Blood Red
By Hachi Mitsu
07.03.00 ~ 07.15.00
Phase One
Out in the spring rain
I hear him calling my name
Like the scent of a rose
It leaves my soul
Blood red
I'm
gonna seriously regret waking up today. Yeah, I know, I ain't too optimistic,
but what do you expect, its 7 o'clock in the morning? Aside from the horrible
headache pounding through my head, its also beginning to dawn on me that it's
Monday---in other words, another full day of dozing off in classes and trying
in vain to keep up a conversation with myself without making it too obvious to
the freaks-from-hell the rest of the world naively refer to as
"teachers". Yeah, just a promising day of oh-so-joyful learning.
Damn,
those people hate me like hell. Yeah, I know I always cause trouble in class,
and I admit that I can be a real nuisance sometimes. But that ain't enough
reason for them to constantly pick on me. Damn teachers. I have rights to ya
know! If it weren't for us Gundam pilots, their nice little school - scratch
that, their whole little town - would be a pile of scrap by now. Ya know,
sometimes I wonder why I even bother. No, not restraining myself from giving up
to the steadily increasing temptation to blow up the school. Well . . . come to
think of it, that too. But anyway, what I meant was to stop constantly
registering into these snobbish boarding schools. I know it helps us keep a low
profile - how can I forget with Heero constantly screaming (ok, he doesn't
actually scream it, he implies it. Same thing. Right? Right.) it in my
face every time I complain - but still, I don't think I can keep this up much
longer.
Spending
my days blowing up people, buildings, and everything else in sight, that
I can stand. And quite nicely, too! Spending my day with only the presence of
Heero clacking away on his damn laptop - well, with the help of a few pills
(though I won't go into what kind of pills) - and something to do (anything
other then just sitting there watching him type) and well. . . I guess I can
stand that, too. But only if I have to. Yeah, right. But the one thing I
cannot and will not stand is school. How do kids our age do it? I
mean, the only thing that's saving what little is left of my sanity from the
claws of those. . . er. . .teachers, are those little killing sprees I take in
Deathscythe every chance I get.
And it's
not like I actually learn anything useful. I mean, knowing calculus
isn't gonna do me a helluva lot of good when Deathscythe is surrounded by a few
dozen mobile dolls. Or even better, finding myself on the receiving end of
Heero's 386 Winchester after a particularly bad comment. Right? Of course.
How's that for good reasoning? Hn! And some people claim that I
have no common sense. So there!
"Duo,
are you awake?"
A
cutting voice sliced through my blanket of thoughts- not the mention the
blanket over my head. I'm pretty it was Heero. How could anyone, even as
out-of-it as me, not recognize that cold unemotional voice? *sigh* Now there's
someone without a trace of common sense.
"No,
Heero, I'm just talking in my sleep for your amusement."
Ouch,
now I'm gonna get it. Me and my big mouth. I tell ya, it ain't as easy as it
looks having an overused mouth. After a while, it gets into the habit of talking
by itself. . . um . . . don't ask. Clamping down on my bottom lip, I waited for
once - but much too late- in silence for my upcoming doom.
After
encountering a few moments of silence, curiosity got the best of me. Nani? No
death threats? No "Duo-no-baka"? not even a gun shoved down my
throat? Any rational person would be grateful. But then again, I never had many
claims in the sanity department. So, like the idiot everyone claims I was, I
pulled the blanket off my face and in a single hyperactive leap, I jumped from
the safety of my bed prepared to spout out some cheeky remark.
But
alas, fate must have other ideas. Whatever comment I was going to make got
caught in my throat as I found myself doing a very accurate impression
of a rabbit caught in the headlights of an upcoming care. Only worse. No quick,
easy, painless death for little old me. Hope, any hope of that vanished
as I looked into a pair of very cold, very pissed and very
you-are-so-dead-so-don't-even-bother-screaming pair of Prussian eyes. Only,
call me insane - if you already haven't - but they were kinda nice. It reminds
me of a pond I'd seen once, a pair of blue eyes that I could drown in . . .
WHOA!
What the hell am I thinking?! Here I am practically with a signed death warrant
taped to my face, and I'm blabbing off about Heero's eyes?! Aaaaalriiiight. I
think I'll just go check into the nearest mental hospital. Hey, it'll get me
outta the clutches of Heero, not to mention my teachers. Yeah, I'll be pretty
happy. Then again, they'll probably kick me out in a few days. Argh! My mind's
drifting again.
