Card Captor Quatre - In My Brother's Eyes -A GW/CCS fusion part 4 ----------------------------------------- I look up from the newspaper I am reading, one eyebrow raised as I eye my flushed little brother. "Well, you're up early today, kaijuu. What happened? You fall out of bed?" "I'll have you know Rashid-I mean my alarm clock woke me up," Quatre huffed, stomping one foot in annoyance. "And I am NOT a kaijuu!!!" "Hn, only a kaijuu like yourself would scream and stomp around like that." I smirk, tossing out one of my usual insults distractedly. So, the little furball's name was Rashid, was it? Interesting.... "Mou!!!" He plops into his chair, lower lip stuck out in a pout. "Your face'll freeze up like that if you're not careful, you know," I say, popping a piece of toast in my mouth. He glares at me. I grin back innocently. He actually *growls*. My grin grows wider. I didn't think he had it in him. Ah, my little brother is growing up! I'm so proud! "Heero-kun, you shouldn't tease your brother so much." My father steps out of the kitchen, placing Quatre's breakfast in front of him. His long blond hair is tied up in a high ponytail, but some stubborn strands have already started escaping the tie. Brushing the hair away from his face, he turns and smiles at the framed picture on the table. "Ohayou, Lucrezia-san", he says, trailing a gentle finger across the image's face. My eyes soften as I watch my father. It's been seven years, and he still loves her so much. Lucrezia, my mother. I look at the picture, eyeing the stubbornly spiky hair that I had inherited, her pretty, delicate face, her stubborn jaw. I sigh quietly. I missed her so much. If it weren't for the fact that I could see her ghostly presence watching over us from time to time, I don't know how I could've coped. I surreptitiously glance at my watch. Ah, time to go. Duo will be waiting...not that I care or anything. Standing up, I grab my bag and my lunch and speed out the door. "Itte kimasu!" Ten minutes later, predictable as clockwork, I hear my little brother wail. "Oniichan!!!! Wait for me~~~eeee!!!" * * * * * Sigh. Another day, another part time job. I'm working at the aquarium this time, feeding the penguins of all things. Ah, le sigh. Coincidentally, this is where the fourth grade class from Tomoeda Elementary School is having their field trip. Hn, I think I can hear my little kaijuu of a brother clonking this way now. ... What? *looks inquiringly at reader* ... What?!? *annoyed growl* ... Hnn!!! *looks defensive* Don't look at me like that! *glares* It is SO a coincidence! *scowls* Don't give me that skeptical look! I AM NOT STALKING MY LITTLE BROTHER!!! *mutters curses about assuming baka readers and proceeds to ignore any and all further observations that might come his way* -_-;;; * * * * * I hear the people begin clapping and cheering. Looks like the show is about to begin. I quickly grab a pail and fill it with fish. Before I can finish, the cheers turn to panicked cries. I run out, taking in the situation at a glance - the penguin's weak struggling, the trainer's futile efforts, Quatre's anguished face. Focusing my eyes on the swirl of magically controlled water, I dive into the pool, swiftly making my way to the penguin's side. Luckily, I manage to determine the construct's weakest point and I surreptitiously give it a power-charged kick even as I yank the penguin back to safety. I see Quatre beaming in relief as he hugs his best friend Trowa. Sighing, I pull myself out of the water. The things I do.... *shakes head* * * * * * I hear the sounds of Quatre and that stuffed camel talking as I enter the house. Hmm, did that toy just say 'Clow Card'? My brow furrows in thought. Didn't Dad have a book about them in the basement? Hn, this requires further investigation. Who knows what that thing is dragging my brother into? Ninmu ryoukai. Now to let my otouto know I'm home, though he really should have noticed my presence by now. Hn, note to self: must remember to work on Quatre's situational awareness. Inattentiveness like this is totally unacceptable. "Tadaima!" I call out, deliberately making noise as I remove my shoes. I hear a panicked squeak in the living room, and the sound of frantically flapping wings as Quatre shooes Rashid off to his room and clambers out to meet me. "O-okaeri nasai!" he blurts out, casting furtive looks behind his back. "Hn," I say, dropping my bag beside the door. "Ne, Oniichan, why were you at the aquarium today?" Quatre asks. "Don't you ever pay attention?" I roll my eyes. "I wrote it down, baka." I point to the whiteboard hanging on the kitchen wall. On the board is written: Heero Part-time job! Establishment anniversary Quatre Off-campus studies "Ah, sou ka," he says, blushing slightly. "Ne, ne, why were you at the penguin show? What kind of part time job did you have?" I sigh. "Feeding the penguins." His eyes widen. "Honto ni? Sugoi, sugoi!" "Hn." I give him a strange look. Sometimes I wonder about Quatre. He's entirely too....perky. Ahem, never mind about that. I walk to the table and swipe a pancake, stuffing it in my mouth. Hn, not bad. Quatre gasps in outrage. "Hey! That's not fair! Those are mine!" I smirk at him. He should know better