Title: Rivals 19
Author: Canisa
Pairing: various for now (13+6, 6+1, 5+2, meiran+5, 3+4/4+3, R+1), but leading to 1+2/2+1, my favorite paring! ^__^
Warning : shounen-ai, AU (no gundam!!!) a bit angst.
Note: Gundam Wing is not mine. I am writing this for my own enjoyment. No profit is being made.
Chapter 19 -- "It's something that I cannot help myself"---
How could he have missed it? It was there all along. The silky chestnut hair. That cheerful, cocky smile. And most of all, that pair of animated violet eyes.
Oh yes, the eyes. They might have been tainted slightly with a hint of blue but it was still nevertheless almost the same shade..
Who else could he be?
He was only denying his true identity.
When Heero introduced him, the young youth had already made a strong impression on him, threatening to reopen the things that he had tugged it away a long long time ago. But he had squashed them down, going against his instinct.
He did not want to hear the inner voice that was whispering him the truth.
He had known it all along, deep inside him. But he did not want to face it. He wanted to forget. Wanted to forget the past.
Wanted to forget him.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Milliardo Peacecraft screamed.
He frantically pulled off the needles from his forearm. He did not notice his blood dripping down the needles as he tried to get off the bed. But as soon as his feet landed on the floor, his knees went weak and fell on the floor. Milliardo bit down his lips, suppressing a scream of pain in the back of his throat.
"Onii-chan!!!"
"Get away from me." Milliardo shook away his sister's hand from his shoulder. "I have to go after him. I have to..."
"Where are you going?"
Milliardo lifted his head up, just in time to see Treize stood by the door. Though the doctor's voice was still as placid as he usually was, his widened eyes betrayed his true words.
"Treize...." Milliardo panted, his palms on the floor as he struggled to get up.
Seeing this, Treize quickly knelt next to his patient, supporting the young man. "You should be back on the bed."
"Treize.." Milliardo placed his hand on his supporter's shoulder. "I have to go after him before it's too late. . I know him. I know he had tried so many times before. I know it even if he did not say anything......" Milliardo winced in pain as he felt the sharp pain in his chest.
"You are not in any condition to do anything." The doctor carefully not to raise his voice but even himself could hear the sharp edge of his tone. "The thing you need the most is to rest...."
"NO!!!" Milliardo suddenly screamed, his nails dug into the doctor's arm. "Treize, you have to take me to him. He is going to do something stupid. I know that tone. I know that expression."
Treize sighed slightly. "Zechs, I will go to him." He helped his patient up. "Tell me where he is going. You have to rest. I will take care of this for you."
"NO." Milliardo frantically grabbed the doctor's collar. "I have to go see him. I have to save him. Take me there. I need to be there. I can't see another I love die!"
Treize could see the resolution in his patient's eyes. Even with that weak body, Zechs meant what he said. "All right." He whispered.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Duo Maxwell shut his eyes tight.
There really wasn't anything he could do. He couldn't really run away, because that would be just too pathetic. He couldn't use his usual charm to get out of this situation, because it would probably just aggravate Heero's father even more. And in case that Mr. Yuy decided to beat him down to a puddle of pulp, Duo knew that he couldn't really fight back even if he had the capibility.
So really, the only thing he could do was to shut his eyes and subjected himself to the mercy of Mr. Yuy.
But nothing came.
There was no yelling or screaming.
There was no punching or kicking.
It was just silence.
It was like the whole world had stopped...
"Perhaps this was God's way of telling me what I did was wrong."
Eh?
Duo Maxwell snapped his eyes open as soon as he heard the whisper from Heero's father. To his surprise, he caught a glimpse of Mr. Yuy's unusual expression.
Was he starting to see things or did he really see lament on Mr. Yuy's face?
But Duo did not have time to think twice because the next thing he knew, he saw a stern look started to gather up on Mr. Yuy's face. Duo slightly backed away.
To say that Heero's glare was lethal was totally an understatement.
Heero's father was definitely much scarier than that. Heero's glare was better be described as indifference but the father's definitely had a malicious tone in it. It was as if Mr. Yuy was saying, 'come nearer and I will bite your head off.'
"Maxwell."
Duo could almost taste the hatred in the voice.
"How dare you show up before me and Heero. How dare you lie and mock us."
