Chapter Five

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

Chapter Five

I really wish I had been focused on finding Heero.

~*~*~*~*~*~

My world began to hurt. I don't know if it was the fact that I was slammed against the wall, or the thought that Heero had fallen away like that. No way could anyone take out the Perfect Soldier. There was just no way -- and to get away without so much as a scratch? My eyes kept running over the entire scene, both in my mind and as I searched the room we shared.

The bastard wasn't here long.... A few books were toppled over, papers scattered, and the infamous laptop was hanging by a wire from the desk. I looked back over to the window and saw the shattered pieces of glass, some on the floor, bits still in the window frame.

I don't know why I didn't run over to check him out. Maybe I didn't wanna see the mangled body lying in a heap of lifeless bones and flesh, maybe I just didn't wanna acknowledge the fact. I felt my heart twist painfully, not quite the aching roar is should have been, but a dull pain, as if I couldn't quite believe. No one could have survived that fall, from all those stories up.... we were just up too high and Heero, although he *had* jumped outta other pretty tall buildings before, he wasn't prepared for this one and didn't jump on his own accord.... there's a difference between jumping out and being pushed.

But... where had the assailant gone?

I heard a dull commotion from behind me. Two figures ran past either side of me, one with a beretta, and another with a katana. I dimly noticed the taller figure with the gun rush to the window, while the other kicked open the closet and bathroom doors.

"Duo!" Suddenly Quatre was in front of me, shaking my shoulders. "Daijoubu ka?!" I was dimly aware of his hands. A worried and frantic look adorned his features, but I didn't care. Only one thought ran over in my mind.

He's gone...

"Where is he." Trowa interrogated from the window, gun still cocked incase something managed to catch his eyes.

"The assailant is gone." I looked to Wufei, who's face was twisted with contempt. I could just see the wheel in his head turn. How cowardly...

"No, Wufei -- where is Heero?"

"Nani?" I sharply turned my head, gaze focused on the usually silent boy. A spark of anger flared, then receded. "He...... fell...... " I managed to utter. "He's..... " No, he *can't* be!

"I am aware of that but where is he." His words still weren't processing correctly in my mind.

Suddenly I became very angry.

"What do you mean 'where is he'!" I spat out. I felt my legs take me over to the shattered glass, pointing out the window. "He's fucking *splattered* on the -- " I couldn't find any words.

There was nothing. Not a trace of him. My eyes quickly scanned the pavement, looking for *any* sign of Heero -- but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Not a drop of blood, a piece of torn cloth, a gun twin to my own -- nothing! I turned back to the guys, disbelief in my eyes.

"But....... d-demo -- "

"Maxwell, pull yourself together." I directed my attention back to the Chinese teen. "Don't be so damn weak."

"Duo, please try to calm down so we can assess the situation," Quatre pleaded quietly. I thanked him for his tact. His blue eyes caught mine, and I for some reason I quieted. Sensing my calm he assumed the position of leader. "Wufei -- you and I will go outside and search for Heero -- he might have been able to soften his fall somehow, but he still could be injured. We don't know exactly for sure what happened, but we do know that Heero is not yet dead." Not yet.... "Trowa, you'll stay with Duo and check out the building, in case the assailant has not made his escape. Also, direct any students whom may still be occupying the dorms." I idly wondered what other students would still be doing here in the middle of the day but then I remembered. It was the first day of spring break, and class had ended a few hours early.

Great, now we gotta look out for civilians.

"We'll meet up when someone's found something." A disgruntled sound of agreement issued from Trowa, as well as Wufei. Without any other words, I watched as Quatre and Wufei disappeared down the hall.

"Come on Duo -- let's go find that assassin," Trowa glanced at me with a grim expression before stepping into the hallway, berretta stowed away under the cuff of his sleeves.

Get it together, Duo -- he's still *alive.* I shook my head again. Yeah I should be worried....... but should I be worried like this? It's almost as if...... just then I heard Trowa call my name. Jerking my head in his direction, I couldn't believe the irritation that started to seep in, all because he had managed to crash my train of thought.

Stay focused! I reprimanded myself. Go find Heero... and the bastard that attacked him.

That's when I felt it again -- not the hair on the back of my neck, but something else..... a weird shock was coursing through me, and then a sly grin on my lips. And that's when it hit me -- there was something..... stirring.......... *waking*................... but I ignored it anyway, focusing on the only thing that mattered.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I really wish I had been focused on finding Heero.

