director Une though it was a good idea to put me in charge of them.

The two of them did seem to like him, at least. Maybe there was a way he could use that…

"Listen, you two," he said, "If you cause a commotion in there, you have no idea the kind of hell that my superiors could bring down on us. I could lose observational custody of you and you'd be left to fend for yourselves."

"Wait," said Ayeka, her eyes widening, "you mean that you would be forbidden from sheltering us?"

Heero nodded. "In a nutshell, yes."

"Hey!" said Ryoko, folding her arms, "They can't do that!"

"I'm a member of Preventers," said Heero firmly, "I have to follow the orders I'm given. That's why I took you two in to begin with, and if I'm ordered to cast you both out then I'll have to do that."

Ayeka sighed, and Heero watched carefully as he saw her turn towards Ryoko and hold out her hand.

"Ryoko," she said with a grimace, "I… propose a truce, for the moment. For sir Heero's sake… do you accept?"

Her pride must be killing her right about now, thought Heero, Having to make that sort of gesture…

To his relief he saw Ryoko sigh and accept Ayeka's hand. "Fine, but I'm only doing this for Heero, and only while we're out today. As soon as we're back it's open season, you got that?"

Ayeka smirked. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Ryoko."

Heero nodded. "Okay, let's go."

….

Following Heero inside, Ryoko saw Ayeka's eyes widen in surprise.

"What manner of place is this?" she asked.

Ryoko chuckled. "That's right, since you live in a palace you've never had to go grocery shopping in your life, have you?"

Ayeka quickly collected herself. "Well, given your social status I can't exactly see you as a regular at establishments such as this."

"Hey, I had to get food somewhere," said Ryoko, "and there's this great thing called a disguise, Princess. It really comes in handy for when you really need to buy something with stolen cash."

Ayeka scowled at her. "Yes, I suppose that's a skill someone like you would have a need for."

Ryoko may have been ribbing Ayeka on her luxurious upbringing, but truth be told she was rather surprised by the store Heero had taken them to as well. While she had seen similar places in her travels across the galaxy, this one was considerably larger than those she had visited before.

"Ryoko?" said Heero, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She turned and saw him with a shopping cart. "What's up, Heero?"

"You two should follow me," he said as he moved forward, "It's actually easy to get separated in here."

Ryoko nodded and smiled. "All right, let's grab some food!"

As she followed along a sweet smell hit her nose; it was the scent of sizzling meat. Looking around, Ryoko quickly found the source. It was a table with a portable stove on it, and on the stove was a pan with thin strips of meat.

"Bacon samples here!" said a teenage girl from behind the table, "Come try a sample of our meat department's superb bacon!"

Ryoko licked her lips as she made a beeline for the table. She didn't know what bacon was, but if that smell was any indication she had to have some.

"I'll take some!" she said, practically salivating over the food in front of her.

The girl smiled at her and took a strip and put it on a small paper plate, passing it to Ryoko along with a napkin. "Here you go!"

Ryoko snatched the bacon with no sense of decorum and immediately wolfed it down. Her eyes widened, and she smiled at the taste. The smell had been just a hint of the wonders of this food!

"That's awesome!" she said, "I want more!"

"Sorry, ma'am," said the girl behind the table, "but we only give out one sample per customer."

Ryoko paid her no heed. Using her napkin, she quickly reached forward and grabbed another piece before the girl could react and swiftly chomped it down.

"Ma'am!" cried the girl.

"Really, Ryoko," said Ayeka from behind her, her arms folded, "What has gotten into you?"

"Here," said Ryoko as she tossed another strip of bacon at Ayeka, "You gotta try this!"

"Ma'am, please!" pleaded the girl, "If you want more you need to buy it and cook it yourself!"

Ryoko ignored the girl and watched as Ayeka took a small bite of the bacon. The princess's eyes narrowed for a moment before she swiftly chomped down on the rest of the strip. Ayeka then rushed towards the table.

"This is superb!" she cried, "I must have another at once!"

"One sample per customer!" cried the girl behind the table.

It was to no avail; both Ryoko and Ayeka were snatching every piece they could and chowing down. In what seemed like the blink of an eye there was only one piece left on the pan. The space pirate and the crown princess glared at each other in an unspoken challenge, but before they could fight for the final piece they were both suddenly pulled back by a pair of very strong hands.

"What do you two think you're doing?" said Heero.

His expression was as calm and collected as ever, but Ryoko could tell by the hardness of his eyes that he was not particularly thrilled with her and Ayeka at the moment.

"Aw, come on, Heero!" she said, "The food's so good! I just couldn't help myself!"

"Yes," said Ayeka, giving him an apologetic look, "It… it was quite excellent. I've never had anything like it before. Oh, dear… I don't know what came over me there. I'm so sorry, sir Heero!"

Heero sighed as he let go of the two women. Ryoko watched as he then moved forward and grabbed the last piece of bacon that she and Ayeka had been about to fight over. He ate it and was quiet for a moment before turning to the girl behind the table.

"I apologize for my friends' behavior, miss," he said, "I'm afraid that they're new to this part of the world. To make up for their devouring of all your samples I'd like to purchase two packages of the bacon you're selling here."

The girl nodded and smiled at him before gesturing towards a nearby refrigerated shelf. "It's right over there, sir."

"Thank you," said Heero before grabbing two packs and placing them in the shopping cart.

He then turned to Ryoko and Ayeka. "Are you two going to be like this at every sample table?"

Ryoko sighed. "All right, I'll keep it together."

Ayeka nodded. "As will I. You will have no trouble from me, I assure you."

Heero nodded. "Good. I'd rather this store didn't ban me thanks to the two of you. Let's grab what we need before they decide to do that."

Ryoko and Ayeka both fell in behind Heero as he made his way through the myriad of aisles, periodically pulling a small piece of paper out of his pocket and consulting it before grabbing some item or another off a shelf. Having seen her fair share of the galaxy in her travels as an outlaw Ryoko had naturally encountered a wide variety of foods, but she was still greatly interested in what Heero was stocking up on. Meats, fruits, vegetables, bread, snacks... it was quite a diverse assortment.

It looks like I'll be eating pretty well during my stay here, she thought, I hope Heero's a good cook. He did a nice job with that pizza last night at least.

It wasn't just food that Heero was stocking up on. After a while they reached an aisle that seemed to be devoted to personal hygiene. Ryoko watched as the young man picked up toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, hairbrushes, and other items and piled them into the cart along with the food. Ryoko had been expecting Ayeka to complain that the items Heero was grabbing were not worthy of royalty, but much to her surprise she didn't fuss at all about it. On the contrary, she seemed quite thankful for it.

"We're almost done here," said Heero as they left that section of the store, "There's just a few more things I want to grab."

Ryoko and Ayeka followed their steward as he led them back through the store. The space pirate smiled as she soon saw shelves, both refrigerated and not, with rows of bottles and cans. She may have been unfamiliar with this planet and what it had to offer, but she knew booze when she saw it.

"Sweet!" she said, "Now you're talking, Heero!"

"My, my," said Ayeka as she looked around, "They have quite a selection here."