Mr.Yuy stepped forward and Duo responded by backing away until his back was against the cold smooth car. Mr. Yuy wasted no time as he grabbed onto Duo's T-shirt. He leaned close to the terrified young man.
Mr. Yuy was so close that Duo could smell the cologon emitted from Mr. Yuy's fresh ironed suit.
"Mr. Yuy...." Duo choked out the word as the collar around his neck because tight and dug into his neck.
Mr. Yuy roughly pushed and released Duo, causing the young man to slam against his car.
"Don't ever show your face again. Not in front of Heero and especially not in front of me." Mr. Yuy left Duo cough as he walked around the car and opened the driver's door. Before he got into the car, he directed his eyes at Duo again. "You got that. Don't come near my family."
"Can't ...." Duo coughed. "...can't...do that."
"What?" Mr. Yuy raised his eyebrow slightly. He got out of the car and slammed the door shut.
"I can't do that, Sir." Duo faced Mr. Yuy fearless as he walked around the car as well. The fact that Mr. Yuy towered over him by almost a foot did not itimidate him at all. "I understand what your family went through. I am sorry that Heero's grandfather died. But it was not entirely my grandfather's fault."
Mr. Yuy pressed his lips, anger was visible by the way his eyes hardened.
"And....." Duo took in a deep breath. "And.. most important of all..." Duo looked straight up into Mr. Yuy's cold blue eyes fearlessly and then suddenly he smiled. "Because I love Heero.... I love your son... It's something that I cannot help myself...."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Yo! Koichi!"
What?
"What'cha doing there?"
Study.
"Heh.... I didn't know a person like you need to study like the rest of us. Ya know, the normal, common people?"
Shut up.
"Ha ha. Whatever. So when you finish it, you gonna let me copy it this time right?"
No.
"Ohhhhhhh. Com'on. We are buddies! heck, we grew up together. How many times do I need to beg you before you let me copy your incredible, supreme work? It's our senior year! light up! We are not supposed to be doing any work!"
If you don't do it yourself, you can't learn.
"Argh. Stop talking like my dad okay? I don't want to do those science shit like him. I don't want to design a machine. I just want to be a mechanic. I like fixing stuff ya know? Those theories, formulas are just so boring and way above me. I like the hands-on stuff. I like to get my hands dirty ya know? Nothing excites me than to fix up an old motorcycle!"
Nothing?
"Well... yeah... besides... er.. yeah......"
Spit it out.
"Hey, I can't believe I am telling you this... but, you know that new transfer girl sitting next to the window? Shit, she is some piece of work."
Hilde?
"Yeah.....you see what I mean? I mean, she is so god damn cute, and smart...and beautiful...She is like... she is like the girl version of you! Perfection ya know? You think if I ask her out, she would say yes?"
......
"Oh... what's that face? You look more like a rock than you usually are. You jealous? Hey man, don't tell me you are in to her too. I mean....."
.....She would say yes.
"Really? Ya think so? Hey, you gonna help me on this or not?"
No.
"Oh.. Com'on Koichi! How many times did I help you to turn away those annoying fan girls of yours? Heck, I even went as far to kiss you that one time to get rid of that psycho for you. You know that practically would ruin my repuation if that girl didn't transfer out of here? You owe me this one, man. And ya know it. Paid up!"
......
"Com'on. Just this once. I never felt like this before. I think this time.. I am in love. You know that feeling? It's something that I cannot help myself...."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Heero Yuy paid off the taxi driver. He closed the door and walked into the park without even waiting for the taxi driver to give him back the change.
Things like that did not matter too much any more now.
Heero paced down the little paved road. The saltiness could already be smelled in the air. The sun was almost set. Half of the sky had already turned a beautiful dark blue. There were very few people in the park now. Most of the visitors would come here for picnic because at the end of this park there was a very nice cliff that overlooked the ocean few hundred feet down below.
Perhaps it was the japanese blood in him that made him particularly loved this place. He and Milliardo used to spend quite a few good quiet days on the cliff, doing nothing but listening to the waves's soothing sound.
Heero inhaled. He could hear the waves now. They were as usual, relentlessly pounding and pounding against the rocks down below. The sound was rhythmic, whispering and chanting.
Heero walked on.
It was calling to him
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"You are too young to know what love is." Mr. Yuy glared. "I will only tell you one last time. Stay. Away."
