Disclaimer: Ugh... these are *so* annoying, how about I just state that I don't own Gundam Wing and I officially state that this disclaimer applies to *all* the chapters in my story? =)

Through Demon's Eyes

A Gundam Wing Fanfiction

By: Koneko-chan

Italics indicates a flashback or thought of sorts. Also indicates voices and other weird, freaky stuff. ^_^

~*~*~*~*~*~ indicates a change in time

****Warning**** -- it gets sort of... suggestive ^_^

Chapter Four

*Damn* that thing's fast. I found myself sprawled out on the floor while Heero was pinned against the far wall, toes barely gracing the white tiled floor. A slimey blue hand was crushing his neck, and already his face was turning a different shade of blue. Then again, it coulda been the bluish liquid that was also splattered all over his clothing and mine. I froze for a moment, checking out how the liquid sloshed the floor, leaving puddles that meshed into something more. It clung to soggy black hair, running all the way down her back to her wrinkled toes.

Yes, she was naked.

"D-Duo -- !!" Heero's strangled cry knocked me out of my reverie. I blinked before reaching behind and into my waistband, drawing out my gun and taking a direct aim at the mass of soggy tresses. Before I could squeeze the trigger the gun was out of my hands, soaring past me and into the long corridor. I winced at my predicament as my gun made a noisy clatter against the farthest wall possible.

What the hell -- I was almost tempted to run after my gun when I heard another strangled gurgle. Switching my attention back to my comrade, I raced for his gun which lay a few feet before me. Diving for the gun I tucked into a roll, gliding over the weapon and neatly catching it in my hand as I got into a defensive crouch. Just as I had picked up Heero's browning, a cold gust of wind rushed beside me, nearly causing me to topple over.

Cold.... Looking over my shoulder I noticed about half a dozen ice shards poking out of the floor. Just as I was about to turn back to the freaky-naked-blue chick I felt another cold front coming in my direction. I rolled again, this time landing just behind the slender form, gun cocked at the base of her skull.

Instinct took over and a moment later I found myself staring into the face of the Perfect Soldier. Sure, it had blue and red splotches of what looked to be paint all over his face, but it was him. The look in his eyes gave me the impression that he wanted to faint, but his perfect-soldier mode wouldn't let him act upon his weakness.

Actually, it was probably the fact that there was a body inbetween us.

A* female* body.

A *naked* female body.

Better push that thing outta the way.

And so, the headless chick fell to the ground with a dull 'thud', providing more than enough room between Heero and myself. Looking away, I gave Heero a moment to collect himself, costing me an extremely rare opportunity to harass him. I'm just a saint sometimes.

The silence was settling in the cloudy-blue room, with only the two of us breathing kinda heavily. Surprisingly, I heard Heero gasp, "What the hell was that?" I would've laughed if only there wasn't a dicapitated blue chick lying on the floor next to us. Actually, her head wasn't cleanly swiped off -- there was still a bit of skull hanging where the base of the neck began, with soggy black hair limply trailing off of it. Ew...

"Why the hell you asking me for?" I replied, shrugging. "Told ya you should've left her alone." As expected, a gruff 'hn' replied my comment. I guess he's back into Perfect Soldier mode. As if he ever left.

"Daijoubu ka, Heero?" He pushed himself off the wall and stepped towards the body, disregarding both my question and myself. Some thanks for saving his would-be blue face. Wait, I take that back, there was still some of the blue slime on him. Whoops.

I watched as he knelt down to examine the body, poking and prodding with his fingers. It took me a moment before I realized what he was about to do next.

"Heero... is that *really* necessary?" He had lifted the upper portion of the body off the ground, the gaping hole for a neck facing him. He merely gave me a death glare and proceeded on with poking his fingers into the girl's esophagus. I nearly gagged, and managed to remain focused on the situation at hand, rather than where Heero's hand currently was.

