I'm on a roll here with this fic! I don't think I was ever this hyped to write more! Once again I would like to say thank you for all those lovely reviews...and what did you mean, Kayla, when You said I needed to get out more? I believe you mean out of my house and into the real world.

I hate to break it to you, but I do have a life. I think it is you, who doesn't have the life, my dear. I spent my time being creative and writing and exploring the many psychological states of the human mind. Where as, you read it and I'm guessing you do not understand the depth of my writing. So, who here needs to get out more? So as a response to what I believe is my first flame, *sticks out tongue* Neah Neah

Now that I'm through being childish, please review! And I would like to make mention to anyone thinking of flaming me. I will read them and laugh at them then share them with friends then I will post them with rude comments that will make you look like an idiot.

As a final note, I really don't know why Duo is the center of all supernatural spooky things. I guess it' the whole 'god of death' persona. I thought he fit the role in my story better than any other pilot. *Looks both ways to make sure no G-boy is listening.* Not to play favorites but... I'm a huge Duo-chan fan! He's so huggabley cute! I just can't help but put him through mental agony. (Somehow I just sounded crazier than I actually am...)

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Chapter four: Dead ends

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Duo found himself gazing at his reflection in the mirror once again. No matter how long he looked at himself, he couldn't see what everyone else did. He was still a monster in his eyes.

He would always be a monster. There was no way he could undue his past. What one once was, one would always be, he guessed.

He didn't even know if he wanted to erase his past. If he lost that part of himself, would he be the same Duo everyone knew here and now? Or would he be completely different?

He cursed himself for thinking such thoughts. He was here at this moment in time, and there was nothing he could do to change it. Right now this is where he belonged. There had to be a reason in the great scheme of things that placed him in those spots on those days and that brought him here, with people who cared about him. And more importantly, to people he cared about more than himself.

But it still didn't seem fair. He was blessed now. He had warmth and food and shelter, where others still had none. He was a horrible person with little redeeming characteristics, and yet here he was.

Karma must not have been working right. He shouldn't be here. So many names of those that should be in a place like this crossed his mind. All of those names...all of those faces belonged to a person he caused grief and anguish. But mostly he caused them death.

His mind drifted farther and farther into the past. A sweet voice like an angels song flooded his senses, bringing him to a day when he felt much the same anger directed at himself.

He closed his eyes and felt it wash over him. The smell...The look...The taste...Everything he once was...all that returned with the remembrance of that one sweet voice.

Soft fingers. White like cream brushed his dark hair away from his face. The familiar touch immediately made his entire being relax as he a sweet melody from the past played in his mind. It was a tune he often heard coming from her, a melody she sang only to him.

"Don't do this to yourself." Her angelic voice scolded as her hand brushed his cheek. "Don't hurt yourself so."

"I can't help it..." He said aloud. His voice cracked and he dared not to open his eyes.

"Please try." She pleaded. "I cannot bare to see you in such pain."

He took her hand in his own. "I can't...please believe me, I can't stop blaming myself." Duo slowly opened his eyes, hoping to steal one glance of his vision before she left. But he found himself alone, sitting on his bed in his cold dark room. Silence was his only companion.

*****

"Alright." Trowa nodded, even though the person on the other line of the phone couldn't see. "Are you sure?" A slight pause. "Alright..."

Quatre sat nervously at the table, wishing he could hear what the other person, most likely Sally, Une or Noin was saying.

It didn't appear to be good news by and definition. Trowa's voice lowered slightly after every pause. Which was usually not a good sign.

After a minute, Trowa and the other person bid their 'adieu's' and hung up.

Trowa slowly moved over to the table, yet another sign the answers he got about the handwriting were not what he was looking for.

"So?" Quatre inquired.

Trowa shook his head. "It was a bust."

Quatre grimaced. The chances of finding a match on handwriting was like finding a needle in a haystack, to coin a phrase.

Since the 2020, (AD, of course. Some time before the colonies) handwriting was kept on record in some countries. It made handwritten ransom notes and other such demands much easier to trace back to their origins. Mostly it was used because everyone's handwriting style was different.

It did seem to be impractical at first, but it did prove to have it's advantages. Most often it was used in crime cases where fingerprint's were not found but some written samples were. Still, it is not commonly used. Most of the time it is used to search for fraud in legal documentation.

Working at Preventers did have it's perks. One being they were allowed full use of the records if need be. And this did seem like a 'need be' type of situation.

"Une did a check on the letter. I told here we had suspicion of fraud on someone. She didn't ask questions and ran a check."

"Came up with nothing, huh?"

"Actually, there was one hit." Trowa smiled weakly. "But it was a hit and miss. The person's files were dated back some two hundred years back." Trowa sighed. "The only reason their records were never taken off is because there was no death certificate."

Quatre cracked a smile. "Did you get anything off our dead guy anyways?"

"Girl. It was a woman. There wasn't much about her. Not too many records. There wasn't even a birth certificate. Une said it had to be a fluke in the system."

"Bound to have one." Quatre smiled as he saw the other tow pilots enter the kitchen. Quatre stood up and pushed in his chair. "Tell them what you just found out. I'm going to check on Duo. He's been up in his room all day."

Trowa nodded and motioned for the other two to sit down. "I just got off the phone with Une..."

*****

Quatre quietly made his way to Duo's room. There was no knowing if he was asleep or not. If Duo was asleep, he didn't want to wake him. Duo hadn't been sleeping at night and when he did, his dreams were filled with nightmares. Sometimes he would wake up the rest of the household with his screams. Somehow Quatre knew these dreams were not just fiction made up by the mind. They were probably real, though it was doubtful Duo would ever reveal them to him.

Quatre stopped at the door with the yellow 'caution' tape taped to it. (Leave it to Duo to steal office supplies). He pressed his ear up against the wood and heard nothing coming from inside.

The blond slowly opened the door and poked his head in. "Duo?" His voice was barely over a whisper.

Duo turned abruptly. A look of shock on his face. "Q...Quatre?!"

Quatre stood there pale and unblinking in the doorway.

Duo stood and looked just as panicked. "Quatre--" He moved closer.

Duo's movement jolted Quatre's reflexes and he backed out of the room. He shook his head in disbelief. "I can't be seeing this..." His back hit the wall. "No...This can't be real..." Quatre turned and fled down the hallway and to the other pilots.

Duo ran after him. "Quatre! I can explain!" 'Oh God...' Duo silently prayed as everything seemed to be playing in slow motion. 'This can't be happening...not like this...'

*****

Hehe...Yes I am evil, I know. I couldn't help myself. Sorry.

I guess this means you have to wait until the next chapter to find out what the big secret is! (see! I told you! two chapters ago, this is where I'll be revealing Duo's big secret!)

Duo: whimper whimper...

*Pats Duo on the head.* It'll be alright. They'll still love you! Even if your secret is -censor-.