Author's Notes(Bekki Lou, formerly Tensei): New chapter! Yay! Things are
coming along nicely! I hope you enjoy this! Please, please, PLEASE review.
We really need feedback. -_- next up is Marika Webster's chapter! ^^
Disclaimer: I own nothing… but a few of the OC's… though they're getting hard to keep track of now, ne?
~*~*~*~*~
Tainted Dream
Chapter Nine
~*~*~*~*~
Renee paused from her typing and adjusted her glasses. Releasing a soft sigh, she shook her head and returned to her work dutifully. She couldn't even recall the previous night's events. It was as if they had never happened. It wasn't that she forgot. It was that she chose not to remember. Among those things that she chose to forget was the fact that she had been granted the day off from work.
"Miss Williams?" Mark Peterson's voice sounded absolutely baffled as he peered into the woman's office. Stepping inside, he straightened himself up and watched her. She didn't even look up from her work. "Didn't I give you the day off?"
Renee didn't answer, just continued to type away at her little keyboard as if it were her world, this world of computers and software, where she could so easily lose herself in complex coding and a series of zeros and ones. Everything in this world of hers was logical. There was no doubt, no indecision, only right and wrong, black and white.
"Miss Williams!" Mr. Peterson was getting impatient now. He wanted to know how things had gone with her and the new business partner, Mr. Winner. He was a bit worried that she had showed up to work, he had expected her to at least spend the morning with the blonde businessman.
Renee paused, and turned her head to the side, not bothering to mask her so obvious annoyance. "What?"
"Why are you at work? I gave you the day off."
"I wanted to come to work. Didn't really have anything to do…"
Mr. Peterson raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to believe that? Come on, Renee… I need the truth. Why are you at work and not back at the hotel with Mr. Winner?"
That name… that godforsaken name. How dare he mention his name around her? She kept her cool, though. As the long seconds passed, Renee slowly, but surely remembered the previous night's events… every bit of them. She was angry at her boss for putting her in such a position and asking her to perform such a dirty practice only for the sake of the company, that was doing fine financially, by the way, but she didn't yell about it right now. It was too late. After all, she did agree to this. "I was with him this morning, if that's what you want to know. He had places to go, so I decided to come to work."
The man nodded, feeling a bit relieved that Renee had obviously not backed out the deal, but had she done enough? He couldn't help his natural tendency to worry and decided to nose deeper into the matter. "So, did you… serve him well? Was he pleased with you?"
Renee's eyes visibly darkened, but she held her anger. So, her newest identity has been reduced to a whore, has she? She knew what he wanted to hear, and decided that the sooner he heard it, the sooner he'd leave. "You want to know if we had sex?" She eyed him, almost accusingly.
Mr. Peterson cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably, his face taking on a pinkish hue. "Well, that's not exactly what I…uhh…meant, I just…"
She shook her head and stopped his mumbling. "I know that that's what you wanted to know, and the answer is yes. We had hot, dirty, nasty sex. Are you happy?" She told him what he wanted to hear, and then some. Even though it was a lie, she knew that this answer would satisfy her boss. Truthfully, she was annoyed to no end, and would not give him room to pry more. She wanted him out of there, and damn him if he wasn't satisfied with that response.
"Oh… uhh, alright. I…" He was groping for words, and found none. He took a moment to regain his composure before his tongue finally started working again. "Alright, then… You can stay if you like, but if you ever feel like just leaving at any time today… or… this week… feel free." That was all he could manage before leaving the room.
Renee just groaned and let her head fall onto the keyboard. Maybe she would take him up on his offer and just go home. With a quick shake of her head, she decided that it would be best to stay in her office and lose herself in her work.
~*~*~*~*~
"Wufei, remind me again what we're doing here?"
The Chinese man just continued his work, searching through the archives of the computer. "Old newspaper articles. Anything having to do with Colin Foster and his sister, Melody."
Musha sighed and shook her head. "I don't get it! How can he have anything to do with Odin?"
"This is a long shot, but he's worth checking out. He's connected to this somehow, we just have to figure out how." He was determined, almost felt like a genius. Now, all he needed was some evidence or proof even to affirm this notion.
"You're telling ME that it's long! He's been in solitary confinement for years! Since before Hiiro and Relena were even married!"