"How can you be so stubborn. I don't believe an intelligent man like you would really think that it's my grandfather who killed your father." Duo was raged now. He did not scream or yell. He simply stared boldly at Mr. Yuy with resolution. "Don't be blaming on my family for your not being there when Heero and his grandfather needed you the most." Duo spoke calmly. "It's irrational. And you know it."
Mr. Yuy eyes narrowed as he swiftly grabbed onto Duo's collar again, this time even rougher.
"Watch your mouth kid... you..."
"Koichi. That's enough."
Recognizing the voice, Duo turned in surprise. "Coach!!"
"Koichi. I think I want you to let go of my star swimming athlete. I kind of need him to win the national."
"Hey, is that what I am to you, just something you can use to win the National?" Duo relaxed, seeing that his coach is coming to his rescue.
Mr. Yuy let go Duo and faced the coach. He was surprised that someone would know his name. No one besides his wife has ever called that by that name any more. "Who are you?"
Odin smirked. He ignored Mr. Yuy as he waved Duo over. "Go to the hospital now to meet up with Heero. Sally will take you."
"That's okay coach." Duo felt the redness around his neck as he looked back at Mr. Yuy. His cocky smile returned at the corner of his mouth. "I want to sort things out once and for all with him."
"Duo, for all I know, even at his age, Koichi can squash you like a little bug any time." Odin walked over to Duo and yanked him away from Mr. Yuy. "The last time I checked, he still goes to Gyms and Doujos to polish up his skills. Go, Sally will take you to the hospital to meet up with Heero."
"No coach, I need to solve things now, or I will never be able to see Heero."
"Idiot." He lightly smacked Duo's head. "He missed your competition. Something fishy is going on there. I think you'd better get going. Let me handle this situation."
"Heero...." Duo hesitated, fully realized what Odin was saying. He was going to turn to find Sally but stopped. "But coach... " He eyed at Mr. Yuy uncertainly.
"Just go." Odin smirked. "Koichi and I are old pals. WE needed a chat anyway."
Duo nodded. "Good luck coach. In case your old bones don't make it today, I'll miss you." Duo grinned.
"Brat." Odin was a bit too late to grab onto the silppery young man as he ran toward Sally.
"Who are you?" Mr. Yuy narrowed his eyes. Annoyance was clearly shown on his handsome face. Apparently this coach knew him. But Mr. Yuy could not place his face anywhere.
Odin turned his attention back to Mr. Yuy, the corner of his mouth slightly lifted. "Let's just say that we have a common friend."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"How sure are you that he is going there." Treize asked as he shifted to 4th gear.
"That's the only possible place..." Milliardo leaned against the seat painfully. "Before he left the room, he muttered about that he should have died that day." Milliardo panted, feeling the pain in his chest increased. "He almost drown when he was young. I am sure he was referring to that day. And this is the only place he knew.... "
Treize was silent. His eyes watched the road but his mind was spinning. Somehow, this conversation reminded him of a previous one that they had.
//"Then why ask me if you could swim again?"//
//"Because swimming is a necessity."//
"Is that why you told me that swimming is essential?" Treize let out the question as casually as he possibly could. "Because your lover almost drowned?"
Millardo closed his eyes.
Treize's fingers dug into the stickshift and shifted it to 5th gear. The car responded beautifully as it accelerated to a higher speed.
Just as Treize thought Milliardo was not going to answer him the question. He heard the whisper.
"I couldn't save him back then" Milliardo kept his eyes closed. "....I couldn't save the one I loved the most even if I witnessed his fall that day....but the ironic thing is... instead of me, it was my sister, who hated him the most, did save him....."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"What did you say? Are you telling me the truth?" Duo shouted as he shook the already limp girl on the floor.
"Duo!" Sally emerged at the door, a little bit frantic. "I just confirmed with the nurses. They said there was a big commotion around that time in the room." Sally paused, trying to smooth her heaving breathing. "We need to find him..."
"Shit!" Duo cursed as he picked up the girl. "He is not going to do that... He is not going to drown himself!!!" Duo shook the girl again. "You know where the fuck he is going?" Seeing that the gril did not respond, Duo tapped on the girl's heek. "Com'on. Tell me where he is heading!!"
"The park....." Dazed, the girl blurted out the words.
"All right. You are coming with us." Duo declared as he dragged the girl out of the door. "Sally! Get the car!!"