Heero nodded but didn't say anything. Instead he browsed the shelves, apparently looking for a particular bottle.

Glancing off towards the end of the aisle, Ryoko's smile grew as she saw another sample table set up. "I'll be right back."

"Just where do you think you're going?" said Ayeka.

"To have some fun!" said Ryoko as she hurried over to the table.

"Now hold on a moment!" cried Ayeka as she ran after her.

The two women arrived at the table, and Ryoko's eyes lit up at what the young man behind it was offering. Arrayed out on the table were several cups filled with red wine.

"Hey there," said Ryoko, batting her eyelashes at the boy behind the table, "Mind if I take a sip?"

The young man blushed under her gaze and nodded. "Sure, go ahead!"

Wine was supposed to be sipped slowly, but Ryoko wasn't one for refined drinking; she pounded her beverage back like a shot glass. She closed her eyes and sighed as she felt it course through her; it was very good.

"Mmmm," she said, "I could drink this all day…"

"You most certainly will not!" said Ayeka as she grabbed a glass, "After all I've endured over these past few days I believe that I deserve such refreshment far more than you."

Ryoko scowled at her, but that soon became a smirk as she saw Ayeka begin drinking the wine. The princess's face soon became red, and Ryoko could tell that the royal was definitely a lightweight.

"Oh, my…" said Ayeka, looking a little shaky as she took another sip, "This is… quite good…"

"What's the matter, princess?" said Ryoko, "Too strong for you?"

Ayeka glared at Ryoko. "Ha! As if!"

Ryoko watched as the princess quickly downed the rest of her glass. The red in her face became darker, and Ryoko had the satisfaction of seeing Ayeka become noticeably unsteady on her feet.

"Called it!" she said with a grin, "You're about to fall on your ass, Ayeka!"

Ayeka emphatically shook her head. "I'll have you know that I'm just fine, you loathsome cur! Why, I think I'll have another! Try and match me if you dare!"

Ryoko chuckled. "Princess, please. There's no way you can beat me in a drinking contest!"

"We'll soon find out!" snapped Ayeka as she reached for a glass.

"Bring it on!" said Ryoko as she moved for a cup as well.

"Hey!" said the young man behind the table, "You can only have one each!"

"I thought you two told me that you would keep it together," said a familiar male voice from behind them.

Both women jumped and turned around to see Heero standing behind them, his arms folded as he looked at them.

"Well?" he said expectantly.

Ryoko sighed and put her glass back on the table. "Oh, all right… but only because it's you, Heero."

"Yes," said Ayeka as she set her cup down as well, "I do apologize, sir Heero."

The young pilot nodded, and Ryoko's eyes lit up as she saw a few bottles in the cart, including the same kind of wine she and Ayeka had just been drinking. She wondered if this was happy coincidence or if he had deliberately picked that one out after she and Ayeka had run off to the sample table.

"Well, now," said Ryoko, smiling at Heero, "Are you stocking up for a party, Heero?"

Heero shrugged. "I might open up a bottle later."

"Playing host to you, I'm sure he needs it," Ayeka muttered at Ryoko.

Ryoko glared at her. "Hey, it sounds like you're saying that I'm bad company!"

"That's exactly what I'm saying!" Ayeka snapped at her.

Ryoko went over to Heero and put her arm around him. "Aw, Heero, you don't think that about me, do you?"

"At this point," said Heero as he shook her off, "I don't know what to think about either of you. Come on, we need to pay for all this and head out."

Ryoko and Ayeka glared at each other behind his back for a moment before following him towards the front of the store. Along the way Ryoko found herself thinking about what Ayeka had just said, along with Heero's reaction to it.

He doesn't really think I'm a problem… does he?

She found that the notion actually kind of hurt. Ryoko may have wanted to have a good time, and she certainly didn't mind doing so on Heero's dime, but she didn't want him to be upset with her. If anything, she wanted him to join her in her fun.

"Hey, Heero," she said, sidling up next to him, "Why don't we open up one of those bottles later tonight, huh? We can just kick back on the couch, have a drink, and relax. Hell, I'm fine if Ayeka joins in too."

Her host turned to her, and while he seemed as calm and collected as ever Ryoko could tell that he was actually thinking about her suggestion. "Perhaps…"

Ayeka seemed taken aback by Ryoko's inclusion of her. "What are you playing at?"

Ryoko shook her head. "No games this time, I promise. We'll just hang out and share a bottle. I've got nothing up my sleeves this time, Ayeka."

Ayeka slowly nodded. "Well… it does sound rather nice. Sir Heero, what say you?"

After a moment their host nodded. "Yes, it does. I'll consider it… if you two behave yourselves."

Ryoko gave him a playful smile. "Well, I can't really make any promises there… but I'll try, Heero."

"You have my solemn word, sir Heero," said Ayeka with a smile, "there will be no more trouble from me."

"All right," said Heero, "Let's get all this paid for and take it home. After that we're going back out. There are a few more places I want to take you both to."

….

As she stepped out of the car, Ayeka's eyes widened in amazement. "My goodness! Where have you taken us now?"

The building in front of them appeared to be only two stories tall at the most, but what it lacked in height it made up for in area. It was quite wide, and the parking lot surrounding it was like a large field of concrete full of cars. Unlike the grocery store Heero had taken her and Ryoko to earlier there was no single identifying sign or logo on the front. Rather there appeared to be several different ones over the various entrances of the building.

Ryoko folded her arms. "Seriously, Ayeka? You've never seen a mall before? Man, you really are sheltered."

Ayeka glared at her. "I most certainly am not, Ryoko! For your information I've heard of these 'malls', I've just never been to one myself!"

"Will this be a problem?" asked Heero as he exited the vehicle and locked it.

Ayeka quickly turned to him and shook her head. "Oh, no, not at all, sir Heero! I'm just unfamiliar with an establishment such as this."

Heero nodded. "I understand. This place can be a little disoriented for newcomers. I want both of you to stay with me so you don't get lost. Is that understood?"

Ayeka nodded and smiled, encouraged that she had such a man to serve as her guide. "Quite so, sir Heero. I'm grateful for your assistance."

"All right," said Ryoko with a smirk, "Besides, why would I wander off? I'm sure I'll have plenty of fun here with you, Heero."

Once again Ayeka's heartbeat increased at the pirate's flirtatious tone. She didn't know why she kept getting so flustered when it happened. As a crown princess she was supposed to be above this, wasn't she? Nevertheless she just couldn't help herself.

"Oh, you have no sense of propriety, you tramp!" she huffed as she took Heero by the left arm, "Sir Heero can enjoy himself quite well without you pulling him into the gutter!"

Ryoko retaliated by grabbing Heero's left arm and pressing up tightly against him. "Come on, Heero, don't listen to her. She's so uptight she wouldn't know a good time if it kicked her in the ass! I, on the other hand, can show you how to really loosen up! Come on, let's ditch this royal brat, what do you say?"

Once again Heero shook the two of them off before folding his arms and giving them a firm stare. "That's enough. It's my responsibility to look after both of you, and I'm going to do that. If you two keep this up then we're not going to share that bottle tonight."