"Duo
. . ."
Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh.
That really snapped me from my little train of thoughts heading straight for
hell.
"Eh
. . . heh. Ohayo, Heero!"
"You're
awake."
NO
REALLY?! What kinda remark is that? But no, I won't make some sarcastic
comment. I will use my self-control, and common sense. No point in getting
myself into trouble.
"Yeah
. . ."
"
. . . Hn."
"So
. . . umm. . ."
"
. . ."
"Yeah
. . ."
"
. . ."
"Right
. . . I'll just . . . go over there . . . now"
"
. . ."
Without
another glance over my shoulders, I grabbed a towel and made a run for the
bathroom in terror from the over-conversationalist. Right. Ah well, I should be
glad that I escaped with my head intact. But for some reason, I feel kinda
disappointed. I mean, I don't really expect much from him. He is the
"perfect soldier" after all. But still. I slammed the door shut and
turned to face the mirror, toothbrush in hand.
Saaaa,
Maxwell, you're finally losing your mind! But then again, you never had one,
ne?
NOOO
I'm NOT
Oh
really?
Yes
really! Shut up, go away!
You're
insane, Maxwell, listen to you talking to yourself again!
Hn .
. .
Maybe I am
crazy. I mean the voice is starting to sound like Wufei, of all people! I stuck
my tongue out at my reflection while running a brush through my unbound hair.
Life sucks.
Yeah
and if you don't get a move on it, you're gonna be late for class and then you'll
get to ponder on how life *really* sucks. While missing a mission, just so you
can show up for tardiness detention.
My
reflection suddenly turned a sickening white.
***
The
chairs in physics, are really bad for napping. Especially after I've fallen
off one for the fifth time. The teacher, what's-his-name, gave me a weird look
that pretty much says what he thought of me. Yeah, well same to you too, buddy!
Behind
me I think I hear something that vaguely resembles a snicker coming from
Heero's direction. I don't get it. To have the one guy in the world who laughs
at nothing but mass destruction, struggle to keep from laughing at you really says
something. Damn you, Heero Yuy! One of these days I'm gonna take a gun and
shoot you in the head. Then again, I'll probably be the one who ends up
with a hole in the head.
But,
Duo, you already have a hole in your head
Oh
no, not you again. And the only hole in my head is probably you.
Fuuuunnyyyy
. . . and you didn't think you could get rid of me that eas-
Whatever
the little-voice-from-the-back-of-my-head had to say was cut off as the thick
wooden door of the classroom suddenly flew open. My half-lidded eyes flew open
as well, at the familiar sight of school janitor.
Only it
wasn't so familiar after all, 'cause I don't think I've ever seen him like
this. His head was barely dangling off his shoulders from a single rope of
bloody muscles. As I looked harder, I realized his pale orange uniform clashed
horribly with the thick smears of dark red blood that soaked through the cloth.
And if I looked really hard I could see that his eyes were still open,
showing the look of pure terror.
Suddenly
it registered in my mind that shrieks of horror filled the room. The coppery
taste of blood and fear filled my mouth as I clamped down on it to stop my own
shriek from joining the others. After all, it ain't cool for a Gundam pilot to
be screaming along with the civilians. Even at such a gruesome sight.
"Damnit,
Duo! We have to get out of here!"
Despite
my casual take on the situation, I must have been in shock. Because it wasn't
'till Heero grabbed my shoulders and literally threw me onto the floor that I
finally realize that the corpse wasn't the only thing occupying the doorway.
Behind it was several figures dressed completely in black.
But that
wasn't really what caused my head to have an intimate moment with the hard
wooden floor, or why Heero has a strangle hold on me, dragging me towards a
nearby window. Nope. 'cause in the hands of the unwelcome guests were some of
the most lethal looking guns I have seen in my time - and I have seen a lot.
The shooting began.
***
I don't think I've ever been so . .
. surprised before, in my life. Which really says a lot 'cause being a street
brat, terrorist and pilot really gave me a big view of the world. By now, I
would have thought that nothing could surprise, let alone scare, me. But man!
