Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. (what?! You thought I did? how nice! ^_^)
by Aaridys
"Duo..."
The room was now empty and Ruy knew her angel was gone. She felt him leave and his presence grew fainter and fainter. She clenched her teeth and cursed herself for believing in such silly things as guardians and watchers. She never did in the past, why now? Furthermore, who was she to think that her guardian angel could be an anime character? She had let this whole situation go much further than she normally would and had given too much credit in this Madam R's predictions. And now, she was huddled over the floor, tears overflowing in her eyes. She didn't even understand what she was crying for. It wasn't like she had been physically hurt, or that someone close to her had an accident or anything. Why was she crying?
"Duo... please don't leave..."
Yes, the pilot's presence, real or not, was affecting her more deeply than she would admit. The fortune teller's words had fished out feelings Ruy had burried deep inside her, conviced of their silliness and gave her a foolish hope that now shattered her heart. The girl convinced herself Duo hadn't ever been there and that the whole thing had only been a product of her very fertile imagination.
"Ruy!"
The girl heard the front door slamming and felt warm arms embrace her and stroke her back.
"God Ruy, what happenned here?"
Shiva's voice brought Ruy back from her thoughts and a small smile spread across her lips.
"I had the nicest dream you know. But it all turned out to be a horrible nightmare..."
The blue-headed girl lifted her firend and supported her to the bed. She carefully set her between the covers and sat next to her, holding her hand.
"What was that nightmare Ruy?"
The girl turned her head to the wall and felt new tears at the edge of her vision.
"Right. You don't have to tell me now. Rest. I'll stay as long as you need me."
"Shiva?"
"Hai?"
"Thanks for being there for me."
"Hey, no prob. That's what friends are for ne?"
"Yes. Arigato."
Shiva pushed aside a few bangs that fell into her friend's face and smiled softly.
"Try to rest. I'll be in the kitchen."
Ruy only nodded and closed her eyes. After only a few minutes, she was fast asleep and Shiva pulled her hand from her grasp. She walked out of the room, closing the door behind her and went to the living room. Her eyes openned wide when she saw the mess and she started picking the fallen pillows and objects.
"Did she have a pillow fight or what?"
****
Thank heaven she's asleep. Good thing Flora was able to give Shiva this eerie feeling about Ruy. I don't know what I'd've done if that didn't work. Now let's watchproperly over this precious girl.
Duo sat over Ruy and tried his best to materialize again. Seeing this didn't work, he assumed Ruy, in her sleep, wasn't wishing for his presence and just gazed a her for hours.
In the living room, Shiva had finished her cleaning and now sat in front of the TV, watching that M... show again.
Today, we have the honour of welcoming once more Madam R with us. She has come to give us more information about angels and guardians and to issue a warning. Madam R?
Yes. Before I continue any readings, I'd like to warn all viewers. Even thought you may know that you have guardian angels, it is strongly recommended not to try to have any contact with them whatsoever.
Why is that?
Let me explain. Angels are invisible for a very good reason. Firstly because they must not interferre with our lives by their presence, secondly because they are often lost loved ones or the incarnation of a cherished dream.
But still, why is it bad to try and see them?
Because the sight of lostloved ones can trigger sadness and unhappinness in some people. Imagine knowing your best friend is always besides you but never reachable?
Yes...
Furthermore, as for dreams, it is even worst. The angels that incarnate a dreamed person never DID exist in the first place. The person being watched would only fall into a very dangerous circle by trying to have relations with this character and in the end, would destroy him or herslelf.
Why so?
Because a dream is something fickle, it changes, it evolves with the person. It is only natural for it to do so but if someone tries to materialize this dream, it will halt and in the end, disturb the normal growing of one's spirit and heart.
I see. Well, after this break, Madam R will give us more advice on our hiden angels and guardians...
"I wonder if this show doesn't have something to do with Ruy's sudden outburst... I better go check on her."
It was dark outside and Shiva had to flick the lights on in the hallway that led to her friend's room. She cracked the door open and slipped her head in the doorway. Ruy was peacefully sleeping, her breathing regular and deep.
"Better not take any chances. I'll call mom to tell I'll stay over."
****
"Yes... no. Yes, I'll be fine. No. I have my stuff here. I'll be okay for school tomorrow. Call you back later to give you the news. Yes, love ya too. Bye."
Shiva hung up and thought about how she would spend the rest of her evening.
"There's always the movie channel.. I know Ruy kept that habit from home..."
"DUO!"
The scream echoed across the apartment and Shiva was by her friend's side in a flash. Ruy kept tossing and turning in her bed, her brow covered in cold sweat and her moist hands reaching for the empty air over her.
"Ruy? Ruy! Wake up!"
Please do something! I can't reach her!
"Ruy! Ruy!"
God! What should I do? I can't just stand there! Ruy, please wake up!