"Aw, Heero!" Ryoko pouted, "Don't be like that!"

Ayeka's eyes widened. "Really, sir Heero, there's no call for that! Please share a drink with me tonight!"

"I told you two back at the grocery store," said Heero, "that I would share that bottle with you both only if you behaved yourselves. Are you ready to start doing that?"

Ryoko sighed. "Oh, all right, Heero."

Ayeka bowed her head. "Of course, sir Heero. I apologize for my conduct."

Heero nodded. "Okay. Let's go."

Ayeka and Ryoko both followed Heero through the parking lot and towards the building. As they walked Ayeka could feel her stomach rumbling. They'd stopped by Heero's apartment earlier to drop off all the food they had purchased at the grocery store, but then they'd gone right back out without stopping to eat.

"Uhm, sir Heero?" she said, "I don't mean to impose any further burden on you, but… would this mall happen to have a place to eat?"

"Yeah," said Ryoko, "I'm getting kinda hungry myself."

To her relief Heero simply nodded. "There's a food court just through this entrance. We can grab something there."

Ayeka was puzzled. "What's a food court?"

"You'll see," Heero replied.

Ayeka simply nodded, content to follow her host until she had her answer. She furtively studied him as they headed towards the entrance.

He was unlike anyone that Ayeka had ever met in the Empire. As crown princess she had naturally met her share of soldiers, guardsmen, and knights, so Heero's disciplined nature wasn't exactly alien to her, but even then she was still struck by how calm and stoic he remained regardless of what life seemed to throw at him. He was very reserved, and while he had given her some information during yesterday's interviews Ayeka was keenly aware of just how little she truly knew about the young man in front of her.

His demeanor could be cold at times, but he'd treated both her and Ryoko with courtesy. While he may have been reluctant to accept the orders from his superiors to shelter them that did not change the fact that Heero had ultimately followed those instructions and was now doing everything he could to help them settle in. Ayeka had been concerned over how he might treat her in light of the fact that she had shot him down, but to her relief he did not seem to be holding a grudge. He was acting like a soldier and a gentleman, and while he was a rather withdrawn man he was not a cruel one. In fact, his actions towards her and Ryoko struck Ayeka as quite compassionate and understanding given the circumstances.

He was a skilled pilot, a dutiful soldier, a respectful and courteous host…

… and he was quite handsome.

Ayeka felt herself blushing as she continued to stare at the young man in front of her, praying that he would not turn around. A glance to the side revealed Ryoko looking at their host as well, a smile on her face that to Ayeka did not bode well.

What has gotten into me?, she thought, Ever since I crashed on this planet, ever since meeting sir Heero, I have not been myself… and why do I keep referring to him by a title reserved for one of knighthood?

She supposed part of it had to do with the way he conducted himself. There was a noble bearing about him that she could not deny. From what little she knew about his role in the organization he'd called Preventers, his position appeared to be somewhere between that of foot soldier and commander. The woman called Sally had referred to him as an agent, but Ayeka's only experience with men and women holding that title was of the Jurai Imperial Intelligence Bureau. Her encounters with those agents had been quite rare, but the impressions that they had left had hardly been the same as what she had gotten from Heero. There was an almost devious aura to JIIB agents, along with some degree smugness, as though they took great pleasure in being privy to secrets and knowledge that others were not. Ayeka found none of that in Heero. He seemed confident, but not arrogant, a man who knew his skills and knowledge were exceptional but did not let it go to his head. His duty was one of protection, and as he was currently assigned to protect and watch over her Ayeka supposed that 'knight' fit him quite well under the circumstances.

If pressed, though, she could not deny that calling him 'sir Heero' was also a mild form of flattery on her part. Her respect was real, but it was also tinged with the desire to make herself stand out from Ryoko and to be more worthy of his attention. The outlaw could play the temptress all she wanted; Ayeka would win Heero's favor by demonstrating the nobility and refinement of Jurai's crown princess.

She felt her face warm again. Win his favor? She was acting like some maiden in a fantasy story over a young man she had only just met! This was not the behavior expected of a woman of her position. She could only imagine the ridicule she'd face from her family if they could see her know, although Sasami would at least support her. Ayeka's conduct was absolutely embarrassing!

And yet she could not help herself.

Following Heero and Ryoko into the mall, Ayeka was distracted from her thoughts by the sight that greeted her.

"What is this?" she asked, her eyes widening.

They had come into a large concourse of some kind. There were two long and wide corridors, one to the left and one to the right, and as she glanced down them Ayeka could see that they were lined with shops. However, it was the area that they had just entered that had really taken Ayeka back. Apart from where the corridors began, every wall seemed to have some sort of food vendor working out of it. A variety of smells hit Ayeka's nose. One establishment was serving the food called 'pizza' that Heero had given her and Ryoko the night before, while the others served different foods. There was a place that had what looked like fried chicken, another that served meats, cheese, and vegetables wrapped up in what looked to be flour shells of some kind, at least two cafes, an establishment that was offering meat and vegetables between two slices of bread, an outlet offering rice and seafood, one selling what looked to be dough knotted into strange shapes and sprinkled with salt… and so much more. In the center of the concourse was a broad expanse devoted to tables, and it was teeming with people.

To her right she saw Ryoko grin. "All right! Jackpot!"

Ayeka turned to Heero. "Sir Heero, I take it that this is the…'food court' that you spoke of?"

Heero nodded and lead the way in. "Come on. If you see something you want to try, just ask."

"Don't mind if I do!" said Ryoko, looking like she might just devour everything the vendors were offering.

Really, thought Ayeka with disdain, she could at least show a modicum of restraint!

However, at the same time Ayeka could not deny feeling a ravenous desire coming on as she toured the various establishments with her companions. There was so much on display, so many different things to choose from, that it was tempting to just try a bite of everything.

"This is really quite impressive!" she said, "I never imagined this place would have such a wide variety of food."

"Brussels is the capital city of the ESUN," said Heero, "All roads lead here, as they say, and as such the city is a global hub of trade, finance, diplomacy, and culture. Whether it's from Earth or the colonies, if there's something you want, you can find it in Brussels. This mall was actually just completed and opened last year, and from what I understand it's been doing steady business ever since. They've got food from all over the world in here."

"Fascinating," said Ayeka, "It reminds me a bit of my homeworld; as the capital of the Empire, planet Jurai is a great nexus of commerce. However, our customs regulations are rather… stringent. Your Brussels seems far more open by comparison, although as I've only seen a very small part of the city I can't say that for certain."

"You're not wrong," Heero replied, "This is an open city; people can come and go as they please. That being said, as the global capital Brussels naturally has a strong security presence."

Ayeka nodded; she had noticed several police officers on various corners during the drive to the mall. However, from the glimpses she had gotten they'd seemed friendly enough, and people had been moving about with such freedom. The city seemed to be a very vibrant place, and its peacekeepers looked to be relaxed and at ease in their interactions with the community from what she had observed. It was a marked contrast to Jurai; at times Ayeka had found the capital's public law enforcement officers to be rather intimidating and aloof, although their commitment to protecting and serving the people was not in doubt.

"How many people live in this city?" she asked.

