Gundam Babylon
A Gundam Wing / Tokyo Babylon crossover
Part 3: Haute Couture
By Beth 

Rating: G to PG-13 now, later R (for violence)
Pairing: Heero + Duo, Seishirou + Subaru

WARNING: Shounen-ai ahead
DISCLAIMER: Gundam Wing owned by Bandai, Tokyo Babylon and CLAMP Campus Detectives (CLAMP Gakuen Tantei Dan) owned by CLAMP. This is an unauthorized not-for-profit work inspired and using elements of both for purposes of personal and shared entertainment. Some of the best mangaka get their start in doujinshi... I'm trying to see if the same goes for writers ^_^

Quatre blinked in the strong sunlight as they emerged from the Shinjuku subway station. He hoped this shopping trip wouldn't be too bad - Suoh had seen it fit to tell him select horror stories about Hokuto and her shopping habits.

"Oi! Duo-chan!!" Heads turned all over the street at the yell. Then people's eyes stayed riveted to a figure dressed in something as far away from a school uniform as possible without the use of illegal substances or alien technology, as said figure made her way towards the ex-pilots.

Hokuto Sumeragi glittered. She was wearing a short knitted top of bright gold thread and white leather pants. She had chosen to compliment it with a cream-colored jacket trimmed with fake fur and gold oak-leaf pins in her black hair. The dazzling apparition hugged Duo tightly, careful not to injure him with her enormous gold-tinted sunglasses.

"Hokuto-chan, you look stunning!" Duo remarked. "Where'd you get those sunglasses?"

"Oh, we'll go there, don't worry!" She smiled at him, then put her hands on her hips and tried her best to look stern. "Now behave and introduce me!"

"Guys, this is Hokuto Sumeragi. And those are Quatre Winner and-"

"Trowa Barton," the tall boy interrupted him, holding out his hand to the vision in gold. "Nice to meet you."

The girl shook his hand, her grip strong and sure. "How do you feel about velvet?" she asked suddenly.

Trowa managed to wordlessly convey his surprise at this turn of conversation.

"I can just see you in emerald velvet, a poet shirt maybe, open collar and sandalwood beads around your neck..." Hokuto mused, eyeing him speculatively. "And a brown leaf pattern, sort of spiky, to compliment your hair. Think Tarzan meets Byron. But I like the jeans - I think we'll keep them!" She beamed.

Heero snorted at Trowa's look of abject terror, then instantly regretted it as the girl turned towards him, a wicked gleam of fashion-plotting in her green eyes.

"For you I was thinking black mesh T-shirt," she announced authoritatively. Heero was suddenly glad he had opted for the school uniform instead of his usual tanktop-and-spandex ensemble that might have just caused a heart attack to the trend queen.

"Knee-high boots," Hokuto added.

"With buckles on them," Duo interjected.

"Black jeans, blue shirt."

"Silk." The braided boy looked like he was enjoying this.

"But of course."

"Black jacket. Armani?"

"Versace." Hokuto stalked around Heero. "Definitely Versace."

Quatre's chuckle was silenced under the full power of the Yuy Death Glare.

Five hours later, four ex-pilots and one fashion maniac sat in the open garden of a trendy caf�. Finally even Hokuto had admitted to having had enough shopping for one day, although not before she pronounced each of the boys as suitably outfitted for the next two days, i.e. having bought about half a wardrobe-full each. Quatre's credit card was lighter by about three thousand dollars.

Duo regarded his friends and realized that he had never seen them so relaxed. Trowa was lounging in the farmost chair, listening with one ear to Quatre and Hokuto discussing the Tokyo real estate market, but his eyes were on the scruffy white feral cat that was sunbathing among the flowers on the other side of the street. Quatre had abandoned his serene facade and gesticulated in true Arab fashion as he explained the influence of Brazilian crops on per-meter rents in shops in Ginza. Heero fidgeted with the knot of the new bandana tied around his neck. Duo kicked him under the table - the American had chosen that strip of twilight-blue silk himself, captivated by the way the fabric complimented his partner's eyes. Not to mention the fact its matching companion was twined in Duo's braid, providing a flash of color against the black military-style jacket Hokuto had chosen for him.

