Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Purrfect Houseguest ❯ Capter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

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The Purrfect Houseguest

Part 7

A pair of pointed, fluffy ears?

Mariemaia's eyes widened in a mixture of amazement and disbelieve. Almost mechanically she reached out, grabbed hold of one of those soft, furry ears and gave it a sharp tug.

"Ouch!" Crystal-blue eyes narrowed in irritation. "What was that for?"

"I'm sorry," she flushed bright red. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't think they were real."

"Of course they are real." He set her down on her feet and straightened up. He was tall, taller even than her dad.  "The next time, you might want to ask before trying to rip off somebody's ears," he suggested, still sounding a little disgruntled.

"I'm sorry," Marie repeated in a small voice. "And thank you for catching me."

His expression softened somewhat, and he made a dismissive gesture. "It was nothing really. But what were you trying to do; get yourself killed?"

Marie ducked her head and smiled sheepishly. "Of course not. I was just trying to rescue Captain Cruiser."

"Captain Cruiser?" the furry eared stranger echoed.

"Captain Cruiser, hero of the galactic empire?!" she pointed at the small action figure that had been ejected when the toy rocket hit the ground, and landed not far from where she was standing.

He just looked at her puzzled.

Mariemaia sighed. He really didn't seem to know what she was talking about. "Well, I guess you are a little too old to watch cartoons, but even my dad knows Captain Cruiser, and he is even older than you…I think."

For a moment her rescuer looked at her, a tiny smile tugging on the corners of his mouth, but then he turned serious again. "It seemed as though you didn't get hurt at all when you fell. Then I'll leave now."

"Please wait," Marie called out as he turned to walk away.

He turned his head and looked at her questioningly.

"I'm Mariemaia, Mariemaia Khushrenada, but you can call me Marie. What's your name?"

###

Zechs hesitated. His first reaction was to just walk away and ignore her question. But then he thought that it really didn't make any difference if she knew his name or not. Because he would just leave, and they would probably never meet again.

"Zechs," he replied. "My name is Zechs."

"Will you come back again, Zechs? I'll be here until Monday. We can play together."

He hesitated once more, then just shook his head.

"Why not?"

Why not? Zechs blinked. It was such a simple and innocent question. But how was he supposed to explain to her that they shouldn't have met in the first place.

Suddenly the neko was overcome by a wave of nausea and dizziness. He reached for one of the trees for support and closed his eyes, waiting for the vertex to dissipate.

"Are you alright?" the girl asked concerned.

"I'm fine," he lied. Truth was that he had been feeling anything but fine since the morning. Between chills and hot flashes, he was battling dizzy spells and fatigue. His twisted ankle was still hurting. In short, he felt rather lousy.

"Are you sure? You look like you are sick. Maybe I should go and get my dad. He always knows what to do and how to make me feel better when I'm sick."

"NO!"

Marie seemed startled by the sudden harshness in his voice, and Zechs regretted his reaction instantly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so harsh. It's just that… I… I think it is better if nobody know that I'm here." He pushed away from the tree and turned on his heel. "I really should be going now."

"I know!" Mariemaia suddenly exclaimed, cheerfully. "Maybe you just need to rest a little." Before he knew it she had seized his hand and gestured him to follow. "I know a place where we can hide. Papa doesn't have to know. We can just stay there until you feel better."

For a moment Zechs was too surprised to even object, and he allowed himself to be pulled along. But as he followed her toward the house, a little warning voice deep inside him became louder and louder.
It reminded him that what he was doing was dangerous, that he should walk away now, before it was too late. There was no telling what would happen to him when he was discovered.
But there was something about this little girl that fascinated him, even though he could not explain it. She made him feel very much at ease, more than he had ever felt around any of his handlers. She seemed so blissfully innocent and honest, that he just knew that he could trust her. And her cheerfulness… her cheerfulness was highly contagious. He couldn't help it but smile around her.
Besides, getting some rest sounded tempting. Maybe he was just exhausted, and it really would make him feel better.

She led him back to the very storage shed where he had spent the night.  Together the two of them cleared away some boxes and bins in the back of the shed, and made enough room for them to sit down comfortably.

"I'll go and get us some blankets, that will make it cozier," Marie said once they were done. "Have you eaten lunch yet?"

