The Mysterious Mansion--Part 1--
Part I

Relena glanced up at the moon, feeling truly happy for the first time in a long while. Her left arm was laden with various stuff animals that Heero had won in the various carnival games. She had been surprised when he gave the plush toys to her.

“What would I do with them,” he had said, shoving them at her before quickly turning away.

‘I just know where to put them,’ she thought with a smile, taking a large bite of the caramel apple that she held in her free right hand.

“So, Relena,” Duo called from behind her, “ready to check out the Tunnel of Love?”

Whack!

“Ow, Hilde!” Duo cried, rubbing the back of his head. “That one really hurt! Watch the hair!”

“Baby,” muttered the attacker. She gave Relena a wink and offered her cotton candy to the Deathscythe pilot. Duo immediately forgot the injury, devouring the sugar.

“Do you think it was such a good idea to give Duo more sugar?” Quatre asked, groaning slightly when he noticed that the person in question was now happily licking the melted sugar off his fingers.

“Probably not,” sighed Hilde. “Just be grateful that you don’t have to go home with him.”

“Hilde!”

Hilde jokingly blew him a kiss. Relena giggled at the banter between the two. Quatre and Noin were wearing amused expressions as well.

“Speaking of home, it’s getting pretty late. Any rides anyone wants to go on before we leave?” Miliardo asked, surveying the crowd.

“Of all the injustice,” Wufei muttered. “No more rides!”

Sally shoved a caramel apple into his mouth, preventing any further protest. Heero quirked an eyebrow, inwardly enjoying the Chinese man’s situation. However, the notoriously impassive soldier cringe when Relena gave a squeal of delight.

“What about that?” she cried, pointing excitedly with her caramel apple.

“What?” asked Catherine, not finding a ride in their vicinity.

“The Mysterious Mansion,” Relena said, still gesturing with the apple.

Trowa took a sidestep, narrowing missing the sticky fruit as Relena whirled to him and his sister. Noticing his movement, Relena realized why he dodged and gave an apologetic smile. She turned to the rest of the group.

“Anyone interested?” she asked, her eyes lively with anticipation.

Heero watched her motionlessly. “You’re serious,” he said, with tone holding a little disbelief.

Relena’s face fell slightly. “I’ve never been in a haunted house. I’ve heard that they were fun.”

“Well, I’m game,” Noin said, her look daring Miliardo to back out. The elder Peacecraft merely nodded.

“Me, too,” Hilde stated. Duo volunteered quickly. Sally, Catherine, Trowa, and Quatre said they would go to.

“It will be fun,” the young Arabian added readily.

Heero and Wufei exchanged looks. The Chinese man gave the caramel apple a disgusted look and threw it into a nearby trashcan. “If we must,” he said, ignoring the knowing look from Sally.

“Well, let’s go,” Relena said, fighting the urge to glance at the Japanese pilot.

Heero lifted an eyebrow slightly, surprised that Relena hadn’t asked him again. Of course, he had hurt her feelings with his earlier comment. He would have been blind to miss the pained look in her eyes.

He watched the others head to the shadowy building. Duo glanced over his shoulder and gave him a look, the look that signaled that he thought Heero was being an idiot, again. ‘Damn it,’ he thought. With a noiseless sigh, he began to follow the others.