If I said I wasn't scared now, I'd be lying like hell. And that's one
thing I don't do. I only run and I hide. And hell, I'm doing a damn lot
of that right now. Well, its not like I have much of a choice to begin with.
"Heero . . .? Where are we going?"
From the moment the first bullet had
went flying through the air. Heero pushed me to the floor, out of the way of
fire. Good thing he did. Cause my mind was not where it should have
been. I just stood there gawking at the mutilated body. What a time to lost my
mind.
Anyways, after slamming some senses into me, Heero led us
out of the window and since then, we've been running like hell.
"Heero? Are you listening? Shouldn't
we have stayed and helped the other people?"
I didn't realize it until it left my
mouth. But now it struck me. How could we have just run away? We were soldiers.
Bullets are our life. We should have helped out classmates. Sure I hated the
school, but this is a matter of life and death, and they were civilians!
Dammit! Another thing to worry about *sigh* and this one I won't run
from.
Pulling to a stop, I yanked my wrist from Heero's
painfully tight grip. Using my now free hand, I spun the damn bastard around. I
was getting more furious by the moment. Alright, it was fine if Heero ignores
me when I'm being so-called-annoying. Hell! I don't give a damn even if he
ignores me all those times when I actually try to make a conversation with him.
But this was serious! Our classmates are getting slaughtered back there. And
what does Mr. "perfect soldier" do? He runs away! Drags me with him! And
refuses to answer my dead serious questions! God help me, I'm going to strangle
him!
"Duo . . ."
"What?!"
Heero slowly turned around. Catching
my wrists again, he clasped them in his hands. And for the second time today, I
found myself lost in two pools of Prussian blue. Suddenly, I realized that I
couldn't breath. I felt like I was trapped under those two pools of light. Hm .
. . weird. It prodded into my mind. Somewhere into my foggy past, I remember
being under water. Not just a bit. But a whole lot of water. Trapped under the
hazy blue. But it must have been a dream. Cause water was always scarce on the
colonies. But dream or no dream, that what I feel right now. The eyes, they
seemed to have lost its cold and cruel glare. In stead, it was only vaguely cool.
I think I can even see a bit of concern in them.
But that's impossible, I reminded myself. It must be part
of my post trauma hallucination. Yeah. I'm a bit psychotic and illusionary
under normal circumstances. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if I started
to see little deathcythe dancing around my feet. But . . . what ever it was,
it's kinda nice. Really. Besides, I can feel it dissolving all the anger and
frustration I had felt towards him.
Oh god. What am I saying? I really gotta stop thinking
like this. I quickly focused on some trees next to me. Yeah, look at anything
but those eyes. Else, I'll be lost again.
"Duo, do you have a gun with you?"
NANI?! A gun . . . so he finally
decides to shoot me. Alright Maxwell, not funny. So what did he mean?
Besides, he should know that I don't carry guns to school. I ain't that
paranoid. Not yet anyways, but I think that after today, that little aspect is
gonna change
"Eh . . . no"
"Well, neither do I. If neither of
us have guns, wouldn't it make sense to get one. And then try to
help out classmates? Rather than rush in unarmed and get shot."
Duo no baka! Aaarrrggg. I was so
busy rambling off in my mind that I completely forgot the question I asked him
in the first place. Damn. I really gotta get my brain scrubbed.
I think I can go off for hours yelling at myself for my
stupidity. This must be the limit of my- whoa, rewind- play- did Heero
just say that he didn't have a gun? That . . . is really the last blow. I
sniffled, sounding like a little lost kid. Alas, I think all my faith has just
been blown to hell and I doubt it's coming back. Ah well . . . I can worry
about that later.
" . . . Eh, gomen. I guess you're
right."
Hn. I hate admitting to any
one that they're right. Especially Heero. But my mind is currently too
fucked up to allow me anything more articulate. Which is scary considering that
fact that talking one of my few skills. Damn. That's another blow to my pride.
Add them up. Ain't good.
"Diajobu"
Heero gave me a slight smile. It
wasn't much. Just a little smirk. But, I get the feeling he actually cares.
Really. I've never seen him smile before.
So I must be doing something right. Else, that fall really shook
my brains up.
I sighed again, trying for once to gather my thoughts.
Let's see. Our class was attacked. Heero actually bothered to save my
as-he-always-call-worthless-life. I'm losing my mind-, which might I add
is nothing new. Heero forgot his gun. Heero smiled. Damn, its one of
those days.
