Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Bloodlines ❯ The Winner Line ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter 2: THE WINNER LINE

**Thoughts**

_emphasis_

"Speaking" (though this one's a given)

I think that's all the funny little symbol thingies we used this time.

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em unfortunately, we're just poor Uni students having some fun torturing our favourite anime characters. Don't sue!

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Previously on Hidden Bloodlines:

`Ruka lent over and smirked at the boy. "Aren't family visits _fun_ 30."

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Haruka looked down at the younger senshi currently engaged in maiming the blonde boy. "You pair finished yet?" she asked with an indulgent smile on her face, "I know you haven't seen him for a while but you might _actually_ do some damage to him if you keep that
up."

The other two girls gave derisive snorts and rolled their eyes but removed themselves, rather slowly, from the dazed boy.

Quatre staggered to his feet, dripping wet, rubbed the back of his head, and glared at the three grinning girls standing in front of him. Before he could give any his assailants a piece of his rather battered mind they had glomped onto him one on each arm. He didn't think dislodging them would be easy either **Have they been taking lessons from Relena?**

The other pilots had gathered around to watch what was going on with interest, Quatre was rather miffed that none of them had moved to help him in anyway.

The two girls were now clinging, rather tightly, to Quatre's chest. The one with the pigtails began wailing, "You didn't call! All this stuff was happening... And then father... and you
didn't call. We were so WORRIED!!!"

The other was alternating between boxing his ears and bellowing, "BAD QUATRE!!!!! BAD!!!!" into them.

He was beginning to develop a headache.

Trowa chuckled slightly at the sight, "So which three of your sisters are these?"

Haruka just smirked and replied in a rather Yui-esque way "21."

The energetic reply from one of the other sisters more than made up for the sparse answer. The one with the odd pigtails bubbly answered in a manner that reminded Trowa of Quatre on a caffeine high, "Yeah and she's 28," she pointed to the blonde with her hair in a red bow. She then pointed to herself, "And I'm 29. 30 here is the runt!!!" she commented while looking.... up at her little brother. "NO FAIR!!! He grew!!!" She pouted.

Duo laughed at the put out look on her face. He was beginning to notice what the lightweight cotton sun dresses the two girls were wearing looked like when wet. He decided to remind them in a _not_ so subtle way. "Q, I have to admit those are two _fine_ looking sisters you've got there!!!!"

Wufei rolled his eyes at Duo's rather tactless comment and thwapped him up the side of the head.

That didn't bother Duo much, he was used to it and Wu knew he was only teasing. Actually Duo was more concerned with the commendable impression of a Yui Death Glare (tm) that was coming from Quatre than his ringing ear- a mad Quatre was a _very_ scary thing.

Quatre scowled darkly and stepped into line of sight of his fellow pilot's and the youngest Winner females, his elder sisters. He glanced back over his shoulder and managed to grind out "You pair. Inside. Change. NOW!!!!"

The two girls, still blushing a deep red, took off for the house, the one with the pigtails
slipping in her wet sandals as she skidded through the door to the house, nearly crashing into the frame.

Quatre watched his two sisters scamper off. He was turning back to warn the pilots off _his_ sisters when he found himself the unwilling participant of a headlock. He gave a yelp and tried to free himself without any luck.

Haruka reached down and began to give her little brother an affectionate noogie. Quatre began to protest loudly, but received the same results as always -
none, "'Ruka!!! Lay off!!!!!"

'Ruka stopped the noogie but didn't release him from the headlock. She looked slightly amused as he tried to worm his way out of grasp. "You should have called those two you know. They were _really_ worried about you, just ask the Manguanacs you had assigned to them." She let him out of the headlock and he stumbled slightly.

"Yeah, the ones out of ICU and still capable of coherent speech. I _swear_ Rashid is the only one they'll listen to." He straitened up, wincing as he rubbed his poor, much abused head. **I need a panadol.**

Haruka took no notice. She was scanning the pilots with interest, "So... which one's your boyfriend then?"

Quatre blushed and quickly retorted, "And exactly _where_ is your girlfriend?"

"Knowing Michi, in the pool." She hadn't even looked.

Heero grunted, "There's no-one in the pool she is standing on the balcony." He turned around and started when he saw Michiru resting against the side of the pool, waving at the group.

Michiru pulled herself from the water and walked over to introduce herself to her lovers' only brother. In response Quatre introduced Trowa and the other boys.

