Be My Friend? (Unbetaed)

Chapter 6: Shadowland

Kattie

Note: Aw, c'mon! Someone has to try the contest! These aren't that hard! ::sighs:: All you have to do is find the anime that the title came from- their all episode titles- and send me the title and episode number! You get a prize and everything! T_T Purisuuuuuu!

Another Note: My beta reader is very overworked at school, so my last two or three chapters haven't been beta-ed. If anyone would like to joint beta- reading with my beta reader, please let me know! It would only be every other chapter!

Disclaimer: Kattie: *goes out and buys a dog*

Kattie Mommy: What are you going to name him?

Kattie: *evil smirk* Gundam Wing.

Kattie Mommy: ^^? Strange name..

Kattie: *cackles evilly* Take that, lawyers! I DO own Gundam Wing!

Lawyers: *advance*

Kattie: O.O Th-the dog I mean!

Lawyers: ^____^ We always get our way.

Gundam Wing: Yip yip ^.^ (feed me!)

Kattie:... but I'm afraid of dogs! T_T

Warning: Future chapters will contain extreme angst, violence, and thematic elements. Profanity may go beyond a minimum amount. Possible dark scenes of great depression that are not appropriate for children. Rating will change to R when appropriate time comes. Edited versions rated PG-13 will be available at that time upon request. Parental screening suggested for children under the age of 13.

Dedication: Dedicated to Lunarays, who is the best artist in the world! You're the greatest! I love you! *glomps*

Somewhere

"Hee hee! Finally, we can actually do something!"

"..There's still time to pull back.. We don't have to-"

"Don't be such a worrywart. I've been planning this for months. This is the meaning of my life! We will succeed and be known forever throughout the universe! Today is the day we will complete phase two of our plan! Bwa ha ha!"

"We could just see a movie."

"NO! If you back out now, I'll push you out the window."

"..We're only on the second floor."

"Yes, but it doesn't really matter how high you are if you hit your head hard enough."

"..."

"Let's go!"

"Fine."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Shivering, Quatre added another letter to his pile of death threats. 'Why am I getting so many today?' He wondered, 'I haven't gotten any.. Before.' Lost in his thoughts, Quatre didn't even notice the door opening.

"Lunch is ready, Quatre!" Duo said, sounding full of energy. He seemed overly happy for such a dreary day.

"Thank you, Duo," Quatre replied, trying to don Duo's perfected mask, "I-I just need to finish a few things, then I'll be out."

Duo wasn't looking at Quatre. "What's this?" He asked, taking a letter from the top of the stack and holding it up to the light. "It looks like. is that blood?"

Making his face void of all emotion, Quatre took calmly took the letter from Duo's hand and examined it for a minute. "Probably."

Gaining a look of unpleasant surprise and outrage, Duo ripped the letter out of his friend's grasp and tore it open.

"Dear Mr. Winner," Duo read, "So the crown is passed down to the little prince. Pampered and spoiled, atop his head our crown shall rust. Polish it carefully, young one, for a new monarch is on His way." He raised his eyes to meet Quatre's. "You have another one?..How many do you usually get in a day?"

Gently removing the paper from Duo's hand, Quatre tore it in half and placed it into the garbage bin. "Not many," he answered quietly, "Normally I only receive one a month. It's not a big deal. Most business men-"

"NOT A BIG DEAL?" Duo shouted, "How can you say that? Someone's saying that they are planning on killing you! Damn it! How can you let this go as if it's nothing?"

"I'm not saying it's nothing!" Quatre retorted, standing up as he said it, "But there's nothing I can do about it. This house is already as secure as it can get."

"And what about your office?" Duo questioned, "Are you safe in your office?"

"I'm fine, Duo," Quatre looked Duo in the eyes, "Nothing's going to happen. There's too much security and I can take care of myself as it is."

"Then how did you get kidnapped all those times?" Duo asked, looking at the ground, causing a shadow to fall over his face, "The people from the Lost Hunter could still get to you. Is that 'taking care of yourself'?"

Grimacing at the memory, Quatre sat back down in his seat and rested his head in one hand. "That's different-"

"You know it isn't," Duo turned to leave but paused for a moment to say, "You need to be more careful."

The door slammed shut behind him.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Wufei watched Duo as he stormed out of Quatre's home office. "What did you do?" He asked, wearing his usual expression of anger and annoyance at the world (1).