"Yes, but remember what those guards claimed about Colin? They said that he could communicate with them telepathically, sometimes even manipulate them. I don't know yet what his motive would be for taking Odin, or rather, having someone else take him, but did you notice that he disappeared shortly after we interviewed him?"
Musha blinked, still not understanding what Wufei was getting at. "Wufei, that was just a coincidence! How on earth could it be related?"
"I don't know." Came the answer, uncertain, but excited at the same time, "But I just have this feeling. This is all connected somehow, I just know it. He did know who you were, after all. What are the chances of that?" He paused, allowing a response, but he received none. With a sigh, he shook his head. "Musha, I know that this doesn't make sense, but I just feel like it's the right track. Tell you what… if we don't get any good, solid evidence within the week, I'll drop this whole idea altogether." He wasn't sure that he could drop such a lead, but he was confident that they'd find something.
Musha just shrugged her shoulders as if surrendering and shook her head. "Fine. Just tell me what to do. Remember, you're in charge… and I am NOT going to be the one to tell Sally about this."
Wufei grinned and got up from his chair, bounding over to the woman and planting a kiss on her cheek.
~*~*~*~*~
Trowa groaned inwardly as he found his feet moving of their own accord, taking him up the steps in front of Kashoku's house. His feet bad been very disobedient today, taking him out in the first place, then to a local florist, and finally to the home of this woman that probably hated her now. He glanced down at the daisies that he held in his hand – daisies. They were safe, right? They were meant for an apology, and he didn't want their meaning to be somehow construed as romantic. He had once considered her a friend, and though it was a bit awkward and uncomfortable now, you can't very well be enemies and partners in an investigation at the same time.
When the door finally opened, all he saw was part of Kashoku's face, one strange, multi-colored eye peering out at him, anger dancing within. She was about to shut the door again when he managed to jam the daisies through the opening, with only minimal damage to the blooms.
"Leave me alone." She said simply, shoving the flowers away.
"I came to apologize. I didn't mean for you to see us…"
"But you meant to lie to me, hmm? Or are you bisexual and just forgot to leave out that part? You know, you could have just told me if you hated me."
Trowa rolled his eyes. This was exactly what he was afraid would happen. Time for her pity party. She would launch into some spiel about how she was under appreciated and should just take her "pathetic ass to somewhere that would accept poor, unfortunate employees that weren't loved by even a single soul on earth." He was sick of her attitude about these kinds of things, and had to wonder how many soap operas claimed time out of her day.
"I don't hate you, Kashoku. You just came on too fast. I wasn't looking for a relationship. We were supposed to remain professional. The reason that I went to your house was to work, not get laid."
What little bit of her face was visible pouted. "Trowa, you have to learn to loosen up… have a little fun! That's all I was trying to do!"
Trowa shook his head firmly. "That's the wrong kind of fun, Kashoku." He was cut short by the sound of a baby crying. There was a tense moment between the two as green eyes darted from the Kashoku, to the window and back again.
Kashoku spoke immediately. "I have to go, Trowa. Joey's crying again. I'm on babysitting duty for my nephew this week. I've gotta run."
Trowa was actually relieved that their meeting would be cut short, but some sick, sadistic little voice inside of him told him to offer to help her. And that he did. "Do you need any help?" Damnit, stupid conscience. That must have been it, trying to make him feel guilty for hurting her.
"No!" came her hasty response as she inched the door closed a bit more, "It's… fine. You have to get back to work. I'll see you tomorrow." That said, she slammed the door shut.
Trowa stood there for a moment, dumbfounded. This woman, who had very previously plastered her body all over his was now shutting him away. His suspicion was confirmed when he heard the distinct click of a deadbolt lock turning. Confused, but glad to get away, his feet carried him once more back to his office where he would resume his search for Odin Yui.
~*~*~*~*~
Musha stared down at the overstuffed manila folder that Wufei cradled in his arms. It was filled with every article and document remotely related to the Foster family that he could find. Apparently, William Foster, Colin's father was a successful businessman, and actually a rival of the Winner Corporation. He wasn't very honest, though. Most of his profits came from one underground trade or another. He soon found some people that were willing to go into employment under the Winner Corporation and slowly, little by little shut them down by means of sabotage, and sharing secrets with the staff at his company.
It wasn't just the Winner Corporation that suffered his dishonest ways. Other businesses struggled, even went under because of his manipulative ways. One by one, the competition dropped, until Winner Co. was all that was left standing. So, it was easy to assume that a lot of people had it out for him.
