Abandoned Reverence

Author's Note: I notice that the intervals between each chapter becomes longer and longer…sorry, but with summer coming up so fast, my plate has been loaded. And I must regretfully inform everyone that all my projects might have to come to a standstill over summer break because of my lack of income and my pressing need of a piccolo. In other words, I am making the jump into the working world this summer and may have to take a break. I don't know for sure though yet, so don't freak out. I really hope this chapter answers some of your questions (it should clear up a few matters) and, as always leave a review please! Tschüs!

-Veledore (veledore@hotmail.com)

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor any of its characters.

* Indicates thought

~ Indicates flashback

Chapter 7: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

***

Hilde absently twirled her spoon around the inside of the coffee mug letting loose thoughts cross her mind as she blankly watched the sea swell onto the shore. This morning (as opposed to all other mornings) had been blissfully uneventful. Even the physical touch of Duo from the night before didn't phase her bland mood. What was done was done. In a few hours he would be gone. She could move on.

She wrapped her sweater closer to her body seeking warmth then took a sip of the dark brew. Even Steve seemed to know the darkness of the day as he lay silently on the floor of Hilde's kitchen. She walked over to where the sullen dog lay reaching down to stroke his golden fur sympathetically. The pup whined and looked up at her wagging his tail in an appreciative manner before setting his head back down. She set her mug carefully in the sink trying not to glance over at the small slip of paper sitting over on the counter.

Hilde,

I'll meet you at the prison.

Duo

She shuddered involuntary. This couldn't be healthy. How could a person know someone for a few days (a very small amount of time in comparison to a life span) and yet still feel as though they'd known them forever? *They can't,* Hilde thought resolutely. She was one who strongly disagreed with the concept 'love at first sight'. You might as well say you only care about the person's beauty. She had fallen in love with Jeff at first sight.

She glumly scrubbed at a few dishes absently watching as the running water ran over her fingers. Perhaps it had been the adventure he put in her dull life, perhaps it was a very refreshing break from life. She didn't know why she felt so drawn toward Duo. *But it doesn't matter,* she told herself firmly. That's right; he would be gone before the day fell to night.

She jerked the faucet down cutting the rush off instantly. She walked into the living room and reclined into the loveseat. Her bag lay in the other corner where she had thrown it yesterday. That night…she had jumped at every sound made in the night, yet just as Duo had predicted, nothing came of it. They had told one another how extremely exhausted each one was upon coming home. Each retired to bed faster than Hilde had seen. She had hoped to avoid him, yet now she wasn't so sure.

Pulling out the papers in her bag, she spent the rest of the morning sorting through work files from newspaper clippings, to pictures and notes. The ticking clock slipped far from her mind and she wandered through the numbing effect delving one's self into a task will do. Outside the sun lazily inflated through the atmosphere reaching the peak all too soon. Standing, Hilde stretched her weary limbs and gathered her materials. Steve whined and trotted next to side escorting her to the door. *Poor dog,* Hilde sympathized before walking out the door into the afternoon light.

***

The drive should have been short, but because Hilde had not ever visited the prison, she got lost twice and finally had to stop at a gas station and ask for directions trying to ignore the funny looks she got when inquiring. All together, she was fifteen minutes late. Hoping they would still allow her an interview (despite her late arrival) she hastily made her way to the back where a small secluded room stood.

She met a large heavily tinted window so the prison guards could look inside, but the awaiting interviewee could not see outside. Hilde encountered two shocks. The first was Duo. He was situated before the window-arms crossed and a scowl dominating his face as he examined the awaiting man. The second was none other than Ms. Relena Peacecraft sitting on the waiting couch opposite the window. Her brow was knit with worry and her eyes were lined with deep circles below the lids. She was busy twisting the hems of her skirts nervously. Her eyes did not leave the face of the man inside.

Hilde nodded at Duo as she passed him. She was certainly surprised to see him, but she also knew why he was there. However, Relena's case was something totally different and Hilde couldn't fathom what she wanted. She smiled cautiously reaching Relena's side. Snapping out of her trance, Relena looked up into Hilde's concerned eyes. "I suppose you're wandering why I'm here," she stated in a perfectly monotone voice. Hilde nodded and she said, "Shortly after we talked, I received a phone call from my mother. She said I was being irresponsible and foolish for doing nothing and hired a lawyer for me. He's supposed to be one of the best in the country. She says it's time I start atoning for my family."

Hilde frowned. "Relena," she said, "I don't understand why you don't just do it. It obviously means a lot to your family, and quite frankly, you'd be doing all of us a favor."

"Hilde look at him!" Relena cried letting the first strand of passion coil through her tone. "He's barely our age! Supposing he didn't do anything, am I to be responsible for taking his life?"

"Relena, listen to yourself," Hilde reasoned trying to calm the flustered woman. "The police found his fingerprints everywhere! The bullets he used to kill your uncle matched a gun in his possession, and when your uncle tried to defend himself, he managed to cut his attacker. The blood matches Yuy's one hundred percent."