The young man looked thoughtful for a moment before replying. "The main urban area has about three million residents, but when you add in the broader metropolitan area it then jumps to around seven million. Brussels doesn't have the highest population in the Earth Sphere, but as the capital it is dominant."

"I see," said Ayeka, "That's yet another similarity it shares with my homeworld. Planet Jurai is actually not the most populous world in the Empire; there are actually several planets in the realm that boast higher populations. However, Jurai is the cultural, trade, and political heart of the monarchy. The Empire is named for it, after all."

"This is fascinating and all," Ryoko deadpanned, "but could we save the social studies lesson until after we grab a bite to eat?"

Ayeka glowered at her, but before she could formulate a sufficiently biting reply the fight was stolen from her by the grumbling of her stomach.

She was forced to concede for this round. "Yes, I suppose a meal is in order. Sir Heero, do you have any suggestions as to what we should eat?"

Heero shrugged. "Just look around. When you find something you want, just let me know."

Ayeka was going to press him further but the way he simply turned around and began browsing the various vendors told her that she would get no more out of him than that.

Well, she thought, I suppose I should start looking around. I wonder if they have anything similar to Jurai cuisine...

It took about ten minutes until Ayeka found what she was looking for. It was a vendor called 'Musashi's Teriyaki'. On the menu up on the wall Ayeka could see dishes that looked surprisingly Juraian; a mixture of rice, meats, and vegetables.

She smiled and looked around until she found Heero before jumping up and down and raising her hand to get his attention. "Sir Heero, sir Heero! Could you please come over here?"

As he approached with Ryoko in tow she saw that the two of them had already loaded up on food. On his tray Heero had what looked like a flour wrapping with meat and cheese stuffed into it, while Ryoko had a thick slice of meat between two pieces of bread along with a container full of many small, yellow stick-like things. Both also had paper cups that Ayeka assumed contained their beverages.

Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "Huh. I thought it would take you all day to figure out what you wanted."

"Do you know what you'd like to eat?" asked Heero as he put his tray down on the nearby counter.

Ayeka nodded. "Yes. Could you please purchase me an order of rice and chicken? Oh, and also a bottle of juice!"

Heero nodded and pulled out his wallet before relaying her order to the young man behind the counter. A few minutes later Ayeka was dished up and her meal paid for. She and Ryoko then followed Heero over to the central part of the food court where they all sat down around a table.

"All right, time to dig in!" said Ryoko with a smile, "Thanks, Heero!"

Ayeka nodded. "Indeed. Thank you very much, sir Heero."

"Don't mention it," he replied as he took a sip of his drink.

The princess studied her companions' food. "What did you two get?"

"Heero said this thing's called a burger," said Ryoko as she held up her food, licking her lips in anticipation, "and those little things in the box are fries."

"I see," said Ayeka, "Sir Heero, what about yours?"

"It's a beef burrito," he replied, "It comes from a continent far to the west of this one, across the Atlantic Ocean."

Ayeka smiled. "It looks good. I'll have to try it next time."

Grabbing her chopsticks, Ayeka picked up a piece of chicken and took a bite. She smiled at the taste; it was quite good, and it reminded her of meals she had eaten back on her homeworld. Even the chopsticks were similar too, and she wondered how two completely different worlds had still developed similar eating utensils.

By contrast, both Heero and Ryoko's meals appeared to be finger food. They both seemed to be enjoying them, though of course the former was eating with more reserve than the latter.

"This is great!" said Ryoko in between bites, "So good!"

Ayeka nodded as she savored her food. "Quite so. Sir Heero, where does this food come from?"

"An island region in the Far East," Heero replied.

As she continued to eat Ayeka became aware of several pairs of eyes watching their table. Looking around she saw several nearby people staring at the three of them, or more specifically her and Ryoko.

The space pirate had apparently noticed the attention as well. "What's up with these people? It's like they've never seen a woman eat before."

"Sir Heero," said Ayeka nervously, "are we doing something wrong? Why are people staring at us?"

"I imagine it's because of your clothes," Heero replied calmly, "You both stand out around here."

Ayeka blushed, suddenly quite keenly aware of how outlandish she appeared dressed in her royal kimono when compared to the people that surrounded her. Ryoko's tunic and leggings had an exotic look as well and were drawing more than a few stares, but Ayeka was sure that she was getting more attention than the pirate.

"Oh, dear," she said, "This is all I have to wear!"

"Hey, I'm in the same boat, princess," said Ryoko, "I'm okay with people admiring me when I want them to, but I got to admit this is getting kind of annoying."

"Don't worry," said Heero, "As soon as we're done here the first place we're going is a clothing store. I'll buy you each a few outfits so you'll fit in better around here."

Ayeka nodded and smiled. "Thank you very much, sir Heero."

Ryoko smiled as well, although Ayeka thought she detected a mischievous look in her eyes. "I'm looking forward to it, Heero."

That fiendish woman, thought Ayeka, Just what is she planning now?

If Heero had noticed what Ayeka had, he gave no sign of it. Her young host continued to eat, occasionally scanning the crowd around them or giving Ayeka and Ryoko brief, mysterious glances, but other than that he seemed content to continue his meal in peace.

Ayeka didn't know what was going through Ryoko's mind, but she realized that she too was looking forward to going to whatever clothing store Heero had in mind after their meal. She was so used to tailors from the royal palace providing her wardrobe; it would be an interesting experience to try on outfits at a vendor like commoners did. Earth fashions were a curious thing to her, and she wondered what she would look like in the attire that the locals wore.

She found herself smiling as she continued her meal. She'd already experienced several new things since coming to this planet, and she was eagerly anticipating the next strange and wondrous event it would throw her way…

…especially with such a handsome escort guiding her path.

….

Leaning back in the chair, Heero mentally sighed.

I really didn't think this through…

He was back by the store's changing section, while Ryoko and Ayeka occupied separate stalls. They'd entered the store about an hour ago, and his two lovely alien companions had spent most of it browsing outfits before grabbing several of them and dragging Heero with them back to where he was now.

Taking a woman out shopping for clothes, let alone two of them, was a completely new experience for him. The Perfect Soldier had been caught completely off guard by the enthusiasm both women had displayed when they had entered the store. Neither of them may have been native to Earth, but it was clear they didn't need his help in picking out clothing; they both seemed to know instinctively what their respective sizes were despite being unfamiliar with the units of measurement used in the ESUN. Occasionally both ladies would look back at him as they were picking out what to try on, their eyes going from him to the clothes and back again, though for what purpose Heero couldn't say. They seemed to be evaluating him for something, though Heero had no idea what they were looking for. He was way out of his element here, and while he had been their guide up to this point now he just felt like he was along for the ride.

There goes last month's bonus, he thought, It's a good thing Preventers pays me a considerable salary or I'd be in real trouble here. Still, I'd better not let them go overboard with this…

Still, the Gundam pilot was at a loss for how he might hold them both back. They were both so energetic and excited, snatching up outfits with gleeful abandon. It was so strange to him…

…but not in a bad way.

