Gundam Seiyuu Part 6
Speaking of fanfics I couldn't help but sneak on to the computer that night after I got back from work. I would have run straight to my room to avoid Hilde dragging the information about the cosplay and the convention out of me but it turned out she wasn't home. That was certainly a first. So instead of running and hiding from her constant questions I went straight to her room and was delighted to find her computer already on and connected to the internet.
Before sitting down at the computer I made sure she wasn't coming back anytime soon. As it turns out I found a note on the kitchen table explaining that she'd gone over to Catherine's house with Dorothy to put together costumes for an anime convention. I couldn't help smiling at that one; she was already going to the convention! And that meant I'd see her there... I was also willing to bet that the seiyuu cast of Gundam Wing was not listed as one of the guests for the convention, being that it was such short notice and Hilde hadn't been bouncing off the walls with the information. Well she was certainly in for a surprise this weekend. But in the mean time...
I opened up her internet browser and flipped through the bookmarks looking for any fanfic, hopefully something good. Guilty pleasures strike I guess. I won't say I was completely stuck on the whole yaoi genre (especially since a large amount of it involved my character) but I was curious. I'd only really seen Hilde's stories and hers had little to no plot and lots of sex. I couldn't help but wonder if that's what all the fanfic out there was like. I figured I'd give it one more chance before I completely gave up and was disgusted with the genre.
It didn't take long but I finally came to a webpage maintained by some person who called himself 'Knight of Fire'. Cute name, even though it had nothing to do with the series. Just on a whim I opened up a fanfic called "Sweet Surrender".
I have to say I was amazed. Like Hilde's fanfic there was little to no plot but instead of it being just sex the fanfic went deep into Odin Lowe's thoughts about Solo Reaper. Over the course of ten pages the fanfic beautifully described how they'd first met and how Odin's feelings evolved for his fellow pilot. I found my eyes completely glued to the screen for the entire story, completely unaware of the apartment around me. If Hilde had walked in she would have caught me red-handed... and I wouldn't have cared. Yes, the fanfic was that good! What got me the most was the end. I reached the end and it just stopped. The last thing it said was that Odin cared for Solo deeply, but in the end he was forced to remain silent and walk away. He just walked away in his own misery.
Against all better logic I clicked on the bottom of the screen to send an e-mail. Before I even realized exactly what I'd typed I just sent it. I sent a review to the author, explaining how I loved the story, which I honestly did, and single handedly 'Knight of Fire' had gotten me hooked on the genre. It didn't take a genius to figure out that from that point on I'd be sneaking on to Hilde's computer almost even chance I got to go back to his site, his fanfics were just too good.
Just as I sent the e-mail I heard Hilde's key slide into the lock. Closing the internet browser I raced across the hall silently and into my room, disappearing from sight just as I heard her and her friends enter. By the sounds of it Catherine and Dorothy had accompanied her back home. Great, just great. Now, instead of being grilled by just my cousin, I'd be grilled by her and her two friends. I was not looking forward to this. I frowned as Dorothy's face peeked around the corner into my room.
"Hey famous, you going to tell us about your job today?" She sneered. Inwardly I cringed but I was careful not to show that to her. Dorothy Catalonia prided herself on the fact that she could get any piece of information out of any of Hilde's friends just by making a general annoyance of herself. And she could do it too! I knew all too well. If Dorothy had her way they would all know about the cosplay at the convention in a matter of moments. But this time I wasn't going to spill it, not a chance.
I frowned and crossed my arms, shaking my head. One of her double eyebrows lifted delicately and she stepped completely into the doorway, silently accepting the challenge. Catherine appeared next to her and I could just barely see my cousin's short figure behind the other two girls.
Catherine smiled. "What no new news?"
I shrugged.
Dorothy smirked. "It appears he doesn't want to tell us."
I shook my head and attempted to look relaxed. "Oh, no, it's not that. It's just that nothing really happened at work today besides the normal. You know, we all made fun of Heero's lines and Milliardo flirted with Wufei. Nothing I haven't told you all before."
Catherine frowned and even though I couldn't see Hilde's face I knew she was mock-pouting. I'd got both of them, but apparently Dorothy wasn't fooled. K'so!
"I don't believe you."
I shrugged. "Believe me or not, it's your choice. But I can't give you information I don't have."
Dorothy frowned and studied my face for a moment. I could just see the wheels turning in her brain as she tried to decide whether or not to believe me. Did I mention that that girl gave me the creeps? I can't see how my cuz can stand to be around her so often.
"Dorothy, come on. It's time for the show, we're going to miss Gundam!"
I silently sighed with relief as the three retreated to Hilde's room to watch the current episode of Gundam Wing. The door shut behind them and I had to resist cheering for myself. I'd stood up to Dorothy and she didn't get a single bit of information out of me, yes! I heard the theme music start and decided to get myself a small snack then find something to do.
It's an eerie thing walking back from the kitchen and hearing your own voice echoing from your cousin's room. It's like you expect to find a clone in the room or you're having some strange out of body experience. I don't care what people say about recording devices transforming your voice so it sounds different Solo Reaper's voice was mine and it was just creepy hearing it coming from her room. I still stand by the thought that singers must never listen to their own music outside of the studio, it had to be too creepy.
As I passed Hilde's door to get to my room I heard them mute the show for commercials and I stopped to listen.
"Hey, guys, come look at this for a moment." Hilde's voice was followed by the clicking of her mouse; she was on her computer. For a moment I panicked, did she find out I'd been on her computer? Oh jeez! If Dorothy or Hilde found out I was reading yaoi fanfic they'd never let me live it down! I stayed completely still and had to remind myself not to hold my breath as I listened.
Catherine was speaking this time. Reading something? "Many thanks for the review, it is rare to hear from someone who is not a fangirl... Shinigami? Hilde did you get a new screen name?"
"No," Hilde said quietly. "Shimatta!" She exclaimed. "You guys look!! It's from Knight of Fire! He wrote me an e-mail!"
Dorothy gave a small laugh. "I don't think it counts, Hilde, he meant to send it to someone who uses the screen name Shinigami. And that's not you."
"Killjoy." Hilde muttered.
"He must have just gotten the e-mail wrong and you got it by accident. Oh, the show's back on!"
I heard the TV show flip back on and the three girls fell silent. As I continued walking toward my room I couldn't help but smile. I'd signed my e-mail Shinigami, figuring it would be a fitting screen name since I was the seiyuu for Solo Reaper who constantly referred to himself as 'The God of Death' or Shinigami. Knight of Fire had written back to me that quickly? Interesting. The only thing that upset me was the fact that Hilde would delete the e-mail before I could get a chance to read it. And since I didn't know how to use the computer beyond the normal functions I wouldn't be able to salvage the message. Oh well, if anything the fics had been good. And even if I didn't know what his e-mail said, it was kind of nice to know he'd written back.
I returned to my room smiling. And I found myself idling wondering what Heero's reaction would be to some of the fanfic I'd read.
TBC...
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