And now, I present to you all, the first chapter of A Crimson Christmas: My Experimental story. Read, Enjoy, and don't forget to review. It makes me very very happy.


Year: After colony 231

December 13th

Location: Colony Cluster L5

The rain pelted the window, shaking the glass of the shabby, rundown apartment. The streets around it were littered with debris and trash; stray animals tipped over empty trash cans on a regular basis. But to some people, it was still home.

A car door slammed a small bit in the distance, and small honk; the sound of the automatic door lock. But in that place, locking the door may have just as well been useless. A flash of lightning, and a figure in a black trench coat walked into the building across the street; possibly attempting to take shelter from the relentless drumming of the rain.

Nikki watched him, her eyes scanning the darkness and following every one of his movements as if they were glued to him, the only visible life form that moved on the street. Behind her, in the depths of the apartment, came the sound of running water. The steam from the hot shower spread itself thin as it filled in all the space in the small dwelling. Nikki clutched the brown terrycloth towel that she had wrapped tightly around her thin and naked body. Her toes curled, digging into the gray carpeting beneath her. Her light brown hair hung limply and dry across her shoulders, cascading down her back, falling slightly in her eyes.

Another flash illuminated the street below. A troop of figures dressed in black trench coats attracted her brilliant green eyes as they sauntered up into the building across the street, leaving the road as bare and desolate as it usually was. Nikki licked her lips, biting the bottom one slightly. Something felt off.

Suddenly a hand that was almost smooth, yet showed signs of being well used and worked with, was pressed against her right bare shoulder. She felt warm breath on the back of her neck. Nikki raised a left hand, it's nails painted black, and rested it on top of the hand touching her skin so gently. The next moment, the young man behind her was caressing her neck with his warm lips, rolling his hands up and down her arms. The moment he paused, she took a chance to turn and face him, pressing her own pink lips against the soft luxury of his. Nikki's body pressed against Haru's bare torso as she secretly hoped that the towel he wore would slip off.

Haruko Yuy had know Nikki all of his life, but had not thought much about her presence until only two years prior to the night he found himself in his small run down apartment with her. Haru had sworn to stay away from love as long as he could, but there had been something about Nikki that called to him. Perhaps it was her free nature, or her endless devotion to him. Either way, he loved her with his heart and soul and knew that if need be he would die for her.

He stopped kissing her and took her hand in his, leading her through the bedroom and into the warm, no hot, bathroom. They stepped onto the blue bath mat. Their reflections were blocked by the steam that fogged the mirrors. Haru locked his eyes on hers and let his towel fall to the floor. He smiled when Nikki's eyes darted down and back to his face. She clutched the top of her own towel with one hand; blushing slightly, she let it unravel and collapse on the floor in a tangled pattern with Haru's. He took her hand and carefully helped her into the shower, bracing her against him so she wouldn't slip on the wet bottom of the bathtub.

Nikki buried her face in his wet shoulder, closer her eyes and basking in the warmth he and the water provided. The talked quietly above the low roar of the water, confessing love to one another over and over again.

At that moment Haru knew he would love her forever. As he watched her glistening body sway as she rolled the soap bat over it, he imagined a future in which they could live undisturbed and free of fear. He wanted to make her life better; to rescue her from the horrors she grew up with; but there was nothing he could really do. She was only seventeen and he nineteen. Haru knew she loved him, but she had made up her mind when she was little. She'd remain a virgin until her wedding night. Haru would honor that.

"Haru?" A voice, Nikki's voice, cut through his concentration, followed by a loud bang on the front door of the apartment. A deep frown formed on his face, his eyes growing cold. He shut the water in the shower as knocking grew louder and more forceful. Haru pulled Nikki out of the shower and tossed her towel at her. Pulling on a pair of boxers that lay on the bathroom floor, he lead her out of the bathroom and made her stay behind the bed. The front door clattered to the floor as smoke filled the apartment. Nikki's eyes showed her fear as footsteps thundered into the main room of Apartment five B. Haru lunged for the gun he kept in the night table beside his bed, just as twelve of the men in black trench coats burst into the bedroom; their silver murder weapons all pointed at Haru's back. The young man turned, his blue eyes flashing as the leader shouted "Yuy. You're coming with us."