"No, but I'm fine," Zechs replied evasively.

"Then I'll bring us some sandwiches too. I haven't had lunch either. This is going to be fun," she laughed. "Please, don't go anywhere. I'll be right back."

Already at the door, Marie turned around once more and winked at him. "Don't worry, I won't tell anybody about you. I promise."

###

"Papa?"

Treize gazed up from his laptop and gave his daughter a questioning look. "Yes, honey?"

"Can I take a couple blankets outside?"

"What for?"

"I…umm…I'm building a fort."

"A fort, huh? Can I see it when it is done?"

"Hmm…, it's really supposed to be a secret fort."

"Ah, I see. Well, in that case…there are some blankets in the kitchen, in the cabinet above the washing machine. Take the ones that we use when we go to the lake, or have a picnic."

"I know which ones you mean," Marie nodded. "I'm also getting hungry. I'm going to make myself a sandwich."

"Do you need me to help with that?" Treize asked.

"No, that's alright. I can do it myself. I'm not a baby anymore. You are busy, anyway, aren't you? So, you just stay here and work on your book."

Her father raised one eyebrow in a mixture of surprise and amusement. "Are you the same Mariemaia I brought with me from home?"

Marie gave him a brilliant smile. "I guess I'm just growing up. Even Mr. Garner said though."

"Well then, who am I to try stopping you from growing up?" Treize laughed, as he watched her strut back into the house.
Growing up, yeah right?! Knowing that she is her father's daughter, I'd bet my right arm that she is only trying to gain brownie points with me. I wonder what she is up to and what she wants.

He smiled softly, as he turned his attention back to his novel, where his hero was currently busy trying to get out of a rather sticky situation.

###

"I'm back!" Carrying some blankets and a tray with sandwiches, drinks and sugar cookies, Mariemaia walked back into the storage shed. She didn't receive an answer, and when she looked up she realized that her new friend had fallen asleep. For a moment she considered whether she should wake him up or not. Her dad always said sleep is good, and make her take long naps when she was sick.

Carefully she put the tray down on the ground, and picked up one of the blankets to cover the sleeping neko. She was just about to pull it over his shoulders when he suddenly moved. His right hand shot out, seizing her wrist.

Marie gave a startled gasp and tried to pull away.

Fully awake now, Zechs realized what he had done and released her immediately. "I'm sorry," he whispered, crystal blue eyes wide in shock. "I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"

 The girl nodded, as she rubbed her wrist. His claws had left faint marks on her skin, but she was really more startled than hurt. "I thought you were asleep."

"I was," he replied, voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry; I really didn't mean to scare you like this."

"It's alright," Mariemaia smiled at him reassuringly. "I'm fine really. Are you ready to eat lunch, or do you want to sleep a little more?"

"Lunch sounds like a great idea." He pulled the blanket tighter around his shoulders and sat up, while Marie spread the second blanket out on the floor for the  to sit on.

"Have some?" She gestured at the plate with the sandwiches.

"What is it?"

"Peanut butter and jelly. I hope you like those."

"I don't remember ever eating something called 'peanut butter and jelly' before," Zechs admitted.

"Seriously?" Marie wasn't sure if he was just trying to pull her legs. She couldn't imagine that somebody didn't know PB&J. "I have been eating it all my life."

Zechs picked up one of the sandwich halves, eying it curiously from all sides, then sniffing it before finally taking a cautious bite.

Mariemaia looked at him expectantly. "So, how is it? What do you think?"

"Sweet and…different, but not bad, not bad at all."

The little girl beamed. "I'm glad that you like it. Papa says it's good for you too, because it has a lot of protein…whatever that is." She shrugged. "I wasn't sure what you'd like to drink, so I brought milk."

"Milk sounds great," he assured her.

"Good," Marie nodded seriously. "And if you eat your whole sandwich, you may also have some cookies. Mr. Garner made them, they are really good."

"Well, then I'll better make sure to finish my sandwich," Zechs chuckled softly.

There was a long moment of silence, while they both ate quietly.

At one point, when Mariemaia looked up she noticed that her new friend was watching her, apparently lost in thought, and a ghost of a smile curving his lips.

"Zechs?"

His smile widened a little. "I was just thinking how much you remind me of somebody I've met a long time ago."