As the introductions were concluding the other two girls raced out on to the balcony. Quatre was much relieved to see they had changed into different sun dresses. The two girls smiled, waved, and called down to the group still by the pool.

Duo slung an arm around Quatre's shoulders and lent in close, "So what are their names?" At Quatre's glare he took a couple of steps back and raised his hands in mock surrender. "I said _names_ not _numbers_ sheesh!"

Quatre's eyebrow twitched, **this is Duo, Mr. Flirt. You don't have to worry. This is _Duo_ he and Wufei are an item. You don't have to worry... by Allah if he does _anything_ to hurt them he dies!!! **

He managed to reply calmly, but his eyebrow just would _not_ stop twitching, "The one with her hair out is Minako and the one with the Odango's is Usagi."

"I'll _get_ you for that 30!" Drifted down from the balcony. It was followed by a much more important statement - from Duo's and Usagi's points of view at least. "Fatima says that afternoon tea will be served in the conservatory in 30 minutes. So hurry up and get changed, I'm _HUNGRY_!"

Quatre grinned and said to Haruka, "So what else is new?"

"I _heard_ that!"

Quatre blinked and shook his head, "What doesn't she hear?"

Haruka grinned back at him, "Koneko? Not much."

Duo's ears perked up with interest, "You've got a kitten?" He gave Quatre a strange look as the boy shuddered.

Haruka just smiled, "No, I have imouto's and one _lucky_ otouto."

Quatre shuddered again and winced. "Or unlucky," he muttered at what he thought was under his breath.

Haruka clipped him behind the ear. "Be nice." she admonished.

"We better go and get changed you know what she's like when she hasn't had food." Michiru spoke up quietly from where she had been standing.

"Worse than Duo." Quatre cringed at one particular memory of a hungry Usagi, "Does she still inhale her food?"

The other pilots looked at him, disbelieving.

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CONSERVATORY 30 MINUTES LATER

Duo and Usagi were currently the only people in the conservatory. They were already busy stuffing their faces, not bothering to wait for the rest of their friends and family to arrive.

"So, what're you doin' in Juuban?" Duo asked Usagi around a mouthful of food.

Usagi shrugged, "We live in Juuban. We wanted to use the pool." She elaborated, "The pool at the Outers mansion is nowhere _near_ as big as the one here so we decided to visit. Besides, Fatima is the _best_ cook!!"

Duo frowned, "So you don't live on the estate then?"

"Nah," Usagi shook her head and swallowed her mouthful of cake. "Mina 'n I live with our foster families and 'Ruka 'n Michi live at their mansion with the Outers."

The rest of the group entered the conservatory, none of them were really surprised to see the two teens there already stuffing their faces.

"Hey Q-man! How come these two have foster parents?"

"For their safety."

Everyone walked over to the table while Quatre explained why the two youngest Winners had foster parents. When he was done he turned to Haruka, "So, where have _you_ been for the last 3 years then 'Ruka?"

Haruka gave a smug grin; "Around."

The comment earned her a thump on the arm from Michiru. Quatre just rolled his eyes, used to his sisters evasiveness, "Okay what name have you been using then?" It would be rather easy to do a search on her if he knew what name she had been using.

"Ten'ou Haruka."

Wufei raised an eyebrow, "I thought you were male." 'Ruka just smirked. "That would make you," he turned to Michiru, "Kai'ou Michiru, the violinist"

"Uh-huh." Mina commented from the other side of the table, cupcake in
hand.

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Everyone was started on their second cups of tea or coffee, it really depended on whom you were, when a black haired child streaked into the room screaming causing the
Gundam pilots to go for their guns. They relaxed at the realization it was only a small
child. They blinked in unison, a small child?

"Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama TADAIMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

'Ruka leapt out of her seat and swept the black haired girl into a bear hug, choosing to ignore the fact that her little brother's jaw in the vicinity of his plate. "Did you have fun at science camp?"

The child vigorously nodded her head, "Uh-huh. We blew up the chemistry lab and nearly burnt down the new kitchen but we had lots n lots of fun!!" She looked up towards Michiru noticing, for the first time, the other, unknown, occupants of the room. She shied back and grabbed Michiru's hand, trying to hide behind her skirt. "Michiru-mama, who're they."

Quatre watched the family group in amazement. He noticed that his other two sisters didn't seem to be surprised by this display at all; he decided to call them on it later.

