Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Masquerade ❯ Chapter Sixteen ( Chapter 16 )

Chapter Sixteen

Sage sighed and sat up. This was the day. She stood and dressed. Yeah . Happy Birthday to me… She sat down on her bed and picked up a bouquet of roses still on her desk. She lightly fingered the blood red petals, smiled, and stuck one in her hair bun for good luck. She wouldn't work hard today. It was her birthday, after all.

No one was in the kitchen or dining room when she got there. She paused with her cup of coffee, eyebrows arched. Wonder where the guys are… She shrugged, grabbed a bagel and sat down. Munching it, she watched the clock. Ten fifteen AM.

Forty minutes later, Sage stood and stretched. No, really, I'm starting to get worried… She decided to try Quatre's room first, since he was the least likely to eat her if there was something going on and she found out. She knocked gently on the door.

"W-who is it?!" Sage heard a scrambling noise and a crash.

"Um-Sage… Quatre, are you allright? Do I need to come in there?!" She turned the doorknob.

"Yes! Uh-no! No! You don't… I'm fine…(crash, bang)" Sage cocked her head and shrugged.

"Well-allright then. If you say so…" She backed away from the door, and Quatre stepped out, looking normal, if a little disheveled. He straightened his shirt and brushed the hair out of his eyes. Sage almost laughed.

"Good morning, Sage!" He puffed, all out of breath.

"You look like you just ran the Boston Marathon, what gives?" She smoothed down a cowlick that had popped up on his head.

"Um-nothing! Nothing at all... Just a little bit of-" He paused and looked for something to say. "Early morning exercise!" Sage put her hands on her hips and looked at him.

"Oh really?"

"-Really!" Sage flitted past him on the way to her room.

"I don't think soooo…" She whispered in his ear in a singsong voice. He grinned and walked her down.

"Where was everyone this morning?" Sage flicked a casual glance at him to watch his expression.

It stayed the same. "At breakfast-where else?"

Sage poked him. "No-I was at breakfast. No one else was." Quatre looked surprised.

"Really? Well, I don't know then…" Sage stopped at her door. Quatre smiled and kissed her gently, then waved and went back to his room, which was apparently (from the sounds) being torn apart by something. Sage sighed and went in.

She sat on her bed, sorting the roses into color groups and sorting the color groups into vases. One by one she flipped through the cards, all blank. Sweet as the intent was, they were still guys. She rolled her eyes and set the bouquets in her window, some on her desk, and one she carried into the dining room for a centerpiece.

Then she walked slowly to the sitting room, where she flopped down in her chair. Where is everyone today? It's too quiet… Quatre popped his head in the room. Sage smiled in a tired way at him, closing her eyes.

He looked extremely excited about something, and he had his hands behind his back. Sage looked at him quizzically.

"What do you have behind your back, Quatre?"

"Sage-In honor of your birthday, I got you a little something…" Sage sat up.

"How did you know it was my birthday? I never told anyone!"

"Well-It was in your private files, which are top secret, so naturally everyone knows about them." Sage shook her head.

"Quatre-I don't need anything for my birthday!" He looked at her sternly. Shushing her impatiently, he produced a tiny, sleek blue-grey kitten from behind his back. It blinked sleepily and peered up at Sage through crystal blue eyes. Sage gave a squeal of delight and cuddled it.

"Oh Quatre! He's adorable!!!!!!!!" The kitten gave a peep of protest as she picked it up. Quatre looked very pleased with himself.

"His name is Dusty… I thought you needed a friend-" He was cut off by a kiss from the exuberant Sage. He hugged her tight, smiling with his eyes.

"Dusty! Perfect..." She held up the kitten and wrinkled her nose at him, Dusty pawed at it. Sage laughed with delight. "Quatre… He's wonderful... The best birthday present I ever got…"

Sage carried Dusty back to her room. She set him on the bed, and he mewed softly before trying to jump off. He tripped over a book she had been reading, rolling head over heels to land near her lap. She stroked him gently, smiling to herself. Quatre was thoughtful. Kittens were hard to find in places like this, as many shops had been closed because of the inflation in prices. Dusty clambered onto her shoulder, balancing precariously. She reached up a hand to steady him almost instinctively, still thinking.

Love isn't everything. I don't know if I love Quatre or not-it just seems so strange. I wish I was as sure as he is… She frowned as Dusty dug his tiny claws into her back to stop himself from falling.

"Ow! Quit!" She pulled him off, bringing him to her lap. He purred and curled up to nap as she rubbed the base of his ears gently, stroking his back caressingly. Someone knocked on the door. It was Duo--again.

"Hey! Looks like your little friend couldn't handle you either!" He grinned and sat down beside her, gently rubbing Dusty on the bridge of his nose. Sage rolled her eyes at him. "Where's he from?"

"A birthday present from Quatre…" She grinned at the kitten as he tried to rip Duo's braid to shreds.

"Man-That guy's always one step ahead of me, isn't he?" Sage glared at him and he laughed. "Chill out babe-I'm just playing…" He winked, and tugged his hair out from the grasp of the kitten. Duo lifted him up and set him on Sage's lap again.

"That reminds me…" He began. "The guys and I have a little surprise for you…" He took her by the hand and pulled her to her feet. Dusty sprang to her shoulder with a dissatisfied meow.

"Duo…" She was cut off.

"Ok-close your eyes!" He tied a silver scarf over her eyes, taking her by the hand to lead her.

"Duo Maxwell! Where are you taking me?" She tried to undo the blindfold, but Duo pulled her hands away.

"That, my dear, you shall see in a moment…" They walked for a while, then Duo led her through a door and moved behind her, walking her forward three steps before taking off her blindfold.

As the world rushed back to Sage, she squealed and jumped up in delight, forgetting her broken ribs. They had fixed Epyon for her! She squealed again and hugged each pilot with delight. Wufei backed away when she came to him. Sage shrugged and went back to looking Epyon over.

Later that night, she set the leftover cake in its box in the refrigerator. Walking to her room, she held and stroked Dusty, singing to him softly. Today had to have been the bets birthday she ever had… With a sigh, she flopped into bed with her kitten in the crook of her arm and fell asleep.