Truth be told, Heero was curious to see just where things would go from here. From the looks Ryoko and Ayeka had been sending his way while picking out clothes off the shelves and from the racks it was clear that they both had something special in mind. Whatever it was, the Preventers operative supposed he would just have to wait and see.

"Heero!" called Ryoko from her stall, "Are you still out there?"

"Yes," Heero replied, "Do you need something?"

"Only for you to stay right where you are, handsome," said Ryoko, her voice sounding more than a little devious, "You're in for a treat!"

Concerned, Heero turned towards the other stall. "Ayeka? Are you all right?"

"Quite so, sir Heero!" she replied cheerfully, "Please stay where you are! I would very much appreciate it!"

The Perfect Soldier hadn't exactly planned on barging in on either of the two ladies, and from the way they were talking they seemed to be aware of that. Rather, they apparently just didn't want him going anywhere, period.

Fine, he thought, I can play along…

He waited for another minute before both doors opened. Heero was a man renowned for keeping his composure under almost any circumstance, and to his credit he managed to keep it here too… but he had to work at it when he saw the two women step out in front of him.

"What do you think?" they said in unison.

Where to start…

They were like night and day. Ayeka wore a white sundress that swished and flowed with her every move and fell to her knees. It was elegant yet modest, and while the straps were thick there was still a good view of her pale, bare shoulders. By contrast, Ryoko's dress was black as midnight, with considerably thinner straps and a higher hem. It clung tightly to her body and showed significantly more skin than Ayeka's dress, including a very tempting view of her cleavage.

They both struck poses for him, with Ayeka clasping both hands behind her back while Ryoko put one hand on her hip and the other behind her head. Both women were waiting for his judgment, and Heero felt very much put on the spot. The last thing he wanted to do was play favorites here…

… and they were both very beautiful.

Ayeka was a picture of refined yet casual elegance and grace. Ryoko was an image of wild energy and whispered pleasures. A princess and a pirate, a noble and demure court lady and a willful, seductive outlaw… both certainly had their appeal. However, Heero was barely aware of his gaze subconsciously lingering a little longer on Ryoko…

"Heero?" said Ryoko with a smirk, "What's the matter? Too much woman for you?"

"Sir Heero?" said Ayeka, sounding both nervous and expectant.

After a moment Heero managed a nod. "You both… look very lovely."

It was certainly true, but it almost felt like hollow praise to him. Lovely was a severe understatement; they were both beautiful.

Ryoko smiled. "Aw, now aren't you sweet! Strong, handsome, and appreciative… I could really get used to being around a guy like you, Heero."

Ayeka bowed and smiled. "Thank you very much, sir Heero!"

"You're welcome," he replied, not sure what else to say.

"Don't go anywhere," said Ryoko with a grin, "The show's just getting started!"

Indeed it was. For the next round it was just casual clothes for the both of them, but they still looked great regardless. Both wore jeans, but while Ayeka had gone with a light blue blouse Ryoko had decided on a red tank-top that once again gave a tantalizing view of her cleavage and also exposed a good portion of her midriff. Once again the two women had chose outfits that were in direct opposition to each other, displaying both their clashes in personality and upbringing.

It went on for over an hour, each of them going back into their respective stalls and coming out with a new outfit for Heero's viewing pleasure. Each time the two women seemed to pick clothing that highlighted the contrasts between them, a clash of fashion that threatened to get as fierce as their clash in personalities. The Perfect Soldier refused to publicly favor one over the other, but he could not help but let his gaze linger just a tiny bit longer on Ryoko each time she came out of her stall.

Eventually Heero decided that enough was enough. What followed was a rather tense ten minutes of him trying to convince the two women to pick some clothes to leave at the store versus what he would buy for them. It was difficult, but with considerable effort Heero managed to bring them down to what he considered to be a manageable amount… and one that would not do too much damage to his bank account.

Before leaving the store his two companions had returned to the changing stalls to each put on one of the new outfits they had tried on earlier, the better to blend into their new environment. Both had decided on one of the casual outfits they had tried on earlier, with Ryoko wearing shorts and a black t-shirt while Ayeka had on a white blouse and a blue skirt.

"Oh, man," said Ryoko as they walked out of the store laden with bags, "That was fun!"

Ayeka nodded. "Indeed. Thank you, sir Heero!"

"Yeah," said Ryoko, turning to him and smiling, "Thanks a lot. I owe you one."

The Gundam pilot noticed that she wasn't flirting this time; her gratitude really did seem to be sincere.

Heero nodded. "You're welcome. I trust those will be enough to last you both for a while?"

"Quite so," said Ayeka.

"I'll be fine," Ryoko replied, "So, what's next?"

"To another store to get you two bedrolls, blankets, and pillows," said Heero, "After that it's back to the apartment."

"Aw, already?" Ryoko pouted, "Come on, we don't have to go back so quickly, do we? I want to see more of the city, Heero! I don't even need a bedroll, either; I'm fine just crashing on your couch."

"Must we really return to your residence so soon?" asked Ayeka, trying to sound more dignified than Ryoko while making the same request, "There's no real rush, is there? If you would be so kind as to grant this favor, sir Heero, I would greatly appreciate it if you would show me more of your city!"

The Gundam pilot's resolve was legendary, and yet for some reason he could not identify Heero found it wavering now. It was a nice day outside, after all, and now that he thought about it this was really the first day off he'd had in a long time. The clothes and the other items they'd be buying here weren't like the food; there was no need to rush home and get them into a fridge or anything like that. What harm was there in taking it slow today and showing Ryoko and Ayeka around Brussels a bit? It wouldn't have to be a full-tour; just a few places they might find interesting.

Heero nodded. "Very well. I suppose we can stay out for a little longer today."

"Nice!" said Ryoko with a grin, "You're the best, Heero!"

Ayeka bowed and smiled. "Oh, sir Heero, thank you so much! I promise you won't regret it!"

He hoped she was right, although the way the two women had been behaving in the grocery store before was cause for concern. Still, they'd been doing better since they'd come to the mall. All Heero could do was wait and see.

"All right," he said as they headed towards next store, "After this we'll head out. I think I know somewhere you two would enjoy."

….

Stepping out of the car, a refreshing afternoon breeze blowing through her hair, Ryoko smiled as she saw where Heero had taken her and Ayeka.

"This is nice," she said, "Looks like there's plenty to do here."

"Yes," said Ayeka, "It's hard to tell where to start."

The location was a large park located in the western-central part of Brussels. It was a wide open area, with open grass fields, trails winding around under the shade of trees, and several ponds and streams running through it. There were also paved areas where sports could be played and events could be held. In the middle of the park there were many large stands set up in what Ryoko recognized as an outdoor market.

Heero nodded as he locked the car. "Every weekend this market opens up out here. It's not like that mall we were at earlier; what's sold out here is usually made by individuals and small businesses. A lot of it is food, but there are still unique items that are hard to find anywhere else."

Ryoko could see all of that and more besides. In addition to the market stalls it looked like an outdoor concert was in progress in one part of the park, while the largest pond was playing host to a remote control boat race. The fields were teeming with people flying kites and throwing Frisbees or kicking balls around, while others seemed content to lay back and enjoy the sun. Many people were walking the trails, some jogging or running while others moved at a more leisurely pace with friends, family, and even pets.