"I know," Relena sighed. "I can't explain it Hilde, it's like I'm messing with something way beyond just me. It would be one thing if Yuy had molested small children. I wouldn't hesitate. But, when I looked at the files of the other men he has killed, I can't help but see a similarity between them and my uncle, they had terrible records of family abuse and most of their wealth was stolen. Hilde, don't think I'm unrealistic, something just doesn't feel right to me."

Hilde sat down running her hands through her hair as the diplomat pleaded her case. Hilde could see why she was elected; she certainly was persuasive. "What do you want from me?" Hilde asked finally.

A moment's hesitation played between the pair. "Just prove me wrong so that I can get on with my life. I don't know if you've noticed, but I've been having a rather large case of insomnia lately. I can't sleep without thinking about it."

Hilde sighed and nodded standing and gesturing for Duo to follow her. She showed the guard waiting at the door her paperwork and proceeded through the door inside a tiny room. The walls were painted stark white, and a bare- bulb light clung to the ceiling. Four wooden chairs sat about a big table. One chair was occupied.

"Mr. Yuy?" Hilde asked timidly coming to stand before the table. He looked up from his seat at the table and met Duo's eyes first. A spark of recognition glimmered across his Prussian depths. Underneath a tousle of dark brown locks, he nodded vaguely in Hilde's direction. She instantly felt the tension mounting. This was a killer after all.

Taking a seat, she motioned for Duo to take a seat. He merely shook his head and remained standing. She shrugged and continued, "My name is Hilde Schbeiker, I'm from the 'West Jost' and I was hoping you'd answer a few questions for me."

Heero looked in Duo's direction. Duo nodded and Heero gruffly asked, "What kind of questions?"

"You were accused of murdering a countless number of men all of whom were respectable political figures in our community. Is that correct?" she asked producing a note pad and a pen.

"Thirteen, not countless. Yeah, I was accused of killing them. But I wouldn't call them _respectable_," Heero answered.

"Could you elaborate?" Hilde asked.

"They secretly supported governmental conspirators bent on controlling our government," he answered matter-of-factly and Hilde raised her eyebrows. This guy was obviously cracked.

"Can you support this claim?" Hilde asked him curiously.

Heero once again looked over at Duo. "No," he replied.

"Why not?" Hilde asked.

"Because he'd be putting you at risk too," Duo spoke up.

Hilde gave him a sharp look, "Oh God Duo, don't tell me you're mixed up in this also."

"Listen Hilde, it's like what Relena was telling you. There _are_ bigger things going on than you know," Duo said.

Hilde shook her head looking at both Duo and Heero. "That doesn't make any sense. There is no such thing as government conspiracies. They only use that crap as story plots for X-Flies."

"Can you support that claim?" Heero mocked Hilde.

Duo went on talking over Hilde to Heero. "There are many kinds of people in this world Hilde. Some are good, some are bad, but most are both. You never really know which a person is, so you should watch yourself."

Heero nodded obviously understanding the importance of the coded sentence and Hilde lost it. Standing abruptly and narrowing her eyes, she growled, "Apparently I was wrong Mr. Yuy. It seems I would need to talk to your psychiatrist to get a rational answer."

She stormed out of the office not bothering to glance back and check if Duo followed her. Storming passed the security guard; she nearly smacked into an all too familiar presence. "Ms. Schbeiker, how lovely to run into you again," a low gravelly voice dripping with menace said. Hilde froze tilting her head back and looking into an unwelcome sight.

She backed up carefully and nearly ran into Relena. "You've met with my attorney Blake?" Relena asked and Hilde whirled around to face her in a panic.

"Uhh," she stuttered at a loss. Quickly glancing under her lashes, she could not make out Duo's figure behind the door. At least he was concealed. But that didn't make up for the fact that he would have to come out sometime. Soon. "Yes, we've talked on a few occasions," Hilde continued keeping a calm exterior. Inside her heart pounded irregularly.

"Perhaps you'd like to join us for some lunch?" Relena asked obviously relieved by Hilde's acquaintance. Perhaps she thought that Hilde was friends with the guy. Oh, how wrong she was with that one.

She agreed anyway hoping to buy Duo a chance for escape. A pang of guilt stabbed her soul. Perhaps if she hadn't been so rash, she could've helped Duo out a little more. Now she probably wasn't even going to see him again. She hadn't even gotten to say good-bye.

As the trio made their way down the hallway, Relena first, Blake second, Hilde last, she saw a flicker in the shadows behind her. Pretending to turn her head and cough, she locked eyes with a hiding Duo clamed up in the shadows of the hallway. He nodded slightly in her direction and then slipped around the corner disappearing as mysteriously as he had come.

She would never see him again.

***

Author's Note: Wow, I'm really sorry. This chapter was supposed to have two parts: Duo's leaving and another major turn, but as you can see, I've broken it up. So I know that this chapter was majorly funky and screwed up, but it's all I can say for now. I'm really sorry if you couldn't see how that chapter tied in Duo's position in the world. To be quite frank, it didn't really…sorry about that. Anyway, keep reading; next chapter adds a big twist. I'm expecting it to be completed by sometime next week. Perhaps Wednesday if your really good. Thanks to everyone who has already written a review. They really mean so much to me! Tschüs!

-Veledore (veledore@hotmail.com)