"Mind your own business." Duo snapped.

Being a bit taken aback, Wufei didn't push the subject.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The phone rang, sounding out of tune and too loud in the strange silence of the room. It made a click as Quatre picked it up off of the receiver. "Hello, Winner residence, Quatre speaking."

"Hello Quatre, this is Bouken."

A smile came to Quatre's lips and his spirits seemed to lift a bit. "Hi Bouken. I'm sorry I haven't called you. I've been busy catching up on my work."

"That is quite all right," Bouken chuckled, "I understand."

"Thank you for being at the funeral," Quatre continued, "I know you and my father weren't very fond of each other, but it was very kind of you to come. I appreciated it."

"Oh, it was know problem, Quatre. I hope I may further assist you in the future."

"Thank you."

"Are you doing well?"

"I'm fine, thanks-"

"I trust you are not merely saying that as to keep me from worrying. It would be a bit of a disappointment."

"No, I'm fine, really.

"All right.. Make sure to take care of yourself. It would be the greatest shame if you ever were hurt."

"I'll try to-"

"I really must go now, but it was a pleasure speaking with you. I hope we may speak again soon."

"Of course. I'll talk to you later."

"I love you, Quatre. Good bye."

There was another click as Bouken hung up his phone.

Quatre stared at the receiver, trying to understand what he had just heard. 'Did he say..?' He thought about this for a moment. 'I didn't think we'd known each other long enough to develop any real brotherly love.. Maybe he loves more easily then me. That must be it.' Smiling, Quatre placed the phone onto its cradle.

'I hope he calls again soon.'

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"This isn't going to work."

"Of course it will."

"We don't even have a trap set up."

"Of course I do."

"Wh-what? Since when?"

"I have my connections."

".."

"The first strike will be this evening."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

They didn't seem to notice that the cigar was now only a stub that was burning their finger. As the flesh began blister, all they could do was laugh. "Your move, my adversaries. I'm anxious to see what you have planned."

With another short chuckle, they flicked the remains of the cigar onto the floor.

"You were too slow for me, but then again, our intentions are very different."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

'I have to tell someone,' Duo thought, feeling himself growing weaker at the thought of Quatre being hurt, 'He's not going to say anything. I can't just let him get hurt.'

"What are you thinking about?" Wufei asked. He'd been watching Duo for the past few minutes, after being spat at, and still hadn't figured out what had put him in such a fowl mood.

"Nothing." Duo muttered, going back to his thoughts.

"The usual." Wufei replied coldly.

"Not today, Chang," Duo said, his voice sounding serious for maybe the third time in his life, "I have to work something out."

".." Wufei pondered this reaction for a moment and couldn't understand. He just couldn't comprehend why his friend would act in such a non-him manner. "If you need help," He grunted, standing up, "I'll see if we have a new mission yet."

Duo nodded halfheartedly. "Right."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Mr. Winner?"

Quatre's eyes fluttered open as he slowly awoke. "Nn?" He asked, still half-asleep.

"You're needed at the office," Wesley answered, standing at the doorway, "Randall's wife went into labor. Everything's falling apart without him."

Groggily, Quatre rose to his feet and began stuffing the letters into his briefcase. "Right. Tell them I'll be there soon, please."

"Do you want be to get the chauffeur?"

"No, thanks. It's not very far, I'll just walk."

"Should I inform your companions?"

"Uh, yes please. I'll just go out the back, quicker that way.." Quatre muttered to himself, still very sleepy.

"Have a good walk, sir."

"Thanks." Suppressing a yawn, Quatre walked out of the room.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

'I need to talk to Quatre.'

Resisting the urge to bang on his door and burst into his office, Duo managed to wait 10 minutes before he couldn't wait any longer.

He couldn't stand it anymore. His self-control running out, Duo found himself in front of the door to Quatre's office with his hand on the doorknob. "Quatre?" He called, opening the door even as he said it.

The room was empty.

"Quatre?"

"Mr. Winner's just left, sir," Wesley explained, "He's going to the office to clear things up."

"Oh.. I didn't hear the car start.."

"He's walking, sir."

"..WHAT?" Without so much as a "goodbye" to Wesley, Duo sprinted out of the house.

"Wonder what that was about." Wesley said to himself.