Marie returned his smile. "You are a neko, aren't you?" she said all of a sudden. It was really more of a statement than a question. "Uncle Wufei came to our school and told us about nekos, how they lived and why they died. You look just like the nekos on the pictures he showed us…well, almost." She cocked her head slightly and studied him for a moment. "What happened to your tail?"

Zechs blinked sheepishly. "My tail?"

"Nekos are supposed to have tails, aren't they?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I've never had one."

"Hmmm…" Marie's forehead crinkled as she thought hard for a few moments. "I suppose Uncle Wufei was wrong then." she finally announced. "He can't be right all the time, can he?"

"How come does this Uncle Wufei know so much about nekos?" Zechs wanted to know.

"Because he is a scientist. He works at a place where they bring dead animals back to life."

Zech's jaw clenched briefly at that statement. 

###

Treize turned of his computer and stretched leisurely. He had finished the chapter he had been working on, and his hero was safe and sound…for the moment. Time to take a break and make himself something for lunch. 
The tawny-haired closed the laptop and rose.

He huffed as he walked into the kitchen. Apparently cleaning up after oneself was not considered part of the "growing up" process. Mariemaia had left a mess on the table; dirty dishes, jars of peanut butter and jelly…and an opened carton of milk?!

Now there is something I thought I would never see. Marie drinking milk without being told to?! She must want something really badly.

He cleaned up the mess and made himself a sandwich. When he sat down at the table his gaze fell upon the clock on the wall, and only then he realized that he had been working on his novel for much longer than he had intended.

I wonder what Marie is doing? It's not like her to play quietly by herself for such a long time. Secret fort or not, I'll better check on her.

###

They had finished their sandwiches, and were munching Mr. Garner's cookies, when the blond neko suddenly, and very quietly, asked. "You are not afraid of me, Mariemaia, are you?"

Marie shook her head. "You startled me a little when you grabbed my arm, but I know you didn't mean to hurt me, so no, I'm not afraid of you. Why?"

"It's just…" He stared into his glass of milk, remembering something that happened a long time ago, when he was only five or six years old.

:::Begin Flashback:::

The little neko laughed as he ran through the park that surrounded the laboratory buildings. He had sneaked out of his room before, but never had he managed to slip past the security guard at the front door.
Before he knew it he had crossed the park, and found himself at the daycare center, located at the southern edge of the facility.

Eyes wide in amazement he stared at the large playground. Some children were playing in the sand, climbing on monkey bars, and sliding down a large, colorful slide. Another group of kids were chasing each other through the grass, laughing and giggling.

Zechs watched for a while before he approached them. "Can I play too," he asked quietly.

Instantly the laughter and giggling died. The children stopped their game and stared at him with wide eyes. A girl with long blond pigtails started to scream, and then everybody turned around and ran back to the playground.

Confused the young neko watched as two women gathered all the children and ushered them quickly into the white day care building. He was still standing there, with tears in his eyes when the security guards found him.

What did I do wrong? I only wanted to play with them?

:::End of Flashback:::

"It's just that a lot of people who I meet seem to be afraid of me."

"Why?" Marie frowned.

Zechs shrugged. "I guess, it's because I don't look exactly human."

"So?" she didn't seem faced. "You look different. Papa always says there is nothing wrong with being different. And he should know."

"How come?"

"Because he is really smart. He writes books, you know. He has written a lot of them already. Grandpa says it is the only thing he is good at, but that's not true. He is also the best cook I know. And…"

Zechs suddenly felt dizzy again. He also felt hot, and he was almost sure that he had a fever. He squeezed his eyes shut waiting for the dizziness to pass.

"Are you aright? Am I talking too much?" Marie asked concerned.

"No, no." he assured her with a little smile. "I don't mind listening. You really love your father, don't you?"

"A lot." She nodded. "What about you? Tell me about your mom and dad."

The neko's expression turned gloomy. "I'm afraid I don't have parents; at least not as far as I know."

"That's really sad," Marie looked at him sympathetically. "I remember how sad I was when my mom died. But at least I still have my dad, and grandpa and grandma, and now I have also Uncle Wufei. But I think …"

"Mariemaia?!"

Marie's head jerked around, startled at the sound of her father's voice.

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T.B.C.

Author's Note: Alright! Done with another chapter. Hope you like it. :-)