"You know why I'm doing this." Of course, of course, to see if there's anything else in there that shouldn't be, blah blah, analyzing all the data, yaddi yaddah.

"Still.... that's gross!" I made a face at his back, then looked over his shoulder. I was getting kinda curious as to what was taking him so long. The moment I saw her internal.... insides being pushed around by Heero's fingers, I blanched and turned away again. Sure, I can stand the sight of blood and guts and gore, but when it's something as little as prodding at someone's insides... that's just disturbing.

"Find anything, Detective Yuy?" I asked a bit sarcastically, closing my eyes. I bit my lip and began to pace behind him, trying to keep my breakfast from coming up. Wait a minute, I didn't eat breakfast. Since when did I ever? Maybe that's why I'm so damn scrawny compared to the guys.

"... No," he admitted. Looking over my shoulder I saw him run his fingers through his hair as he stared down at the headless body. Frustration? Well, *that's* a rare thing when it comes to Mr. Perfect Soldier. My curiosity peaked again, another brow raising. I've really gotta stop doing that.....

"Nothing?" There was a bit of silence, before Heero shook his head. "Wha, a shake for, 'No, I didn't find anything' or 'no, I *did* find something'?" Sheesh, the kid really needs to develop his people-skills.

"The latter, Duo."

"Well why didn't you say something earlier -- "

" -- I was hoping that my eyes were playing tricks on me." That statement caught my full attention.

"Nani?" I watched as he stood up and stepped away from the body, bringing it into my unobscured view. I stared at it for awhile, trying to make sense of what Heero might be trying to tell me.

Eh.... lots of blue, the head's anything but intact, skins all blue -- probably all slimey too -- no other fluids oozing out...... My eyes had just run over what was left of the neck. I frowned, noticing one small little thing.

The oozing had stopped. Infact, there weren't any remains at all. Not even in the area where the body lay right then. I quickly scanned the room, and found the only liquids to be the stuff in the test tube, the blue sprayed all over Heero and myself, the mess where the chick was blown to smithereens -- but none actually coming from the girl herself.

At least, not anymore.

My eyes locked with Heero's before I began to ask, ".... Is there any left in -- "

" -- No."

"None at all?" I pressed.

"You saw my autopsy -- there is no sign of any fluid left in her body." My gaze flickered back to the girl again. No fluids.... demo...... but she was just spittin' out by the gallons --

"I know, Duo, and that's why I'm puzzled." I guess I must've spoken out loud because he looked at me with a sliver of hesitance flickering in his eyes.

"D-demo -- that's *impossible!*" I shook my head firmly, refusing to believe what he had proposed. "Was she *not* just moving two seconds ago??"

"We're going to take a sample of her tissue and ... this blue substance back with us to study under a better environment." Already he was reaching to his waist, drawing out two different viles. A pocket knife was also drawn out and with the flick of his wrist I watched as Heero carefully placed a sliver of the bluish skin into one empty vile. He tossed the other to me and I caught it easily.

"Take a sample of the liquid which surrounded her prior to her attack."

Sheesh, who is he to tell me what I should do? Mr. Know-It-All.... Never the less I trudged on my way over to the broken cylinder. Quickly scooping up some of the blue goo, I turned around and noticed the happy little daggers 'o death. I had forgotten about them.

"Oy, Heero," I began but he was already walking out of the room. "What about -- "

" -- I've already taken a sample of the ice that tried to spear you earlier," he replied without looking over his shoulder.

"And this mess?" I winced when I felt my sneaker squish something... not so solid. Looking down I noticed a chuck of flesh hanging from my sneakers.

"There's no way we can clean it up without someone catching notice anyway. Just leave it." I shrugged, taking one last look over my shoulder. My eyes ran over the images of shattered glass and blue liquid covering at least half the room. I turned my attention to the body lying near the center of the room and to my surprise I heard a sigh of sorrow.

Even though the chick had tried to kill both Heero and I, it still wasn't very fair to her.

