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1. Introduction
The first time he saw her, she had nearly run into him in the hall of the Preventer building. But she'd managed to dodge around him with a bright grin and a 'gomen nasai'. Hearing someone else speak Japanese had been odd, but she was around another corner before he could say a word.
The second time, she really had run into him a week later. He'd managed to steady her. She looked highly embarrassed...and her grin reminded him of when Duo had managed to eat something Hilde had been saving for later. "Sorry! Uhm...thanks for making sure I didn't fall. No offense...but running into you is like running into a brick wall." And then she was off again. He noticed she had a small cooler with her, the sort one carried lunch in. She was likely the daughter of a Preventer agent.
The third time was actually at the local hospital, a month later. She was highly anxious, he could tell, and pacing back and forth. Someone told her to sit down and was very much ignored. It persisted until she finally rounded on the agent telling her to sit down.
"He's my father, you a*****e! I don't care if you work with him, he's MY DAD. And I'm worried sick about him!"
"Pacing won't do you any good though." She turned to him...then blushed.
"I uh...hi. Sorry for running into you a while ago." He shook his head and took a seat, the girl following suite soon after.
"I'm Staff Sergeant Heero Yuy. I'm sorry your father was hurt while under my command." She smiled sadly and shook her head.
"Don't apologize. He was doing his duty...I have a lot more respect for you guys than most others. I'm Kaida Abson."
2. Love
It was the fourth time he'd visited the hospital to check on Abson that he'd found Kaida there, waiting by her father's bed. She looked up after a moment, then smiled. "He's asleep. He was awake for a little bit, but they've got him on some killer pain meds. Keeps him knocked out while he heals..." Heero nodded...then spoke up after a few minutes of silence.
"Would you like some coffee? There's a cafe on the entry level." He didn't know what prompted him to ask...but the unguarded smile on her face told him it was something good.
"I'd love some!"
3. Light
Coffee at the hospital when both of them were there turned into coffee every Saturday at a cafe halfway between where they lived. He wasn't entirely sure how it turned into that, but he didn't mind it at all. Kaida had slowly become a steady thing in his life...and he found his mood lightened when he thought about her. Perhaps it was her smile...infectious in a way Relena's never had been. It reminded Heero a little of Duo...but Kaida's was always genuine, never a method to mask the hurt. It was like comparing real sunlight to the artificial sunlight of the colonies.
4. Dark
Heero was a bit startled when Kaida flopped into the chair across from him at the cafe, a rather dark look on her face. She held a finger up before he could say a thing. "Just a moment. And no, it's not your fault I'm pissed off."
He didn't think she'd been capable of the slightly muderous rage on her face. After a few minutes, she took a deep breath...then smiled sheepishly at him. "Sorry...I found out my boyfriend had been cheating on me a few minutes before heading out to come here. I...I didn't suspect a thing. Must be how dense I am..."
5. Seeking Solace
The next Saturday, Kaida still didn't seem quite herself. And she sat next to him, instead of across from him, as if taking comfort in just having him near. It was...odd, to say the least. When they got ready to leave, she surprised him. "Can I hug you?" He'd blinked, then raised a brow.
"Why?" She got that sheepish look again.
"I...I just need to know I am wanted. As a friend." Friend? She put him in that category? He frowned...then nodded slightly.
"If you wish." He found her clinging to him immediately after he said the words. He tentatively tried to return the hug, awkward. After a few minutes, she let go of him.
"Sorry...I needed that."
6. Break Away
Heero was surprised when he saw Kaida coming out of the small hair salon that was a block from where he lived. And if he didn't know the way she walked so well, and the shape of her face...he wouldn't have recognized her. She noticed him and grinned, waving. She trotted over to him. "What do you think?"
"Why?" It seemed to be the only response he could manage. Her waist-length golden-brown hair was gone, cut to her chin and dyed a deep violet. And she was wearing...clothes that made her look like a girl. He was so used to her wearing jeans and a t-shirt. And never the color pink, in any form. Now...she was wearing a black and pink outfit with a skirt that stopped a couple of inches above her knees. And the way the entire outfit fit her...well, if he'd been anyone else, he likely would have been bright red.
She giggled and reached up to pat him on the head. "I needed a change. Do something for myself, instead of someone else." He just nodded numbly. Girls were odd. And she was the strangest he'd met so far.
