Perfect Beauty

Perfect Beauty

Chapter 3

The wind whipped through her hair as she stood upon the ledge looking down at the ground below her. She closed her eyes and took a step off of the ledge, a sense of freedom filling her body. After only a brief moment of free falling, a hand grabbed her, halting her descent abruptly. She looked up only to see Heero holding on to her hand tightly. "Heero, what are you doing?"she cried out.

"What are you thinking?" he yelled at her.

"I'm relieving my father of his pain," she replied, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Please, let me go," she cried out again.

"This is not the answer," Heero said sternly.

Heero quickly pulled her up back onto the terrace safely. Kanani just stood there and looked at him before collapsing onto her knees and weeping uncontrollably. Heero knelt beside her and pulled her into his embrace instinctively. "Why didn't you just let me die? Why?" she sobbed as she looked up at him. "And, how did you know?" she said as she tried to get herself back under control.

"You are what I used to be," he said flatly. "I could see it in your eyes as plain as day."

"What do you mean by that?" she asked, looking to him for some answers.

"That is not important now. You need to realize that you are not the source of your father's pain," he said as he looked into her sorrow filled eyes.

"Then what is?" she retorted.

With his thumb, he gently wiped the remaining tears from her face and said, "That is something he must figure out on his own. Your father has a lot of feelings to sort out and he's going to need you when he does sort out those feelings. Come, let's get you inside before you freeze to death."

Heero stood up, giving his hand to help Kanani up. She took it without question and the warmth of his touch soothed her aching heart. The two of them walked out the garden side by side, Heero keeping a close eye on her. Heero and Kanani went back inside the dormitory and just as Kanani was about to go to her room, Heero said, "You're staying with me tonight."

She paused for a second at what he had just said. Heero saw the confusion in her eyes and said, "Just for tonight. Follow me."

Kanani didn't question anything and just followed Heero up the stairs. 'I'm not going to let another person suffer as I have suffered,' he told himself as he opened the door to his room and walked inside, Kanani right behind him. His room was very simple, just a bed, desk, and a bathroom. The thing that caught Kanani's eye was a small balcony outside his room. "That balcony must be a great place for star gazing," she said out of nowhere.

Heero just looked at her for a second and Kanani realized what he was thinking. "I'm not going to pull that stunt again so don't worry," she said reassuringly.

"You will sleep on the bed, I will take the floor. Here's something for you to sleep in," he said tossing her a pair of sweats. "You can change in the bathroom."

Kanani took the clothes and went to the bathroom to change. Heero made the bed for her and made himself a bed on the floor beside her. Just then Kanani came out of the bathroom, her hair freed from the braid and flowing freely down her back. The sweats were a little big for her but that didn't matter at the moment, she was warm. Kanani looked at the bed Heero had made for himself on the floor. "You don't have to sleep on the floor you know, I'm not that big," she said with a slight grin on her face. "Plus it's a little warmer on the bed."

"I'm fine, now get some rest," he replied as he walked over to turn off the light.

Kanani crawled under the sheets and rested her head on the pillow. As soon as she was comfortable, Heero turned off the lights and made his way over to the side of the bed where he would sleep. Within minutes, Kanani was in a deep sleep, putting her soul at rest for the night.

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It was the middle of the night as the sound of sheets rustling woke Heero. He popped his head up to see what was going on and saw Kanani tossing and turning in her sleep. She was having a bad dream and she couldn't seem to wake up from it. Heero quietly got up and laid in the bed beside her. By placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, he was able to ease her restlessness and calm her down. Heero remained in the bed beside her throughout the night just in case another bad dream would surface. Kanani slept soundly for the rest of the night with Heero by her side.

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Morning came and Heero slowly opened his eyes to see the sleeping Kanani curled up beside him. His lips curved in a slight smile at the girl, she was a lot less annoying when she was asleep. Her eyes slowly fluttered open to see Heero wide awake beside her. She blushed a bright red before cracking a smile and whispering, "Hi there, finally decided to take me up on my offer eh?"

"You were having a bad dream and your tossing and turning woke me up in the middle of the night," he said sleepily.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"You couldn't control it. You had better get up though and get ready for class. You need to pay more attention this time."

