Chapter Six: …Still an Unusual Name…

 

*“No, honestly. I didn’t know they would be here Hiiro.” Duo was slowly backing up from Hiiro, who had his gun trained on the braided boy. The rest of the bar was watching with interest as the two gave them an unusual show. As far as the rest of the people in the bar could tell, the boy with the braid had neglected to tell the boy with the gun that three other boys were meeting them at the bar.

“Hiiro, don’t blame Duo. We just wanted to do a small reunion. We didn’t mean to interrupt any missions of yours.” Quatre pleaded with Hiiro to out his gun away.

“Hnn. Maxwell.” Hiiro still glared at Duo, but he put the safety back on the gun and stuck it in the holster he was wearing under his leather jacket. 

“Yui has the right idea. We should have let him shoot Maxwell.” Wufei grinned at his won suggestion.

“Sit down, you’re attracting attention.” Trowa muttered to them all. Hiiro managed to take a seat at the bar.

“What’ll you have?” The bartender asked him.

“Beer. Any kind.” Hiiro answered.

“Two shots of tequila.” Duo requested. The bartender gave him a look, but said nothing and gave crazy boy his tequila.

“So Hiiro. Finish Shade for me.” Duo smirked.

“Shade?” Quatre asked.

“Hiiro’s girlfriend.” Duo told the other three. Various reactions to Duo’s comment followed in suit. Once again Hiiro was pointing his gun at Duo’s head. Wufei spit his beer out. Quatre was coughing hard, Trowa was patting him on the back… with his own jaw dropped wide open.

“She. Is. Not. My. Girlfriend.” Hiiro denied seethingly through clenched teeth.

“Sorry buddy. What I meant to say was she will be his girlfriend. He hasn’t asked her out yet. But with my expertise he’ll have her in no time…” Duo announced proudly. In the background Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei were snickering.

“Yui and a weak woman? You’re getting soft.” Wufei snickered.

“Hiiro, it’s great you are finally staring to date.” Quatre congratulated him.

“Acting on your emotions Hiiro?” Trowa smirked.

“None of the above.” Hiiro muttered under his breath. He took his gun off Duo, but didn’t relent his death glare.

“Then what is it Hiiro?” Quatre asked smiling. It was nice to see his friend’s antics again.

“Nothing.” Hiiro took a long swig of his beer.

“What he means to say is quite simple Quatre. Hiiro met a girl. He admitted she’s hot, but he won’t admit he likes her.” Duo explained.

“I don’t like her. Love is a form of weakness which I cannot afford.” Hiiro replied in his own defense.

“Here, here Yui. You got it in one.” Wufei raised his beer bottle in a mock toast to Hiiro’s statement.

“Oh really Wufei? Then how come we caught you and Sally in the bathroom that day in…” Wufei’s face was enough to stop Quatre from continuing his speech. Quatre sat, a mocking yet friendly grin on his face. Duo wasn’t the only one who could have fun annoying their friends once in a while.

“Another beer please.” Hiiro  ordered. He was going to need all the alcohol he could get for this ‘reunion’. When he took out the cash to pay, the bartender shook his head and waved his hand.

“It’s been taken care of.” Was the bartender’s explanation with a smug grin.

“By who?” Asked Trowa for Hiiro.

“The only message was this: ‘Hiiro Yui is still an unusual name’.” The blood rushed fro Hiiro’s face and he visibly paled.

“Hiiro? You feeling alright?” Quatre asked concerned.

“Yui? You know who left the note?” Wufei questioned.

“Hiiro Yui’s a pretty unusual name.” The voice wafted through the room and echoed in the five boy’s ears. Looking around, they could find no one who could match the voice. Then, from above the bar where Hiiro sat, a figure dropped onto the counter. She sat on the edge of the bar, long bare legs crossed and swinging barely. Hiiro looked up to the face of the figure that was only inches from his own. Shade.

What was with her and clothing? It looked as if she was wearing almost nothing. Tiny black skirt, tiny red top barely covering her bust and reaching only just above her navel, black sandal stilettos, and long hair down. He was losing to his instincts instead of his trained reactions again. He couldn’t help it, and he hated it.

“ So Hiiro Yui. Introduce me to your friends.” She teased. Hiiro’s hearted pounded and the blood he had lost suddenly came back full force, creating a light blush across his pale cheeks. He cleared his throat. Two could play at this game.

“How nice of you to drop in on us. Tell me. It was you who paid for my beer hmm?” Hiiro’s voice was cold, but the sarcasm and light humor was evident.

“I figured hell. You walk in on me in my underwear, I’ll drop in on you with your friends. That’s one for one you might say. Who else would pay for you?” She smirked.

“One for one. Keeping track are you? Didn’t know you were that desperate for company Princess.” Hiiro engaged her. She leaned in closer to him.

“I’m not. You are.” He shivered. Her lips had brushed against his, creating a more than pleasant effect  to wash over him. The she pulled away and jumped down from the bar. Circling the line of five guys, she looked them each up and down before returning to Hiiro and hoisting herself to sit on his lap.

“It’s rude not to introduce me Hiiro Yui.” She smirked.

“I’m so sorry Princess.” He mocked lightly. “In order. Duo Maxwell. Quatre Winner. Trowa Barton. Wufei Chang.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet the friends of such a treacherous and foul scumbag as Hiiro Yui here.” She giggled.