"So, what does all of this have to do with us? I still don't know." Musha shook her head as if to clear it from the confusion.
"I'm not sure just yet, but it's important that we first find out why his parents were killed in the first place." Wufei's voice was confident, and certain. He had a plan in mind, and he was going to execute this plan, no matter what it took. "We have to get into his mind and find out why he would do such a thing."
"Alright. I'll call for some plane tickets back to New York." She reached into her purse and extracted her cell phone, but Wufei snatched it from her before she even knew that he was beside her. All hints of optimism had fled from his features and his face was stern once more.
"You're not going."
Musha blinked, confused. "What? What do you mean by that?! Of course I'm going, I'm your partner!"
Wufei merely shook his head and stuffed her phone back into her purse. "He knows you, Musha. This man is dangerous, and he expressed a particular dislike towards you. I won't have you near him."
Musha could feel the rage boiling inside of her. How dare he?! Was he implying that she was too weak to protect herself from a prisoner in the United States?! She wouldn't have it. "I'm going, and that's that."
"I'll pull rank on you if I have to, Musha." He set the folder aside and turned to face her. "I won't allow anything to happen to you. I promised that I'd protect you, and this is the best way that I know how right now."
Musha sighed and glared at her love angrily. "Wufei, I'll be fine, and you know it. I've survived so much already, what can Colin Foster do to me?"
"The same thing that he did to those gang members? The same thing that he did to the two hundred people on that flight? Musha, I don't want to risk anything…" he cupped her chin and lifted her eyes to meet his, "You mean too much to me."
Musha couldn't help but smile at the Chinese man, despite the argument. He was sincere, and that meant a lot to her, but she still had a job to do. "Wufei, please… I know that you're concerned, but aren't you confident in your own strength? That you can protect me? Where's the strong Wufei that I've always known?"
So now he had a choice: Put Musha in potential danger, or admit his weakness. Not only that, but accuse her of being weak. He knew that she was strong, and that she would be fine on her own, but his love for her always reminded him of the worst-case scenario. With a sigh, he shook his head. "I feel like an overprotective mother."
Musha smiled and hugged the man, reaching for her cell phone once more. "So I'm coming?"
"Gaahh…"
~*~*~*~*~
She ran. A little faster, a little further. She was almost there… almost there! She could feel it. It was as if she held the key to the secrets of life in her hand, now all she had to do was make her way to the door to unlock it. The ground beneath her was sticky, as if she was being glued to the floor. But she had to keep running, she had to press on!
Everywhere she looked she saw familiar faces, some welcome, some forsaken. But she couldn't focus on them… she had to keep running. She had one goal in mind, and her life, her very existence depended on that goal.
~*~*~*~*~
A gunshot. A scream. Another shot. Silence.
The thirteen year-old boy's eyes went wide with fright. He stayed silent, didn't dare move a muscle. Even his breathing was undetectable to a normal ear. Next he heard footsteps, so many of them, men running rapidly through the house. He heard doors slamming. Open, shut, open, shut. Then a whimper.
His heart pounded in his chest as he recognized the frantic voice of his little sister. She was screaming, crying, calling out for her mother. But her mother did not hear her. He knew this… he could feel it in his heart. Not pain, but an empty void, the shape of his parents. He knew that from this day forward, he would be an orphan.
His door was suddenly shoved open as two pairs of heavy-booted feet could be seen from his place under the bed. His senses had warned him of the danger just in time to hide. It was then that he heard the frantic screams of his sister once more. She was in the room! So close that he could almost reach out and touch her, drag her into this fortress of safety under his bed.
Some angry words were exchanged between the men in his room, something about misinformation about the boy's bedroom. So they were looking for him… Then, they left. Just like that. His sister's cries grew distant, until he could barely make her out.
He just stared ahead in disbelief as he heard a car screech out of the drive. They had taken her… and he didn't stop them. He didn't even try! What kind of a coward was he? Hiding under his bed as his sister was dragged off into the night. He clenched his eyes shut, as if doing so would hide him from the world, but when he opened them again, his house was gone. Instead of his dark bedroom, he was surrounded by the white of his cell.
Colin Foster blinked a few times as he adjusted to the light. Another horrid memory, taking him back to that place of cursed remembrance. He would never forget that day, the day that he let Melody down. From that day forward, he promised to protect her at all costs. Even from his cell, he would protect her. This, he vowed.