~*~*~*~*~*~

That incessant noise was bothering the hell outta me. All he ever does is type on that stupid piece of machinery. Now, I could understand if he was all over my Deathscythe but c'mon, it's just a stupid computer! I made another face at his back as he click-clacked his way through the computer system of the Oz program we managed to upload. He'd been working on that thing ever since we got back from the mission and the kid never did anything else *but* hack away on the files -- with the exception of classes, food and use of the bathroom. The mission ended just a little over two days ago.

"C'mon Heero, give it a break!" I began to feel the boredom seeping into me, so I picked up a mini foam basketball and began to throw it at the matching miniature hoop hanging above my bed. "You've been working on it for two days now!" Tossing the little ball I carelessly aimed the shot, unsurprisingly missing the backboard. It shot off the wall and just missed Heero's head. What a shame. "Even *you* need to get some fresh air, soldier." I picked up another spare ball and this time shot it with more accuracy. Just nicked the rim.

"Duo, we still have to complete our mission." The clacking had not for a moment stopped. I made a grab for the second ball again.

"Yeah, and we will, but first we need to loosen up and have *fun.*" Tossing the ball, I could feel a satisfied smirk cross my features. "Yanno, like normal people our age do?" The little foam ball had fallen in through the hoop without moving the net. "Besides -- Quatre and Trowa are working on the samples as we speak, and Wufei's out doing book research. You don't hafta worry so much." Yeah, you're one to talk Maxwell. You almost fell over once you found out she didn't have any friggin' *blood* left in her system! That seemed to make his fingers cease the destruction of his keyboard.

"The mission objective was *not* to steal samples of whatever project Oz might have been working on." The typing resumed much to my irritation. I rolled my eyes, squeezing the little ball in my hands.

"It was to wipeout the entire Oz main frame," I muttered. Hey, I didn't go on these missions just for the thrill -- well, maybe a little bit -- I actually went on these things to bring *peace* to the people. Flying Deathscythe was just the fun part.

"We have not yet completed our mission objective," Heero replied, eliciting a frustrated glare from me. In response I threw the little ball at him, hard, aiming for his spiky head. Would've been a perfect hit too, if he hadn't spun around and caught it in his hand. Instead, I wound up with my back on the ground. Makes sense if you've just been hit in the face by the Perfect Soldier, never mind the fact that his weapon was a tiny little foam basketball.

"Kuso Heero!" I winced, gingerly poking at the new bruise on my cheek after rubbing the bridge of my nose. "You've got one helluva throw." Really, for a foam ball to knock me from my bed and form a bruise on my face, he had to have thrown it pretty damn hard. "You left a mark!" I pouted, looking at the reflection in the window from my view on the carpet.

"Hn." Damn that keyboard. Couldn't even see his damn face. "Go make yourself useful." I got up from the floor and stood up.

"And what do you suggest I do?"

"Shut up and go to sleep." Ouch, score one for Yuy. That one actually hurt.

"Fine." I walked over to my duffel bag, grabbing my black cap. "I'll quit being so *useless* and talk to someone who actually appreciates me." I was tempted to smack the back of his head as I walked past, but decided that I didn't want an entire bruise to cover my face. Instead of pulling the cap back for an attack I stuck it in my back pocket. I settled for making a face as I pulled open the dorm door. "I'll be with Wufei, if anyone would happen to need me." With my nose turned somewhat ridiculously upward, I slammed the door shut behind me.

Sheesh. Try to do the guy a favor and it blows up in your face. Well, a ball did anyway. Eh, Wufei's better company anyway.

So, I walked two doors down and pounded on Wufei's door.

"Oy, Wu-man!" I pounded twice loudly with the back of my knuckles. "Open up, it's me!" A shuffle was heard, accompanied by a muffled "injustice" before I found myself looking into somewhat annoyed black eyes.

"What is it Maxwell." Uh-oh, that didn't sound like a question.