7. Heaven
Somehow, Kaida had talked him into going camping with her over the weekend. They'd left shortly after he'd gotten off work on Friday evening, spent a few hours driving to the parking area outside the forest, and then spent another hour hiking to the camp site. Kaida had obviously been there often, by the way she navigated the barely lit forest with ease.
They'd gotten set up quickly, and spent another couple hours by a campfire, talking about whatever came to mind or just enjoying the company of another person. After a while, Heero realized Kaida was actually asleep, not just being quiet. He smiled slightly and got her into her tent and sleeping bag. And then he realized something.
This all felt right. Like he was supposed to be doing this. He smiled slightly and closed her tent as he went to put out the fire.
8. Innocence
Sometimes, Kaida drove Heero nuts. The girl had no idea how she moved most of the time. She had no idea how she looked to others, and generally didn't care. And that ended in her sometimes being very...something. Heero wasn't entirely certain he even wanted to think of the word, but he knew her actions sometimes had HIM wanting to do 'immoral' things to her. He never followed through on the thoughts, of course.
Because she really was innocent, and had no idea how she affected others. He needed to figure out a way to get her to be a little more aware...
9. Drive
If someone asked him what his motivation for being in the Preventer organization was four months ago, he would have told them he wanted to help keep the peace he had fought so hard to obtain.
But now? Now...it was for Kaida. And the people like her. To keep them from anymore pain. He much preferred seeing Kaida smile.
10. Breathe Again
Even Heero facepalmed at the sight. Kaida and Duo had finally officially met. And they'd gotten into a competition on who could hold their breath longer. Duo won, of course, but Kaida had put up a valiant effort. Heero grudgingly pat her back as she took in deep gulps of air, then she gave him a sheepish grin.
"Holding your breath is the easy part. Remembering you have to breath again is hard..."
11. Memory
"Ffffffffffff! Duo, you have got to get a picture of this!" Cobalt eyes looked over, blinking...then their owner burst out laughing. This earned him a glare that quickly disappeared as Heero tried to keep his ice cream from dripping as it melted. Kaida couldn't stop laughing alongside Duo, until her own waffle cone nearly lost the top scoop. She managed to keep it from falling off, still giggling. "You act like you've never had ice cream before, Heero!"
"I haven't." The matter-of-fact tone of voice Heero had made both Kaida and Duo blink.
"WHAT?! Kaida, gimme yer phone!" The purple-haired girl handed Duo her cell phone, and the braided ex-pilot quickly took a picture of Heero attempting to eat the ice cream.
"Why my phone?" Duo grinned.
"Because he won't destroy your phone, and therefore this memory shall survive for more to see!" Kaida took her phone back and shoved it in her bra as Heero gave Duo a more withering than usual glare.
12. Insanity
"Ohgodohgodohgod. Why did I get on this thing?" Heero was asking himself the same question, though far less panicked than Kaida beside him. Oh yes...Kaida had given him a rather pathetic, pleading look...and he'd given in to her wish to go on the rollercoaster. Now...he was wondering why she was on it in the first place? If she was going to panic like this, why had she gotten on?
And then they hit the high point...and plummeted down. And her panic turned to sheer, adrenaline-induced joy.
When the ride stopped and they got out, Heero helping keep Kaida steady as she laughed merrily. She grinned at him.
"See! That was a rush, ne?" He looked at her oddly...then sighed. He deduced she had some form of temporary insanity regarding the ride.
13. Misfortune
Heero had not expected to see Kaida near the store he'd just come out of. For one, it was on the other side of town. For another...she looked downtrodden, had mud in a few places, a scraped knee, looked utterly lost, and had obviously been drenched by the downpour that had happened not more than ten minutes before. Heero finished putting the bag and umbrella in his car, then went over to her. "Kaida."
She looked to him...then latched onto him and started crying. He stiffened a bit, but he'd slowly gotten used to how much Kaida tended to be physically affectionate with her friends. "I...I have had a shitty-a** day. You have no damn idea how glad I am to see you! You're the best damn thing to happen to me since seven in the morning!"
Heero blinked. That was...ten hours ago. He frowned and picked her up. "I'll give you a ride home."
"Thank you Heero..." Then she blinked. "Ah s**t...now your soaked and have mud on your shirt." He couldn't help but laugh somewhat at that.
