Author's Notes:
Just wanna tell you this story was meant to be different, but I changed it a lot when I read Dyna's fanfic "Breaking Free" (Go read it, go read it! Her stories are great. But keep reading mine please). Don't misunderstand me, I changed it to make it different from hers, I don't want you to think I copied her. I wouldn't dare to do such thing. I have a journal with a lot of stories and until three weeks back I decided to post them…Well, talking about the story, this is NOT a deathfic, though is a bit sap, but I'll try to give it a nice ending, ok? Sorry for so much rambling…Shin's Voice from this side.
"When Someone Leaves"
Chapter One
///// Tell me, do you plan this pain?
Does it come down on you like the rain?
Is there anything I can say to you? /////
Heero stayed there, watching silently through the half-opened door. The only person inside the room was Duo, DeathScythe Pilot and 02 Agent of Preventors.
He was just sitting there, with his arms folded over his chest, his chestnut braid swinging slightly as he moved back and froth, in an almost non-existent movement.
For all the people in the building, Main Location of Preventors Forces in L15XB, there was nothing to worry about. But there were four agents who knew this wasn't right, this sight wasn't right at all.
However, there was nothing Heero could do about it, though he was supposed to be Duo's best friend….
'Best friend' –Heero thought. It was a label he never imagined he would be worthy of carrying. He had always done as thought, rude and antisocial. But his trick didn't work on Duo…No matter how many times had Heero hurt his feelings, 02 was always ready to give him a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on opportunity to gain his friendship again.
And now, here he was, watching the American pilot as he closed his eyes, seeming oblivious of the rest of the world.
Quatre, Trowa and Wufei were in the corridor, right behind the Japanese boy.
"So…how is he?" –Quatre asked in a whisper.
"Just as before" –was Heero's short answer.
"I thought he was just tired, but now…" –Trowa's comment floated in the air as he stepped a little closer, taking a look inside the room.
"And if it's just our imagination?" –Wufei added.
No one replied. It was hard to realize when Duo was feeling down for real. All this years together had showed them how strong was the wall 02 had built around his true been and emotions. They could only see little, sporadic hints of his real feelings when Duo's defenses were weakened. But there hadn't been problems lately and everything seemed to be fine.
They had accomplished several missions without serious incidents, battles were starting to fade, peace was finally a possibility for colonies and Earth….What was the problem then? Where was the problem?
"Hey you, guys, what're ya doing there?"
The voice snapped the other pilots out of their thoughts.
"On, nothing really"- Quatre smiled as they entered- "We've just been dismissed of any mission this week…"
"Really?" –Duo smiled standing from his seat.
"Yes. We're free to go after an inspection flight in the zone" –Trowa added.
"We better get going" –Wufei suggested- "The faster we finish, the faster we rest…"
"I can tell all of us are in desperate need of sleep and relax" –Duo smirked at the look of his comrades' exhausted faces.
"Sure. We're tired" –04 said- "Though we've just been doing regular flights and recognition missions lately…"
"I though you were happy with it"- Heero commented.
"And I am!" –Quatre rapidly affirmed- "I'm happy war is over…"
The last words were gladly accepted by the others' minds as they all headed towards their Gundams.
"So, beauty, ya know what this means, right? Peace is at the corner of the street, Shinigami" –Duo smiled as he climbed into DeathScythe's cockpit.
"Duo…"
The American pilot looked back as he heard the voice calling his name. He hadn't realized Heero had climbed behind him and now was standing in the cockpit's threshold.
"Duo, are you all right?" -Heero asked, his intense blue-eyed glance locked into the amethyst eyes.
"Sure. I'm fine" –02 answered as he sat in the pilot's seat.
There was a brief silence before Heero spoke again.
"I'm asking you for real. Duo, are you all right?"
This time, Duo turned away his face as he fastened the belts and then answered with a small smile.
"Things are changing, Heero…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" –01 rapidly replied.