I smiled wryly and followed Heero
towards our dorm. As our pace hastened, I felt a pull on my hands. Heero still
held mines. Yup . . . its really one of those days . . .
That must have been the last thought
in my mind. Cause the next thing that happen left me in no condition to think.
I never even got a chance to warn Heero. Something cold and hard hit right
above the back of my neck. Hm . . . how did it get so dark . . . all of the
sudden . . .
***
I have a headache again. And this
time it's a lot worse. I tried to move a bit, but moving just seemed to
shake my head up even more. Damn. Kinda makes me wish that someone, some generous
person would just come along and knock me out cold. Again. Or better yet, put a
really big hole in my head and put me permanently out of my misery.
"Duo, daijobu ka?"
Hm . . . ? Someone was calling my
name. I think. Urrrgggg. But maybe it's just another hallucination. I think
I'll ignore it . . .
Suddenly, I felt two hands grab my
shoulders, giving it a hard shake. With an annoyed cry I batted the offending
hands away. Ok, that REALLY woke me up. If this was a hallucination, it
was the most damn real one I've ever had.
"Wha . . .?"
Hm . . . not the answer of my
choice. Really. I felt like throttling whoever dared to intrude my little
attempt at feeling . . . well painless. Alright, so I wasn't really
succeeding but that little shake really messed up my head.
"Itai . . . dija have to go and do
that?"
"Maxwell! Are you awake?!"
Whoa . . . this really sounds
familiar. Ladies and gentlemen, its deja vu all over again. Then something hit
me -no, not another rock, or whatever- Instead . . . Hm . . . that's funny. The
voice. It's different. Not Heero. It sounds like Wufei.
My eyes snapped open at that
thought . . . And then immediately closed again. Damn lights. Gingerly- and
slowly this time- I reopened them. Adjusting to the harsh lights from the lamp
beside my bed. As my vision cleared, I saw that my guess what correct. Wufei
stood by my bed, still dressed in his uniform. Funny, he had a really pissed
off look on his face.
"WHOA, Wufei! That you? What
happened?"
Wufei raised an eyebrow in question.
I think he realized it was serious. Considering that I called him "Wufei"
instead of my usual "Wu-man". Heh . . . I've learned long ago that it just
doesn't do to tease people when you're down. See they might get annoyed and
slammed you on the head. And getting another blow there just really doesn't
sound appealing. Not at the moment anyways.
"That's what I wanted to ask you."
Something was bothering me. I can't
quite put my finger on it. Something was missing. No someone. A
sudden beeping noise shrieked from Heero's laptop. Annoyed, threw it a glare,
waiting for Wufei to turn it off. Damn thing. I'm trying to think. Why couldn't
Heero get rid of that thing? Alright. Another stupid question. Heero would ne-
WHOA. My thoughts came to a dead stop. That's was it. The thing that was
bothering me.
"Where the hell is Heero?!"
Sitting up on the bed. I grabbed Wufei- who had returned
from his little trip to the computer- by the collar of this shirt. A little too
snug I think. Why do I say that? Well the fact that Wufei is having a hell of a
time breathing gave a clue. I loosen my grip a bit. Just a little.
Wufei gave a sigh of longsuffering.
Gingerly he attempted to peel my fingers off they dead grip on his shirt. No
mercy, Maxwell.
"Well?!"
"That was what I wanted to
know. We- Quatre, Trowa and I- found you in very bad shape outside the door
buildings. We heard about the shooting. The shooters stopped almost
immediately, so only a few people were seriously injured. But the thing is.
Heero wasn't there."
"Damn, I know that! He was
with me!"
Wufei gave me that look. Its
one that I get frequently. By now I've learned that it's people's way of saying
Maxwell-what-the-hell-are-you-talking-about. I'm not amused. Nope, far
from it. I was scared like hell.
My face must have shown it too.
Cause I think I see concern in Wufei's eyes. Which is weird. The only person
who's more stoic is Trowa . . . and Heero. Heero. There we go again.
"Hey, Maxwell, don't faint out on me
here. Quatre and Trowa are surveying the area. They're probably come back with
some news. And if not, they'll at least bring you some aspirin.
"Hn! Duo Maxwell does not
faint! But those aspirin sounds good." I finished sheepishly.
