Card Captor Quatre - In My Brother's Eyes -A GW/CCS fusion part 5 ----------------------------------------- I sigh wearily, absently massaging my neck as I wait for the data to finish downloading. Who knew there was so much stuff about magic on the Net? K'so, now I would have to wade through all that junk to find out what I needed. My mood darkens as I give my obliviously humming laptop(1) the Evil Eye. The things I do for my baka otouto.... Before I do anything I might regret (namely bashing said laptop into itty-bitty pieces), I push myself away from my desk. It's about time to take a break anyway. I hear Father moving around in the kitchen and smile. Maybe I can wheedle him into making me some food.... With that objective in mind, I get up and leave the room. * * * * * "Irasshaimase!" I call out, greeting the giggling group of girls who had just opened the door. I'm at yet ANOTHER part-time job, this one as a waiter in a small cafe near the school. The pay is good, but I can do without all the squeals and clumsy attempts at flirtation. Gah, children nowadays! This bunch were just Quatre's age, too. Hn, note to self: surveillance of Tomoeda elementary school needed, to make sure no one was corrupting my gullible little brother. "Oi, Yuy!" I turn around, looking questioningly at the manager. "You have a phone call. Take it in my office." Nodding in acceptance, I thanked him and left, wondering who could be calling me here. "Yuy desu." "Heero?" "Duo?" My brow wrinkled. "Why are you calling?" "Something's happened to Quatre. Can you come over to my place?" Nani?!? I frowned. "I'm leaving right away." "Okay, I'll be expecting you," he says, before hanging up. I make my excuses to the manager, then stalk out of the cafe, heading for my bike. If that stuffed animal had anything to do with this..... Camel o korosu! * * * * * "He WHAT?????" Duo cringed, clapping both hands to his ears. "Not so loud, Heero!" he yelped. "Quatre's still sleeping, you know." I scowl at him, but control myself enough to lower my voice. "How did that happen?? Was he hurt???? Did someone," I swallow, hands clenching into fists. "Did someone push him off?" If someone had... a decidedly psychotic gleam enters my eyes. There wouldn't be enough of them left over to fill a shoe box. "Jeez, calm down, would you?" Duo sweatdrops, wisely keeping his distance. "Quatre's fine, just a little shaken. And NO!" he exclaims. "No one pushed him off. Mou, Heero," he exasperatedly rakes a hand through his bangs. "You're such a paranoid SOB." I give him a heated glare. "Maa, maa," he takes a step back, hands held up in a placating gesture. "Take it easy." He meeps as my glare intensifies and quickly starts explaining. "From what I gathered, he and his friend Trowa were checking out the woods near that cliff. Apparently, there's a rumor circulating that that area's haunted." "And?" My eyes narrow. I knew it! That plushie MUST have put my brother up to this. No way Quatre would've gone there otherwise, not with HIS extreme fear of ghosts (Aided and abetted by me, of course. It IS an older brother's duty to torment his little brother after all.) "Well," he shrugs. "While they were wandering around, Quatre apparently saw your mother's ghost on top of the cliff. He said she was calling to him, so he followed her, and fell off." His eyes darkened at the memory. Seeing my concerned look, he shook his head and gave me a small grin. "Lucky I was walking on the street below, ne?" "Aa." My lips quirked in a miniscule smile. "Thanks for taking care of him." If Duo hadn't been there....That toy and I were going to have a talk real soon. "Do YOU ever see your mother, Heero?" Duo asks wistfully. I shake my head. "I USED to - I haven't seen her around for a while. I guess she knows we can take care of ourselves now." Duo nods. "Quatre must miss her. Perhaps that's why..." he smiles sadly. "Anyway, go easy on him, ne? He's already been through a lot today." I make a noncommittal sound. He sweatdrops. "If you can't play nice, at least stop being so mean to him." "Hn, I can play with him as I like. He's MY brother." He gives me a funny look. "Have you ever heard of a 'brother complex', Heero?" "Urusai.