By: M o o n M y s t
Disclaimer – I own nothing but the plot – please do not sue me – I haven't the patience nor the time nor the money to go to court. This disclaimer pertains to all the chapters of the story.
God, this is going to be one hell of a day.
Then, being his foreboding self -- a tickle on the back of Duo's neck made him turn around, his eyes searching for the source of his curious nature. He saw nothing, though, and was about to turn, when a loud blast could be heard from the next room – the malevolent sound followed by an explosion that surged through the building and its occupants.
~*~
He'd been waiting for what seemed like hours now. A quick glance at the watch upon his wrist confirmed his theory – and informed him of the approaching figure in the distance. A slight twinge pinched his arm, making him turn off the detection device. So, he was finally here- well, he hoped he was here, at least. There are only so many hours in a day and Heero certainly didn't feel like wasting them on a mission of reparation.
Perhaps he should forget the whole thing – it wasn't as if he couldn't pay him back at another time. No, his former partner had asked this specially of him – and so he would just have to tough the unbearable sarcasm and wit that often flowed from his mouth.
A salty breeze encircled the young man, its bitter coldness wrapping around his warmth and choking it out of him – surely autumn wasn't always this cold – or perhaps it was only his soldier sense warning him of the present dangers of standing on a sea dock, with scant firearms and no way of protecting himself against any sort of attack, but then again – he was the infamous Heero Yuy.
"Mr. Yuy?" asked a strangely effeminate voice from the shadows that surrounded him. He instantly turned, scolding himself for being so cocky. Sure he was the best, but there was always some trying to steal that title – and Heero didn't feel like giving it up this soon.
"Yes." He said sharply, Prussian eyes squinting the scene precariously.
"I suggest you come with me." She said, her voice more commanding than requesting. Heero almost smiled at the woman's presumptuous nature, it wasn't everyday you found someone who could actually look him in the eye and command him about. But then again, he wasn't quite sure whether she was looking, as her face was hidden by the twilight darkness.
"Let me see you." He said, adding no hint that he had listened to her obtrusive words. While he respected confidence, he detested insolence.
He was sure the woman smiled when she heard him, as her voice was almost merry. "If you must."
Moreover, Sally Po stepped into the dim light of a nearby lamppost, her quiet blue eyes giving off a familiar glow. How could he not have remembered that voice? Gleaming light brown curls bobbed amiably, a tired smile making its way upon her face. Why such mysterious conduct when they had worked along side each other so long ago?
Sure, he wasn't all that excited about the whole going back to seeing his old partners, but there was a certain air of bitterness. Perhaps doing this favor wasn't the best idea of his career – but he owed them, and so he stepped closer to Sally.
"Where's your transportation?" he asked coolly.
"Right here." She said, pointing to the large motorcycle that lay incompetently upon the ground. Her eyebrows arched simultaneously, not quite sure of what the young man's motives were, but quite certain of the fact that his understanding of the situation was but a façade.
Sally lifted the motorcycle into a standing position and got on. Heero characteristically said nothing, but straddled upon the bike behind Sally, whose sapphire eyes never left the nonexistent place in front of them.
"This Wufei's?"
"Maybe." She said vaguely, eyes full of a peculiar glint.
Heero gave her a questioning glance, but decided not to press the matter, "Where are we going?"
"Oh, I think you know where we're going."
It had been seven years – seven whole years. Did everyone expect him to remember all that had gone on? He had a few ideas where they might go, but he was sure that these places had changed – the times had changed – and most definitely, the people had changed. Besides, he trusted them enough to know that they wouldn't keep the same safe houses and meeting places as before. And if they did, then it was a wonder they were still alive.
The sound of a motor starting snapped him back into the moment. Sally loosened her grip on the handle bar and released the brake. Heero braced himself for a sudden burst of speed and glared evenly into the night. Just as expected, Sally pushed the gas pedal down hard and they sped off into the dark abyss – one doubtful, the other hopeful.
~*~
What the hell was that?
Duo, his body sprawled across the floor, thought. He lifted his tawny head and sighed. So much for hitch-less plans. He stared at the floor for a few seconds before lifting his bedraggled body into a sitting position. He knew he had better make sure everyone was okay, but he was feeling so very weak. A five second deliberation told him that some sort of explosion had taken place, and so, that was his reasoning for the slipshod manner in which he lay.
"DUO!" someone called, their voice ringing throughout the chaotic building. Shinigami stood abruptly, his cobalt eyes searching for the source of the distressed cry. His body was in pain, but still alert – a quiet sense of need filling his mind at a rapid pace.
A few people moved around the fallen debris, their faces hollow and anxious. Duo lifted his legs over a large piece of hardware that looked a lot like a computer, mutilated to an immense extent. The door to the room he had just left out of, was in sight, and he forced his weary body to try and open it.
His hand clutched the knob and then pulled back quickly. His slim fingers now blistered and burned. He moved back several paces and kicked the door a few times before it eventually opened, preferring a sore leg to a crispy hand.
He entered the hectic scene in time to see a flash of shocking blonde hair attached to a body that was now falling out of a window. He raced to the ledge, but there was no one there – just a street now filling with people who had heard the bomb go off.
Duo turned to face Trowa, his lithe form now leaning over a blank computer screen. Trowa seemed fine enough, a few scrapes, but he was sure the acrobatic male could handle that. His main concern was with something else.