“Watch it Princess.”

“Still need work on those threats Hiiro Yui.  Now tell me. You’re not all thinking of joining the Specters, are you now? Just think. Four more Hiiro Yui’s. Darien would be pleased. I’d just have to watch more men. Are you all as decent a fighter as he?”

“We’re not joining the Specters.” Trowa answered. He had been the first to regain his sense after seeing Hiiro virtually flirt with a woman. This woman was a different breed from any he’d ever met before.

“Sorry babe. We’re just here to check on our old pal Hiiro here. Not joining the Specters. Besides. I was already a member.” Duo held out is arm. Barely visible was the same brand  any and every member of the Specters was given. Duo looked the girl up and down. This had to be Shade, the one that had even Hiiro’s attention. Hell, she had more than Hiiro’s attention. Hiiro had been flirting with her. Hiiro had a pet name for her. Hiiro had made a suggestion he had thought the Perfect Soldier incapable of. Desperate for company indeed. And walking in on the girl in her underwear He had to give his friend credit. Hiiro didn’t need any help with this girl. Between the both of them they would be together before the end of the month.

“An ex-Specter? Never knew there were any of those. Then, you weren’t very old, were you?”

“I was seven. I left when I was nine.” Duo told her.

“And you are how old now?”

“17.”

“Seven years clean huh? Not bad. I hadn’t  become a Specter at that time. I was only a little girl…only 5. Those were the days.” Shade mocked herself. “And you blondie? Quatre wasn’t it? What’s you’re deal?” She asked.

“Me? Oh, nothing. Just here with friends, that’s all.”

“Hiiro Yui, didn’t think you’d have such an innocent friend as blondie.” She smirked.

“He’s not innocent.” Hiiro muttered.

“Oh. In that case, I don’t see how you could have such an innocent friend as Hiiro Yui.” She directed her comment to Quatre, but all of the boys felt the need to respond.

“Yui is not innocent.” Wufei barked out.

“Oh. Feeling left out all the way over there?” Shade pouted for Wufei.

“You’re not very Princess-like this evening are you?” Hiiro whispered in her ear, hoping to break up the fight he could foresee.

Shade turned her head and caught Hiiro’s eyes. What the hell was she doing? Conversing with the enemy and the enemy’s friends! But her job was to become friends with the enemy. Then, why did she feel so strange? This was not what ‘friendship’ normally entailed. Spending her hard earned cash on buy beers for other people. Then, this was fun. She liked sitting in Hiiro Yui’s lap. She had liked surprising him, and she liked making him nervous by speaking to his friends. She just liked being near Hiiro. No. Impossible. She hated him. She did, she really did. But she was going to stay like she was anyway. Just because he was here didn’t mean she couldn’t have any fun.

“I don’t want to be Princess-like. I hate to tell you, but my real nickname isn’t anything so flattering. In fact, it labels me as quite a naughty girl.” Shade swung one leg over Hiiro’s lap so she was straddling him while he sat on the barstool. She was driving him mad. “My real nickname is the Perfect Mercenary.” She whispered in his ear.

“Is that so? Well then. We have another thing in common. I have the reputation of being the Perfect Soldier.” He countered. She shivered. His voice was so cool, so controlled and even. Yet she could hear the underlying tones. It made fear seem closer and more real than she had ever imagined it could be. It was like listening to thunder. Creepy.

“Well then soldier boy. Two for two.” She smirked.

“Damn. Is Hiiro flirting, or is it just me?” Duo whispered, leaning over to Quatre.

“Oh no. He’s flirting.” Quatre confirmed.

“He sure can lay on the charm.” Trowa commented snickering. He and Wufei had been almost silent up until now. “Maybe we should leave them alone for now…”

“Good suggestion Trowa.” Quatre nodded in acknowledgement.

“Yui and his woman have ruined this reunion for now. We’ll do it later.” Wufei nodded in agreement.

“I say we leave. Then we come back and spy on them!” Duo suggested.

“Duo!” Quatre looked shocked. Teasing his friend once in a while was fine, but spying on him was just plain cruel.

“ Fine, fine. Let’s go.” They slipped out easily enough. Hiiro and Shade were too distracted to see them.

“So Hiiro Yui. Is drinking all you do for fun?”

“No.”

“Good. Then you can dance with me.” She jumped off his lap and moved towards the old jukebox in the corner of the bar. Picking a faster song, she grabbed Hiiro’s hand and pulled him to his feet.

Hiiro had seen the way people danced. They no longer had waltzes or minuets. Instead they danced close to each other, arms around the neck and waist swaying hips to the beat. Unfortunately, Hiiro knew not how to dance that way.

Shade had picked an old song she remembered had made her happy one day. Pulling Hiiro out into the center of the bar, she noticed he was uncomfortable dancing. Well, that was too bad. As retro as her attitude was, she still preferred the old way of dancing. Taking Hiiro’s hand, she instructed him in where to place his hands. And they danced.*

 

~~~ IMPORTANT ~~~ So how’s this going so far? Just wanted to check in and see how many people hate me so far. Tell me. Are my descriptions good enough? Can you SEE the picture? (I always ask myself that) Is it going too fast? Should I slow down the pace? Or speed it up? More Darien? Less? Gotta know quick guys….~~~