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"The trail will take us to the end of the cliff." Milliardo pointed as he stepped out of the car with Treize's help.
"You should stay here. I will find him and bring him back." Treize said calmly. He knew that every step his patient took was giving him tremendous pain.
"I am all right." Milliardo panted once again and the familiar chest pain accompanied. "We can't waste anytime, help me to get there."
Treize reluctantly nodded as he put Milliardo's arm over his shoulder and walked toward the trail.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*--*
"Com'on Sally. I know you are a speed-demon!! Let's move this junk!" Duo impatiently tapped the dashboard. "Oh god, I hope he is not going to do anything stupid. That idiot.... That... that moron!!!!"
Sally stepped on the gas. "We will make it." Sally assured as she skillfully maneuvered the car though the traffic. "Duo, we will make it."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*_*
As soon as they emerged out of the tree lines of the trail, Milliardo immediately spotted a lonesome figure stood at the tip of the cliff.
Treize looked up and saw him too. He quickened their pace. He did not like it at all. The person was standing too far out. Any little disturbance would have tipped him over.... "We have to hurry....."
Before Treize could complete his word, the figure leapt off the cliff.
"NO!!!" Milliardo screamed. He struggled to run to the cliff, intending to follow.
Treize's instinct was the same too, as he was rushing toward the cliff. But just as he was going to jump after the person, he realized that Miliardo had the same intention. So instead of jumping, he held onto Milliardo. "Stop, Zechs. This is suicidal." Treize tried his best to speak calmly to Zechs. "Calm down, Zechs. In your condition you can't possibly save him. Let me..."
"No!!!! I have to do this!!!" Millardo struggled even harder.
Treize slapped him, hard on the cheek. "Look, I am going down there. I am doing this for you. You got that? I will bring him back for you. The longer we spend time arguing, the less chance he will have down there. Do you understand, Zechs?"
Milliardo sank down on the ground.
Seeing that Milliardo understand and would not jump after him, Treize twisted out his jacket quickly and jumped without even a single sign of hesitation.
As soon as he was in the air, the thought of why he got the courage to leap of the cliff like that suddenly made it to his consciousness.
"I love him......" Treize smiled bitterly as the truth finally hit him. " It's something that I cannot help myself...."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
TBC
Author: Canisa
Pairing: various for now (13+6, 6+1, 5+2, meiran+5, 3+4/4+3, R+1), but leading to 1+2/2+1, my favorite paring! ^__^
Warning : shounen-ai, AU (no gundam!!!) a bit angst.
Note: Gundam Wing is not mine. I am writing this for my own enjoyment. No profit is being made.
Chapter 19 -- "It's something that I cannot help myself"---
How could he have missed it? It was there all along. The silky chestnut hair. That cheerful, cocky smile. And most of all, that pair of animated violet eyes.
Oh yes, the eyes. They might have been tainted slightly with a hint of blue but it was still nevertheless almost the same shade..
Who else could he be?
He was only denying his true identity.
When Heero introduced him, the young youth had already made a strong impression on him, threatening to reopen the things that he had tugged it away a long long time ago. But he had squashed them down, going against his instinct.
He did not want to hear the inner voice that was whispering him the truth.
He had known it all along, deep inside him. But he did not want to face it. He wanted to forget. Wanted to forget the past.
Wanted to forget him.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Milliardo Peacecraft screamed.
He frantically pulled off the needles from his forearm. He did not notice his blood dripping down the needles as he tried to get off the bed. But as soon as his feet landed on the floor, his knees went weak and fell on the floor. Milliardo bit down his lips, suppressing a scream of pain in the back of his throat.
"Onii-chan!!!"
"Get away from me." Milliardo shook away his sister's hand from his shoulder. "I have to go after him. I have to..."
"Where are you going?"
Milliardo lifted his head up, just in time to see Treize stood by the door. Though the doctor's voice was still as placid as he usually was, his widened eyes betrayed his true words.
"Treize...." Milliardo panted, his palms on the floor as he struggled to get up.
Seeing this, Treize quickly knelt next to his patient, supporting the young man. "You should be back on the bed."
"Treize.." Milliardo placed his hand on his supporter's shoulder. "I have to go after him before it's too late. . I know him. I know he had tried so many times before. I know it even if he did not say anything......" Milliardo winced in pain as he felt the sharp pain in his chest.