He sighed, and reached underneath his pillow for that same crinkled up picture that he clung to as if it were his last bit of sanity. This one photograph was all that was left of his family, and his hope. He gently traced the outline of the small girl, as if she were really there. "I'm sorry…" he whispered, "I'm so sorry, Melody. From now on, you will know no more pain… surrender yourself to me, and I will take it all away…"
~*~*~*~*~
Tensei shot straight up in bed, breathing hard, her body covered in sweat. She had been suffocating! She was asleep… running, but it seemed that the further she ran, the less oxygen there was. Her goal was so close… so close! But she couldn't even make it before her air was cut off.
She shook her head and to out of bed, changing into some normal clothes before heading out her door. She wasn't sure where she was going, but something seemed to be pulling her…
~*~*~*~*~
"Melody…" he whispered to no one in particular. He was calling her, but he could feel her resistance. She both fought against and sought his will. He wanted her to stay put, but she refused.
~*~*~*~*~
Soon, Tensei found herself running through the streets of New York City. Running, just like before, but this time, she wasn't just running towards something, she was running away from something. She was running from herself, yet running towards herself at the same time.
~*~*~*~*~
"Don't go!" His voice was raised, as if he could reach her better. Something was fighting him! Someone was defying him! What was happening?! He concentrated harder, all of his energy focused on Renee. 'Come back… come back, and go home. You are searching for nothing. Go back home where you are safe and sound.'
~*~*~*~*~
Tensei fell to her knees and clutched her head in both her hands as a cry tore from her throat. She felt as if there was an intense game of tug-of- war going on, and she was the rope. Renee pulled her in one direction, while Tensei pulled her in the other. She was about to give up when she saw the hotel. There it was! She was so close!
Despite the fact that she felt as if she was being torn in two, she pulled herself up to her feet and managed to get inside. One step at a time, she trudged wearily to that room… She had to fight both physically and mentally to will her body to walk up to the door and let her fist drop against the wood. One knock, that was all that she could manage.
But that was all that was necessary, for a moment later, the door opened, and there stood Quatre, surprised, yet not. He blinked his eyes a couple of times to assure himself that Tensei did, in fact stand before him. It was when she collapsed before him that he knew that she was real. He knelt beside her and took her arms, pulling her up to look at her. "Tensei…"
Disclaimer: I own nothing… but a few of the OC's… though they're getting hard to keep track of now, ne?
~*~*~*~*~
Tainted Dream
Chapter Nine
~*~*~*~*~
Renee paused from her typing and adjusted her glasses. Releasing a soft sigh, she shook her head and returned to her work dutifully. She couldn't even recall the previous night's events. It was as if they had never happened. It wasn't that she forgot. It was that she chose not to remember. Among those things that she chose to forget was the fact that she had been granted the day off from work.
"Miss Williams?" Mark Peterson's voice sounded absolutely baffled as he peered into the woman's office. Stepping inside, he straightened himself up and watched her. She didn't even look up from her work. "Didn't I give you the day off?"
Renee didn't answer, just continued to type away at her little keyboard as if it were her world, this world of computers and software, where she could so easily lose herself in complex coding and a series of zeros and ones. Everything in this world of hers was logical. There was no doubt, no indecision, only right and wrong, black and white.
"Miss Williams!" Mr. Peterson was getting impatient now. He wanted to know how things had gone with her and the new business partner, Mr. Winner. He was a bit worried that she had showed up to work, he had expected her to at least spend the morning with the blonde businessman.
Renee paused, and turned her head to the side, not bothering to mask her so obvious annoyance. "What?"
"Why are you at work? I gave you the day off."
"I wanted to come to work. Didn't really have anything to do…"
Mr. Peterson raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to believe that? Come on, Renee… I need the truth. Why are you at work and not back at the hotel with Mr. Winner?"
That name… that godforsaken name. How dare he mention his name around her? She kept her cool, though. As the long seconds passed, Renee slowly, but surely remembered the previous night's events… every bit of them. She was angry at her boss for putting her in such a position and asking her to perform such a dirty practice only for the sake of the company, that was doing fine financially, by the way, but she didn't yell about it right now. It was too late. After all, she did agree to this. "I was with him this morning, if that's what you want to know. He had places to go, so I decided to come to work."