Well, wishing doesn't do you any good when you find yourself alone without a weapon at your disposal. Not to mention your friend is on the floor, struggling to stop the blood that keeps flowing from his head, *and* stay concious at the same time. Oh, and did I mention some psycho kid with knives and firearms and other weird stuff keeps pinning you and your friend down with a murderous stare?

I'm surprised Trowa didn't pass out from the glare that could match even *Heero's.* I froze uneasily as the kid with dark hair pinned his glare on Trowa.

Wait a minute... dark....... hair? I took a moment to calm myself which was a *big* accomplishment, considering Heero had gone flying out the window a few minutes ago and Trowa here was lying in a pool of his own blood. Go me.

"W-who are..... you," I managed to mutter, despite the pressure against my throat. I guess I was shoving aside the crushing feeling, eh? Another point for me. "You look........ before -- " Sad to say but my efforts were denied -- the friggin' bastard ignored me. His hidden gaze was still focused on Trowa.

"Stay out of this, human. You have no place with him," a low, steady voice growled. Trowa only glared back, but I could tell his vision was getting fuzzy. Blood loss from any area, especially the head, will do that to you.

The funny thing was, I had suffered no injury, yet here I was stone still. I hadn't even tried to move. C'mon, what the hell is wrong with you help Trowa out! I could feel something straining and pleading, but I shook my head. Just when I thought I was loosing my mind, a misty figure appeared next to the guy with dark hair, placing a hand on his shoulder. Yeah, as if *that* didn't dispel my confusion. The only thing that kept me somewhat sane was the anger I felt once I recognized this newcomer.

"Y-you......... " Move legs move! I felt another voice was calling, and it cheered me on. That's it, push against the wall, you can do it, it's not that hard.... Whatever it was, it wasn't Trowa though. Glancing over at him, I noticed he had passed out from the blood loss. Aw shit...

I guess my brave little effort actually caught their attention. That's when I recognized them both.

"You're..... you guys are the ones that were talking in the hall the other day," I muttered. I remembered running past them, trying to catch up with Heero the day we left for the swipe-the-computer-that-isn't-what-it-seems-main-frame mission. Both were dressed in school uniforms, but I didn't ever recall seeing them before that day; the petite girl with long, silver hair -- the silent guy whose dark hair fell over his eyes. Both were conversing and skipping class that day and both were students I had never noticed before. Not to say that I know *everything*... but I'm not the shyest kid in town.

"What the hell did you do to Heero!" I pinned my glare on the strange girl, gritting my teeth. Boy, just the sight of her was pissing me off to no end. I attempted a Yuy Death Glare, but to no avail. I guess I must've come off looking kinda pathetic because the guy smirked while the girl looked at me with sad eyes. If it's one thing I hate, it's being laughed at.

"Well, you gonna answer me or you gonna wait for me to beat it outta yah." Whoo, points for me. I managed to stand without the help of the wall.

"There is no need to be so rude about it, otouto-san." Younger brother? I blinked at the dark hair guy. Whoa, I'm dealing with a buncha *psychos* now....

"Just tell me where the hell Heero is, and get your asses outta here -- " Just then the girl stepped forward in my direction, after gracing Trowa with a look of ... sympathy? She shook her head once before saying, "Ikari-niisan, please restrain him." Her voice rolled over my senses, reminding me of wind chimes. Before I could even take a step in Trowa's direction to fend off any attacks I felt another chill in the air, and froze in mid-step. A cold front pressed at me.

"Do not move, ani-san." She turned her gaze upon me, eyes piercing through mine. Her eyes were a beautiful crystalline blue, but they seem a bit lonely and... hollow? It's almost as if they aren't... there.....

So, I'm related to this psycho-chick too? Her older brother? The family that I've never had.... heh.

"This one is starting to stir and, I'm afraid, would cause more trouble." She gestured to Trowa with a slender pale hand. "Ikari-niisan, if you please." A sharp nod confirmed her request and suddenly Trowa in a vice made of.... branches?

What the -- *branches?!*"You expect to hold back Trowa with *branches?!" I scoffed at the thought, then stopped. Matte.... choco matte -- branches? Sure enough I glanced over at Trowa once more, and noticed he was surrounded in a sea of brown and green. Leaves to soften... but why?

"Our intent is not anything *but* peaceful." I redirected my attention back to the girl with silver hair.