"You are not in any condition to do anything." The doctor carefully not to raise his voice but even himself could hear the sharp edge of his tone. "The thing you need the most is to rest...."
"NO!!!" Milliardo suddenly screamed, his nails dug into the doctor's arm. "Treize, you have to take me to him. He is going to do something stupid. I know that tone. I know that expression."
Treize sighed slightly. "Zechs, I will go to him." He helped his patient up. "Tell me where he is going. You have to rest. I will take care of this for you."
"NO." Milliardo frantically grabbed the doctor's collar. "I have to go see him. I have to save him. Take me there. I need to be there. I can't see another I love die!"
Treize could see the resolution in his patient's eyes. Even with that weak body, Zechs meant what he said. "All right." He whispered.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Duo Maxwell shut his eyes tight.
There really wasn't anything he could do. He couldn't really run away, because that would be just too pathetic. He couldn't use his usual charm to get out of this situation, because it would probably just aggravate Heero's father even more. And in case that Mr. Yuy decided to beat him down to a puddle of pulp, Duo knew that he couldn't really fight back even if he had the capibility.
So really, the only thing he could do was to shut his eyes and subjected himself to the mercy of Mr. Yuy.
But nothing came.
There was no yelling or screaming.
There was no punching or kicking.
It was just silence.
It was like the whole world had stopped...
"Perhaps this was God's way of telling me what I did was wrong."
Eh?
Duo Maxwell snapped his eyes open as soon as he heard the whisper from Heero's father. To his surprise, he caught a glimpse of Mr. Yuy's unusual expression.
Was he starting to see things or did he really see lament on Mr. Yuy's face?
But Duo did not have time to think twice because the next thing he knew, he saw a stern look started to gather up on Mr. Yuy's face. Duo slightly backed away.
To say that Heero's glare was lethal was totally an understatement.
Heero's father was definitely much scarier than that. Heero's glare was better be described as indifference but the father's definitely had a malicious tone in it. It was as if Mr. Yuy was saying, 'come nearer and I will bite your head off.'
"Maxwell."
Duo could almost taste the hatred in the voice.
"How dare you show up before me and Heero. How dare you lie and mock us."
Mr.Yuy stepped forward and Duo responded by backing away until his back was against the cold smooth car. Mr. Yuy wasted no time as he grabbed onto Duo's T-shirt. He leaned close to the terrified young man.
Mr. Yuy was so close that Duo could smell the cologon emitted from Mr. Yuy's fresh ironed suit.
"Mr. Yuy...." Duo choked out the word as the collar around his neck because tight and dug into his neck.
Mr. Yuy roughly pushed and released Duo, causing the young man to slam against his car.
"Don't ever show your face again. Not in front of Heero and especially not in front of me." Mr. Yuy left Duo cough as he walked around the car and opened the driver's door. Before he got into the car, he directed his eyes at Duo again. "You got that. Don't come near my family."
"Can't ...." Duo coughed. "...can't...do that."
"What?" Mr. Yuy raised his eyebrow slightly. He got out of the car and slammed the door shut.
"I can't do that, Sir." Duo faced Mr. Yuy fearless as he walked around the car as well. The fact that Mr. Yuy towered over him by almost a foot did not itimidate him at all. "I understand what your family went through. I am sorry that Heero's grandfather died. But it was not entirely my grandfather's fault."
Mr. Yuy pressed his lips, anger was visible by the way his eyes hardened.
"And....." Duo took in a deep breath. "And.. most important of all..." Duo looked straight up into Mr. Yuy's cold blue eyes fearlessly and then suddenly he smiled. "Because I love Heero.... I love your son... It's something that I cannot help myself...."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"Yo! Koichi!"
What?
"What'cha doing there?"
Study.
"Heh.... I didn't know a person like you need to study like the rest of us. Ya know, the normal, common people?"
Shut up.
"Ha ha. Whatever. So when you finish it, you gonna let me copy it this time right?"
No.
"Ohhhhhhh. Com'on. We are buddies! heck, we grew up together. How many times do I need to beg you before you let me copy your incredible, supreme work? It's our senior year! light up! We are not supposed to be doing any work!"
If you don't do it yourself, you can't learn.
"Argh. Stop talking like my dad okay? I don't want to do those science shit like him. I don't want to design a machine. I just want to be a mechanic. I like fixing stuff ya know? Those theories, formulas are just so boring and way above me. I like the hands-on stuff. I like to get my hands dirty ya know? Nothing excites me than to fix up an old motorcycle!"