"It seems quite crowded today," said Ayeka, "Does this outdoor market always attract such large numbers?"

"It's popular," Heero replied, "but I think the real reason there are so many people out here today is because they know that summer is coming to an end and they want to enjoy the nice days like this that are left. Brussels experiences an oceanic climate, and there are typically nearly two-hundred days of rain per year. Sunny days like this, especially on weekends, do not go to waste in this city."

This wasn't Ryoko's usual environment. The space pirate was more at home at a bar, a club, or a party of some kind when she wanted to cut loose. Still, it had a very relaxing feel to it, and after the events of the past two days she could definitely use a change of pace.

Besides, she thought with a mischievous smirk, since I'm here with Heero, I'm sure I'll have some fun!

"Come on," said Heero, "We'll start with the outdoor market."

"Sounds good to me!" said Ryoko as she looped her arm through Heero's, "Are you gonna buy me something special, handsome?"

"Now just a minute!" said Ayeka as she grabbed Heero's other arm, "Just what the devil are you trying to do, you lowlife wench?"

"Aw, now why do you got to be like that, Ayeka?" Ryoko pouted, leaning in to Heero and making sure that her bosom was rubbing against his arm, "Come on, Heero, we don't need Ayeka tagging along here when she's just going to ruin our fun! Let's just ditch her here and go have some real fun!"

"Not a chance in hell!" snarled Ayeka as she pulled harder on Heero's other arm, "Sir Heero, you needn't put up with this vulgar scoundrel!"

"Name calling again!" said Ryoko, feigning hurt, "That's all she's good for, Heero! For a princess she doesn't have any manners! She's so mean. You don't need that in your life, isn't that right, Heero?"

"If you two keep this up," said Heero as he shook the two of them off, "I'll take you both back to the apartment. Do you want to spend some time out here today or not?"

Ayeka quickly bowed her head. "Of course, sir Heero! I'm so sorry!"

Ryoko sighed. "All right, Heero. I was just teasing anyway, you know?"

Heero nodded. "I'm sure you were. Try to keep the bickering to a minimal while we're here… and don't take anything from the vendors without paying for it. They don't usually do free samples here."

"We can't pay for anything," said Ryoko, "You didn't give Ayeka and me any money!"

"Ask me if you want something," Heero replied calmly, "If it's not unreasonable I just might buy it for you."

"What counts as unreasonable?" asked Ryoko.

"I'll be the judge of that," he said as he started walking away from the car.

Not knowing what else to do, Ryoko and Ayeka moved to join him. Ryoko felt strange as they made their way towards the outdoor market. As a galactic criminal the sorts of places she tended to frequent weren't quite as family friendly as the Brussels park was. She wasn't used to seeing so many children around her that weren't beggars, thieves, or lookouts for gangs. It was such an open and peaceful environment. Sure, there were police officers at various points around the park, but they were so relaxed that they didn't feel threatening at all.

In the end she just shrugged and decided to go with the flow. The place was pretty if nothing else, and it was alive with activity. So what if it wasn't her usual environment? She was on a planet she'd never been to before; it wasn't supposed to be familiar territory. As long as she got to see it with her handsome and enigmatic caretaker Ryoko was sure that she'd find some way to enjoy herself.

It wasn't long before Ryoko realized that, just like at the mall, the three of them were drawing attention. At first it felt odd to her since Heero had bought her and Ayeka new clothes specifically so they'd avoid drawing unwanted attention. After a few seconds though Ryoko realized that this was a different sort of attention. Young men and women alike were looking at the three of them, their gazes varying from approving and attraction to jealousy.

I guess it's no surprise, she thought with a smirk, Heero's a real cutie, and here he is with me at his side… and Ayeka too, I guess. A hot guy with two women as his dates out here? Of course we're going to draw attention.

She was a bit caught off guard at part of that thought, though. Did she really think of herself as Heero's date? Ryoko would like to think that if she was, she'd have him all to herself. Her smirk turned into a scowl as she shot Ayeka a covert glare. Why did that royal brat have to try to ruin everything? From the moment they'd met all those years ago the Juraian crown princess had been nothing but a thorn in Ryoko's side, though the pirate was at least willing to admit that the feeling was definitely mutual as far as Ayeka was concerned. After all, in what universe did a space pirate and an imperial princess ever get along in? It was a miracle that they hadn't tried to kill each other yet today.

As they got closer to the market the smells of fresh produce hit Ryoko's nostrils, along with many others. There were stalls offering assorted nuts, various breads, fruit juices, and other food and drink. Several vendors were also offering various kinds of flowers and other plants. Ryoko couldn't help but smile as she took it all in. Sure, it wasn't a black market bazaar with stolen and illegal goods from half the galaxy like she was used to, but it was still interesting and exciting in its own way.

Eventually she found a table with scores of small, clear containers on it, each filled with a different color fluid and topped with a spray cap. Ryoko smiled; this may have been a new planet, but she was pretty sure she knew a perfume vendor when she saw one. It had been quite a long time since she'd truly indulged her feminine side like she had back at the clothing shop, so she decided to check it out.

The young woman behind the table smiled as Ryoko approached. "Welcome, miss! Do you see something you like?"

"Well," said Ryoko, her brow furrowed in thought, "I'm not really sure where to start."

"That's okay," the woman replied, "I do sample sprays if you're not familiar with my products. Pick one and I'll let you try it out!"

Ryoko grinned. "All right!"

Scanning the table, she picked out a random bottle. "That one."

The woman nodded and grabbed the small bottle in question. She held it up and motioned for Ryoko to hold out her hand. Ryoko did so and the woman gave the bottle a small spray.

"Take a sniff," said the young woman, "Tell me what you think!"

Holding her hand up, Ryoko inhaled the scent and smiled. "Mm, that's nice… what is it?"

"White plum blossom," she replied, "It's from the Far East. It's one of the harder ones for me to get, but it's completely worth it."

Ryoko nodded and turned around to wave down Heero. "Heero, can you come over here, please?"

The young man had only been a few tables away with Ayeka, and the Jurai princess shot Ryoko a glare as Heero came over to her. "What is it, Ryoko?"

"Oh," said the woman behind the table, "Is this your boyfriend, miss? He's pretty cute!"

"Her boyfriend? Now wait just a minute there!" cried Ayeka, quickly rushing over to get in on the action.

Ryoko ignored her and held up her hand. "Smell this and tell me what you think. Please?"

Heero looked at her for a moment, his expression as inscrutable as ever, and Ryoko was worried that he might refuse her request. However, he eventually did lean in and take a deep breath.

"Well?" said Ryoko expectantly.

After a moment Heero nodded. "It's… very good."

Ryoko smiled, taking what she could get from her rather withdrawn host. "Do you mind buying this for me?"

Heero nodded. As he pulled out his wallet Ryoko shot Ayeka a triumphant smirk.

Score one for me! Let's see what you've got up your sleeve, Ayeka!

"Sir Heero!" said Ayeka, "Surely you would not mind if I sampled one of these perfumes as well, would you? I would greatly appreciate your judgment."