"Wha, not gonna let me in?" Reluctantly he moved aside, allowing me to pass him and enter his room. To my surprise, the room was a complete mess. Books were piled all around the desk and night stand, as well as a few loose pieces of paper which were scattered all over the floor. Clothing was tossed in any possible corner, with the exception of a few articles on, under, and inbetween the mattress of his bed, the covers, and the carpeting.

I couldn't help but comment. "Whoa, Wu-man, *I'm* neater than this!" I braced myself for the ever-present katana, but it never came.

".... Meiran always took care of the housework," he admitted, somewhat sheepishly. I couldn't let this opportunity pass.

"Meiran?" Wufei nodded. "I guess an 'onna' isn't so 'useless' after all!" I smiled triumphantly.

"My dear Meiran was not *just* an onna," Wufei countered, whispering his deceased wife's name with quiet reverence.

"Yeah... " I finished, drawing out some of Wufei's anger. "I bet she wasn't."

*That* brought the katana out.

"Kisama, Maxwell...... do not make me send you to hell early." I laughed, stepping back and away from the blade. Still, the sword was held steadily in my direction.

"Easy Wu-man.... I didn't come here just to harass you."

"Just," he picked out. Withdrawing his katana Wufei restored it back to its rightful place. Where, I did not know.

"Again, what is it." I watched as he cleared a spot on his bed, and gestured for me to take a seat. I politely declined, not wanting to take any chances of being engulfed by garbage.

"Did you find anything?" Walking over to his desk I tripped on a sock, plummeting to my doom if it hadn't been for the desk edge I latched onto. In the process of saving myself from the garbage though, I tipped over a teacup, splashing the green tea on the corner that the cup was placed.

"Gomen, Wu-man..... " Holding up the tea-soaked paper, Wufei realized it to be our history report that was due the next day.

Here come the fireworks. My mind raced as it thought of all the possible escape routes. There's the door, the obvious escape then the window but that might be too far... what if I just whipped garbage at him and stalled for time.... yeah, that sounds good but *gross!*

Instead, Wufei shrugged and replied, "It's all saved on my computer." Thank the gods. "And no, I have not yet found anything that might be of any use to this current... enigma." Enigma. Whoa, I wonder if Heero knows that one.

"Hontou?"

"Not a thing." An expression of puzzlement adorned his naturally-tan features. "I can't place my finger on it, but I've heard of *something* like this before...... back in China....... "

"Wha -- of naked blue chicks in test tubes?" I was getting bored, so I picked up a book and began to flip through it. Chinese characters. Oh yeah, I can just sit back and snuggle with *those.*

"No, Maxwell -- of the blue liquid you and Yuy found. And the drainage..... " He sighed and began to pace back in forth in the cluttered mess known as his room the best he could.

"In China?" He nodded.

"Maybe if I looked in some of the ancient scrolls.... I could find something."

"What makes you think we're dealing with something that *old?*" I picked up another book, noting the scantly clad girl on the cover. A devilish grin flashed on my features.

"Say, Wu-*man* -- since when did *you* take in interest in nearly-naked 'onnas'?" A look of surprised flashed across his face as well as a blood-red blush before he stormed over and yanked the magazine outta my hands.

"Oy Wu -- "

"Don't make me slice off that pretty braid of yours," he threatened menacingly. Warning bells went off in my head, as a little voice inside of me screamed, NO!!! NOT THE BRAID!!!!! I grabbed my braid protectively, holding it to my chest and stroking it.

"Do *NOT* touch the braid," I sniffled. Poor baby.

"Hmph." A tense moment of silence passed before Wufei spoke up again. "Maxwell, I kindly ask you to leave me to my studies," an eyebrow rose and I guess he must've noticed for he quickly added, "on the current situation at hand with that.... blue onna."