Nothing?
"Well... yeah... besides... er.. yeah......"
Spit it out.
"Hey, I can't believe I am telling you this... but, you know that new transfer girl sitting next to the window? Shit, she is some piece of work."
Hilde?
"Yeah.....you see what I mean? I mean, she is so god damn cute, and smart...and beautiful...She is like... she is like the girl version of you! Perfection ya know? You think if I ask her out, she would say yes?"
......
"Oh... what's that face? You look more like a rock than you usually are. You jealous? Hey man, don't tell me you are in to her too. I mean....."
.....She would say yes.
"Really? Ya think so? Hey, you gonna help me on this or not?"
No.
"Oh.. Com'on Koichi! How many times did I help you to turn away those annoying fan girls of yours? Heck, I even went as far to kiss you that one time to get rid of that psycho for you. You know that practically would ruin my repuation if that girl didn't transfer out of here? You owe me this one, man. And ya know it. Paid up!"
......
"Com'on. Just this once. I never felt like this before. I think this time.. I am in love. You know that feeling? It's something that I cannot help myself...."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Heero Yuy paid off the taxi driver. He closed the door and walked into the park without even waiting for the taxi driver to give him back the change.
Things like that did not matter too much any more now.
Heero paced down the little paved road. The saltiness could already be smelled in the air. The sun was almost set. Half of the sky had already turned a beautiful dark blue. There were very few people in the park now. Most of the visitors would come here for picnic because at the end of this park there was a very nice cliff that overlooked the ocean few hundred feet down below.
Perhaps it was the japanese blood in him that made him particularly loved this place. He and Milliardo used to spend quite a few good quiet days on the cliff, doing nothing but listening to the waves's soothing sound.
Heero inhaled. He could hear the waves now. They were as usual, relentlessly pounding and pounding against the rocks down below. The sound was rhythmic, whispering and chanting.
Heero walked on.
It was calling to him
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"You are too young to know what love is." Mr. Yuy glared. "I will only tell you one last time. Stay. Away."
"How can you be so stubborn. I don't believe an intelligent man like you would really think that it's my grandfather who killed your father." Duo was raged now. He did not scream or yell. He simply stared boldly at Mr. Yuy with resolution. "Don't be blaming on my family for your not being there when Heero and his grandfather needed you the most." Duo spoke calmly. "It's irrational. And you know it."
Mr. Yuy eyes narrowed as he swiftly grabbed onto Duo's collar again, this time even rougher.
"Watch your mouth kid... you..."
"Koichi. That's enough."
Recognizing the voice, Duo turned in surprise. "Coach!!"
"Koichi. I think I want you to let go of my star swimming athlete. I kind of need him to win the national."
"Hey, is that what I am to you, just something you can use to win the National?" Duo relaxed, seeing that his coach is coming to his rescue.
Mr. Yuy let go Duo and faced the coach. He was surprised that someone would know his name. No one besides his wife has ever called that by that name any more. "Who are you?"
Odin smirked. He ignored Mr. Yuy as he waved Duo over. "Go to the hospital now to meet up with Heero. Sally will take you."
"That's okay coach." Duo felt the redness around his neck as he looked back at Mr. Yuy. His cocky smile returned at the corner of his mouth. "I want to sort things out once and for all with him."
"Duo, for all I know, even at his age, Koichi can squash you like a little bug any time." Odin walked over to Duo and yanked him away from Mr. Yuy. "The last time I checked, he still goes to Gyms and Doujos to polish up his skills. Go, Sally will take you to the hospital to meet up with Heero."
"No coach, I need to solve things now, or I will never be able to see Heero."
"Idiot." He lightly smacked Duo's head. "He missed your competition. Something fishy is going on there. I think you'd better get going. Let me handle this situation."
"Heero...." Duo hesitated, fully realized what Odin was saying. He was going to turn to find Sally but stopped. "But coach... " He eyed at Mr. Yuy uncertainly.
"Just go." Odin smirked. "Koichi and I are old pals. WE needed a chat anyway."
Duo nodded. "Good luck coach. In case your old bones don't make it today, I'll miss you." Duo grinned.
"Brat." Odin was a bit too late to grab onto the silppery young man as he ran toward Sally.