"I think my shirt can survive that."
14. Smile
Neither was fully sure how it happened. There was definitely alcohol involved, and despite his training, he was still human...and the way she'd been dancing around on their way back from Duo's (he'd insisted on walking her all the way to her apartment, knowing how UNthreatening she was while drunk)...
They didn't exactly make it to her apartment. Instead, they ended up in his on the couch. But for the moment...neither was going to worry about how it had managed to happen. They were both tired and sated, Kaida curled up on top of him, him loving the feel of her bare skin on his...
And before Heero fell asleep, he couldn't help but feel smugly responsible for the wide, tired smile on Kaida's lips.
15. Silence
Heero just couldn't figure out what to say. Not that saying anything at the moment would be a good idea, seeing as Kaida had a splitting headache, curled up pathetically on his armchair, hiding her head in the t-shirt she was borrowing from him until her clothes were clean and dried. They hadn't been expecting to wake up like they did, naked and definitely having had sex together...
And Kaida with a hell of a migraine-style hangover. She was, apparently, rather disliking of body heat when suffering from a hangover and he had a bruise on his upper left arm from where she'd managed to hit him in her quest to not be overheated and nauseous.
Heero sighed and sat on the floor next to the chair, carefully rubbing her back. They'd talk when she wasn't hurting anymore.
16. Questioning
"So what was it to you?" Heero looked up from switching Kaida's clothes from the washer to the dryer. She stood a little ways down the hall from him, leaning against the wall. She didn't look to be in quite as much pain from her hangover. Heero closed his eyes and thought a moment.
"Something I enjoyed, and would not mind repeating...sober." He heard her chuckle.
"Me too. So...what does that make us?" He looked over to her and smiled slightly.
"Boyfriend and girlfriend, I suppose. It depends on you." Kaida returned the smile and nodded.
"I think I'd like that."
17. Blood
"I really don't wanna be touched right now, Heero." The ex-pilot gave Kaida a confused look. She just returned it with a flat one. "I'm on my period and feel gross, okay? I'll probably feel less gross tomorrow." Heero nodded. Now he knew. And he wasn't sure it was a particularly good thing to know.
18. Rainbow
"What...the hell are you wearing, Kaida?" Duo gave the purple-haired girl a look like she was crazy. She grinned maniacally and spun around to model the kimono made of a patchwork of annoyingly colored fabrics.
"The Kimono of Ipecac! My torture for those with hangovers!" Duo facepalmed.
"WHY?" Heero passed the two, blinked at Kaida, then sighed.
"One of your friends turned drinking age, didn't they?" Kaida cackled.
"Why yes, yes she did, koibito. And I intend to make sure she remembers why to not drink so much. I have it on good authority she is currently suffering a hangover."
19. Gray
Kaida had managed to convince Heero to let her massage his shoulders and back, and was thoroughly enjoying it. And then something in his hair caught her eye. She raised a brow and looked closer...then giggled and plucked it out, earning an annoyed look from him.
She just grinned and held the strand of hair out to him.
"Why koibito...I believe you need to lighten up a little. I found a gray hair." Heero's look said just how much he was Not Amused.
20. Fortitude
"No. We are not going a fourth round. I just do not have the stamina you do Heero."
"Than we need to build it up."
"That's a SLOW process, koibito! Besides, I think I've got enough bruises."
"Fine." Kaida lay sprawled out on the grass of the park attached to her apartment complex.
"Thank you...this sparring is revenge for me teasing you about the gray hair, isn't it?" Heero smirked.
"Possibly."
21. Vacation
Heero gave his girlfriend a flat look, the purple-haired girl laughing her butt off. "I fail to see what is so funny." Kaida managed to calm herself enough to talk, grinning.
"Heero...think about it. You're...what? Five foot six, five foot seven? Director Une is only about five foot three. YOU, Mister Bad-a** ex-soldier extraordinaire....got INTIMIDATED into a VACATION by a lady who...honestly...doesn't look like much."
"You've never been on the receiving end of one of her tirades, and I hope you never are." Kaida chuckled.
"Well...I'm just going to enjoy the wonderful TWO WEEKS where I don't have to worry about you going off to work, or being shuffled off for a mission. And I will thank your boss later. So...since I've got no school for the next couple of weeks as well, we should do something."