"I'm still figuring it out" –was Duo's answer as he looked into Heero's eyes again- "I'm not quite sure, but time's changing…and I am changing with it…you'll change too, just as the others. But maybe, I'll be the first…"
"What…?" –Heero tried to ask, but he was interrupted.
"Shhh, Heero, hush" –Duo smiled, placing a finger over his own mouth, gesturing for Heero to be quiet. Then, he reached out a hand towards 01- "Come on, give me your hand…"
Heero frowned, deeply concerned. But after a couple of seconds, he reached out and held Duo's hand.
"Don't think about this yet, Heero. Not yet" –Duo smiled as he squeezed his friend's hand- "I'll fly by your side, Heero, and even if this were the last time Cat, Trowa, Wu, you and I fly together, I'll think of it as if it is the first one…"
Heerod didn't move, letting the words entered his mind, but not understanding them. All of a sudden, he didn't feel strong, confident and steady. All of a sudden, he was feeling small, unsure and hesitant. He finally tried to say something, but Duo released his hand and, leaning forward against the belts, he pushed Heero out of the cockpit.
"Go now, Heero, Wing Zero is waiting for ya. You heard Wufei, the sooner the better…lets go, man!" –02 said smiling brightly like the same Duo.
Heero, still dumbfounded, just nodded and headed towards his Gundam.
"You guys ready?" –Quatre's voice sounded through the com.
And within minutes, the 5 Gundams, weapons that brought war to and end and a new era beginning, took of into the darkness of space.
------------------------------------------------0--------------------------- ------------------
///// You never smile the way you used to do,
I see you trying but it's just not you.
What's wrong? And what's right?
There's something in the doorway between you and me,
but from my angle it's too hard to see… /////
And that week turned to be two weeks more, since there was no need for the 5 young Agents for a while.
Though for Heero, those three weeks seemed like three years, since he and the others found out that time was surely slower without the same Duo around. Because Duo was there, but there was something missed inside.
His eyes were as bright as before, but his glance was always lost in other world. He seemed to be in a place the others couldn't reach. His voice echoed in the house whenever he said good morning, just as he had always done, but the jokes were starting to disappear and his laughter so sincere and contagious, started to fade away. He was always deeply concentrated in his own thoughts.
Heero knew things were getting worse when he bumped into Duo one afternoon in the hall and 02 answered to Heeros' greeting with a single whisper, before entering his room.
That same afternoon, the pilots realized they had lost a vital breath for the team, the light that was once put in their ways, like a fallen star on Earth, was now returning home, far away from them…
"I won't let this continue like this. I want you to talk to me…"
It was midnight and Heero was standing in front of Duo's room door. The words were his own, but they were so soft that only Heero could listen himself.
"It's…it's ok if you don't hear me. I just needed to say this" –Heero continued without knocking- "I am...worried. I'm worried about you. You're always worrying about me and the others, so now it's my turn, ne? I'm truing to do this like I've seen you do it, 'cause you would come and…"- Heero trailed off.
Yes, Duo would come and talk directly to him or whomever he was worried about. Face to face.
Without calling, Heero entered the room and walked towards the sleeping boy on the bed. The room was almost dark, there was just a pale beam of moon light slipping through the window.
Heero stopped beside the bed, careful to make no sound. Duo lay there peacefully, the rhythm of his breathing seemed soothing to Heero's ears. Maybe it wasn't the time. He didn't want to wake him up, not now that 02 looked so quiet. But Heero didn't want to leave either, not with that chilling sensation of abandoning his friend.
Almost unconsciously, he reached out and caressed Duo's forehead, moving away the locks of hair covering part of his face. The amethyst eyes were slowly opened at the contact, but Heero didn't feel embarrassed so he didn't back off.
Duo rubbed his eyes, looking absurdly childish as he sat up.
"Is something wrong?" –he asked, yawning as he tried to smile.
Heero nodded in disagreement.
"I…I just couldn't sleep" –he finally said.
Duo looked up to 01's face and he smiled, an eyebrow rising questioningly.
"Do you wanna stay here?" –he asked as he moved to the side, gesturing for Heero to rest in the bed.