Meanwhile

Quatre hadn't remembered the letters when he first awoke, but now that he did he was terrified. He shouldn't have walked, it was dangerous. Cursing himself, Quatre picked up his pace.

They could be anywhere, the people from the letters.

Quatre jumped as he heard someone walking behind him, matching his pace. The footsteps rang off the pavement like a guillotine having reached its final position. They echoed uneasily, sounding off of the nearby buildings.

Mentally laughing at himself for being so paranoid, Quatre couldn't help but quicken his pace again. 'It's nothing,' He told himself, 'Stop worrying.'

But he was all alone. And after those letters..

The pursuer quickened their pace and began to run towards him.

Feeling his heart beating painfully in his chest, Quatre sped up to a sprint. As fast as he could go.

His footsteps mingled with his pursuers to form a beat to an eerie lullaby. Quatre could feel the fear growing inside him. He could hear his breathing quicken. 'Calm down,' he screamed mentally, 'It's nothing. Nothing at all!' He tried to lie to himself, to believe his lies, but it was too difficult. Nothing could stop his horror. 'Don't panic..'

And then he realized his hunter was gaining.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

'Quatre? Quatre, where are you?' Duo asked, feeling a panic begin to set. 'Damn it! Why would you walk alone? How stupid can you be? DAMN IT WHERE ARE YOU?!"

End of Chapter

Bwo ho, a cliffhanger. Now I'm happy. Sorry for the wait, I was helping to make 1,000 cranes to promote peace. Unfortunately, I didn't know how to make cranes ^^* but I learned so now I've contributed my part ^_^.

(1) You gotta love Wufei ::glomps:: He's so cuuuuute!

Wufei: ::Grrr:

Kattie: Awwww!

Funeral People-

Bouken- Quatre's brother-in-law who got the pilots out of trouble but smiled far too much than is natural at the funeral. Has something unnatural on his desk. Hm.. Wouldn't it be nice to know what it is? Also has said he "loves" Quatre. Is this brotherly love, or is a dark plot being conjured? ::gasp:: Or is Kattie trying to make you paranoid? ::nod nod:: It's true, more fun this way ^_^

Jiei- The bodyguard who almost threw the pilots out. Doesn't seem to be in the story right now, but will he become important? Bwo hohohoho! (I'm still figuring this out myself ^^*)

Nitki- Quatre's sister and Bouken's wife. Seems to have figured something out about Bouken, but can't remember. Is she being poisoned by Bouken?

Work Associate (will be associates soon)-

Wesley- A young, unsure secretary at Winner Corporation. He once worked under Mr. Winner and attempted to quit 25 times in two years. Seems to have actually liked the man, but can we be sure? Has formed a small friendship with Quatre, but that may have been ruined by him admitting he knew that Quatre was a pilot. Hm. but did he really find out by "cleaning"? Could he possibly be "Mysterious Voice #1"'s minion?

Mysterious People-

Cigar Person- Although the gender is uncertain, this figure hated Quatre's father and hopes to kill someone else close to him (or Quatre himself). Seems to be either in love or lusting after Quatre. Also appears to be a chain smoker, smoking cigars because.. ^^* Kattie thinks all super evil baddies should smoke cigars ^^*. Seems to already have put his/her plan in action. But when? I didn't catch it, did you? (Maybe I forgot ^^*)

Mysterious Voice One- The leader of the voices gang who claims that Quatre is "Perfect" for their plan. Has a sadistic sense of humor and is violent in language. Wrote some of the many letters, which were sent to Quatre. Has a contact somewhere in Quatre's midst. But where?

Mysterious Voice Two- The follower in the voices gang who is unsure about what they are doing and dislikes the idea of using Quatre for their plan. A very uncertain person who spends the majority of his/her time being pushed around by MV1. Sent the death threat to Quatre. Has become quite the pushover. Will he get to see a movie? (I couldn't think of a spiffy question for him/her.)

Tracks ::yawn::

Sailor Star Theme-Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

Change the World (English Version)- Inu-Yasha (anyone know where to get the Japanese version mp3?)

Aitsu- Super Gals

Give a Reason- Slayers Next

Yume no Nake e- Kare Kano

Suteki na Serenade-Marmalade Boy

Motto Suteki na Asa ga Kuru yo -Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon

Ashita wa Ashita- Video Girl Ai