Wufei snorted. Rolling his eyes, he
handed me a long envelope.
"Nani?"
I fingered the paper in my hands. It
was thick and cream colored, the paper that is. It looked really expensive.
Like the kind of envelope they use for invitations to those fancy parties.
"What the hell is this?"
"Not a clue, just open it. We found
it placed under your hands. Hn. I assumed it was for you."
I flipped the envelope over. On the
front, in large black, bode, letters was my name.
"Yeah Wu-man, you're just the mater
of detectives."
"Dammit Maxwell. Just read the
friggan' letter. Maybe it has something that'll give us a lead on Yuy's location."
Oh fuck. He's right. A bit dazed, I
struggled with all my might to open the envelope. Alright. Pathetic, I know.
But just the thought of Heero hurt, or de- no- I won't
even go
there- just really shakes me up.
After finally getting the paper out-and ripping the
envelope to tiny pieces in the process- I unfolded it. Slowly, I began to read
it aloud.
"Duo Maxwell, Forgive us for the
violent actions we were forced to take" yeah right. "But we need something from
you. Knowing that you'll never give it to us-" you damn right about that "we
'took' your friend an-"
The letter slipped from my fingers
as I felt my knees weaken. I sat down on the edge of my bed. Out of the corner
of my eyes, I saw Wufei pick up the fallen letter. He said something. I think.
But I was beyond hearing.
The only thing going though my mind was a string of
"oh-my-god-heero-oh-my-god-heero"
followed by some "I'm-so-gonna-fucking-kill-them".
Some small voice in me argued that I
should worry more about what the kidnapers wanted. Rather then about Heero.
After all, the guy was a Gundam Pilot. And he was more damn more
psychotic that even me. So there's nothing to worry about, right? Right.
But the rest of my mind wont listen. God, if I don't shift
my attention, I'll be lost . . .
" . . . If you want him back . . . "
Wufei was reading the rest of the letter. I know it won't
take my mind off Heero. But hell, if it'll help me get him back, I'll gladly
listen.
" . . . Come to the parking lot alone
at midnight. We will talk."
Damn that sounds too corny. 'We will
talk.' In fact the whole damn part sounds like something from an old black and
white mystery movie. But hell. I'm in no mood to humor myself. Which makes that
a first. Then again considering everything else that's happened today. Why am I
not surprised?
Wake up and smell the coffee
Maxwell. Hn . . . not a bad idea. Maybe then I'll find that this was all just
some really messed up nightmare.
***
Wufei
left me a few hours ago. After placing my hairbrush in my hands, he went to
find Quatre and Trowa. Probably to tell them what had happened.
I think he was really
reluctant to leave me alone. He gave me the brush mainly because he probably
thought that touching up my hair -known among us, as my most prized feature-
was the only thing that'll keep me in the realm of the living- or the dorms, in
any case. I guess I don't blame him. For worrying that is.
I'm kinda worried about myself.
Normally a little joke about my hair would leave me planning the most ruthless
revenge the lil' bloodthirsty voice in the back of my mind could come up with.
But this time. Well. I just didn't really care. And that scared me. The
way I was acting and stuff. Calm and all, even though I just really wanted to
throw a tantrum, or even better, a bomb, aimed for the people that took Heero.
Hell, come to think of it, I
really want to start screaming, crying. Heero. God knows what I'll do, when I
get my hands on that stupid baka. Then again, it would be really stupid to go
through so much trouble to get him back, only to kill him again.
I can
feel a hysterical giggle rising up my throat. Damn you, Yuy. Only you can make
me lose what's left of my sanity. How could you let yourself get caught? The
Heero I know would rather self-destruct then get captured. What did they do to
get you to cooperate? With my mental voice dripping with sarcasm, I started
listing off possibilities to one of my many imaginary friends. Surely he
wouldn't have let himself up for my sake. I froze at that though. Shit.
Heero wouldn't do that, would he?
Of course not! After all, he
hates you. Most of the time anyways.
I sighed softly to the empty
room. But, still. A guy can dream can't he? Hm . . . even if he is
probably gonna die in few hours.
I glanced
to the clock next to the desk to confirm my though. 11:35. WHOA. Not a few
hours anymore. Damn. Got carried away with thinking again.
Imagine that, Duo Maxwell thinking!
