Dark World, chapter 15

[Lady Saffir]

Finally, finally this chapter is finished! I've been getting distracted by a new story, but the muse cooperated today - at 7 in the morning. *wince* I am sooo not a morning person. I always knew my muse was sadistic.

Anyhoot, hope you enjoy.

LS

Dark World
Chapter 15
By: Lady Saffir
Rating: R

Disclaimer: I do not own any character associated with Gundam Wing.


I quickly found out how much difference the last step made in what I was, and wasn?t, able to do. Heero had briefly awoke when I made to get up Sunday morning, cautioning me to ?take it easy?, and come back to him during midday. I had smiled and nodded, having no intention of doing so.


Which is how I came to be on the floor of the living room, feeling as if I were about to pass out. It was shortly past noon and I had just tried to stand up, intent on fixing lunch. The world had different ideas though and began to spin wildly, sending me lurching across the floor before collapsing into a heap. I don?t know how long I lay there, trying to remember how to walk, when two feet appeared before my face.

My gaze traveled upward, coming to a rest on the amused face of Duo Maxwell.

?Duo,? I whispered, struggling to pull myself up. ?What?don?t?.? I gave up, falling back to the floor.

Duo sighed, bending down and scooping me into his arms.

?Tried to do too much, didn?t you, princess?? he asked.

?No,? I protested weakly, leaning my head against his chest. ?I ate ? a lot. I was just reading.?

?Mmmhmmm. And I bet Heero said you should come back to him, didn?t he? You really should have listened, Relena. The man doesn?t talk to hear his own voice,? Duo chided, earning a glare.

?But, yesterday,? I sputtered.

?Yesterday you weren?t a full Companion. Today you are. And this is one of the many things you?ll have to learn to deal with,? Duo lectured. ?When Heero?s resting during the day, he can?t really control how much energy he pulls from you. And until you get used to this, you?ll be resting throughout the day as well.?

?But classes resume tomorrow!? I protested.

?Then I hope you have a very long lecture from 10am to 2pm,? Duo countered, tilting his head at the door we stood before. ?A little help??

I grumbled but opened the door for him, not surprised to find myself back in Heero?s room. ?Then how are you able to do this?? I asked.

?Babe, I?ve had two hundred and some odd years to get used to this feeling. I promise you?ll get used to it,? Duo chuckled, then dropped me on to the bed. ?Now ? sleep. I?ll see you at dinner.?