22. Mother Nature
Heero sat on the beach, just out of reach of the water lapping at the sand, Kaida sitting between his legs with her back against his chest, her feet tickled by the water as it came in. His chin rested on the top of her head as she dozed. Kaida always seemed more...at peace and calm in a natural setting. He'd noticed that when they'd gone camping all those months ago.
"One day...I want to have a house of my own on the beach." Heero chuckled.
"Really? You know the dangers of having a house on the beach?" Kaida nodded sleepily.
"I do. But they'd be worth risking, for the benefits. I love the ocean...it feels like home every time I visit." Heero made a noise of acknowledgment.
23. Cat
Heero had decided he did NOT like Kaida's cat. The tiny-looking cream tabby female had decided tripping Heero up was her favorite activity in the whole wide world whenever Heero visited the apartment...and then looked completely innocent whenever Kaida was looking.
One day...one day he was going to get back at Biscuit. Even if Duo laughed at him for wanting to get back at a cat.
24. No Time
Kaida grumbled as she woke up, Heero shaking her lightly. It was still dark outside, if the lack of light trying to sneak through the blinds was any clue. "Wha's wrong?" She blinked sleepily, yawning.
"I need to go, Kaida. Work called. I may be gone for a while." She processed that in silence for a moment...then was fully awake, and noticing Heero was dressed in his Preventer's uniform. It was supposed to be his day off! Before he could say another word, she latched onto him with a tight hug, trying not to cry.
"Come back alive, okay?" Heero kissed the top of her head.
"I have a reason to. Of course I will." She let go, and he left.
25. Trouble Lurking
Kaida could have sworn she was being followed. But every time she looked, no matter how casual, the was nothing and no one there out of the ordinary. She clutched the strap of book bag tighter, and as soon as her apartment building was in sight...she adjusted its position to rest against her butt instead of her hip and ran for it.
As she ducked into the main entrance, she managed to turn enough to catch a glimpse of her pursuer. Dark hair, pale skin, tall, Caucasian, dark leather-looking bomber jacket. That was all she could catch before they bolted. Looked like it was time to call an old friend.
26. Tears
Paranoia had set in by the time Kaida heard a knock on her door. She yelped and clutched the baseball bat she'd borrowed from the jock down the hall tightly, moving it into a usable position as she inched to the door. Another knock sounded...and this one had Kaida relaxing at the very specific order of the raps. She peered out the peephole and nodded to herself, loosing one hand from the bat to unlock and open the door.
As soon as the woman on the other side walked in, the door was closed and locked again. Kaida dropped the bat and threw herself onto the woman, crying. "What took you so long, Imogen-dono?! Gods...I have no idea if the guy was one of the Andeo's enemies or one of the Preventers or maybe someone Heero had pissed off during the war..."
The woman, Imogen, sighed and hugged Kaida, rubbing her back. "There, there child...Oh you never did well with this sort of thing..." Kaida hiccuped and continued sobbing.
27. Foreign
She'd been gone so long, the safe house felt WRONG to her. It wasn't home, it wasn't Heero's home, it wasn't even the vague familiarity of her father's house with her sisters. Oh it was cozy enough. The walls were covered with a warm dark purple that was more red than blue, the furniture was comfortable and cushions were plush, the food stocks were enough that she could cook well enough for herself and anyone else with her...
But the first morning she woke up, she couldn't remember where she was, and the place didn't feel right, and she PANICKED. It took Imogen almost twenty minutes to calm her down.
28. Sorrow
Kaida stared at her reflection in the mirror. Save skin color, build, and face shape, she looked completely different. Imogen's friend Caelin had gotten colored costume contacts for her, so the eyes in the mirror were brown instead of ice blue. Her hair had been bleached to an off-white color and done into a very short 'Pixie' cut.
She put a hand to the mirror and closed her eyes, holding back the tears again.
"We've figured out it's not an Andeo enemy. Therefore, you know the deal. You're not Kaida Abson anymore, dear. You're Saiai Andeo, my blood-sister and bodyguard." Kaida smiled sadly and opened her eyes.
"You couldn't leave after all, could you? At least Dad will understand the message I left him. But...if this is an enemy of the Preventers or Heero...I'm probably safest where Imogen and Kaelin and Matthias can keep an eye on me." She sighed. "Goodbye Kaida, at least for now. Saiai has to take the stage again."