He wasted no time on unnecessary questions and went through the door at the end of the room, which lead to Relena's private study.
Relena. Oh God, if she was dead then everything was ruined – everything.
But instead he found the blonde woman lying across a plush sofa, her eyelids closed, but her body moving with breath. Duo stared, confused. Was she sleeping? How could she not have heard the blast? Geez. . . the whole thing was getting more confusing by the second.
At that moment, Quatre ran in, his small mass halting as he saw Duo staring at Ms. Relena. His clothes were disarray, but there was no sign of injury on the young man, his pale skin as flawless as ever.
"What happened?" he asked hastily.
"I don't know – I – I think it was some kinda bomb. . ." his voice trailed, but his eyes not moving from Relena. How could she still be sleeping?
"I don't understand – what's going on? Is Ms. Relena dead?" he asked precariously, eyes widening dramatically at the thought.
"Nah – she's just sleeping. Peacefully." He said and then snapped back into reality. Where had Quatre been? In all the excitement he had forgotten to look for him. Shocking blonde hair – Quatre. Could it be?
"Where were you?" asked demandingly, turning to face the surprised young man.
"I went to go get a package that Relena's personal guard said was downstairs. But when I got there – there was no guard or a package. That's when the explosion went off and I ran up here as fast as I could." He explained, his eyes pleading for his friend to understand. "It's all my fault."
Then Trowa entered the room, a small device in hand. He looked from Duo's suspicious glare to Quatre's delicately frightened one and said, "The bomb wasn't nuclear, so no need to worry about radiation, but I can't get a pin-point on where the bomb came from – that probably means it was moving when it went off."
"Right. Don't call the police – the next thing we know the Preventers will be breathing down our necks. And we can't have that." Said Duo, a bit more harshly than before. But he was mad – well, more like upset. But how could this have happened? All his carefully thought arrangements almost blown up? And by who? Surely not the kidnappers. No, Relena's lifestyle was dangerous, and besides, what would they want? They already had the Vice Foreign Minister's daughter, Trinta.
Why couldn't it be simple, like the old times – the good guys were good and the bad guys were bad. Now, he wasn't sure what to think. "Wait – was anything taken?"
"Not that I know of, but I haven't looked over everything – the office's a mess." Said Trowa, his eyes narrowing, "You don't think someone wanted to steal something?"
"I don't know. I just don't know." He said quietly, his hands moving to his eyes and rubbing them softly. God, this was all messed up. It would be a miracle if he could salvage the mission. But that was what he did best - salvage things. Perhaps this incident could be used to his advantage. Hmm . . . Perhaps . . .
"Let's get this cleaned up, guys," he started, his voice much more cheerful, "And could someone wake up Ms. Relena?"
Quatre smiled, he always disliked when people were in a bad mod. But he should never have gone to get the package – he should have sent Rashid or someone else to get it – then maybe he could have helped. Or perhaps if he had run faster when he heard the blast they might know what was going on. Quatre sighed, he really had to stop beating himself up about things that couldn't be changed.
Trowa, more reality minded than his shorter friend, walked over to the sofa and peered down curiously at the sleeping woman, her body curled into a safe ball. He wished he could do that right now – just coil up in his bed, where he felt safe.
Trowa tapped the once princess lightly on the shoulder – but she didn't budge. He waited a few seconds for some sort of response, but none came. So, he nudged her harder, but still gently. But no sign of reaction was evident upon the fair-haired woman. Trowa peered bewilderedly at her and once again, prodded her.
He stepped back and said, "Ms. Peacecraft?"
By now Quatre and Duo had joined their friend by his side, staring along with them. They knew that this was no ordinary sleep that Relena seemed to be engaged in – something was awry.
"Quatre, call an ambulance," Said Duo, his voice nearly shaking with hesitance.
"Are you su-" started Trowa, for he knew that by doing so, the authorities would be notified and therefore the Preventers would come to the rescue – and the last thing he wanted was Hilde in on this. While Trowa had never really know love, he knew his friend was in on its infamous secrets. However, when Hilde had joined the organization, he was sure Duo hated it – he hated not knowing where she was and what she was doing. Most of all he hated the danger that they put each other in by living under the same roof.
"Ya, I'm sure." Said Duo.
"Okay," replied the Arabian, who had no real sense of the ponderings that ran through both men's minds.
For the final time, Duo reached out and pushed Relena's unconscious, but breathing body. What had happened? What had gone so wrong? Duo sighed. An unconscious princess, a missing soldier, a kidnapped daughter and a band of rebels – was there anything else he was forgetting? Oh yeah – a German girl obsessed over the fact that he'd never said 'I love you'. Well, things were definitely starting to get chaotic. Maybe he should have made some time in his plans for disorder.
The faint sound of sirens from a distance caused Duo took look up at the confused room. He had never been in a situation like this – never had to know the estranging pain of feeling so very perplexed and excited at the same time. He wondered if he'd be alive to remember it.
A/N- And the plot thickens! If you are wondering about my mental status right now, I will not blame you, however, I do think my mind is stable (just not when I'm writing, lol) Wow! I was going to go in another direction with this, but then I changed it - so the events that were supposed to take place this chapter are going to take place in the next one! Yea!