than to leave food lying around, especially with that moving vacuum cleaner he keeps in his room. I hear someone knocking, and I quickly move to open the door, leaving my brother sputtering incoherently in the kitchen. "Oi, Duo. You're late," I say, pulling him inside. "Maa, maa, not everyone's as athletic as you, Heero!" he laughs, quickly toeing off his shoes. "I, for one, can't run that fast." He looks behind me and smiles. "Konnichi wa, Quatre-chan." I turn to see my brother standing in the hallway, looking at Duo with starry eyes. "D-duo-san! Konnichi wa!" Duo sniffs the air appreciatively. "Mmm, something smells good. Did you make some pancakes, Quatre-chan?" "H-hai!" Quatre bobs his head up and down. "Would you like some, Duo-san?" he offers. I quirk a brow. Hn, it's obvious who the little brat likes more, isn't it? "That's all right, Quatre-chan," Duo declines, smiling sweetly. "I don't want to be a bother." "It's okay, really, Duo-san!" Quatre insists, sincerity shining in his big blue eyes. "I want you to have some." I impatiently tug at Duo's arm, jerking my head towards the stairs. We DID have some studying to do after all. It had absolutely nothing to do with the smile he was giving my brother. Nope, I wasn't feeling jealous or anything. Nuh-uh. Duo just gave me a knowing look, and after thanking my otouto, followed me up to my room, Quatre's voice promising to bring up the food trailing after him. * * * * * "Oi, Heero! Wait up!" I turn around, nodding at Duo as the chestnut-haired boy bounded over to my side. "Yo." Duo rolls his eyes, giving me a pained look. "Heero, when are you gonna get yourself a better dictionary? There are more words in the Japanese language than 'Hn', 'Baka' and 'Yo', you know." "Hn." He pouts. "Mou, you do it deliberately, don't you?" I smirk, fighting the urge to do something rather explicit with those pouting lips. He sighs. "Anyway, I wanted to ask you about that cafe at the aquarium. Is it any good?" "Not bad," I answer, absently watching the sun play among the silky strands of Duo's hair. "Why do you ask?" He shrugs. "I'm gonna take Quatre-chan out for some food, you know, to pay him back for the pancakes yesterday. I guess I'll take him there then." He glances at his watch, then grimaces slightly. "Damn, I'm running late. I'll see you later, Heero!" he calls over his shoulder as he runs off. I stare blankly after him. Duo's taking QUATRE out? They were going on a DATE??? Quatre to Duo o korosu!!! * * * * * "O-oniichan!" Quatre cries, staring at me in surprise. "What are you doing here?" I glare down at him, fingers tightening slightly on the pen and pad I am holding. "Taking your order, what else, baka." Duo blinks at me. "I thought your part time job was feeding the penguins?" I snort. "The water was drained for inspection because of _that_ incindent," I said, referring to the near penguin drowning yesterday. "So I got moved." I hide a smirk. No need to mention certain...negotiations with the other boy who was supposed to work here. Duo nods. "Sou ka." He smiles. "At least you're not stuck in the refrigerator handling the penguin food, ne?" "Hn, it's the same thing. Now I make shaved ice." At the mention of food, Duo beams. "The strawberry milk is really good here, right?" I nod. Quatre gets a funny look on his face. "Shaved ice. Ice...?" "Okay then," the braided boy exclaims. "We'll have two please." "Ryoukai. Are you sure you don't want a large one?" I ask, well acquainted with my friend's huge appetite. Duo's grin widens. "They come in large?" he exclaims delightedly. "Then I'll have that, Heero." I dutifully write their orders down, then turn to leave, studiously ignoring the peculiar little pain in my heart as I watch Duo smile radiantly at my little brother. No, I'm not jealous at all. * * * * * "Quatre! Duo!" K'so! That water construct is attacking again! I lunge forward, grabbing Quatre as the water washes him by me. Heaving him up to a safer location, I turn and make my way to Duo, helping the slender boy make his way towards higher ground. "Daijoubu, Quatre?" I ask, looking him over for injuries. "Hai, I'm fine." I move over to Duo. "How about you? You okay?" He smiles at me, those violet eyes of his glowing with gratitude and something else I wasn't familiar with. "Hai, arigatou, Heero." He glances over at Quatre. "Too bad our shaved ice was ruined, ne, Quatre-chan?" Quatre shakes his head. "It's okay." He turns and I hear him muttering softly to himself. "Shaved ice....ice? Ice!" He whirls around, suddenly hugging Duo, who squeaks slightly in surprise. "Arigatou, Duo-san!" My eyes narrow. Hmmm, he's up to something. I nod decisively. Ryoukai, I'll follow him later tonight. * * * * * I watch silently as Quatre seals the floating water creature, triumphantly turning it back into a card. Sou ka, so that's what he meant by Clow Cards. Hn, I guess he's involved in something bigger than I thought. I silently move away, leaving the jubilant trio of Quatre, Trowa and the stuffed toy behind. I really MUST do that research in Dad's library now. Something like this could get him hurt. --------------------------- (1) Gomen! I read a phrase similar to this in a fic once and I couldn't resist!