The invisible boy walked around the room, is hands nervously tied up behind his back. He shot regular glances at Shiva who was trying desperatly to wake her friend. She had grabbed her by her shoulders and was shaking her violently but Ruy's limp body would only fall back on the matress. The red-head kept whispering the name of the Gundam pilot and Shiva was getting more and more worried. After a last failed attempt at waking Ruy, Shiva suddenly stood up and scanned the room, looking for nothing in particular. Her voice sounded like a growl.
"I know you're there boy. You better do something cuz all this is your fault. If you don't, man, I'll find you and kick your sorry braided ass! Duo Maxwell! Where are you!"
But I'm right here damnit! Can't you feel me? Or even hear me?
"But then, I have a better idea. Go away."
Nani?!
"I know you can hear me. So get out. Ruy's crying for you! She always loved you secretly but she knew you where just some anime boy! She had never thought the most secret of her dreams could be true! Now she knows and she believed in it with all the strength of the feelings she thought she could never have. But she can't have you! You're not real! Go away! You're going to destroy her! GO AWAY!"
But I can't abandon her! She means the world to me! I won't leave! I love her!
"Go a-w-a-y. By the time she wakes up, you better have left or else, I'll make you pay..."
No. I won't go. Not now. Not ever. There has to be a way.
Shiva turned her back on the devastated pilot and took Ruy's small hand in hers.
"Calm down Ruy. I'm right here beside you and won't ever leave. Calm down."
"Shi...va... thanks for being such a good friend."
Ruy calmed down in her sleep and smiled faintly. Shiva smiled back and placed a small kiss on her friend's forehead. She waited for her to be calm once more and left the room with a blanket. She was very tired and bit her lip for leting herself talk like that, to no one in particular. The girl shook her head and snuggled as best she could over the couch. She quickly slipped into sleep and had many dreams about her neighbor Flora and her cats.
****
I know you can still hear me Ruy. I can feel it. Please come back to your senses. I need you to smile again. Don't let yourself slip into this darkness. I will find a way for you to be happy, I promise. That's my job after all... But please come back. I can't bear to see you like this. They tell me I should leave, that I've caused too much damage here but I just can't. I was told that I shouldn't let myself have feelings for the one I had to watch over but put yourself in my shoes. With a girl like you, it was impossible for me to stay neutral. Furthermore, I've known you since you where little so I always thought of you as a younger sister or something like that. It was nice to have such a cute little sister and you where so special, today more than ever. I've transgressed a major rule Ruy. I did it just for you, because of you. I may be just a dream but the strengthof your feelings reached out to me and I just can't leave you anymore. I love you little red dragon. Beautiful rose...
"Duo..."
Ruy was crying again in her sleep and the pilot streched his transparent hand to place it over her shaking head.
You can't see me anymore. They are preventing it, but you can still feel me right? I'll stay by your side, always...
****
In the morning, Shiva went to check on Ruy and sadly noted that her friend hadn't woken up yet. Ruy was in a sort of deep sleep, almost a coma. The blue-headed girl sighed and decided to skip school to stay with her friend. She called and said that Ruy and her were sick, which wasn't far from reality and stayed by the side of the bed all day.
A week passed and Ruy had shown no sign of waking up. Shiva came every day after school to check on her and could only witness her best friend's downfall. The red-head was getting thiner by the day, her already pale skin turning a light blue under her eyes and cheeks. She sometimes talked, mumbling indistinc words and then turning over but one name always came up; Duo. The blue-headed girl didn't know what to do anymore and just let time slip by, hoping for the best.
****
One night, Duo was starting to fall asleep when a light errupted in the middle of the room. It never took shape but just vibrated as words echoed out of the emptiness.
It is time for you to leave her guardian. We have let you stay too long already. She will deperish more and more if you remain.
But I can't leave! You don't understand!
Come, the girl needs rest now. Your presence will not save her. It only destroys her more.
The light shimmered strongly and Duo took a step backwards, hidding Ruy behind his body to screen her from their sight.
I won't leave her. I love her!
Foolish dream! You where not sent here for this purpose! You had to watch over her and failed miserably. Now, we are taking you back.
You can't. You don't understand what I feel. The love she needs for me to give her!
Do you not think we now love! We are love! We are the sky, the earth, the fire and water! And one thing must be clear guardian, sky and earth do not mingle. Not now, not ever!
I have a name! Stop calling me guardian!
But that's what you are.
No! I'm more than that! I'm real, I have feelings! I love, I hurt and know pain!
Foolish dream that dreamed of existence! Enough now. You have to come.
The ball of golden light moved closer to Duo and the boy gave a horrified look over to Ruy.
I'm so sorry I couldn't be your real dream come true. I love you little rose. Bloom for me. I'll try and watch over you from wherevere I'm going...
"Duo... please don't go... I love you too."
Tears swelled up in the boy's eyes and he bowed down to let his lips brush against the girl's. She shifted slightly and smiled in contentment.
"I'll wait for you Duo... please come back."
I love you Ruy. Goodbye.
