Title: Chibi Syndrome
Author: Atarashii (kitsune_atarashii@hotmail.com)
Rating: PG; ANGST
Pairing: 1+2, 3+4

Disclaimer: Gundamwing Characters aren't mine. The plotline is. Please don't sue.

Warning: ...

Rambling: Gah...this part...angst ahead, everyone. You find out the side affects, and the plot thickens. And this came out before Monday...took me about two and a half hours to type it. *sweatdrop* Enjoy. (All grammatical/spelling errors are mine. I tried to get them all -_-}


***

Chibi Syndrome (Part Three)

***


An hour later found Trowa and Heero approaching the Winner Estate. Shifting the bag in his arms, Trowa fumbled in his pockets for the keys. Getting the front door opened, he let Heero enter before him, closing the door slowly. The two looked at each other, wondering just how to face their lovers after running out on them.

The black-haired youth was the first to move, heading towards the first room that came to mind:

The sitting room.[1]


***


Duo stirred, ears picking up the sound of footsteps approaching. Cracking one eye open, he could already tell something was amiss. Sitting up, he looked over at Quatre's still sleeping form, then at the entrance to the room.

:Wait a second...: he thought, looking back at Quatre. He froze, mind whirling into overdrive.

It was Quatre, yes. It was a still chibified Quatre, yes. But last time he'd checked, Quatre didn't have two dainty black-furred ears instead of regular human ones, nor did he have an equally black, bushy tail.[2] Unconsciously, the braided chibi reached up, feeling the rounded, furry ears he now sported. A slender, black tail curled around his waist, directly in his line of vision.[3]

Two gasps made him glance up, paling when he saw his lover and Trowa gaping at him. Mustering the strength, he said weakly, "Hey."

In reply, both full-sized young men dropped their packages, falling to the ground with a *thud* and *thump*.[4] The noise was enough to wake Quatre up. The blonde yawned, rubbing any remaining sleep from his eyes. As his gaze fell on Duo, azure eyes filled with astonishment. "D-Duo? Y-You..."

"You too." Duo interupted testily, pointing a finger at the turned-youko Arabian.[5]

"Wha?" Quatre copied Duo's earlier actions, feeling his new features. With a squeak, he dropped the tail, shaking his head as he saw Trowa and Heero. "Side affects?" he asked the turned-yamaneko American.[6]

"Obviously," Duo smirked.

"It just keeps getting worse..." Quatre sighed, plopping down onto the ground and leaning against the wall. "Else we're just seriously cursed with bad luck."

"I just want to be back to normal," the Yamaneko groaned, ears flattening against his skull. "I swear I'll never eat anything without reading any warnings again!"

Quatre watched, only semi-amused as the other fell to his knees, raising clasped hands up into the air, violet eyes pleading. "Not going to work, Duo." he sighed, picking himself up and heading over to Trowa's prone form. With a small frown, he nudged his lover's side with his bare foot. When he got no response, he turned back to Duo, "We're gonna have to ask Wufei to help us get them up into our rooms."

Blinking, Duo glanced at the blonde while his words slowly registered in his turmoiled mind. Emotionlessly, he replied, "Yeah, right."


***


Resheathing his katana at the knock, Wufei placed it on his bed, then walked over, opening the door. He saw nothing, and frowned, about to close it again when something or someone tugged on his shirt. Looking down, Wufei found himself staring into wide, cerulean eyes filled with innocence. Blonde bangs were tousled, and the Chinese young man blinked.

"Winner?" he asked the chibi, trying to avoid staring at the fox ears adorning blonde hair. Quatre gave him a wobbly smile.

"Wufei, I was wondering if you could help Duo and I with a problem we have," the Youko asked.

At the mention of Duo's name, raven eyes narrowed, "With what?"

"Can you carry Hiro and Torowa up to our rooms? They...um...collapsed when they saw me an' Duo."

"...That's all, Winner?"

Quatre nodded his head.

"Alright then, I can help."

"Thank you, Wufei."

The dark haired youth gave an unconscious smile, "No problem."

:Darn it! Why does he have to look so cute like this?! I'm sure only women would be weakened by such...argh...:[7]


***


Duo sat perched on a chair beside the bed, anxiously waiting for its occupant to awaken. :You and Cat talked about this, Maxwell!: he scolded himself. :Just tell him when he wakes up, then get out of there. It's best for both of us...: Unfortunately, Duo had a hard time convincing himself to go ahead with the plan he and Quatre had made. Nervously he twirled his newly-obtained tail. He almost jumped when Heero groaned, eyes fluttering open.

They shut, then opened again. The Japanese manuevered into a sitting position, already sensing and registering Duo's prescence. An image of what made his black out flashed in his mind, and slowly he fixed pussian blue eyes onto his braided lover.