"Stop that, Heero," he admonished. "It looks fine."

"It's too tight," Heero growled.

"Here, let me-"

As Duo reached over to his partner, a commotion rose in the street. A small girl had chased a runaway balloon into the traffic, and a black Honda Acura swerved in a desperate attempt to avoid the careless child, its brakes squealing. It went on the sidewalk across the street, sending the feral cat flying into the air. The feline landed heavily by the little girl, one of its hind legs hanging limp. Both child and animal could only stare wide-eyed as the Acura rebounded off the walls of the houses and headed back their way, slowing quickly but not quickly enough.

When Trowa's chair clattered to the floor, the tall boy was already running towards the child. He took a leap off the sidewalk, rolling as he grabbed the girl and the cat. The car's screeching wheels passed only inches from his head.

"Yuzu-chan! Yuzu-chan!" A harried-looking young woman was by them in the next instant, hugging the child. From the similarities of their faces it was clear she was the girl's mother.

Hokuto and the three ex-pilots were there only seconds later.

"She's alright, just scared," the girl assured the woman. "But you should pay more attention to your daughter! Little children shouldn't be allowed to run around unsupervised."

"Easy, Hokuto-chan," Duo placated her. "Everyone's alright and that's what matters."

"Not everyone," Trowa said. "The cat's leg is broken. We should take it to a veterinarian." He picked up the little feline and moved away from the center of the commotion - now joined by the car's driver, employees from the caf� and random passers-by.

"Great," Quatre sighed. "Now how will we find a good vet here?" He knew better than to argue with Trowa when an animal was in question. Besides, the cat was cute.

"That's easy!" Hokuto exclaimed. "We'll take it to Sei-chan's clinic." She hesitated. "Though that way we won't get to visit Tokyo Tower... Trowa-kun, Quatre-kun, can you live without it?"

Heero took the dazed feline from Trowa's arms. "We'll take it to the clinic. You go along. We'll meet you back at the campus."

"Hey, thanks!" Quatre smiled. "I can never get enough of the view from the Tower! I haven't been there in ages!"

"Do you know where the clinic is?" Hokuto asked.

"Yes, Subaru-kun told me. Come on, Duo."

The Sakurazuka veterinary clinic was spacious and sunny, furnished in surgical white and elegant peach. The receptionist asked the boys to wait until Dr Sakurazuka could receive them, but before they could sit down, the door opened. Green eyes brightened at their sight and Subaru all but threw himself at his friends.

"Duo-chan, Heero-kun! What are you-" His eyes alighted on the animal in Heero's arms. "Oh you poor thing! Come, Seishirou-san has just finished with his last patient."

The ex-pilots followed the Sumeragi's lithe form through the corridors. Finally they entered a well-lit office which opened into the main clinic - walls lined with large and luxurious animal cages. The only furniture in the main office was a large oak desk, uncluttered apart from several perfectly-aligned piles of paper.

The young man behind the desk was filling out paperwork when they came in. He ran a slim hand through wavy black hair as he looked up at them. His golden eyes shone warmly at the black-haired boy leading the trio.

Heero would have pinned him at about twenty-six. He knew from Subaru that he was barely a year off the mark. He made a mental note not to underestimate this man because of the friendly impression he had around him.

Heero heard Duo take a sharp breath behind him, but before he could pay attention to his partner, the man in front of him spoke.

"Hello, Subaru-kun," Seishirou Sakurazuka smiled. His voice was smooth and exceedingly polite. Standing up, he towered almost a head over Subaru, and even more over the shorter ex-pilots. "And your friends are?"

Heero paused for a moment, then realized that Duo would not make the introductions. He quelled an urge to turn around and see what was wrong with his partner. "I'm Heero Yuy," he said instead. "And this is Duo Maxwell."

"Subaru-kun's new friends, I see! He has told me much about you. My name is Seishirou Sakurazuka. And to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Heero wordlessly held out the cat. It had calmed considerably, and its leg had been temporarily bandaged with Quatre's tie (Duo having vehemently protested the use of Heero's bandana for that purpose).