29. Happiness
Imogen stared at Kaida/Saiai, the younger female covered in dough, flour, and powered sugar. And the blonde woman couldn't help but laugh. "What did you do to yourself, Saiai?!" The half-Japanese girl grinned and retrieved a large plate topped with...beneighs.
"I did what perks me up no matter my mood! Cooking for family!" Imogen chuckled and sighed.
"Well...that's one way to get over things."
30. Under the Rain
She couldn't help it. The sky had decided to open up almost as soon as Saiai had made certain Imogen and Caelin were inside the safe house...and she just stood there, letting the water run over her. She smiled as she held her arms out and up, the feel of being drenched bringing up memories of her beach trip with Heero.
She had to endure this long enough to see him again. She HAD to.
31. Flowers
Saiai sneezed as a bunch of pollen-filled flowers was shoved into her view, centimeters from her face. She glared at the person holding the bouquet, contact-brown eyes meeting natural brown. "What the hell are these for Matthias?"
The teen grinned. "Think about it. I know you know the meaning of all these." Saiai took the bundle with a raised brow, and Matthias blushed. "I didn't pick 'em out, my sister did! She and Caelin were the ones who figured it out first." Saiai shrugged and looked at the flowers.
"Pink carnations, usually seen in large numbers in florist shops around Mother's Day. Coltsfoot, maternal love and care. Day Lily, often worn by expectant mothers in China." She blinked...and paled.
"CAELIN! WHAT DID YOU NOT TELL ME ABOUT MY TESTS?!"
32. Night
A month, and it was still lonely. Oh sure, she had Caelin and Imogen, Matthias, and the various Family members that passed by, some oldies she remembered from her days with the Family, some new that greeted her warmly. But she hadn't been able to bring a single one of her old things with her, including the sweatshirt she'd managed to snag from Heero sometime in the first month they'd been dating, and he kept conveniently 'forgetting' it, saying he'd take it home next time. She'd used it as a jammie shirt during the times where he was gone for a week or more, knowing he left it with her for her comfort.
And without that physical reassurance, the nights just seemed very, very lonely with only memories she couldn't touch to keep her company.
33. Expectations
"How far along am I again?" Caelin looked up from his book, raising a brow at Saiai.
"About six weeks, I believe." She nodded and looked back to the laptop she was typing on not long before.
"Shouldn't I be getting morning sickness by now?" The blonde doctor chuckled.
"Not all women get morning sickness. It's just one of the most common symptoms." Saiai nodded.
"Okay."
34. Stars
She hadn't expected to see him at all. Not at the airport, while she and Imogen were picking up another Family member.
But there he was, obviously just gotten off a plane himself. Some people believed in coincidence. She didn't...What was the phrase again? Oh yeah...The 'coincidence' had to have been 'written in the stars'.
35. Hold My Hand
He was leaning against a column, waiting for someone. She leaned against the other side and caught his hand when he uncrossed his arms. She could feel him tense and get ready to turn when she spoke.
"Don't turn around, koibito. Not right now. There's something going on Heero, someone who doesn't like the Preventers or you personally, and they tried getting to me. I'm in a situation where they can't now, not easily, and it's best if you don't see me right now. Just...just let me hold on for a little bit, before I have to go..." She heard him make a noise of assent...then felt him shift and found something pressed between their clasped hands.
"Stay safe. I'll look into it." She smiled slightly.
"And I'll try to send a message to you somehow, so we have a way of keeping in touch."
And then she let go, taking the item with her and going back to Imogen.
36. Precious Treasure
She'd never pegged Heero as sentimental enough to get her a locket. But here she was, back in the safe house, silly grin on her face and tears in her eyes, holding a small silver locket in the shape of a calm shell. Inside it, a picture of them on the beach took over one side, and the picture she and Duo had taken of Heero's first encounter with ice cream on the other side. She closed it and put it around her neck, vowing to not take it off.
37. Eyes
It was still really, really weird in the morning, several weeks into her hiding. Oh sure, most of the routine was normal enough. Wake up, do her stretches, drink her tea and eat, brush her teeth, get dressed.
But once every two weeks, she would bleach the roots of her hair to hide any trace of the natural golden brown color, and every morning before she went out to eat...she'd put in the colored contact lenses.