I glared at Duo?s back as he left, then sighed, turning to look at Heero. I reached a hand out to brush hair from his face, but instead found myself pulled to his side, tucked in tightly with the covers over me before I could blink. I looked up, expecting to see Heero awake, but he was still asleep, mouth slightly curved into a grin. I settled down, and was asleep within minutes.

~~~~~~~~~


?No.?

?Yes.?

?No.?

?Relena?.?

?Heero?.?

?Cripes, will you two stop already? And I better not end up playing mediator all the time.?

?Then don?t.?

The twin answer had Duo scowling, turning back to his meal.

?Yeesh. Why do I end up the bad guy??

I turned to Heero, laying a hand on his arm to get his complete attention.

?Did you ask Cathy ? and asking Trowa isn?t the same thing,? I warned, catching the smile and slight head tilt Trowa sent my way.

?Relena, it?s okay. I?ve been curious to see what college is like anyway. Would you mind that much if I tagged along?? Cathy asked, distracting me from my glaring match with Heero.

Sensing defeat, I turned, smiling at the other woman. ?Not really, and most of my professors shouldn?t mind, although my Business 317 professor will take some convincing.?

Cathy grinned wickedly. ?Leave that to me.?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Surprise number three for the day was waiting for me in Heero?s office. He had mentioned some ?paperwork? I needed to fill out, and I had assumed it had to do with my apartment. But this?I looked up from the document, my eyes wide.

?Let me get this straight. This is paperwork the government ? the United States federal government ? needs me to fill out confirming my position as your Companion. The government knows about vampires??

Heero nodded, leaning back in his chair. ?Of course. In exchange for helping them win the Revolutionary War, as well as paying taxes, the United States government acknowledges my position as King, and honors all contracts between vampires and their Companions.?

I shook my head in amazement. ?I can?t believe the government knows about you.?

?And now they know about you. You will automatically be given every right and privilege a twenty-five year old has in this country. You will be issued a new driver?s license, passport, and your file will be flagged to indicate your status.?

I simply shook my head, and began to fill out the paperwork in triplicate.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eight AM the next morning found both myself and Cathy yawning as I drove to the college?s downtown campus. Monday was my only full day of classes, with the rest being mostly online, and I was hoping I could make it through the day. Luckily, my first class was with Professor Kusenagi, my Business 317 lecturer, so I was fairly confident I could stay awake for his class.

As Cathy and I made our way down to his office prior to class, I warned her not to expect a warm reception.

?The man doesn?t like to deal with distractions, and that?s what he?ll see you as,? I warned, pausing before his closed door. I knocked, waiting to hear his gruff ?come in? before entering, Cathy following behind me.

Professor Kusenagi was a middle aged man with silver at his temples, and dark brown eyes that had a tendency to glare, even when he was in a good mood, which I have been told happens about once every three years. I myself have yet to witness that miraculous event.
?Ah, Professor Kusenagi??

?Yes? What do you want, Miss Peacecraft??

?This is Cathy ? ?

?Barton,? Cathy interrupted, stepping forward and flashing a smile. ?I?m very pleased to finally be able to meet you.?

?Is your name supposed to mean something to me??

Cathy smiled again, pulling a sealed envelope from her purse. ?My husband and his business partner have spoken highly of your small business model. I?m here on their behalf,? she said, handing the letter over.

Professor Kusenagi looked up a moment later, his gaze settling firmly on me.

?Miss Peacecraft, how is it that you know Mrs. Barton here, and why do Mr. Barton and Mr. Yuy ? both prominent business men ? have such an interest in you??

I blushed, wondering what exactly the letter said. ?Well, um?er, that is?.? I trailed off, unsure how to frame my response. Cathy, it seemed, knew exactly what to say.

?Relena is engaged to Heero. Trowa and Heero have long held an interest in your theories and models, and both felt it was a sign it was time to meet with you when they found out Relena was one of your students,? Cathy explained, flashing a smile so fake I was sure she would be called on it.

?I see. Well, Miss Peacecraft, congratulations, and I don?t want to see you in my class again.?

?What?!? I couldn?t believe my ears. I was being failed?

Professor Kusenagi steepled his fingers, looking at me over the rims of his glasses. ?Miss Peacecraft, if you are marrying Mr. Yuy, then there is nothing I can teach you in five weeks that he couldn?t explain just as well. There is no reason for you to continue any of your courses. However, if you do wish to continue, you needn?t worry about a failing grade from me. Your work has always been above average. You will be receiving an A.?

?But,? I sputtered, looking back and forth between Cathy and my professor.

?I?m sure Mrs. Barton will be able to explain everything to you, Miss Peacecraft. Now, if you?ll excuse me, it?s time for class.?

I stared at Cathy, eyes narrowing. ?What did that letter say??

?It suggested nothing like that, Relena, I swear. All Trowa wrote was that he and Heero were interested in a business meeting.?

/Heero/

/She?s telling the truth, Relena. Though it?s a nice bonus/

/That I?m certainly not going to accept! I intend to earn any grade I receive/