Shut
up!
With
that, I shot the little voice a glare with enough fuel to sent it on a one-way
trip to hell. Yeah. Bad thing though. It'll probably be the first thing I see
when I join it in the fiery realm below. And considering what I'm about to do,
you can be damn straight that I'll be there soon. VERY soon.
I stepped
back from the desk. Walking towards the full sized mirror hanging behind the
door. I had insisted on putting it there when me and Heero first moved into the
room. Heero really decked me for that one.
Biting back another hysterical
giggle from that particular memory, I focused my eyes on the reflection, hoping
that my insane fits of laughter was only an aberration. Then again, Heero would
probably remind me that I'm always like that.
Damn, why
does the subject always go back to Heero? With a little sniff, I flung my braid
over my shoulders and straighten the back silk of my dress shirt and slacks.
Giving the mirror my most winning smile, I sighed. It's good to be out of my
school uniform. The mirror smiled back. Ah. Who can resist Maxwell charm. Heh.
Right. Rule number one. Never meet your death somber faced. It just doesn't
look good.
Satisfied,
I turned to the window preparing the long climb down. Why through the window?
Well, for one, Wufei really took to heart this whole
Maxwell-you-are-not-going-anywhere-tonight thing. He went as far as setting up
one of those convenient one-way locks on the other side of the door. So leaving
through the door was out of questions. Besides, I wouldn't have left through
there anyways. It's kinda hard to hide the rifle-like gun I had tucked under my
arms from the prying views of the students who nightly gather in the lobby of
the dorm.
'Hey Duo, why are you carrying
that rifle? And why are there knifes sticking out your sleeves?'
'Oh, no reason. Just going to
shoot a few people. Ya know, it helps me sleep.'
'Oh, alright, could you wait a
sec? I'll just go and dial up the guidance office. I'm sure they'll find you a
nice little room in that asylu- oops, did I just asylum? No, I meant that
hotel. Yeah, hotel.'
'Sure, not problem, here do you
need a quarter for the phone?'
Riiiiight.
Gimme some credit, even I'm not that stupid. Gently I pushed the windowpane up.
Making a face, I slid out, trying not to smudge my clothes. Hey, if vanity was
the only thing you had left, you'd take good care of it too. Sliding the
window closed again, I stood on the sill, admiring the view. The night was really
nice. It was spring already. I think I can smell the flowers in the garden
below. Either that or Quatre had been experimenting his perfumes in my closet
again.
I sighed
again. Turning back to the window. I made sure that it was securely closed and
that the curtains were drawn. I think I can hear the shower from within. The
bathroom door had one of those locks where you can turn the little latch and
then close it, locking it from the outside. I had left the lights and showers
on. If Wufei or one of the others does come, that'll keep them confused for the
precious few minutes I'll need to get killed- er. . . I mean get Heero back.
Right.
I glanced
down to my watch. 11:45.
Lithe
like a cat, I began my long descend. Thankfully our room was on the third
floor. That saved me from having to leap out the window and hoping that I won't
land on my neck. Right, Yuy. You might be able to survive 30 floors. But
this is genuine silk I'm wearing. And it won't survive 3 feet.
Agilely,
I landed on my hands and knees. Hm . . . I'm at the dorms, which is west of the
school. And if I'm lucky and remembered correctly, the school was north of the
little walkway thingy, which was east of the recreation area. Now if I'm really
lucky, the parking lot I'm looking for is right behind the tennis court. Yeah.
That should do.
Cursing my luck in as many
languages I knew, which isn't much now that I think about it, I proceeded on my
way.
***
I've
never been to this particular parking lot before. The first thing I noticed
about the place was that is was damn dark. It was surrounded by thick grooves
of trees. The still bare branches pretty much blocked out all the lights that
might have reached here from surrounding buildings. But then again, there
really wasn't any buildings nearby. No people, no one to hear me scream. *Gulp*
I looked
around at the graffiti covered walls and the soggy leaves that littered the
pavement below my feet. All the others parking lots I've seen in this posh
private school are as top quality as open pavements get. But this place.
Let me tell ya. I don't think even shinigami would wanna be here alone after
dark . . .
Oops. Its after dark isn't it?