The man nodded, feeling a bit relieved that Renee had obviously not backed out the deal, but had she done enough? He couldn't help his natural tendency to worry and decided to nose deeper into the matter. "So, did you… serve him well? Was he pleased with you?"
Renee's eyes visibly darkened, but she held her anger. So, her newest identity has been reduced to a whore, has she? She knew what he wanted to hear, and decided that the sooner he heard it, the sooner he'd leave. "You want to know if we had sex?" She eyed him, almost accusingly.
Mr. Peterson cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably, his face taking on a pinkish hue. "Well, that's not exactly what I…uhh…meant, I just…"
She shook her head and stopped his mumbling. "I know that that's what you wanted to know, and the answer is yes. We had hot, dirty, nasty sex. Are you happy?" She told him what he wanted to hear, and then some. Even though it was a lie, she knew that this answer would satisfy her boss. Truthfully, she was annoyed to no end, and would not give him room to pry more. She wanted him out of there, and damn him if he wasn't satisfied with that response.
"Oh… uhh, alright. I…" He was groping for words, and found none. He took a moment to regain his composure before his tongue finally started working again. "Alright, then… You can stay if you like, but if you ever feel like just leaving at any time today… or… this week… feel free." That was all he could manage before leaving the room.
Renee just groaned and let her head fall onto the keyboard. Maybe she would take him up on his offer and just go home. With a quick shake of her head, she decided that it would be best to stay in her office and lose herself in her work.
~*~*~*~*~
"Wufei, remind me again what we're doing here?"
The Chinese man just continued his work, searching through the archives of the computer. "Old newspaper articles. Anything having to do with Colin Foster and his sister, Melody."
Musha sighed and shook her head. "I don't get it! How can he have anything to do with Odin?"
"This is a long shot, but he's worth checking out. He's connected to this somehow, we just have to figure out how." He was determined, almost felt like a genius. Now, all he needed was some evidence or proof even to affirm this notion.
"You're telling ME that it's long! He's been in solitary confinement for years! Since before Hiiro and Relena were even married!"
"Yes, but remember what those guards claimed about Colin? They said that he could communicate with them telepathically, sometimes even manipulate them. I don't know yet what his motive would be for taking Odin, or rather, having someone else take him, but did you notice that he disappeared shortly after we interviewed him?"
Musha blinked, still not understanding what Wufei was getting at. "Wufei, that was just a coincidence! How on earth could it be related?"
"I don't know." Came the answer, uncertain, but excited at the same time, "But I just have this feeling. This is all connected somehow, I just know it. He did know who you were, after all. What are the chances of that?" He paused, allowing a response, but he received none. With a sigh, he shook his head. "Musha, I know that this doesn't make sense, but I just feel like it's the right track. Tell you what… if we don't get any good, solid evidence within the week, I'll drop this whole idea altogether." He wasn't sure that he could drop such a lead, but he was confident that they'd find something.
Musha just shrugged her shoulders as if surrendering and shook her head. "Fine. Just tell me what to do. Remember, you're in charge… and I am NOT going to be the one to tell Sally about this."
Wufei grinned and got up from his chair, bounding over to the woman and planting a kiss on her cheek.
~*~*~*~*~
Trowa groaned inwardly as he found his feet moving of their own accord, taking him up the steps in front of Kashoku's house. His feet bad been very disobedient today, taking him out in the first place, then to a local florist, and finally to the home of this woman that probably hated her now. He glanced down at the daisies that he held in his hand – daisies. They were safe, right? They were meant for an apology, and he didn't want their meaning to be somehow construed as romantic. He had once considered her a friend, and though it was a bit awkward and uncomfortable now, you can't very well be enemies and partners in an investigation at the same time.
When the door finally opened, all he saw was part of Kashoku's face, one strange, multi-colored eye peering out at him, anger dancing within. She was about to shut the door again when he managed to jam the daisies through the opening, with only minimal damage to the blooms.
"Leave me alone." She said simply, shoving the flowers away.
"I came to apologize. I didn't mean for you to see us…"
"But you meant to lie to me, hmm? Or are you bisexual and just forgot to leave out that part? You know, you could have just told me if you hated me."
Trowa rolled his eyes. This was exactly what he was afraid would happen. Time for her pity party. She would launch into some spiel about how she was under appreciated and should just take her "pathetic ass to somewhere that would accept poor, unfortunate employees that weren't loved by even a single soul on earth." He was sick of her attitude about these kinds of things, and had to wonder how many soap operas claimed time out of her day.