Seishirou swiftly relieved him of his furry burden. "The leg's broken cleanly, no splinters," he pronounced after a quick examination. "It shouldn't pose problems healing. What happened?"

"It got hit by a car," Duo explained. His voice was quiet but with an edge to it that Heero associated with "battle-mode".

"I'll go get the paperwork for admitting it," Subaru offered. "I'm afraid we bypassed Miss Mizuno on our way in. Come with me, Heero-kun?"

After a last curious glance at the American, Heero followed the black-haired boy back into the reception room. They acquired the appropriate forms and settled down to fill them in.

"What do you think about Seishirou-san?" Subaru asked.

"He's good for you. Your face lights up when he looks at you." Heero neglected to mention his partner's strange behavior upon meeting Dr Sakurazuka, but looked deep into his friend's green eyes. "Did you tell him about your feelings for him?"

Subaru blushed. "Not- not yet. Did you?"

"Tell Duo? No opportunity yet. Nokoru-kun was hunting for Relena's necklace all evening long."

The black-haired boy mused over one of the forms. "Who is paying for the cat's treatment?"

Heero took the paper from him and quickly filled in Quatre's credit card details. "A friend," he snorted.

"By the way, I was meaning to ask you about that exorcism you used yesterday," the Sumeragi began.

Blue eyes fixed the other boy with a dispassionate stare. "It was nothing. Don't mention it, please." Heero finished the last of the forms and gathered them together.

"Alright..." Subaru said uneasily, standing up.

When they came in, Seishirou was finishing bandaging the cat's legs. Duo was by his side, holding the animal's head in place and cooing soothingly. He turned to greet them cheerfully, then yelped and turned back, revealing a small striped kitten that had just attacked his braid.

"Oi, little one, this isn't a toy!" Duo scolded the kitten as he picked it up and scratched its forehead. The small feline purred delightedly.

Seishirou plucked the animal from Duo's arms, brushing casually against the boy's chest. Heero felt his throat tighten in anger, then noted that Duo hadn't cringed as before - was indeed acting like his usual bouncy self.

"I'd better put this guy back in his cage," the tall man remarked. "He's recently recovered from a nasty cold - I'm surprised he has so much energy to play."

"You can't keep a wicked soul down," Duo quipped.

Heero smirked. "Sounds like someone I know."

The American blew him a raspberry, then flinched at the glare he got in return and hid behind Seishirou.

"That's it for today," the veterinarian said. "Subaru-kun, I believe I promised you coffee - how does Ueno Park sound to you?"

Subaru nodded happily.

"Hey, isn't that where the festival's supposed to be today?" Duo failed to notice Heero shaking his head and continued. "I'd love to see it!"

Heero shot Subaru an apologetic look. They sighed in unison and hurried after the other two, who were currently disputing the merits and faults of mint chocolate-chip ice-cream as opposed to chocolate-chip vanilla, and which booth in Ueno sold the best.

Notes:
I have absolutely no idea who came up with the phrase "Yuy Death Glare" - please tell me so I can grovel and ask for permission to use...
I know there aren't supposed to be gardens in Tokyo caf�s, at least according to my guidebook... Let's pretend this caf� offers a unique experience - the chance to be jostled by pedestrians as you sip and spill your twice-as-expensive trendy coffee.
The girl Trowa saved is Yuzuriha Nekoi - later appearing in CLAMP's X/1999, which would make her five years old here. Car accident advice: hit the brakes until the wheels block, yes - but then let go of them and maneuver; that way both you and the pedestrians have a better chance.
Tokyo Tower: yes, that red Eiffel Tower look-alike. Opened on March of Shouwa 33 (1958 AD), it is 333 meters high, annual number of visitors around 3,000,000 <-- info taken from CLAMP Campus Detectives volume 1.
Ueno Park is likewise real, and very important in the Tokyo Babylon story. You'll get to see it in chapter five.

In the next chapter: Back on campus -- will Nokoru accomplish his mission to retrieve Relena's necklace? How will our heroes face the grave dangers of this mission? And why is Wufei in charge of planning?? Find out in Gundam Babylon Chapter 4: Operation Necklace.