"Could've fooled me," I muttered. "Then why did you chuck Heero out the window a few minutes ago?" Her smooth features cringed at my sneer. Score one for me.

"He... was not being very cooperative." She sighed before switching the topic. "Do you not recognize us?" I paused. Yeah, now that you mention it.... other than a few days ago...

".... I'm not sure." What did *that* matter anyway? A few feet away I heard a low groan. "Just tell me what you want."

"We're here to take you home." This time *both* my eyesbrows were cranked to my hairline.

"Nani?" Wow, I *am* dealing with a buncha nutcrackers. These guys were off their rockers. "You want to what?"

"We *need* to take you home," silent-broody-guy corrected. He removed his eyes from Trowa and focused on me again. Oooh... those are some pretty intimidating brownie eyes.......

"Home? Look -- " I gestured to Trowa. "You guys beat up my friends, and want to take me 'home' afterwards?" I shook my head, crossing my arms. Not too smart of a move, considering I felt as though my head was going to explode. "No way in hell am I gonna go, not until you start explaining -- "

"You do not belong in this world in this form, otouto Shinigami." *That* made me freeze up all the more. Shinigami... that is..... "You have strayed from your true duties far too long." There was a sterness, almost a reprimanding tone in his low voice. Who was *he* to reprimand *me?!*

"Onegai, kikyuu ienikaeru," chime-girl-who-claims-to-be-my-sister demanded quietly. Her crystalline eyes meet mine again and for a moment, all I can remember are furious arguments of protest. I blink the memory away. Memory.... is that it?

"You guys are nuts." Another great comeback. Gonna hafta write that one down. "You want to stow me away just cuz you think I'm your *otouto?*" I scoffed. These guys were too weird.

"Look, jest tell me what you did with Heero and you guys can be on your way back to whatever little hell you came from -- " I began to make my way over to Trowa again, but this time that Ikari guy stepped in my way. We were standing face-to.... well, chest. I just happen to be the shortest guy in the world, *damn* my genes!

"I see that you are still the same ignorant fool!" I actually stepped back and blinked at his words. "You haven't changed at all -- you and your damn selfish needs!" And then the voices... started... screaming.......... in... and...

**You can't possibly try to lea --

-- it's madness --

-- No, we have a rene -- on the run we must --

-- can't you see what --

-- why are you doing this it isn't the way of -- come back you -- **

Was it all a memory? Or maybe.... perhaps a dream....

**I've always been aware of it, ever since... my days with Father Maxwell and Sister Helen... **

The voices.... all around... I couldn't see a thing, my knees gave way.... all there was was pitch blackness... but in the madness of the shouts and the screams I felt a calmness fill me.... like a void was being filled, a cold, cruel, calculating void.... and I felt something..... move. I don't know how to explain it, there as a cool electricity flowing... somewhere............ and ......... it laughed.

**But if there was peace, then Shinigami wouldn't exist**

"URUSAI!" I opened my eyes, not taking in anything before me. I could feel something slipping away... but that didn't matter. They wouldn't leave me alone. None of them would understand.

**I have my ways of turning thoughts and the flow of blood....

For I am .... **

*Owari Chapter Five*

Kitty's Mewling: Aaah!! Gomen nasai, this chapter really didn't make much sense... it was too rushed.... and it kinda blows chunks... but I guess that's for you the reader (and hopefully reviewer! =) decided! Again, Duo's thoughts were still a bit too serious for my taste.... and I'm not sure if I portrayed the little flashbacks and voices and all the craziness in Duo's mind well enough -- any pointers anyone? I'm just a lowly beginner trying to make a start ^_^ On another note, sorry this chapter's a bit short, and a bit crappy, and *also* I won't be updating for quite awhile... maybe another two weeks? But anywho, thanks for reading! And thanks again Maxine for the spelling! =^..^=

And as for the Japanese... I hope I didn't screw that up too much! Tell me if I did something wrong, please? =) Maybe I should start putting a key in.... mou!

Diajoubu ka? - Are you alright?

Diajoubu - I'm alright

Otouto - younger brother

Ani-san - older brother

Nii-san - eldest brother

Onegai - please

Matte - wait

Choco matte - wait a sec/moment

Kikyuu ienikaeru - something like "come home"

Kuso - equivulant of "shit"

Dame - No

Ite - feeling of hurt (?)

Baka - general insult, such as idiot, stupid, dolt....

Kisama - you bastard! (Wu-man style! ^_^)

Ja ne! - See ya! ^_^