"I don't hate you, Kashoku. You just came on too fast. I wasn't looking for a relationship. We were supposed to remain professional. The reason that I went to your house was to work, not get laid."
What little bit of her face was visible pouted. "Trowa, you have to learn to loosen up… have a little fun! That's all I was trying to do!"
Trowa shook his head firmly. "That's the wrong kind of fun, Kashoku." He was cut short by the sound of a baby crying. There was a tense moment between the two as green eyes darted from the Kashoku, to the window and back again.
Kashoku spoke immediately. "I have to go, Trowa. Joey's crying again. I'm on babysitting duty for my nephew this week. I've gotta run."
Trowa was actually relieved that their meeting would be cut short, but some sick, sadistic little voice inside of him told him to offer to help her. And that he did. "Do you need any help?" Damnit, stupid conscience. That must have been it, trying to make him feel guilty for hurting her.
"No!" came her hasty response as she inched the door closed a bit more, "It's… fine. You have to get back to work. I'll see you tomorrow." That said, she slammed the door shut.
Trowa stood there for a moment, dumbfounded. This woman, who had very previously plastered her body all over his was now shutting him away. His suspicion was confirmed when he heard the distinct click of a deadbolt lock turning. Confused, but glad to get away, his feet carried him once more back to his office where he would resume his search for Odin Yui.
~*~*~*~*~
Musha stared down at the overstuffed manila folder that Wufei cradled in his arms. It was filled with every article and document remotely related to the Foster family that he could find. Apparently, William Foster, Colin's father was a successful businessman, and actually a rival of the Winner Corporation. He wasn't very honest, though. Most of his profits came from one underground trade or another. He soon found some people that were willing to go into employment under the Winner Corporation and slowly, little by little shut them down by means of sabotage, and sharing secrets with the staff at his company.
It wasn't just the Winner Corporation that suffered his dishonest ways. Other businesses struggled, even went under because of his manipulative ways. One by one, the competition dropped, until Winner Co. was all that was left standing. So, it was easy to assume that a lot of people had it out for him.
"So, what does all of this have to do with us? I still don't know." Musha shook her head as if to clear it from the confusion.
"I'm not sure just yet, but it's important that we first find out why his parents were killed in the first place." Wufei's voice was confident, and certain. He had a plan in mind, and he was going to execute this plan, no matter what it took. "We have to get into his mind and find out why he would do such a thing."
"Alright. I'll call for some plane tickets back to New York." She reached into her purse and extracted her cell phone, but Wufei snatched it from her before she even knew that he was beside her. All hints of optimism had fled from his features and his face was stern once more.
"You're not going."
Musha blinked, confused. "What? What do you mean by that?! Of course I'm going, I'm your partner!"
Wufei merely shook his head and stuffed her phone back into her purse. "He knows you, Musha. This man is dangerous, and he expressed a particular dislike towards you. I won't have you near him."
Musha could feel the rage boiling inside of her. How dare he?! Was he implying that she was too weak to protect herself from a prisoner in the United States?! She wouldn't have it. "I'm going, and that's that."
"I'll pull rank on you if I have to, Musha." He set the folder aside and turned to face her. "I won't allow anything to happen to you. I promised that I'd protect you, and this is the best way that I know how right now."
Musha sighed and glared at her love angrily. "Wufei, I'll be fine, and you know it. I've survived so much already, what can Colin Foster do to me?"
"The same thing that he did to those gang members? The same thing that he did to the two hundred people on that flight? Musha, I don't want to risk anything…" he cupped her chin and lifted her eyes to meet his, "You mean too much to me."
Musha couldn't help but smile at the Chinese man, despite the argument. He was sincere, and that meant a lot to her, but she still had a job to do. "Wufei, please… I know that you're concerned, but aren't you confident in your own strength? That you can protect me? Where's the strong Wufei that I've always known?"
So now he had a choice: Put Musha in potential danger, or admit his weakness. Not only that, but accuse her of being weak. He knew that she was strong, and that she would be fine on her own, but his love for her always reminded him of the worst-case scenario. With a sigh, he shook his head. "I feel like an overprotective mother."
Musha smiled and hugged the man, reaching for her cell phone once more. "So I'm coming?"