"No!" A piercing scream cut through the air in the room as Nikki drew the men's attentions. Suddenly a harsh sound ripped trough Haru, devastating him before he even saw the result. He turned to Nikki and watched as she dropped to the floor, her green eyes losing signs of life as blood spilled from the wound at her left shoulder. Haru's fingers released the gun he had been holding, as his legs buckled beneath him. The leader raised his gun once more, leveling it with the sobbing young man's head.

Sirens were heard approaching. The men handcuffed Haru and dragged him onto the fire escape. They disappeared just as the police entered the room.

"Ha… Haruko!" Nikki breathed as her eyes shut, and police and medics burst through the doorway, surrounding her fallen body. "My love."


December 14

Dawn's light cut through the white curtains of the bedroom, falling gently on a sleeping figure, coving the curves of her body like a heavenly blanket. It's fingers seemed to pull her eyes open slowly. Ami yawned and blinked. She slowly remembered where she was, and she gently pulled the white silk sheets up over her bare chest with her free hand. Her other lay beside her, fingers intertwined with those of the young man who lay asleep beside her.

Ami's golden locks gathered around her head on the pillow like golden snakes. Her soft blue eyes were watery from where the sun had hit her. The young woman sucked on her bottom lip and smiled as she remembered her night with Tarak.

Suddenly he shifted and Ami turned to gaze into his brilliant green eyes. Before she knew it, he had pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed every inch of her face as if he couldn't find her lips.

Tarak felt his skin rub against hers. He loved her more than anything in the world. They had only known each other for five of her seventeen years, but nothing was stronger than their feelings for one another. His hand found it's way to the curve of her breast, making her giggle and then relax into his hold. He kissed her body as Ami ran her hands through his deep brown hair. He felt her body shudder in relief and he ran his palms along her skin.

If he wasn't supposed to finish school, he'd have married Ami right then and there. As it was, the eighteen year old had just spent the evening celebrating his engagement to her.

"Ami?"

"Yes my love?" she cooed. They both sat up and he poured them each a glass of red wine from the bottle they had left beside the bed the night before. She smiled and toasted him, giggling again. Before the wine made it past her lips, they were engaged in another series of passionate kisses. The glasses fell from their hands and they reached to touch each other, staining the pure white sheets. They tumbled from the bed and onto the floor, clinging to one another as if it were their last moments together.

Suddenly the phone rang. Tarak tried to ignore it but Ami insisted he answer.

"I have to shower before I go home," she explained, smiling. Her parents thought she had spent the night at Nikki's. She giggled and dragged the satin sheet up around her bare body. "I'll miss you," she said blowing a kiss and disappearing into the depths of the condo.

Tarak went to the phone and picked it up off the receiver as another hollow ring filled the room.

"Yes, this is Tarak Barton," he repeated into the phone. "What about my father? Why don't you get him?" The young man paused, his eyes going wide. "Or Die?" he repeated. "Fine. Goodbye." Tarak lowered the phone slowly onto the receiver as if the conversation had been completely normal. Suddenly his eyes flashed with fear as he hurriedly pulled on a pair of pants. He frantically searched the room for a piece of paper and a pen. A bullet shattered the glass on the window, ripping through the white curtains and grazing his arm. He winced, listening to the sound of the shower. He gave up his mad search for a pen and used the blood dripping from the wound in his arm. As a tear rolled down his cheek, he scribbled a bloody letter onto the silk pillow and fled the room, just as Ami came out of the bathroom, her skin and hair dripping. She dropped the towel she wore when she saw the blood on the floor and on the pillow. Tears were mixed with the red liquid; She watched the words as her own tears filled her eyes.

Ami

I have to go away.