The former was frozen by the gaze Heero was giving him, feeling all his resolve slipping away as he physically distanced himself. Staring at Heero, Duo felt like slipping away to the nearest sewer. The other's look conveyed confusion, and above all, slight disgust. Not one bit of understanding, of endearment could Duo find in those cobalt blues. Feeling his heart drop to the soles of his feet, he backed up even further.

"Hiro...stop looking at me like that." he whispered hoarsely. Without a word, Heero obliged, turning his head away. Surprised as new-found courage appeared, he pressed forward, "I can...see that you don't feel comfortable with me...like this. That's why Cat and I decided that until we return to normal, that we'll share one of the guest rooms."

"Freak." Heero whispered in a low tone, yet Duo's sensitive ears caught it, and all at once he could feel his heart slowly breaking. "I want the old Duo back. I don't want some chibi, freak replica!" he glared at Duo. "Get out. Now."[8]

"I *am* Duo, Hiro!" Duo snapped, taken aback, "I'm sorry you can't realise that. I-I thought you really meant it when you told me that you love me for *me*. That you wouldn't desert me..." Suddenly, amethyst gaze hardened, "But you'll get your wish, Hiro. I'll leave you alone; as you know, Shinigami doesn't lie."

Fists clenched at his sides, the chibi Yamaneko stormed out of the bedroom.


***


Quatre looked up when he saw a blur of black race down the hall. Startled, he looked at Trowa's still unmoving form, then stood up, running out of the room. He chased after Duo, calling out his friend's name. The latter didn't stop, running down the stairs, towards the door. With a spurt of energy, Quatre tackled the American, bringing both of them to the ground. Pulling away. Quatre was surprised to see tears streaming down the chibi's face.

"D-Duo?"

"He hates me, Cat!" Duo shouted, struggling to get out from under the other. "Hiro hates me."

Quatre was bowled over by the torrent of emotional pain the other was releasing, and clutching his chest he rolled off the Yamaneko.[9] Duo was oblivious to the blonde's suffering, repeating over and over, "Hiro hates me."

The Youko gasped, reaching towards Duo with a trembling hand, "Duo...p-please...calm down." He gasped sharply, tears leaking from his now closed eyes. It was overwealming, how one person could feel such pain. And he was suffering as badly as his friend, maybe even worse. Crying out softly, Quatre was dimly able to regiister the absense of the other.

The door slammed, and struggling to his feet, opening his eyes, he staggered to the door. Black ears sagged from the burden he'd been handed, and he threw the door open after jumping to reach the doorknob. Blearily, he could make out the black-clothed figure. Taking a deep breath, Quatre started after Duo, black tail lashing behind him. Slipping to his knees at every stab of emotion, he managed to cover the distance between himself and the self-proclaimed Shinigami.

"Duo, STOP!!" he screamed, and surpisingly, Duo did. The braided chibi fell to his knees, shoulders sagging. Just as he started towards him, a hand clapped onto one sable ear. With a yelp, the blonde was lifted into the air, whimpering.

"Looks like we found the ones who guinea-pigged our...product." a husky voice whispered, and Quatre winced, watching with wide eyes as another man approached the oblivious Duo.

He cried out, "DUO! WATCH OUT!!"

"Shuddup," the man holding him snapped, backhanding him sharply. Head jerking back from the force of the blow and vision slowly dimming, Quatre was dropped to the ground. His body landed against the cement with a *crack* as a couple of his ribs were shattered. Duo stared at his now unmoving comrade, being held by the scruff of his shirt by the other guy's partner.

Silently, he mouthed the blonde's name, just as darkness claimed his senses as well.


***


[1] When I say sitting room, I mean like a room with couches and chairs. Just a place to talk. -_-; I know I haven't really explained what I meant in the previous installments.

[2] Fox ears and tail ^_^V

[3] Panther/Jaguar ears and tail

[4] Trowa and Heero passed out from the shock of seeing yet another change in Quatre and Duo.

[5] A Youko is a fox demon. Yet, it is a human[oid] with fox ears and tail. (Think of Youko Kurama in YYH)

[6] Yamaneko means 'wildcat' in Japanese...which is sort of what Duo is at the moment; hence the ears and tail

[7] Sort of cliche, I know. But...I couldn't resist.

[8] Heero's acting like a total...erm...bastard, I know. But it's the shock of seeing Duo as he is now, plus not knowing just how it's happened. He totally didn't mean to hurt Duo, but he felt he had to until he figured out what was going on...(I know it doesn't make much sense. Forgive me)

[9] Quatre has empathetic abilities, it's said. And probably in chibi form, he couldn't control them as well as he could in normal form.

Mwahahahaha...cliffhanger!! And...I hope people were able to make sense of this part. But if you idn't, just ask and I'll try to 'enlighten' you as best as I can. Honestly, this story took on a life of its own, but I'm hoping for it to be done in two more parts. (a round five parts ^_~) All feedback can be directed to kitsune_atarashii@hotmail.com *or* inarisama@yahoo.com. I hope no one kills me for what went on in this installment...