The Japanese pilot smiled briefly. Typical Duo, not caring about what the others would say of such strange gesture.
"It's not necessary. I don't want to sleep either" –he said- "I just wanted to see if you were fine…"
Duo looked down at that, but he wasn't smiling. He closed his eyes as he answered.
"I appreciate it. I'm fine, thank you…"
"Do you mind if I stay here?"
Now Duo looked up at that. What a weird question.
"I want to stay here, by your side. Do you mind if I stay?" –Heero repeated in a serious voice.
Duo remained silent for an instant before smiling and nodding.
"No. I don't mind" –he replied as he laid again- "But are you really gonna be standing there all night?"
"I'll sit later" –was Heero's answer- "Sleep now".
Duo closed hi eyes obediently and he fell asleep almost instantly, with Heero as his guardian. And Heero found himself filled with all those good memories of the pilots' life, since they were a real team. Over the memories of the missions laid the memories of their days at the several safe houses.
When Quatre used to prepare the coffee every morning as Wufei exercised his katas and the water sounds of the shower indicated Trowa and him were preparing for the day. And Duo's cheerful greeting, usually accompanied by the 'Ouch! Let go!' exclamation whenever 02 received a braid-tug from an annoyed Chinese pilot…Soon, a deep sadness washed over him as he contemplated his best friend.
"I can't understand…what's going on, Duo? Why are you quiet lately? What's worrying you? If I knew…if I knew what you meant when you said you're changing with time…I almost wish I could change, too…so I could understand…"
Heero's whispers became non-audible as he finally sat at the bed's edge, tapping softly Duo's hand. Heero closed his eyes, allowing total darkness surrounded him….
To Be Continued
******************Shinigami's Voice*******************
A/N: There. I know it doesn't make sense yet, but please keep reading and you'll find out what's happening. I'll try hard to post immediately. It would be so nice if you R&R…Oops, almost forgot. ///// This song is 'Like The Rain' by Evan and Jaron. /////
Just wanna tell you this story was meant to be different, but I changed it a lot when I read Dyna's fanfic "Breaking Free" (Go read it, go read it! Her stories are great. But keep reading mine please). Don't misunderstand me, I changed it to make it different from hers, I don't want you to think I copied her. I wouldn't dare to do such thing. I have a journal with a lot of stories and until three weeks back I decided to post them…Well, talking about the story, this is NOT a deathfic, though is a bit sap, but I'll try to give it a nice ending, ok? Sorry for so much rambling…Shin's Voice from this side.
"When Someone Leaves"
Chapter One
///// Tell me, do you plan this pain?
Does it come down on you like the rain?
Is there anything I can say to you? /////
Heero stayed there, watching silently through the half-opened door. The only person inside the room was Duo, DeathScythe Pilot and 02 Agent of Preventors.
He was just sitting there, with his arms folded over his chest, his chestnut braid swinging slightly as he moved back and froth, in an almost non-existent movement.
For all the people in the building, Main Location of Preventors Forces in L15XB, there was nothing to worry about. But there were four agents who knew this wasn't right, this sight wasn't right at all.
However, there was nothing Heero could do about it, though he was supposed to be Duo's best friend….
'Best friend' –Heero thought. It was a label he never imagined he would be worthy of carrying. He had always done as thought, rude and antisocial. But his trick didn't work on Duo…No matter how many times had Heero hurt his feelings, 02 was always ready to give him a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on opportunity to gain his friendship again.
And now, here he was, watching the American pilot as he closed his eyes, seeming oblivious of the rest of the world.
Quatre, Trowa and Wufei were in the corridor, right behind the Japanese boy.
"So…how is he?" –Quatre asked in a whisper.
"Just as before" –was Heero's short answer.
"I thought he was just tired, but now…" –Trowa's comment floated in the air as he stepped a little closer, taking a look inside the room.
"And if it's just our imagination?" –Wufei added.