It was still very, very weird watching her eyes change from blue to brown.
38. Abandoned
It was her worst fear...that Heero would leave her, once he found out what her ties were and that she was pregnant. That she would be alone again in her heart, left with a raw wound again...
She prayed that fear would never be realized.
39. Dreams
She didn't dream often lately, sleeping just light enough that REM sleep often eluded her. But when she did dream...oh did she dream. About future possibilities, about old memories, and always about Heero.
And she cried every time she woke up from one of those dreams.
40. Rated
"You are not putting that thing in my player, Matthias Vian Andeo." A blonde eyebrow raised as the teen looked to Saiai.
"Why not? Not like you're going to be here much longer. You and Imogen are going out to the club, right?" Saiai sighed.
"That is rated triple x, Matthias. I will NOT have porn in MY player, PERIOD. And you're only seventeen! Try it, and I WILL know." Matthias pouted as his older friend walked out.
41. Teamwork
It was hard, but Imogen had found a way for Saiai to communicate with Heero through a series of proxies. Thank the Family for their connections, even if they weren't in actual crime anymore! And through it, she'd sent Heero everything she and the Family had managed to dig up regarding the person who'd been following her.
And he sent all the info he could gather after that, and it continued. Until Saiai realized that bits of info were missing, once it turned out the person and his group had been after Heero specifically. And every bit of missing information would have had to do with Heero's role in the war.
She'd always thought he'd been a normal OZ mobile suit soldier, or maybe even White Fang. But this...this got her wondering. Had Heero been hiding something from her as big as what she'd hidden from him?
42. Standing Still
It was him. Saiai knew it with every fiber of her being. And he RECOGNIZED her. Behind the bleached and shortshortshort hair and the brown contacts, he recognized her.
She knew she should run, protect herself, protect the life growing inside her...but she couldn't move. And he had a wicked smile on his face, raising the gun he held up to point at her. She was like the rabbit the fox had finally caught up with, all her instincts and reflexes failing her.
43. Dying
Her breathing was shallow, her eyes wide...and her hands shaking, arm protesting the force she'd thrown the knife with. She'd never carried a gun...but bladed objects had been her best non-human friends as Saiai.
She'd watched as the knife had buried itself into his eye before he fired off a shot, watched as he'd died...
And Kaida, not Saiai, felt herself die a little more inside. She'd never wanted to kill again, not after the Family had been usurped and reformed by Imogen.
And it was Kaida, not Saiai, who fell to her knees and started crying.
44. Two Roads
As the police arrived, she knew had two options at that point. She could return to being Kaida, and tell Heero everything. Because at that point, she would HAVE to.
Or she could run and hide, stay with the Family as Saiai, and let Kaida fall asleep again, maybe even die completely.
She wasn't sure which road to take at that point.
45. Illusion
She'd made her choice. Maybe it would hurt more, maybe it would be harder...but it was the real one. Being Saiai...that wasn't real, just a shell of a life, despite it all.
It was time Heero's illusions of her were shattered.
46. Family
"I'll still keep in touch. But you won't ever have Saiai back, Imogen-dono." The blonde woman squeezed Kaida's hands, nodding.
"I understand. And we won't call on you to be her again. You've earned your peace, Kaida. You've a chance at a real family. But if you ever need us, we'll still be there for you. The baby too, whether his father accepts him or not." Kaida sniffled and hugged Imogen.
"You ARE family, Imogen! You're like a second mother to me! And Matthias is the bratty little brother I never had. And Caelin is like an uncle. You all saved me. Gave me hope I would see my Dad and sisters again. And you kept me alive again. You are totally invited to Christmas this year, by the way."
Imogen laughed and returned the hug.
47. Creation
Heero looked at Kaida, more surprised by her news than her bleached hair. (She'd ditched the contacts before meeting up with him again.)
"You're..."
"Pregnant. Yup. And baby's definitely yours, seeing as I haven't had sex with anyone but you...period." She yelped and laughed when Heero picked her up, kissing her abdomen.
And on Heero's part, it was...nice, knowing he'd helped create something, instead of destroyed.
48. Childhood
Kaida smiled as she held an old framed picture in her hands. She'd forgotten she had it, hidden far back in her closet, only unburied now because she was packing.