And . . . then it hit me like a four ton truck. I was alone. As in no
kidnappers, no Heero. Wha . . .? I glanced around the place again. Like I said
before, the place was pretty dark- considering there were no lights nearby and
it was a new moon- but I think I would be able to see anyone there. It's
deserted. Not even cars to hide behind.
See, if I
were normal, I would be glad and get my little behind straight back to
my room and civilization. But noooo. I had to stick around, just waiting for a
bullet to hit me in the head. Right.
"Duo
Maxwell, I presume."
Eep! I
refused to cry out. Nope, when my dignity is about as scarce as my sanity, I
hang on to every thread of it with all my life.
"Oi, hi"
"I hope
that I have not started you."
"Hn!
Don't know what gave you that idea" . . . you damn bastard.
"Well
then. I take you always jump, say 20 feet, into the air whenever approached by
someone?"
I think I
could hear my teeth gnashing against each other.
"What the
hell do you want?!"
That's
it. Duo Maxwell may not be the most courteous person in the world. But
hell will be the day when I just stand by and take this insolent shit
from some stranger. Especially not someone I can't see. Squinting the darkness,
I could only make out the vague silhouette of a man that was much taller
than yours truly.
I fingered one of my pistols. Hm
. . . I can shoot now and ask questions later. But then again, that might not
be too cool. Better get Yuy before you get too trigger happy, I reminded
myself. Right. Make your mind stay on Heero. Weird that I actually have to try
to think about Heero. Normally, my mind is always on Heero. Whether I
liked it or not. Ah well.
"Its not
really a 'what'. More like a 'who'"
I think I
can feel my fear actually freezing my blood. Something about the way he
phrased it.
"So? Who
is it then? Listen I really don't care. Just let Heero go."
Yeah straight to the point. No
mercy. But truth be spoken. For some reason, I felt tired all of a sudden. I
just wanted to go home. I just wanted to see Heero with his head still intact.
I wanted to leave with my head still intact. Not much to ask is it?
"Duo. Do
you remember? Try to remember."
It was
that feeling again. My icicles were swimming around my blood stream. For some
reason I was reminded of earlier today. When I was with Heero. It was like
then. Drowning. In something cool. I can almost feel the waves shifting unbound
hair. Hm . . .
At that
moment, I wanted to say 'yes' that I did remember. That I remember that place.
But then it changed. There wasn't eternal space around me. I could feel a wall.
Cold and sharp. I was trapped. I didn't want to be there. It wasn't real. It
can't be. Not even a mind as demented could possible procure such a memory. Hn
. . . but that doesn't make sense. Hell to this. I don't need anything else to
mess with my mind. Its messed up enough already, thankyou very much.
"NO! I
don't know what you're talking about!"
The man
sighed. I couldn't see it. Or hear it either for that matter. But I knew he
did. I knew that he felt frustrated and tired. Hn. Nothing new. No one can withstand
the full power of Maxwell-stubbornness for long.
"I hope
that you will come to your senses soon. Your denial will lead to your doom.
Your friend is in an abandoned black car on the other side of this parking
lot."
"That's
it?"
The man
gave a little chuckle. "We will meet again. Make no mistake about that."
I was
going to make some arrogant remark about him sounding lamer then a stoned
Wufei. But I suddenly realized he was no longer there. Blinking a few times, I
took a deep breath. Ooookay.
I don't know how long I stood
there. But I really felt confused. It wasn't until I heard the sound 3 pairs of
boots hitting the pavement behind me did my mind reconnect itself with reality.
"Duo!
Duo, are you there?" that sounded like Quatre. Uh oh. Busted. Turning around I
pasted my best I'm-innocent-so-please-don't-kill-me look on my face.
"Oi
Q-man. Whacha doing here?"
Suddenly
I found myself squinting into the glare of a really bright flashlight.
Stepping away from the direct path of the beam, I was able to see Quatre, Trowa
and Wufei. And boy oh boy did they look furious. Think of an excuse, think of
an excuse! Dammit Maxwell, put your mouth to use for once and see if the
theories about my blabbing being able to knock someone out are true. I sighed.
Maybe I'm getting too worked up. After all, Quatre isn't known to deprecate
people.
"KISAMA!!!!"
Wufei on
the other hand . . . I felt myself cringe.
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AN: ooooo! The plot thickens. Like?
Then pleeeeaaase make me happy and review ^_^
