Tide Beach

Chapter 5

Unlocking her front door, Hilde slipped into the house that she and Duo had been renting for the last three months. Ever since Duo had joined Preventers after the hostage situation on Miss Relena's birthday, Hilde had wanted to join the Preventers too. However, she respected Duo and hadn't wanted to join them if it would put a strain on their friendship, but now she felt like telling him "Tough luck" and joining whether he liked it or not.

Looking down at what she held in her hands, she frowned. The bright yellow bikini was an eye sore, at least as far as she was concerned. And the lightweight blue jacket was... well... not hers.

"Chang Wufei," She muttered, "how do I find you?" Coming up with an answer, she sat down at her computer and got on-line. Using the Worldwide phone book she tried finding him.

"Come on, how many Changs can there be?" She said softly as she typed up his name.

Tapping her fingers on the desk, she waited for her query to go through and give her a list of Changs and their phone numbers. "309?" She said with eyebrows going up. Most of the Changs where in China or Hong Kong. There were five Changs in San Francisco, USA. But only two in Europe, where they were now. "Eeny-miny-miney-mo" She said taking turns pointing at the numbers with her figure "Catch a tiger by it's toe" Using the most basic and logical method she knew she went on. "If he hollers let him go" She couldn't help laughing at her self and lost her place.

"Goof ball, what would Mr. Change say at your antics?" The thought of him standing before her came to mind, and she really did want to know what he would think of her.

"Nuts" She muttered and decided to just call the first one, then the next.

"It's no big deal, you just call they guy say, "hey I still have your jacket" and be done with it", she ordered herself as she disconnected her computer from on-line mode so that she could use her phone. Ten minutes later, after both calls and neither of them having a "Chang Wufei", Hilde sighed. She picked up the jacket, which had been hanging on the side of her char. 'It's a nice coat' She felt some thing solid in the right hand pocket. "Feels like a wallet in there" she said, smiling. Opening the pocket she did find his wallet inside. Now wondering why she hadn't noticed it when wearing the jacket, she searched in the wallet for an address or phone number.

RIING!

Startled, Hilde frantically looked around for the source of the sound. Ring ring! It was just the phone. Flipping the "on" switch, Hilde was looking into the smiling face of Duo.

"So, what's going on?" she demanded immediately.

"A fluke!" He responded. "I just now got a chance to call about it because I lost the coin toss with Quatre and was occupied with paper work." Duo made a sour face. "I don't know how but that boy cheats!" He said playfully as Hilde saw Quatre in the background.

Rolling her eyes, Hilde smiled. "Tell Quatre hello."

"Sure. Hey, I'm catching a ride with some one else to night so you don't need to pick me up. Also I may be in late, so could you be sure to wake me in the morning if I sleep through the alarm?"

"Sure." Saying goodbye, they both hung up.


"Who was that?" Sitting at his desk, Wufei heard Sally ask Duo.

"My roommate. You should meet her some time!" Duo stretched in his seat, pushing his paper work away. "I think the two of you would get along great."

Sally nodded. "I think I did meet her once"

"Is she your girlfriend" Wufei asked hoping to distract himself from thinking of Hilde.

The young woman hadn't left his mind all day.

Duo laughed "No, she saved my butt a couple of times and let me crash at her place for a long time." He shrugged "She's one of a kind, but not meant for me."

Wufei looked at Duo, studying the features of his usually carefree face. "Do you believe that every one has a special someone meant just for them?"

Duo's smile became a large grin. "Yep!" Duo winked at Sally.

Sally smiled back then turned to Wufei "And I bet I can figure out just who your special some one is!" Wufei was more then a little surprised by this remark. While Sally could be light hearted and joke with Duo he had never thought of her as the matchmaking kind of girl. She was too...well... Sally.

Hoping this distraction would help him to forget the girl with the nastiest right hook he had ever felt, Wufei took Sally's bait. "What's she like?" Wufei asked.

'This may be amusing' He thought, picturing Sally with a cupid bow and arrow trying to find a girl just for him.

Sally laughed, "Well she'd have to have a good since of humor to deal with your moods."

Grabbing a mug of coffee she went on "She can't be too tall or she'll tower over you."

Wufei just stared at her in surprise "You've put some thought into this!" Shifting in his chair, he didn't feeling like sitting any more. "And what do you mean by my moods?" He demanded to know.

Duo laughed this time, but ignored his friend's question "and she'll need to be a tough firecracker. I just can't picture you with some one meek"

Wufei looked at the braided boy "The God of Death is an expert of romance?" He inquired.

But now Quatre was in on it "There's nothing wrong with being meek in a woman."

"True, but Wufei needs some one who can slap him around every now and then." Duo said smiling at Wufei.

Quatre thought about it for a moment "Agreed, but she can't be too pushy. Just assertive enough to make sure she doesn't get walked on, but willing to concede when the time comes for it"

Wufei looked from Sally, who was hiding her mirth behind a mug of coffee to Duo, who was laughing out loud, not bothering to hide how much he was enjoying this, then to Quatre. The blond young man was looking very serious, as though this was a life and death conversation.

"I can't believe you three," Wufei finally said, getting up.

"Where are you going?" Sally asked.

Wufei shrugged, looking around for his jacket. "For a walk" Not finding the object of his search he decided to leave with out it.

On his way out he walked past Trowa and the head of the Preventers, Lady Une. Trowa looked at him oddly, looking at the bandage on Wufei's nose. "What happened to your nose?" he asked strangely.