Ryoko continued to smirk. If the best Ayeka could do here was copy her, then Ryoko had a leg up in their little game of earning Heero's favor. The initiative was hers, and Ryoko planned to make the most of it. Ryoko watched as Ayeka imitated her earlier actions, and while Heero dutifully indulged her request to smell the perfume she had tried out he didn't seem to favor hers over Ryoko's. Of course, it was hard to tell what the young man thought about much of anything, but Ryoko was still happy with how things were going so far.

After the perfume stall they continued to wander among the vendors for awhile. There was so much to see that it felt a little overwhelming to Ryoko. She wanted to try so many things, but much to her surprise she actually found herself holding back. Restraint was not something she was known for, but Ryoko realized that she was willing to try just that if it helped her get closer to her mysterious new guardian.

What kind of man was he, really? What made him tick? What did he like or not like? What was the real nature of his work? Why didn't he express himself more? What was he looking for in a woman?

She'd known him for barely two days, and already that last question was by far the most important to Ryoko. Heero seemed to be quite guarded with his feelings, which was not something Ryoko was used to in men she encountered. Usually she could just ply her charms and have them wrapped around her finger all too quickly, but Heero was really making her work at it. It was definitely a new experience for Ryoko, but it was one that she found that she was quite enjoying. If nothing else, Heero was interesting, and despite his calm and reserved nature Ryoko had quickly discovered that she was having fun just trying to figure him out.

They soon found that it wasn't just market stalls that were set up in this part of the park. Eventually they came to a row of stands that appeared to be hosting a variety of games.

"Well," she said with a grin, "these look fun!"

"Why are all these here?" asked Ayeka, "Is there some sort of holiday or festival underway here?"

"Not per se," Heero replied, "but with summer coming to a close, weekends like this one gain a new, special meaning. Most of these stalls typically come out during holiday celebrations, but while the end of summer may not be an official occasion to throw a festival for, it's still a great time for them to make some money."

Ryoko nodded as she surveyed the stands. There were shooting galleries, ring-toss, dart throwing, and much more. A mischievous smirk came to her face; if she wanted to get into a little competition with Ayeka, she'd just found the perfect place to do it.

"Hey, Heero," she said as she grabbed his arm, "Why don't we try a round at that shooting stand over there? You versus me, what do you say? It'll be fun!"

"I think sir Heero would like to go a round with me," said Ayeka as she grabbed his other arm.

"How's he supposed to enjoy himself when you won't pull the damn stick out of your ass?" growled Ryoko.

"Excuse me!" snarled Ayeka, "It's not my fault you're intimidated by my noble and refined bearing!"

"Why don't we make it a free for all?" Heero cut in, walking towards the shooting gallery and inadvertently dragging both girls along with him, "It'll make things interesting."

His expression hadn't changed, but Ryoko thought she saw his gaze shift ever so slightly. There was a hint of amusement and energy there; he was actually looking forward to this.

All right, thought Ryoko, Now he's loosening up a bit!

Approaching the stall, Heero gestured to the man behind the counter. "One round for the three of us."

The man nodded, and after Heero gave him a few bills he passed over three popguns and flicked a switch, causing several circular targets to pop up behind him. Once the man was out of the way he gave the signal for the three of them to start shooting.

Ryoko immediately pulled the trigger, and her first shot went wide of the target she'd been aiming at.

"What the hell?" she said, "I could've sworn I had that!"

"Having trouble, Ryoko?" said Ayeka, a smug smirk on her face.

Ryoko scowled at her, only to laugh as she saw Ayeka's opening shot miss her target as well.

"You were saying, princess?" the pirate quipped.

"Shut up," Ayeka growled as she reloaded.

Ryoko was doing the same when she saw Heero take his first shot. Unlike hers and Ayeka's, his was right on the money; a clean bull's eye right from the get go.

"Come on," he said with just the barest hint of a smirk on his face, "Is that the best that you two can do? I was hoping you'd make this interesting."

Ryoko grinned. "Oh, it's on, Heero!"

"Ladies first," he replied, waving his hand downrange.

Ryoko aimed her gun and fired. This time her shot hit a target, although it was on the inner ring rather than a bull's eye like Heero. Still, it was definitely progress. As she reloaded she watched as Ayeka took her shot and had the same luck as Ryoko. While the two women scowled at each other again they almost missed Heero calmly reloading his gun before almost casually taking his second shot. Just like the first, his was a perfect bull's eye.

"Okay, what gives?" said Ryoko, pouting, "Heero, if you know something that I don't about this game you'd better tell me! Come on, what's the trick?"

"The trick," he said casually, "is to aim and shoot."

Ryoko smirked. "Smart-ass, huh? I like that!"

"Oh, you are unbelievable, Ryoko!" huffed Ayeka, "How dare you mock our host like that!"

"Trust me, princess," said Ryoko, "The last thing I'm doing is mocking him."

Rather than aim her gun downrange again, Ryoko waited until Ayeka was doing that before turning her gun on the Juraian princess, leaning back to aim around Heero, and firing. She had the satisfaction of seeing the little cork bullet hit her rival right in the head, and it had the bonus of throwing off the royal's shot so that it didn't come even close to hitting a target.

"How dare you!" Ayeka cried in indignation.

"No shooting each other, ladies!" the man behind the stall ordered.

It was too late for that; both women were already reloading, and this time Ayeka was aiming at Ryoko. They both traded shots behind Heero's back as he sniped his third target, and while her guardian's attention may have been focused downrange Ryoko knew that he was well aware of what she and Ayeka were up to.

"I said don't shoot each other!" said the stall manager, "If you keep this up I'm going to boot the lot of you!"

"Shut up!" snapped Ryoko and Ayeka simultaneously as they reloaded again.

The two women fired again, hitting each other smack in the middle of the forehead. As they turned around to grab more ammo though they found that the stall manager had already remove the remaining cork bullets from their reach.

"That's it, you're done!" he growled, "All three of you, beat it!"

"Fine," said Heero as he put his gun down and grabbed Ryoko and Ayeka by the arms, "Come on, you two."

"Aw," Ryoko pouted, "but it was just getting fun!"

"That's your idea of fun?" Ayeka stammered, "Really, you are so immature, Ryoko!"

"Don't be so uptight, Ayeka," said Ryoko, turning to Heero and smiling, "Come on, Heero, you enjoyed yourself, didn't you?"

She was pleased to see the young man not only nod but actually give a small smirk. "It was… quite amusing. I'd say it was worth the money spent."

"See?" said Ryoko, "I told you it would be fun!"

"Well," said Ayeka, "I suppose it was a good way to let off some steam."

"Exactly," said Ryoko, her eyes still on Heero, "So, what do you say we go check out another one?"

Heero nodded. "All right, but this time, please try not to get us booted."

Ryoko smirked. "No promises."

….

"I can't believe you got us kicked out of every game stall!" Ayeka huffed indignantly, "You truly are a scoundrel, Ryoko!"

"Hey, it wasn't just my fault, you royal brat!" Ryoko shot back, "It's not a fight unless there are at least two people involved, and you were more than involved, princess!"

"It sounds like we missed quite an eventful afternoon," said Azaka.