"Who are you?" Mr. Yuy narrowed his eyes. Annoyance was clearly shown on his handsome face. Apparently this coach knew him. But Mr. Yuy could not place his face anywhere.
Odin turned his attention back to Mr. Yuy, the corner of his mouth slightly lifted. "Let's just say that we have a common friend."
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"How sure are you that he is going there." Treize asked as he shifted to 4th gear.
"That's the only possible place..." Milliardo leaned against the seat painfully. "Before he left the room, he muttered about that he should have died that day." Milliardo panted, feeling the pain in his chest increased. "He almost drown when he was young. I am sure he was referring to that day. And this is the only place he knew.... "
Treize was silent. His eyes watched the road but his mind was spinning. Somehow, this conversation reminded him of a previous one that they had.
//"Then why ask me if you could swim again?"//
//"Because swimming is a necessity."//
"Is that why you told me that swimming is essential?" Treize let out the question as casually as he possibly could. "Because your lover almost drowned?"
Millardo closed his eyes.
Treize's fingers dug into the stickshift and shifted it to 5th gear. The car responded beautifully as it accelerated to a higher speed.
Just as Treize thought Milliardo was not going to answer him the question. He heard the whisper.
"I couldn't save him back then" Milliardo kept his eyes closed. "....I couldn't save the one I loved the most even if I witnessed his fall that day....but the ironic thing is... instead of me, it was my sister, who hated him the most, did save him....."
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"What did you say? Are you telling me the truth?" Duo shouted as he shook the already limp girl on the floor.
"Duo!" Sally emerged at the door, a little bit frantic. "I just confirmed with the nurses. They said there was a big commotion around that time in the room." Sally paused, trying to smooth her heaving breathing. "We need to find him..."
"Shit!" Duo cursed as he picked up the girl. "He is not going to do that... He is not going to drown himself!!!" Duo shook the girl again. "You know where the fuck he is going?" Seeing that the gril did not respond, Duo tapped on the girl's heek. "Com'on. Tell me where he is heading!!"
"The park....." Dazed, the girl blurted out the words.
"All right. You are coming with us." Duo declared as he dragged the girl out of the door. "Sally! Get the car!!"
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"The trail will take us to the end of the cliff." Milliardo pointed as he stepped out of the car with Treize's help.
"You should stay here. I will find him and bring him back." Treize said calmly. He knew that every step his patient took was giving him tremendous pain.
"I am all right." Milliardo panted once again and the familiar chest pain accompanied. "We can't waste anytime, help me to get there."
Treize reluctantly nodded as he put Milliardo's arm over his shoulder and walked toward the trail.
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"Com'on Sally. I know you are a speed-demon!! Let's move this junk!" Duo impatiently tapped the dashboard. "Oh god, I hope he is not going to do anything stupid. That idiot.... That... that moron!!!!"
Sally stepped on the gas. "We will make it." Sally assured as she skillfully maneuvered the car though the traffic. "Duo, we will make it."
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As soon as they emerged out of the tree lines of the trail, Milliardo immediately spotted a lonesome figure stood at the tip of the cliff.
Treize looked up and saw him too. He quickened their pace. He did not like it at all. The person was standing too far out. Any little disturbance would have tipped him over.... "We have to hurry....."
Before Treize could complete his word, the figure leapt off the cliff.
"NO!!!" Milliardo screamed. He struggled to run to the cliff, intending to follow.
Treize's instinct was the same too, as he was rushing toward the cliff. But just as he was going to jump after the person, he realized that Miliardo had the same intention. So instead of jumping, he held onto Milliardo. "Stop, Zechs. This is suicidal." Treize tried his best to speak calmly to Zechs. "Calm down, Zechs. In your condition you can't possibly save him. Let me..."
"No!!!! I have to do this!!!" Millardo struggled even harder.
Treize slapped him, hard on the cheek. "Look, I am going down there. I am doing this for you. You got that? I will bring him back for you. The longer we spend time arguing, the less chance he will have down there. Do you understand, Zechs?"
Milliardo sank down on the ground.
Seeing that Milliardo understand and would not jump after him, Treize twisted out his jacket quickly and jumped without even a single sign of hesitation.
As soon as he was in the air, the thought of why he got the courage to leap of the cliff like that suddenly made it to his consciousness.
"I love him......" Treize smiled bitterly as the truth finally hit him. " It's something that I cannot help myself...."
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TBC