"Alright Wu-man, whatever you say." I threw up my hands and began to walk to the door. As soon as my closed around the doorknob though, I added, "And don't worry I won't tell anybody!" I looked over his shoulder at the embarrassed look on his face and burst out laughing as I walked into the hallway. "Relax!"

"What injustice is *this?!*" was the last thing Wufei muttered to himself before I closed the door.

Who would've thought! Another broad smile. Heh heh... something to blackmail him with! Not that I, innocent little Duo, would do *that*..... I know, I am just too evil at times.

Next stop, Quatre's and Trowa's. And what a short walk it was, being just across the hall from Wufei's room and all.

"Yoo hoo, are you guys decent?" I called loudly, pounding my fist against the door. A muffled gasp of surprise came from beyond the door, quickly followed by a faint shuffle. "HelloOoOoO today would be nice!" I continued to pound on the door anyway before they had a chance to respond. Patience is such a virtue. Oh yeah.

"C-Choco matte, onegai!" I heard Quatre call sweetly. More shuffling.

"Whatcha guys *doin'* in there!" If I hadn't known any better... naw, it couldn't be -- could it?

Life's just full of surprises. After all, I don't think I could've believed anything other than the crooked vest, the untucked shirts, missing shoes, and the way Trowa's hair was... not so gravity-defying anymore. Like it took a genius to figure out what had started to happen. I simply took in the sight of Quatre's rapidly flushing cheeks and Trowa's warm eyes before exclaiming, "Finally!" Quatre openly gasped while Trowa's surprise was quiet. "So," I grinned, smiling widely. "who put the moves on who first?"

"Ano.... " was all Quatre said before Trowa stepped in. "What is it Duo." Geez, no formalities these days huh?

"Wha, and you think I'm just gonna let you -- "

" -- What is it." I paused, tilting my head a little to get a better look in the room before asking, "Is it safe to go in there?" Quatre simply 'oh'ed again before stepping aside, gesturing me in. And what a sight the room was. Thinking that both Quatre and Trowa were fairly organized and neat people was what threw me off guard. The room was a total mess! Maybe it was just the fact that Quatre and Trowa..... had...... maybe..... well, anyway! The beds were unmade, pillows discarded on the floor, extra clothing were .... probably thrown in every which way and from, books had fallen from the bookcase aganist the far wall, coffee was splattered and papers were strewn. I guess I *am* one of the neater pilots, after all.....

"Yare yare.... " I commented softly, a smirk still plastered on my features. Another blush rose from Quatre but Trowa was stone still. As always. Geez, he and Heero were *so* similar at times, it's scary!

"G-gomen nasai!" uttered Quatre quickly.

"For what?" I stepped further into the room, taking care not to disturb anything -- it wouldn't have mattered if I had anyway, seeing as though everything was already thrown around.

"Well, I, uh, for the messy state of the room -- it usually isn't this disorganized at all." I noticed a quick exchange of smiles and warm eyes that nearly made me gag. That's me, Duo the romantic. Right. So instead of feeling all warm and mushy inside I shrugged.

"So! What brings you here, Duo?" The blonde started to clear a spot on one of the beds, but I held out a hand to stop him. Who *knows* what might be.... *ahem,* lurking there. Quatre stopped, and blushed again. Sheesh, how many times can the kid *do* that?

"I actually came to see if you guys had found anything else new about the samples..... " Settling myself against the window, I held myself upright by pushing my hands palm-down in the windowsill. Hmm... these sills are a bit wider than those on *my* window....... easier to sneak out over here, that's for sure....

"Gomen, Duo, but this girl's strand of DNA is nothing like I've ever seen before," Quatre stated, an apologetic look on his face. He frowned a bit at the thought, then added, "demo, we also haven't had *all* that much time... "

"And what about the bluish stuff?" Trowa shrugged, but offered nothing more than a non-committal sound. Again I'm reminded of Heero. Hn.

"Nothing on that, either?" Quatre shook his head in confirmation.