In it, an eight year old Kaida stared out at the viewer with wide, innocent blue eyes, her hair still platinum, before it had darkened to golden brown. She held an eighteen-year-old Imogen's hand tightly, a rare unguarded smile on the older girl's face. The only thing that marred the picture at all was the fact she knew it had been taken in the study of Imogen's now-deceased 'husband', Vasska Andeo.
But it was still the only physical proof of the good times in that part of her childhood. She hugged the picture to her chest, nodding. She'd display it this time, if Heero let her.
49. Stripes
"DUO MAXWELL, YOU SNEAKY b*****d FROM HELL! SHOW YOURSELF!" Kaida stormed through Heero's apartment, looking for the troublesome braided idiot both of them called 'friend' that had slept over the night before. The brunette looked out from behind the couch, grinning. Then he hopped onto the couch and sat cross-legged.
"What? It's Halloween! I thought a tiger would fit you! Besides, the face paint washes off." Kaida growled...then grinned evilly.
"Maxwell...you do realize Heero and I have had sex on that couch, right~?" The horrified look on Duo's face was perfect vengeance.
50. Breaking the Rules
School...Kaida never thought she'd be so damn HAPPY to be back to it. Of course...that began one of her longest standing arguments with Heero.
"Koibito! No PDA on campus!" The dark-haired Preventer just smirked against her neck.
"I care why?" She stopped caring, too, soon as he nibbled on her neck.
51. Sport
"PLEEEEASE~?"
"No." Kaida pouted, drooping a bit.
"Oh come on, Quatre. It's just soccer!" Duo laughed.
"Your cute face isn't going to work on him, Kaida! This may be your first time meeting him, but he's got a knack for things! And he knows you're preggers." Quatre smiled apologetically.
"He's right, Kaida. I'm afraid you're sitting this game out."
52. Deep in Thought
There was...SOMETHING about the bond Heero had with Duo, Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei. It was almost like the bond she had with Imogen, Matthias, and Caelin. Kaida found it highly interesting...and perhaps it had something to do with how secretive he was regarding WHAT he did during the war.
It was time to find out.
53. Keeping a Secret
"Heero...please! I don't care what it was you did during the war, I won't look down on you for it! I just...I just want to know." She looked at his back, trying to keep from crying. Did he not trust her enough, even after what they'd gone through? Or was it because of that?
Heero looked back to her...and shook his head. "Not yet. It is not my decision alone to make." Kaida sighed.
"Fine than. And when you're ready...I'll tell you my secret too." He reached to pull her into his arms and lap.
"That sounds fair."
54. Tower
Kaida had finally met Director Une. And never wanted to meet her EVER AGAIN. The woman was two inches shorter than her...and yet could make Kaida feel like a two inch dust bunny with that calculating gaze. She was NEVER teasing Heero about Une ever again.
55. Waiting
She shifted from foot to foot, uncertain and unsure, but looking forward to hearing her name. Heero just watched her fidget from his seat. "Why don't you sit down?"
She looked over to him and smiled nervously. "I'm too excited!" She perked up when she heard a door open and her name called. She grabbed Heero's hand and practically dragged him along. Her first ultrasound! She was going to get to see her baby!
56. Danger Ahead
Kaida stared at the computer screen...and squeaked. Heero looked over from his laptop, brow raised. "What's wrong?" Kaida pointed to her screen.
"Just...all the things that could go WRONG during labor. It's just...scary. I mean...obviously, I've never had a kid before, and all I knew before now was that it involved some pain..." Heero walked over and leaned down to look at the screen. And winced a bit.
"And you still want to go through with this?" Kaida looked resolute.
"For our baby, I will go through with this." She turned and clung to him. "But no way in hell am I doing it without painkillers."
57. Sacrifice
Kaida stared longingly at the hot dog stand she passed on her way to the bus stop, then sighed. Hot dogs were apparently a Bad Idea for a pregnant woman.
Oh how she was going to miss her Ultimate Dog.
58. Kick in the Head
Kaida blinked. And attempted to process what Heero had just told her.
"So let me get this straight...you...were a Gundam pilot? Zero One, to be specific." He nodded. "And Quatre, Duo, Wufei, and Trowa were too?" Another nod. Kaida 'hmm'ed. "Well...definitely not what I was expecting. But it kinda explains things." She hugged him, and Heero relaxed, hugging her back.
"So what was your secret?" Kaida smiled sadly.