"Yes," said Kamidake, "I hope Princess Ayeka enjoyed herself."

An eventful afternoon, huh?, thought Heero, listening in on them from the kitchen as he made dinner, That's certainly one way of looking at it…

They'd just returned to his apartment a little while ago. His two guests had settled in on his couch while he had gone to prepare the evening meal, but due to the open nature of the central area of his apartment Heero had no problem listening in on the women in his living room.

Their time at the park had certainly been lively. After the shooting gallery they'd move on to more games and, as Ayeka had just said, had managed to get themselves booted from each and every one of them. Heero had figured that the next stall in line would've refused the service, but of course the people in charge of it were only too happy to take their money first and let them try a round before deciding that they were too much trouble. Always it was the same scenario; Ryoko and Ayeka's rivalry would flare up and it would escalate from there, though thankfully the two women had refrained from unleashing the powers hidden within them during their competition.

At another time in his life Heero would've viewed today's events as nothing but trouble, but the young man was no longer the same Gundam pilot of Operation Meteor. The day had certainly been hectic, and it was all thanks to Ryoko and Ayeka, but it hadn't left a bad taste in Heero's mouth. In fact…

…he'd actually kind of enjoyed it.

Today had been so different from what his life had become since the conclusion of the Mariemaia rebellion nearly two years ago. He wasn't in some far-flung corner of the Earth Sphere hunting down a target or in a data analysis room looking for clues to an impending threat or spying on an arms deal before calling in a raid. Watching over Ryoko and Ayeka had been presented to him as a mission, and by and large he still considered it to be one, but it was so unlike any other mission Heero had ever had before. There was no one he was charged with tracking and arresting or killing, and while keeping Ryoko and Ayeka under watch and preventing them from going all out with their powers certainly counted as protecting innocent people in his book it didn't have the same sense of urgency. Sure, Ryoko and Ayeka clearly had abilities beyond normal people and definitely needed someone to keep an eye on them during their time on Earth, but Heero had a feeling that if left to their own devices they wouldn't go out of their way to harm the people of his planet with their powers.

As long as I can keep them from getting into a big fight with each other, things should be okay, he thought, If things really get heated between the two of them, their power can cause a lot of collateral damage. I'm not just their guardian and overseer in this mission; I have to be a peacekeeper as well.

It was a strange notion to him. It shouldn't have been; as a Preventers operative his mission was to keep the peace. However, too often that task had involved the blood others, and Heero had felt less like a peacekeeper and more like a soldier or, when he was being far less charitable with himself, an assassin. He didn't know what being a genuine keeper of the peace was supposed to be like, but something he could not place was telling him that it wasn't supposed to make him feel like little more than the blade the government brought out in the shadows.

A timer went off, providing a welcome distraction from the dark road his thoughts had been going down. Checking the pot on the stove, the bowl in the sink, and the tray in the oven, he saw that dinner was as ready as it was going to get.

"All right, you two," he said as he got out plates and silverware and set them on the nearby counter, "Dinner's ready. Come in here and I'll dish you up."

"Sweet!" said Ryoko, literally flying off the couch and into the kitchen with Ayeka hot on her heels.

It was a simple meal that Heero had prepared, but one that he had grown fond of since getting his own place and working for Preventers. As Ryoko and Ayeka came over to him with plates in hand he dished them up hearty portions of spaghetti and meatballs, sprinkled parmesan cheese over it, and topped things off with two slices of garlic bread each. After getting both the women set and dishing up a plate for himself and putting on the table in front of the couch he then went back to the kitchen to fetch the bottle of red wine that he had bought at the grocery store earlier that day. Pouring glasses for the three of them, he then went back out to the living area and joined them.

Ayeka was looking up at him with a polite smile on her face, having not yet touched her food; royal etiquette was doubtlessly at play here as she had not started eating without her host present. Ryoko had showed no such restraint and was already digging into her spaghetti.

"This is great!" said the space pirate, smiling in between bites, "You know, Heero, you're one hell of a cook!"

Ryoko folded her arms. "Really, Ryoko, could you at least have waited until sir Heero had joined us before chowing down like a mongrel?"

"Oh, come on, Ayeka!" Ryoko replied, "I'm freaking starving here!"

"You should still show a bit of restraint on behalf of our host," Ayeka scolded.

"It's okay," said Heero as he sat down to join them, "I really don't mind."

Truth be told, Ryoko's brashness and lack of etiquette was actually rather refreshing. In his line of work Heero had gone to more than his fair share of seedy dives, run-down bars and all manner of locales unsuited for polite company, but he had also been called upon from time to time to attend high-society functions. Sometimes he would be infiltrating them as part of a mission, while other occasions would be government events that Director Une and Sally would force him to attend. On the surface the people in attendance would appear to be a picture of good manners and decorum, but all too often their politeness was superficial. Ryoko's straightforward and unrefined nature was much more to Heero's liking, although from what he could tell Ayeka did at least seem to be sincere in her desire to show politeness and be proper with him.

"All right," said Ryoko, "You brought the booze too! You're the best, Heero!"

"Should we make a toast to something?" asked Ayeka.

"Come on, Ayeka," said Ryoko, "Forget about all that formal stuff. Let's just pound it back!"

"I really think the occasion demands a toast," Ayeka insisted, "This was our first full day under sir Heero's care, and he showed us some of his home city. After all he's done for us today I think that the least we can do is express our gratitude for it before we drink."

Ryoko turned to Heero and smiled. "Yeah, I guess you've got a point there."

"I would like to think so," said Ayeka, smiling at Heero as well.

The two women raised their glasses.

"To you, Heero," said Ryoko, "Today was a lot of fun."

Ayeka nodded. "It was quite enjoyable. To you, sir Heero."

The Perfect Soldier found a very small smiling creeping onto his face. He shook his head and raised his glass.

"To new friends," he said.

Yes, he thought as the three of them drank in unison, that's what really made today so unique. Ryoko, Ayeka… you two are the first new friends I've made in a long time.

Preview for next time!

Heero: Well, I planned on taking Ryoko and Ayeka out to Lake Genval for a relaxing walk, but things didn't quite pan out that way.

Ryoko: I'll say. You are just a magnet for ship crashes, you know that, Heero?

Ayeka: Yes, this is a rather worrying trend. Oh dear, I do hope the pilot of that ship is all right. They came in awfully fast!

Ryoko: Wait a minute. I think I've seen ships like this before.

Ayeka: Oh, now that you mention it, I have too! Yes, it's only fitting that the Galaxy Police would track you down out here!

Ryoko: Hah, I'd like to see them try to arrest me! Besides, I'm under Heero's observational custody just like you, remember? Heero, you won't let the fuzz take me away, will you?

Heero: How did I end up in this mess again?

Ayeka: Next time, on Chapter Four: No Need For A Cop!

Mihoshi: Oh no, my ship! Kiyone's going to kill me for wrecking it again!

Author's Notes: Well, as you can no doubt tell from the preview, the next chapter is Mihoshi's introduction! Kiyone's not popping up quite yet; she'll make her entrance a few chapters later.

Until next time! Please review!