"Gaahh…"
~*~*~*~*~
She ran. A little faster, a little further. She was almost there… almost there! She could feel it. It was as if she held the key to the secrets of life in her hand, now all she had to do was make her way to the door to unlock it. The ground beneath her was sticky, as if she was being glued to the floor. But she had to keep running, she had to press on!
Everywhere she looked she saw familiar faces, some welcome, some forsaken. But she couldn't focus on them… she had to keep running. She had one goal in mind, and her life, her very existence depended on that goal.
~*~*~*~*~
A gunshot. A scream. Another shot. Silence.
The thirteen year-old boy's eyes went wide with fright. He stayed silent, didn't dare move a muscle. Even his breathing was undetectable to a normal ear. Next he heard footsteps, so many of them, men running rapidly through the house. He heard doors slamming. Open, shut, open, shut. Then a whimper.
His heart pounded in his chest as he recognized the frantic voice of his little sister. She was screaming, crying, calling out for her mother. But her mother did not hear her. He knew this… he could feel it in his heart. Not pain, but an empty void, the shape of his parents. He knew that from this day forward, he would be an orphan.
His door was suddenly shoved open as two pairs of heavy-booted feet could be seen from his place under the bed. His senses had warned him of the danger just in time to hide. It was then that he heard the frantic screams of his sister once more. She was in the room! So close that he could almost reach out and touch her, drag her into this fortress of safety under his bed.
Some angry words were exchanged between the men in his room, something about misinformation about the boy's bedroom. So they were looking for him… Then, they left. Just like that. His sister's cries grew distant, until he could barely make her out.
He just stared ahead in disbelief as he heard a car screech out of the drive. They had taken her… and he didn't stop them. He didn't even try! What kind of a coward was he? Hiding under his bed as his sister was dragged off into the night. He clenched his eyes shut, as if doing so would hide him from the world, but when he opened them again, his house was gone. Instead of his dark bedroom, he was surrounded by the white of his cell.
Colin Foster blinked a few times as he adjusted to the light. Another horrid memory, taking him back to that place of cursed remembrance. He would never forget that day, the day that he let Melody down. From that day forward, he promised to protect her at all costs. Even from his cell, he would protect her. This, he vowed.
He sighed, and reached underneath his pillow for that same crinkled up picture that he clung to as if it were his last bit of sanity. This one photograph was all that was left of his family, and his hope. He gently traced the outline of the small girl, as if she were really there. "I'm sorry…" he whispered, "I'm so sorry, Melody. From now on, you will know no more pain… surrender yourself to me, and I will take it all away…"
~*~*~*~*~
Tensei shot straight up in bed, breathing hard, her body covered in sweat. She had been suffocating! She was asleep… running, but it seemed that the further she ran, the less oxygen there was. Her goal was so close… so close! But she couldn't even make it before her air was cut off.
She shook her head and to out of bed, changing into some normal clothes before heading out her door. She wasn't sure where she was going, but something seemed to be pulling her…
~*~*~*~*~
"Melody…" he whispered to no one in particular. He was calling her, but he could feel her resistance. She both fought against and sought his will. He wanted her to stay put, but she refused.
~*~*~*~*~
Soon, Tensei found herself running through the streets of New York City. Running, just like before, but this time, she wasn't just running towards something, she was running away from something. She was running from herself, yet running towards herself at the same time.
~*~*~*~*~
"Don't go!" His voice was raised, as if he could reach her better. Something was fighting him! Someone was defying him! What was happening?! He concentrated harder, all of his energy focused on Renee. 'Come back… come back, and go home. You are searching for nothing. Go back home where you are safe and sound.'
~*~*~*~*~
Tensei fell to her knees and clutched her head in both her hands as a cry tore from her throat. She felt as if there was an intense game of tug-of- war going on, and she was the rope. Renee pulled her in one direction, while Tensei pulled her in the other. She was about to give up when she saw the hotel. There it was! She was so close!
Despite the fact that she felt as if she was being torn in two, she pulled herself up to her feet and managed to get inside. One step at a time, she trudged wearily to that room… She had to fight both physically and mentally to will her body to walk up to the door and let her fist drop against the wood. One knock, that was all that she could manage.
But that was all that was necessary, for a moment later, the door opened, and there stood Quatre, surprised, yet not. He blinked his eyes a couple of times to assure himself that Tensei did, in fact stand before him. It was when she collapsed before him that he knew that she was real. He knelt beside her and took her arms, pulling her up to look at her. "Tensei…"