/Then tell him that/

I stalked down the hall after my professor, catching up with him just before he entered the classroom. ?Professor Kusenagi.?

He turned, a look of annoyance crossing his features. Well, too bad for him.

?Professor Kusenagi, I have already paid my tuition for the semester. And I intend to attend every class possible. Now, do you mind if Cathy sits in on your classes or not??

Was that a smile lurking at the corners of his mouth?

?Very well, Miss Peacecraft, I expect you to continue to do the same level of work you have in the past. And yes, Mrs. Barton may attend class with you.? He paused, then spoke again. ?Does Mr. Yuy know what he?s getting in to??

Heero?s laughter rang through my head. ?Oh, I?m sure he has a good idea,? I replied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eleven-thirty found myself and Cathy at a restaurant ordering lunch. Cathy had taken one look at the options available in the student union and had promptly dragged me down the street in search of better fare. I wasn?t complaining though, as I was starving and felt like I could eat an entire cow myself.

Food ordered, I leaned back against the booth?s back, sighing. I wasn?t as exhausted as yesterday, but I found myself glad for a two hour break between classes. This time would normally be spent studying, but that just wasn?t happening today.

/And why am I not as tired today/ I asked, feeling that Heero was awake.

/Because I am awake, and I can control how much I pull on you/

/You?re pulling on Duo more, aren?t you/

/Yes. He?s more accustomed to this. Besides, he reserves this time to do paperwork. If he falls asleep, people will think it?s from sheer boredom/

I snorted, waving a hand at Cathy to indicate it was nothing. ?Just talking to Heero,? I said.

?You aren?t upset with him about this morning, are you?? she asked, leaning forward to fold both arms on the table.

?No,? I shook my head, smiling. ?I understand that people will think that because of who Heero is, I?ll be handed everything. I can?t help that mindset. I?ll just have to prove them wrong.?

?Good for you,? she said. Then our food arrived, and talk was cut to a minimum.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was four o?clock, and I had made it through the full day. With the help of five cups of extra large coffee, three large cappuccino?s, and sheer will power. I was already dreading next Monday.

?Well, that was fun. Now let?s go shopping,? Cathy suggested, earning a groan and a look from me.

?Are you kidding? We just went shopping. Thank god I don?t have classes tomorrow,? I muttered, unlocking the car door and falling into the driver?s seat.

?That was for normal things. We have to get your dress for the party Saturday.?

That was news to me. ?Party? Why are we going to a party?? I asked, directing the question at both Cathy and Heero.

?Because every new Companion gets a party. Think of it as a ?welcome to the family? sort of thing,? Cathy explained, and Heero let me know he agreed.

?No. Not today. Tomorrow. Please, I?m begging you,? I pleaded.

?Fine. Tomorrow,? Cathy agreed, and I was grateful to put the car in drive and head towards home ? and bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I collapsed onto the bed, and was almost asleep by the time Heero climbed on the bed. I had fallen face first, arms outstretched, and when he began to rub my back in slow circles I could have wept with joy.

?Long day?? Heero asked, applying pressure to my left shoulder blade.

?Ungh. Yes. Thank god it only happens once a week,? I murmured, enjoying the feel of his hands roaming on my back. ?This feels wonderful,? I mentioned, earning a low laugh from Heero.

?Hmmm. Glad you enjoy,? he replied, stopping his ministrations. Before I could protest he was flipping me over and pulling me to my feet. ?You need to eat, then you can sleep. Eat,? he repeated, pulling me to him and kissing me soundly, ?then I?ll finish what I started.?

The hidden promise in those words had me smiling wickedly as I let myself be pulled from the room.

[samta22]

This was nice, although I'm waiting for the party....

[HiFreak]

YAY! I'm hessing the party is the masquerade we've benn hearing so much about. If it is then I can't wait for the next chapter. Masquerade!!!!

By the way, I'm starting to really love you're muse.

[Lady Saffir]

Ha! Try waking up at 2 in the morning with a story you dreamed of, and not being able to fall back asleep till 6am. That's the kind of slave driver my muse is...but I wouldn't trade her.

I think I have it figured out now...the ball could be in chapter 17, but it could easily be at the beginning of 18. We'll see. I'm going to try and get most of 16 written tonight, if I can ignore the other story.

Thanks!

LS

[Morrighan]

LOL. Gotta love the paperwork. Now that's something you don't hear everyday. XD

Can't wait to see more!! And YAY for the masquerade!!

[amulak]

Mmmm... most excellent!!! Keep up the great work (special thanks to your muse )
Heero was especially sweet in this chapter- it made me happy.
Go companion Relena!!!!!

[Incantatrice]

w00tage! I love this story so glad to see a new chapter up. Looking forward to the party as well as this masquerade I keep hearing about.

[Kari]

I'm thanking your muse for this chapter

[takisha16]

I loved Relena in this chapter!!
I like it that she wants to do it the honest way and earn her grade.
God, she is so lucky, the perks of being Heero's Fiance are awesome!
Keep feeding that muse~

[Kainen]

LMAO!

The US gov't requires paperwork?! What a curve ball! THAT got chuckles outta me for sure!!!

...so now it's time to Par-TAY, right?!?!?!