'Ruka placed a hand on Hotaru's shoulder and began some introductions. "That," she pointed to Quatre, "Is your uncle Quatre and those are his friends." She pointed to Trowa, "That one over there is his boyfriend Trowa, so I guess that makes him your uncle too..."

Before she could continue Hotaru had shot over to where Trowa was sitting. She looked up at him with a serious expression on her face before grinning and clambering up into his lap. "That's really cool I've never had Uncles before!! I'm Tomoe Hotaru!!!!" She waved at her other uncle sitting across the table, wondering vaguely _why_ he was spluttering
like that.

Trowa looked down at the large, trusting violet eyes and smiled softly. "I'm Trowa, and I've never had a niece before." She smiled and curled up to him.

Mina smiled and looked over at the pair, "You're looking really well at the moment 'Taru."

"The fresh air always does her good." A tall, regal looking figure walked through the door.

Hotaru beamed at her third guardian, "Hey look Setsuna-mama, I've got uncles.... two of 'em!"

Setsuna smiled at the girl. From the end of the table Usagi spoke up, "Aren't you going to say hello to us Hotaru-chan?"

Hotaru looked over at the youngest girls in the room beside herself and waved, "Hi Usagi-hime, Hi Mina-san! Guess what I went to science camp and....," the girl continued explaining the workings of her science camp - complete with various explosions that Duo vowed to try and replicate sometime - interspersed with large yawns until she finally fell asleep on Trowa. He didn't seem to mind.

Usagi looked over at Setsuna, "Is she okay Setsuna?"

"She's fine Hime-sama, just tired. As you noticed she had a rather busy week."

Usagi scowled, "Don't call me that _Puu_." She turned to her still _slightly_ stunned brother, "Q, could you please call Rashid and get him to take her up to your room."

Trowa stood up, Hotaru still in his arms, and before Quatre could even think of calling for anyone he was out of the room.

"And _how_ did I become an uncle?" Quatre had finally recovered from is spluttering fit.

Minako giggled. "Do you want me to get Rashid to explain the birds and the flowers to you? Or does your boyfriend want the honours Q?"

Quatre blushed and threw her a dirty look. Heero arched an eyebrow and commented quietly, "Birds and flowers?"

Usagi gave a long-suffering sigh, "Don't ask."

Quatre rolled his eyes, "So she _still_ has that problem? I thought she'd've grown out of that by now."

"You have _no_ idea." Haruka spoke up as she took a sip from her teacup.

"Hey I'm not _that_ bad anymore!" Mina protested.

"Anyway," Haruka placed her teacup back in its saucer, "To answer your question Quatre, she lives with us. She's ours."

Setsuna and Usagi rolled their eyes at Haruka's oh so informative answer. Duo was beginning to wonder if Haruka was actually a long lost relation to either Heero or Trowa, master of the monosyllabic answer, sole speakers of the Universal Grunt language - if they made noise at all.

Michiru gave Haruka another thump on the arm. She turned to Quatre with an apologetic smile and an explanation of how they came to meet Hotaru. She told of how when
her father died the pair were the closest thing she had to a family. Of course she gave the
abridged version, omitting _all_ mention of sailor senshi, death busters and exploding schools, along with details of Hotaru's parents deaths.

Throughout this explanation, Usagi and Minako tried _very_ hard to remain innocent looking and, while they would have fooled _most_ people, all of the pilots took notice of this and stored it in the - interesting, annoy someone about this later- file.

Once the explanation was over Haruka, in her ever-tactful manner, decided to find out why her little brother was in the area."So what're you doing in this trouble zone then 30?"

"Better here than at the estate in Nerima, it's not even standing! I don't know _what_ happened to it. The most coherent explanation I got, and even _that_ was a little strange, involved a red head and boy with fangs and an umbrella. Juuban is _tame_ by comparison."

Duo's and Wufei's eyebrows met their hairlines. Quatre had _no_ idea.

"You reckon?" echoed from various locations around the room.

Setsuna's eyebrow gave a microscopic twitch.

"Anyway, this was our last port of call."

"Oh," said Mina. "So you're headed back to L4 then."

Quatre just looked at her speculatively, if he didn't know better she was trying to get rid of him, "No. We're going to stay here.... and while I think of it. If I'm here you pair are moving
back in." He didn't even dare to suggest it to Haruka.

The pair looked at him, horrified and disbelieving, this could be a problem.

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