Come guardian. It is time for you to go.
Duo walked in the light that soon faded, leaving the room to the rising rays of a purple morning sun.
****
Shiva cried for hours when she saw Ruy at school that day and didn't leave her friend's side for the whole day. The red-head was smiling like her old self but her closest friend still noticed the touch of sadness in her dark eyes. Over lunch, Shiva decided to pop out the question.
"What happened Ruy?"
"He left."
"He did? Finally..."
Ruy nodded over her plate and smiled to her friend.
"They came and told him to come back. He kissed me and told me he loved me. He promised he'd come back someday."
Shiva frowned and placed her fork back in her plate.
"And you believed him? You're just going to hurt yourself more girl..."
"I can still dream."
"Stick to reality. I saw what that dream did to you. Believe me, earth is much better."
"I promise I will Shiva. And thanks again for all you did."
"Hey, friends are friends ya know. I guess we're just special."
"Yeah..."
The two girls smiled and finished their meal in a pleasing silence.
****
The two friends walked side by side in the hallway and Shiva bended to peek at her friend's new schedule.
"So, what'ch got this year?"
"Literature and latin."
"Latin. Gross!"
Ruy smiled and giggled at her friend's sneer and scanned her sheet once more.
"Hey wait, I thought I had one course missing!"
"Wha?"
"Well, remember, now we have an optional class and we picked the subject last year."
"Yeah so?"
"You chose Track and Field if I remember correctly. You have it now?"
"Yup, first thing up the list!"
"Well, I didn't get Drawing and Painting Technics as I picked and didn't even get my second choice Astronomy."
"Geez, that's harsh. So did you get your last choice?"
"Sadly yes..."
"What's it?"
"Programming."
Shiva strangled herself on the snack she was eating and rolled on the floor, holding her belly. Ruy tapped her foot and waited for her blue-haired friend to catch back her breath between her giggles.
"Done now?"
"Sorry... hehehe... it's just... Imagining you in front of a screen... hehehe... pluease... the teacher is soooo going to kick you out as soon as he realizes you are sooooo bad with computers!"
"Am not!"
"Are! You just touch them and they jam!"
Ruy frowned but had to admit she was useless when it came to informatics. She waved her hand and opened her locker.
"Anyways, I got it at last period today and I'll see. If ever it's too much, I'll just drop it. Nothing to worry about."
"Aaaaaaabsolutely. I have physics in five minutes, hope you don't crash the whole network! See ya!"
Shiva ran off before a very heavy art book could reach the back of her head and waved back from a safe distance. Ruy giggled a bit and picked up her programming books from the bottom of her locker. The characters on the cover were like chinese to her and she sighed mentally before bracing herself for a long evening.
****
"In this class, you will be expected to understand the meaning of MS-DOS and the basics of programming. The main parts of the course will be..."
The teacher's words slipped over Ruy as she gazed outside the window. She was tired, hot and bored. She was already considering quitting the class before she got permanently hurt. Computers where not her thing.
"Miss Ruy Hainten?"
The red-head shot up and looked at the teacher.
"Since this is your first programming course, you will be paired up with Maxwell. He's been among us for some time and will be able to help you. And by the way, the first course is as important as any other. Please pay attention."
"Ha...hai!"
Ruy scanned the room frantically, her heart racing wild. She couldn't believe some other boy could ever be called Maxwell. This was just a coincidence right? She searched around but didn't meet any familiar face and finally put her chin in her hands, disapointed.
The course ended after a very long period of boredom for Ruy and the girl hastily packed her heavy volumes. She walked towards the door, shuffling her feet when she was brutally hit by someone who just grunted and entered the class in a hurry. Ruy turned her head swiftly as a shot of chestnut hair flew by her nose, accompanied by the sweet scent of wildflowers. Inside the classroom, the teacher's voice echoed over to her ears.
"Ha, mister Maxwell. How good of you to join us, late again!"
Ruy ran back to the class and stood there, dumbstruck in the doorway.
"Ha, Miss Hainten. May I present you your partner for the course, mister Duo Maxwell, the eternally late student. I hope you get along well."
The red-head took in every detail of her new companion; the long, chestnut braid, the smirking eyes and wide smile and smiled back while nodding at the teacher. Even in the school uniform, Duo was still Duo. Nothing would ever change. The boy smiled back at her, his eyes full of promises and unspoken words. The teacher interrupted their silent conversation and shuffled his sheets around.
"I'm quite sure everything will go well for miss Hainten, sensei."
Duo's voice was a dream, a wave of pure bliss to Ruy's ears and she walked back in the class, smiling like she didn't in a very long time. The pilot even looked better in the flesh.
"Absolutely, I know we will make a great team..."
THE END!
Yay! I finally finished this thing!
If this story moved you in a positive way, or even made you want to
rip my head off because I fooled around so much with Duo, please let me
know. Praises will be adored, flames will be put to good use, I have
plenty of marshmallows. Write me, I love to get your comments!