No one replied. It was hard to realize when Duo was feeling down for real. All this years together had showed them how strong was the wall 02 had built around his true been and emotions. They could only see little, sporadic hints of his real feelings when Duo's defenses were weakened. But there hadn't been problems lately and everything seemed to be fine.
They had accomplished several missions without serious incidents, battles were starting to fade, peace was finally a possibility for colonies and Earth….What was the problem then? Where was the problem?
"Hey you, guys, what're ya doing there?"
The voice snapped the other pilots out of their thoughts.
"On, nothing really"- Quatre smiled as they entered- "We've just been dismissed of any mission this week…"
"Really?" –Duo smiled standing from his seat.
"Yes. We're free to go after an inspection flight in the zone" –Trowa added.
"We better get going" –Wufei suggested- "The faster we finish, the faster we rest…"
"I can tell all of us are in desperate need of sleep and relax" –Duo smirked at the look of his comrades' exhausted faces.
"Sure. We're tired" –04 said- "Though we've just been doing regular flights and recognition missions lately…"
"I though you were happy with it"- Heero commented.
"And I am!" –Quatre rapidly affirmed- "I'm happy war is over…"
The last words were gladly accepted by the others' minds as they all headed towards their Gundams.
"So, beauty, ya know what this means, right? Peace is at the corner of the street, Shinigami" –Duo smiled as he climbed into DeathScythe's cockpit.
"Duo…"
The American pilot looked back as he heard the voice calling his name. He hadn't realized Heero had climbed behind him and now was standing in the cockpit's threshold.
"Duo, are you all right?" -Heero asked, his intense blue-eyed glance locked into the amethyst eyes.
"Sure. I'm fine" –02 answered as he sat in the pilot's seat.
There was a brief silence before Heero spoke again.
"I'm asking you for real. Duo, are you all right?"
This time, Duo turned away his face as he fastened the belts and then answered with a small smile.
"Things are changing, Heero…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" –01 rapidly replied.
"I'm still figuring it out" –was Duo's answer as he looked into Heero's eyes again- "I'm not quite sure, but time's changing…and I am changing with it…you'll change too, just as the others. But maybe, I'll be the first…"
"What…?" –Heero tried to ask, but he was interrupted.
"Shhh, Heero, hush" –Duo smiled, placing a finger over his own mouth, gesturing for Heero to be quiet. Then, he reached out a hand towards 01- "Come on, give me your hand…"
Heero frowned, deeply concerned. But after a couple of seconds, he reached out and held Duo's hand.
"Don't think about this yet, Heero. Not yet" –Duo smiled as he squeezed his friend's hand- "I'll fly by your side, Heero, and even if this were the last time Cat, Trowa, Wu, you and I fly together, I'll think of it as if it is the first one…"
Heerod didn't move, letting the words entered his mind, but not understanding them. All of a sudden, he didn't feel strong, confident and steady. All of a sudden, he was feeling small, unsure and hesitant. He finally tried to say something, but Duo released his hand and, leaning forward against the belts, he pushed Heero out of the cockpit.
"Go now, Heero, Wing Zero is waiting for ya. You heard Wufei, the sooner the better…lets go, man!" –02 said smiling brightly like the same Duo.
Heero, still dumbfounded, just nodded and headed towards his Gundam.
"You guys ready?" –Quatre's voice sounded through the com.
And within minutes, the 5 Gundams, weapons that brought war to and end and a new era beginning, took of into the darkness of space.
------------------------------------------------0--------------------------- ------------------
///// You never smile the way you used to do,
I see you trying but it's just not you.
What's wrong? And what's right?
There's something in the doorway between you and me,
but from my angle it's too hard to see… /////
And that week turned to be two weeks more, since there was no need for the 5 young Agents for a while.
Though for Heero, those three weeks seemed like three years, since he and the others found out that time was surely slower without the same Duo around. Because Duo was there, but there was something missed inside.
His eyes were as bright as before, but his glance was always lost in other world. He seemed to be in a place the others couldn't reach. His voice echoed in the house whenever he said good morning, just as he had always done, but the jokes were starting to disappear and his laughter so sincere and contagious, started to fade away. He was always deeply concentrated in his own thoughts.