"From the time I was eight, to shortly after my fifteenth birthday, I was Saiai Andeo, of the Andeo Crime Family." Heero chuckled.
"And that would explain why the Preventers could never track Saiai down."
"And they never will be able to. She's gone now. Kaida will never become Saiai again."
59. No Way Out
"I don't wanna." Heero gave Kaida a flat look.
"That sounded highly immature." She crossed her arms and pouted.
"Don't care. I hate taking pills." He sighed and snatched up the notebook she'd been writing away in.
"You take the vitamins, or you can't finish your homework." Kaida made a noise of protest.
"But...that's part of my final project! You wouldn't!" Heero smirked.
"Watch me." Kaida finally relented to take her pre-natal vitamins.
60. Rejection
"I'm taken, a*****e. And pregnant. And you're not my type." Kaida kept walking determined to loose the dumbass rich-jock that had been trying to get a date out of her the entire day.
"I don't believe you. A girl like you...I doubt your boyfriend stuck around. But me..." The jock turned as he felt a tap on his shoulder. And met a Yuy Glare.
"Why, exactly, are you accosting my girlfriend?" Kaida cheered and hugged Heero.
"Don't break him, koibito. Campus security wouldn't be very happy with you." The jock made tracks rather quickly.
61. Fairy Tale
Kaida had never expected what Heero was doing now. Oh sure, she'd dreamed of it, but honestly, she expected to stay at 'girlfriend' status for the rest of her life. And she'd been content with that. But now...
He'd gotten on one knee, and now she had a very simple (but insanely pretty, in her opinion) engagement ring on her ring finger. She felt like a village girl who'd gotten scooped and wooed up by a white knight.
62. Magic
It had hurt. Dear gods it had hurt. And Heero had vowed to not make her go through that again. Especially since she'd been carrying twins. (Apparently, one had managed to hide the other, sneaky little brats.) But the moment the two babies, two little girls, had been put into their parents' arms...
It became worth it. Heero couldn't help but think that maybe...magic was real in some way, because how else could he help make such perfect little girls?
63. Do Not Disturb
"Come on, Heero! I wanna see!" Heero glared at Duo.
"No. Doctor said the three of them need rest." Duo pouted.
"But I wanna see my goddaughters!" Heero stayed steady and wouldn't move from in front of the door. "Geez...no fun."
"Cope."
"Kaida should never have taught you to use that word as such."
64. Multitasking
Parenting, Heero and Kaida discovered, was one big lesson in multi-tasking and improvising. Especially with twins. Though Kaida got very good at feeding one of the girls and doing her homework at the same time.
65. Horror
"I said no, Duo." Kaida glared at the braided ex-pilot, the 'younger' of the twins, Mizuki, snoozing away in her sling. Duo gave Kaida his attempt at a puppy dog pleading look.
"Pleeeeeeeeeeeease~? It's Halloween!"
"You have as much chance of my watching that as you've got getting Quatre to give up his tea. I can't STAND horror movies. And you're not exposing Haruko or Mizuko to them, either." Duo opened his mouth to say something, then shut it as Kaida's glare almost reflected Heero's.
"That...is scary."
66. Traps
"Heero~" The agent looked over to his fiancé, raising a brow.
"Yes?" Kaida sat down in his lap and gave him a pleading look.
"Koibito~ I need you to do something really~ dirty..." Heero turned bright red, then smirked.
"Oh really?" She nodded. "Alright." He suddenly regretted it as she grinned and kissed him on the cheek.
"Good! Because it's your turn to change Haruko's diaper."
67. Playing the Melody
68. Hero
69. Annoyance
70. 67%
71. Obsession
72. Mischief Managed
73. I Can't
74. Are You Challenging Me?
75. Mirror
76. Broken Pieces
77. Test
78. Drink
79. Starvation
80. Words
81. Pen and Paper
82. Can You Hear Me?
83. Heal
84. Out Cold
85. Spiral
86. Seeing Red
87. Food
88. Pain
89. Through the Fire
90. Triangle
91. Drowning
92. All That I Have
93. Give Up
94. Last Hope
95. Advertisement
96. In the Storm
97. Safety First
98. Puzzle
99. Solitude
100. Relaxation
 Das Tor · Sun May 09, 2010 @ 07:30am · 0 Comments |
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