She giggled softly and crawled out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. Heero heard the shower turn on and took this moment to change and get himself ready for class as well. He threw on a pair of dark blue jeans and a navy blue sweater. Just as he pulled on his sweater, he heard the shower turn off. He then heard silent curses echoing from within the bathroom. Just then, the door opened slightly and Kanani popped her head out, wearing only a towel. "Uh Heero, do you have something for me to wear," she said shyly, her cheeks turning bright red with embarrassment.

Heero rolled his eyes and muttered, "Just a second," as he began to dig through his closet. "Here," he said as he tossed her a pair a faded blue jeans and a burgundy sweater. Kanani caught them carefully so her towel wouldn't fall off. She nodded a thank you and closed the door to the bathroom. A minute or so later, Kanani stepped out of the bathroom clad in the clothes Heero had given to her. The jeans were a little loose and the top fit just right. "Well?" she said and Heero turned around.

Heero eyed her for a second and said, "Come, we're going to be late for class."

"Hold on just a second, let me braid my hair real quick," she said as she began to work her fingers through her hair. "Ok, let's go," she said as she slipped on her boots and made her way to the door. 'Women,' Heero muttered to himself as he trailed after her with books in hand.

Half way to the main building, a thought came to Kanani's mind. "Heero, what about my books? They're in my room."

"You can share with me for today."

She breathed a sigh of relief and continued walking down the hall. Heero and Kanani made it to class just in time and took their seats in the back of the classroom by Kanani's favorite spot, the window. "Are you going to pay attention this time?" he whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

"Yes I will," she said as she giggled softly.

Just then, the teacher walked into the classroom. "Good morning class. Today we will be doing some work in our textbooks so I hope you all remembered them. If you forgot, I will forgive you today, just find someone to share them with. With that said, please turn to page 10 in your blue book."

Heero pulled out the blue textbook from his bag as Kanani scooted her desk over by his so she could look at it as well. Heero opened the book to the designated page and laid it on the desk between them. "Can you see?" he whispered.

"Yes, thank you," she replied sweetly.

The teacher began her lesson on explaining the fundamentals of the English language. "Now if you turn the page, you will see a nice chart containing the basic principles of English," the teacher said looking up from her book.

Just as Heero was about to turn the page, Kanani reached for it as well. Her hand brushed up against Heero's accidentally and she quickly retracted it and whispered to him, "Sorry, go ahead." Kanani averted her concentration back on the book as Heero looked at her oddly from the corner of his eye. 'Her touch sent a warm feeling running throughout my body, how strange,' he thought as he ogled the girl beside him.

As Kanani was going through the book, she realized something. 'I never thanked him for saving me last night. I will thank him later after school. But I still don't understand how he found out what I was going to do though? He sure is a peculiar guy,' she concluded as she focused back on her school work. Class soon came to an end and everyone gathered up their books and left for their next class.

Kanani followed Heero out of class and out into the hall. "Hey Heero, can I ask you something?"

He stopped in his tracks and turned around to face her. "I was just wondering, how did you know about last night? That is, where I was going. Did you follow me?" she asked curiously, prodding him for some answers.

"That's not important," was all he said as he continued to walk down the hall to the next class.

"But it is important," she said to his back.

He paused and turned around for a moment. He didn't say anything and the look in his eyes frightened Kanani. Her heart sank to her stomach when she saw the emptiness, and the sorrow that loomed inside them. It was almost as if she had triggered something painful within him. Kanani said no more and followed him to class. Heero took a seat towards the back as usual and Kanani sat next to him. There was an awkward silence between them in the last few minutes before the bell. 'I feel so bad now. I knew I shouldn't have pressed the issue, but I just have to know. I mean, he did save my life,' she thought as she stared at her desk. She then propped her forehead on her hand and closed her eyes for a second. 'Boy did I ever blow it. I was finally getting him to talk and now my chances have been reduced from slim to none.'

The bell rang for class to begin just as the teacher walked in the door. Kanani couldn't even look at him, she felt so bad for what she said. The class passed slowly as the tension built up between them. Kanani just wanted to run out of the classroom so she wouldn't have to face him anymore, but that would look a little odd so as soon as the ending bell rang, she practically ran out of the classroom and up to her room. She flopped down on her bed and let out a huge sigh of frustration. "After all he did for me, this is how I repay him? I need to apologize to him, but not now, I will wait until later tonight." Her stomach started to rumble slightly as she held it with her hand. "All right already," she said to her stomach and left her room to head down to the cafeteria.