Heero knew things were getting worse when he bumped into Duo one afternoon in the hall and 02 answered to Heeros' greeting with a single whisper, before entering his room.
That same afternoon, the pilots realized they had lost a vital breath for the team, the light that was once put in their ways, like a fallen star on Earth, was now returning home, far away from them…
"I won't let this continue like this. I want you to talk to me…"
It was midnight and Heero was standing in front of Duo's room door. The words were his own, but they were so soft that only Heero could listen himself.
"It's…it's ok if you don't hear me. I just needed to say this" –Heero continued without knocking- "I am...worried. I'm worried about you. You're always worrying about me and the others, so now it's my turn, ne? I'm truing to do this like I've seen you do it, 'cause you would come and…"- Heero trailed off.
Yes, Duo would come and talk directly to him or whomever he was worried about. Face to face.
Without calling, Heero entered the room and walked towards the sleeping boy on the bed. The room was almost dark, there was just a pale beam of moon light slipping through the window.
Heero stopped beside the bed, careful to make no sound. Duo lay there peacefully, the rhythm of his breathing seemed soothing to Heero's ears. Maybe it wasn't the time. He didn't want to wake him up, not now that 02 looked so quiet. But Heero didn't want to leave either, not with that chilling sensation of abandoning his friend.
Almost unconsciously, he reached out and caressed Duo's forehead, moving away the locks of hair covering part of his face. The amethyst eyes were slowly opened at the contact, but Heero didn't feel embarrassed so he didn't back off.
Duo rubbed his eyes, looking absurdly childish as he sat up.
"Is something wrong?" –he asked, yawning as he tried to smile.
Heero nodded in disagreement.
"I…I just couldn't sleep" –he finally said.
Duo looked up to 01's face and he smiled, an eyebrow rising questioningly.
"Do you wanna stay here?" –he asked as he moved to the side, gesturing for Heero to rest in the bed.
The Japanese pilot smiled briefly. Typical Duo, not caring about what the others would say of such strange gesture.
"It's not necessary. I don't want to sleep either" –he said- "I just wanted to see if you were fine…"
Duo looked down at that, but he wasn't smiling. He closed his eyes as he answered.
"I appreciate it. I'm fine, thank you…"
"Do you mind if I stay here?"
Now Duo looked up at that. What a weird question.
"I want to stay here, by your side. Do you mind if I stay?" –Heero repeated in a serious voice.
Duo remained silent for an instant before smiling and nodding.
"No. I don't mind" –he replied as he laid again- "But are you really gonna be standing there all night?"
"I'll sit later" –was Heero's answer- "Sleep now".
Duo closed hi eyes obediently and he fell asleep almost instantly, with Heero as his guardian. And Heero found himself filled with all those good memories of the pilots' life, since they were a real team. Over the memories of the missions laid the memories of their days at the several safe houses.
When Quatre used to prepare the coffee every morning as Wufei exercised his katas and the water sounds of the shower indicated Trowa and him were preparing for the day. And Duo's cheerful greeting, usually accompanied by the 'Ouch! Let go!' exclamation whenever 02 received a braid-tug from an annoyed Chinese pilot…Soon, a deep sadness washed over him as he contemplated his best friend.
"I can't understand…what's going on, Duo? Why are you quiet lately? What's worrying you? If I knew…if I knew what you meant when you said you're changing with time…I almost wish I could change, too…so I could understand…"
Heero's whispers became non-audible as he finally sat at the bed's edge, tapping softly Duo's hand. Heero closed his eyes, allowing total darkness surrounded him….
To Be Continued
******************Shinigami's Voice*******************
A/N: There. I know it doesn't make sense yet, but please keep reading and you'll find out what's happening. I'll try hard to post immediately. It would be so nice if you R&R…Oops, almost forgot. ///// This song is 'Like The Rain' by Evan and Jaron. /////