"This puzzles me, hontou.... the components on the blue substance is of combinations that I've never seen or heard of -- not anything that's ever been thought to be of *existence.*"

"What do you mean?" I never was any good at science. All that stuff about neutrons and ions and atoms -- what place does all that have if all you do is blow stuff up anyway? Then again, Mr. Perfect Soldier probably knows all the elements on the friggin' table, seeing as though he makes his bombs from scratch. Maybe I should be taking an extra chem. class.... heh, yeah right.

"Well... for one, the combinations are never *consistant.*"

"Nani?" My eyebrows rose once more. Inwardly, I let out an exasperated sigh. Damn the natural reflexes of confusion!

"The combinations... they never are the same, even if my eyes never leave the microscope. The elements are constantly switching and rearranging themselves, causing different reactions to different kinda of circumstances.... I don't know what to make of it!" Quatre shook his head, index finger pressed to one temple.

"We at least know how the icicles were formed though," one-eyed boy volunteered. "The change in formulas and chemicals explains that this..... girl was basically surrounded with the elements and chemicals of water."

"Good 'ol H20 huh?" It was beginning to make sense. Damned if just *anybody* could create and shoot ice spears! "Did they inject something into her to give her this -- uh, ability?"

"We think it may have something to do with the way her DNA is composed -- it's definitely been damaged and messed around with...." I heard Quatre trail off, so apparently that was all they knew. Far more than what I could've figured out. Call me up for action any day, but any of that bookish stuff... those snot bubbles would appear.

"That's all we have for now, Duo -- to be honest, I didn't think that this type of mission was something us Gumdam pilots were assigned for."

"Well, if it's to prevent and demolish war and to protect the peace... then I guess we're the perfect team, neh?" I smiled, making my way out the door. "Don't worry too much and we'll have this mission wrapped up in no time!" I was walking down the hall, waving a hand at the pair when I felt the hair on my neck stand up.

I back-tracked a few steps, until I could see Quatre and Trowa in through the doorway. "Did... you guys just feel anything?" A quizzical look appeared on Quatre's face, and as always Trowa's was indifferent.

"What do you mean?" I blinked, then shrugged it off.

"It's nothing, I guess. Just a chill, maybe... " I muttered before turning away. Must be a draft someplace... I'll hafta talk to Heero about why he chose a school with holes in the walls for cryin' out loud! I get to pick the school next time.... sheesh.

I had just placed my hand of the doorknob to the room which Heero and I shared when I heard a muffled curse come from within the door. Then a shuffle and another curse let out, and I recognized it to be my roomie's voice. Without another thought my gun was out as I kicked the door open, feeling all the little hairs rise on my neck once more.

Just as I kicked the door open, a gust of wind knocked me back into the wall, gun flying out of my hands. I looked up just in time to see Heero sailing out through the pane of glass, and a figure with silver hair. I grabbed the gun and took aim from my position on the floor, shouting for the others when the door slammed shut a moment later. Needless to say I pounded on the door a few times, before I muttered a quiet "screw this" and shot the damn lock off. There goes the secrecy, flying out the window, just like my buddy had.

When I entered the room the figure was gone, and all that was left were shattered bits of glass and a faint chill in the air.

It wasn't as chilling as the sound Heero made when he hit the pavement, though.

*Owari Chapter Four*

Kitty's Note: Mwhaha.... mwhahahah............ BWHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!! Gomen, I made Duo's thoughts a little bit more serious this time around.... but hey, wouldn't you be too if you blew away some naked chick's head? Ano, never mind..... but I hope this one was to everyone's satisfaction, although it was kind of a filler and (I hope!) a bit of a thriller too... but, please review and tell me what you think, I really suck at fight scenes, this is my first try at 'em too... yare yare. Oh, and also, is Quatre a coffee person or a tea person?? Please either e-mail the correct to me or tell me in an review -- thanks again for reading!

Arigato Maxine for the spelling! If you've read this over, I've already changed it ^_~