(2)" * * * * * It's late and everyone's asleep. I push the covers off me, and climb out of bed. It's time. I stealthily make my way to Quatre's room, silently slipping inside. I see the plushie curled up on the pillow next to Quatre's head. Ah, objective in sight. Time to commence retrieval. My hand quickly darts out and grabs the camel's soft body, the other hand going to cover his mouth. His eyes fly open, and he struggles, but it's too late. My hold on him is unbreakable. I carry the toy into my room, and unceremoniously dump him on the floor. His eyes are filled with horrified shock as he stares at me. I give him a menacing grin. He gulps, cowering away from me. "You and I are going to have a little talk, Rashid." He starts, surprised at my knowledge of his name. "How did you--" I glare him into silence. I would be the one doing the asking here. My research into Quatre's activities had only raised more questions, and I was going to get them answered, one way or another. Besides, there WAS that little matter of my brother nearly getting himself killed today. I bare my teeth at the little stuffed animal. He doesn't stand a chance. * * * * * I return the unconscious Card Guardian to Quatre's room. He won't remember anything; I have enough power of my own to ensure that. However....I grin viciously. He'll have nightmares for weeks about what will happen to him if my brother ever gets hurt. I manfully resist the urge to cackle in glee.(3) I turn my gaze to my otouto. It's a big responsibility he's been given, but I know he can handle it. He's MY brother, after all. I go back to my own room, making myself comfortable under the covers. Of course, I WILL be keeping a close eye (okay, a CLOSER eye) on my little brother. It doesn't matter if he can deal with things himself or not. He is mine to protect, so protect him I will. I suddenly smirk. There was a bright side to all this. I contemplate with glee all the various new possibilities I can exploit for the tormenting of one baka little brother. I couldn't wait. * * * * * I hide in the shadows of the forest, watching with no little pride as Quatre faces down the Card pretending to be our mother, sealing it away. My eyes unexpectedly tear up. He was growing up so quickly. Where had my whining baby brother gone? * * * * * I sit at the breakfast table, silently sipping my coffee. Today was 'Kaasan's birthday; I had gotten up earlier than usual to buy her some flowers, which I'd arranged on the table beside her picture. They were her favorite - nadeshiko blooms. Their perfume had already permeated the air, bringing back bittersweet memories of times long past. Sudden pounding echoes down the stairs. My eyebrows raise in surprise as I see my little brother struggling into his school uniform. "Why are you putting that on on a Sunday?" I ask, popping a piece of toast in my mouth. "I have club today," Quatre answers, hurriedly gulping down his food. He turns to 'Kaasan's picture, smiling sweetly. "Otanjoubi Omedetou, Okaasan.(4) I love you very much." Quatre then runs out of the room, scrambling into his skates and bolting out the door with a hasty "Itte kimasu!(5)". The faint scent of vanilla and honeysuckle mixes with the smell of the flowers on the table. I whirl around, eyes widening as I see my mother's form floating gently by the door. She turns her large, dark eyes to me. "I was a little worried about him, but I guess he's okay now ne?" I nod, mutely walking over to her side. She smiles down at me, one ghostly hand stroking gently through my hair. "Thank you for taking care of him, musuko.(6)" "It's nothing, 'Kaasan." I smile back, shaking my head. "Otanjoubi Omedetou." * * * * * ~tsuzuku~ (1) *dreamy sigh* Heero just wouldn't be Heero without that trusty laptop. Picture this - those intense blue eyes, firmly trained on the screen, with the monitor's glow bathing that strong, handsome face......*drools* (2) "Shaddup." *sweatdrops* (3) Sadistic little bastard, isn't he? (4) "Happy Birthday, Mother." Aww....isn't he just a kawaii little angel. *pinches Quatre-chibi's cheek* (5) "I'm leaving!" (6) Literally, "son".