I don't know when I'll be back

I love you

Ami watched the pillow, as if the words would change and her love would return through the wooden door. She waited all day, all afternoon, and all night, standing naked, facing the pillow, trying to convince herself that the bloody message wasn't true. But it was no use. When her parents came to retrieve her, Tarak still hadn't returned. Her mother touched her daughter's tear covered face with her hand, making Ami finally release her gaze on the pillow. Instead she looked down at her finger, running another over the gold band with the small diamond set in the center.


Year: After colony 232

November 10

Location: Colony cluster L5; Colony 46FJX89

Nikki ran her gloved hand down her face in exhaustion as she stepped off of the bus into the bright sunlight. There hadn't been a day since Haru was taken that she didn't feel tired, as if weighted down, like life was moving in slow motion. Face it! You knew that it was the danger of falling for the son of one of the famed Gundam pilots.

"Nikki! Earth to Nikki! Come in Nikki!"

"Huh? What? Oh, Ami! Hey!" she said, forcing a weak smile onto her face. That was why she had come. She was meeting Ami to spend the day together. Ami linked her arm with that of her friend and laid her head on Nikki's shoulder, as they walked down the busy, icy streets, bundled in heavy coats.

"You're thinking about him again?" Ami asked quietly.

"Is there ever a time when I'm not?" Nikki snapped, looking down and seeing hurt in Ami's eyes. After all, her friend was going through the same thing. Nikki just sighed; why should she apologize? Ami sat up and released Nikki's arm.

"It's been almost a year."

"I know."

"It was so horrible."

"I know."

"It was brutal."

"I know."

"You were hurt."

"I know! Damn it, Ami! I know! Leave it the hell alone."

Ami fell silent. It was a sensitive topic for both of them, but Ami wanted to talk about it. Nikki did not. Ami hated and was saddened by the thought of spending Christmas without the one she loved. Nikki's heart seemed to have frozen over so much that she didn't feel anything anymore.

"You're cold." Ami whispered, breaking the silence. She refused to meet Nikki's eyes; instead she smiled and nodded toward the people they passed, out on the streets doing Christmas shopping, knowing Thanksgiving was right around the corner.

"That would be the problem of living on the colonies." Nikki replied, keeping her eyes focused in front of her as they walked. "They try to mimic the weather on Earth around this time of year. What they don't realize is that it isn't freezing everywhere." She frowned and kicked a peace of ice with her foot. "Let's get some hot chocolate?"

Ami smiled and nodded, leading the way down a side street to their favorite café. They walked inside, listening to the small ringing of the bell. A few minutes later that sat in a booth near the back, their coats and winter attire beside them, blowing on their drinks. They laughed and smiled, genuinely enjoying each other's company, listening to the bell that announced the entrance and departure of the costumers.

The bell rang, and Nikki took a moment to look up to look for their waitress as she raised her mug to her lips. Her eyes searched the café, gliding over all the patrons, stopping slowly to rest on the figures in the doorway. Her jaw dropped open, and the mug crashed on the table as her fingers released the handle, hot chocolate spreading across the table and dripping on her lap. Tears filled her eyes as she tried to catch her breath and dislodge herself from within the confines of the booth. She managed to pull herself free, her feet intertwining with the legs of the table. She sobbed as she ran to the doorway and through herself at the man who entered, wrapping her arms around his middle and sinking to her knees, sobbing hysterically; Ami no more than a second behind her.

Haru, his face battered, barely recognizable to one who didn't know him, stooped down and placed his hand beneath her chin. He met her lips with his. Tarak just stared at his fiancé, unable to breath, not having expecting to see her there. He licked his lips and attempted to talk, only to have Ami's finger pressed against her own and then feeling the warmth of her soul spread into his as she kissed him long and deep.

The bell rang again behind them, an older man entering the room café, his deep violet eyes frowning as a long braid hung down his back. Two other young men and a boy stood behind him, each grinning from ear to ear as they watched their comrades embrace those they loved.


There you have it. The first complete chapter of A Crimson Christmas. It was going to be two chapters, but I decided to give you all a bit more than originally planned. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed, especially the two whom this story is dedicated. Anyway, it would make me very very happy if you would click on the little button next to "submitt review".