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Meanwhile, Heero went back up to his room to put his books away and collect his thoughts.

He walked out onto his balcony and leaned up against the rail as the breeze ruffled through his hair. 'What should I tell her?' he thought as he looked out at the landscape. 'I'm not even sure why I did it myself.' Heero shut his eyes momentarily and then walked back inside and took a well deserved shower. He turned the knob and a cascade of water pelted his face, refreshing his body and mind. 'I just don't know what to do.' The hot water of the shower made his body relax to the point of feeling tired so with just a towel wrapped around his waist, he flopped down on his bed and fell asleep, hoping the sleep would help sort out his feelings.

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Kanani grabbed a sandwich from the cafeteria and took it outside to the gardens to eat since it was such a beautiful day. She sat under an old tree that was on top of a grassy knoll and nibbled away at her sandwich. There she contemplated what she was going to say to Heero later that night. 'Words truly are powerful,' she thought as she looked out at the valley below. 'How come I can never seem to say the right ones?' She took the last bite of her sandwich, leaned her head back up against the tree, and shut her eyes. 'I may have lost the closest thing I've ever had to a friend,' she thought sadly as she opened her eyes again and took in the scenery before her. 'Mom, what should I do?' As if almost waiting for an answer, she paused to see if she could hear anything.

'Kanani,' a voice sounded in her head.

This surprised Kanani. 'Am I hearing things?' Not knowing what to do, she replied, "Mom?"

'My dearest daughter, I am sorry that I cannot be here on earth with you anymore but I am with you in spirit, always,' her mother's voice spoke as if it were just a whisper in the wind.

"What do I do mom? I'm so lost," Kanani said, her eyes filling with tears at the sound of her mother's sweet voice.

'My child, you must sort these things out yourself, but I do have a gift that will help you. Hold still child.'

All of a sudden, a ghostly image of her mother appeared before her. "Mommy?" she whispered, trying to keep herself from crying.

Without saying a word, the spirit placed her hand upon her daughter's head and a yellow glow began to emanate from her palm. A tingling sensation filled Kanani's head and made her feel as if she was floating on air. Her mother then pulled her hand away and the tingling feeling ceased. 'I have given you the power to read people's minds, to see into their souls. Use this power wisely my dear, I pray that it will help you in the future.' The ghostly figured placed a gentle kiss on Kanani's forehead, cold to the touch, and then disappeared into the wind. 'Good bye beautiful one,' the voice echoed in the wind.

Kanani touched her forehead as if in disbelief. 'Was this real or was I dreaming?' she thought. "Mom, thank you," she whispered faintly into the breeze as tears flowed freely down her cheeks. The sun was starting its descent in the sky as Kanani got up and walked back towards the school. 'I must talk to Heero,' she declared as she made her way up towards his room. With a gentle rap on the door, she waited patiently for him to answer it. She was just about to leave when the door opened and there stood Heero. "Kanani, what are you doing here?" he asked surprisingly.

"Heero, I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I didn't mean to push you like that," she said apologetically.

He just stared at her, he really didn't know what to say. "Oh and I forgot to tell you thank you, for saving my life." With those last words, she placed a sweat kiss on his cheek and turned on her heal and left, leaving Heero in a state of shock. Heero then shut the door and retreated back into his room. Heero felt his face turn hot as he put his hand on the spot where her lips had just touched his skin. 'What an odd feeling? She sure is a strange girl,' he thought to himself.

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Kanani retreated down the hall, her face burning hot as her cheeks blushed wildly. 'I can't believe I did that. I didn't even think about it, it just happened. Wonder what he thinks about me now?' She made her way back to her dorm room to settle down for the rest of the night and do her homework. She slipped into her pj's, which consisted off a tanktop and flannel bottoms, and laid across her bed to read one of her textbooks. She tried her best to stay awake, studying was not one of her strong points, but the sleepiness overcame her and she drifted off to sleep, her nose stuck in her book.