Hey guys! Finally, a 13th chapter! It's not long…but hey, whatever. Some important connections are made here. For the next chapter, just so you'll stop whining, Heero may start to return to character….Questions, comments, suggestions…email me at sacriligevscrossx@hotmail.com ~ Jet
Chapter 13
Pain was all that Yowlin knew. It was around him, through him, and in him. It was all knew since as far back as he could remember. Something far, far back in his memory told him that there had been some other life then this; but for the life of him, he couldn't remember it.
It was about 11:30 and he was resting on a couch in the back room of Aiden Blackard. He thought one of the girls that worked there was rubbing his hair, but it was hard to tell through the pain and fog that resided in his mind. The workers often played with his hair, and sometimes gave him massages after a hard day working at a local logging company. Sometimes he got paid for it, which was strange, but he didn't complain. He never did. Not anymore.
He wasn't paid just for the massages, but the fact that the resident model artists somehow got inspiration for their modeling sketches from him. Now that the Aiden Blackard boutique also carried alien fashions for Drevonians and other important alien species, sketching models had become more convenient and even cheaper then mannequins.
He heard the door to the back room open and shut, and then a voice that he had missed. "Yowlin, my shift's over. I'll give you your medicine and we can go home okay?"
The giant man slowly and painfully opened his eyes. He then recognized the voice that had been talking to him. It was Kobura, his fellow gang mate who had been let off of a sentence except to take care of him, and administer heavy drugs to him each day to keep him from being a threat ever again. The boy had only recently turned 21, and already had seven wives and twelve children. As a native Egyptian, this was normal. However, he had seen neither head nor tail of any of them for three years. It had broken him.
"Yowlin. Are you ready to go?" He asked again.
He lifted his head, and slowly nodded, pulling himself up. It took almost his whole concentration to keep himself from screeching. Instantly, Kobura was at his side. "I'm here for ya buddy." Yowlin gave a grateful nod.
Natasha walked in, he could tell by the smell of her, and spoke to Kobura. "Koby," she said, touching him lightly on the shoulder, "You and Yowlin look tired. You should head home, get some rest."
"Yes Natasha." Kobura replied, knowing a commanding tone when he heard one.
Taking Yowlin's wrist, he walked out. That's when he saw them. Two of the cursed Gundam Pilots; Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy. Heero Yuy. He'd like to think so. Aiden Blackard is more like it. Wait until Odin finds out that he's alive… He gave a glare to Duo, and subconsciously rubbed his left arm. The foot-long scar from a knife Duo had wielded was still there.
Heero was growling at them. Growling! Odin said if he didn't die, he'd at least loose his memory! Darn it all… "Let's go Yowlin."
The ogre followed him out. He looked puzzled, and Kobura sighed. Yowlin had more cobwebbed memories from the drugs then anyone he knew. Except supposedly "Heero." He snorted.
"What's the matter Yowlin?" He asked.
"What…what was Aiden doing with those two people? And why hasn't he come to visit me? I mean…everyone who's in jail…they can't visit me, but why didn't he?" I know he used to hate me, with all that training every day…and he used to get mad when Odin would make me fight him, and when he lost…but…he'd...he'd still visit me wouldn't he?
Kobura sighed, directing Yowlin down a side street, and away from the large crowds. Someone always freaked out when he took him through the market. "Aiden…isn't Aiden anymore. He goes by Heero now. And…he's not our gang-mate anymore. He helped turn us in, remember? Dr. J. made him. That's when he left…and when…you had to go on the drugs."
No Koby, I don't remember. I don't remember anything about my life in this stupid, screwed up, cobweb mind! Yowlin was sub-consciously scanning the back street stands as he stalked past them. He didn't know who he was looking for, but when the man caught his eye, he skidded to a stop.
It was a mutant slave, chained to a stake driven into the ground, waiting for his master to finish sales that day. He was tall, and had brown skin and red hair. Unknown to him, it was the very same mutant Heero had seen earlier.
Kobura noticed how his charge had stopped. "What's up?" And then he noticed what Yowlin was looking at. He inhaled sharply. Even Yowlin would remember Iscrit.
I…I know him…he…Images flashed through Yowlin's head. Then it hit him. Iscrit! My son…Phoenix's and my son…sold as a slave…no…they couldn't have… He bellowed out loud, drawing the attention of everyone, including the merchant and the slave.
A flash of recognition came over Iscrit's hopeless face. "Y..Yowlin? Father?" He said softly, getting to his feet. "Father!" He tugged fiercely at his restraints, crying his father's name over and over, louder each time.
"No…Yowlin…we can't…." Kobura protested. If Yowlin destroyed anything…he wouldn't be up and about much longer.
"Iscrit!" He cried, roaring himself. He tore away from Kobura's grasp, and, ignoring the pain in his bones, ran to his son, wrapping him up tightly in his arms. "Iscrit…." He whispered softly. "Maschata…eiranda….iataraabia." (My son…life has…been so empty without you.) Iscrit began to cry, hugging his father back.
"Chara…beharava…. diaraga ba ne havsa beri." (Awful...it's been terrible…I regret the things I have done to you.)
"Desha. Desha buri soosan naka." (Gone. Everything you've done is gone away.) He soothed.
"Hey, you, Egyptian boy! Get him away from my property! Or I'll call the police!" The merchant threatened, waving his fist angrily.
"Come one Yowlin." The ogre ignored him. Yowlin…I know you'll kill me, but I'm not gonna let them take you! Pressing a button on his watch, he cringed as the ogre screeched in pain as electricity from his metal cuffs shocked him. He looked at his friend with pain-filled eyes. Kobura grabbed him by the wrist, and pulled at him, trying to take him to their house, and away from Iscrit.
What? But Kobura…why? Yowlin whimpered, and let go of his son. "Iscrit…Deshatmata bera. DESHATMATA!" (Iscrit…I'll come back for you. I'LL COME BACK!)
Yowlin stared at the ground his whole way back to their small trailer just outside the city. Once they were there, he yanked away from Kobura and stalked to his room. Iscrit…sold. I…can't. I can't believe it. Why…why would the sell him? He…was in CrossX. They…wouldn't sell…wouldn't sell him.
He heard the door opening softly, and knew it was Kobura. He purposely looked away and muttered, "Come to give me my drugs? Or have you come to tell me that another kid of mine died of flogging?" He spat it out.
Kobura hung his head. "I'm sorry…Yowlin…I didn't want to leave him. But…I don't want you to go to jail either." He paused for a minute, and then continued. "Hold out your arm. I have to give you your shot now."
Yowlin snorted, but stuck his hulk of a left arm out for Kobura to inject. He watched with morbid curiosity as his gang-mate got the needle ready. "Kobura, did CrossX get captured?" He asked before Kobura delivered his shot.
The Egyptian didn't reply until he had injected the contents of the four-inch-long needle into his arm. Then he sighed, and replied while helping Yowlin lay down to get read for the sleep that would come. "Yes. They were caught and received their sentences last year."
Yowlin nodded, but he had already forgotten why he asked the question. His mind drifted. Iscrit…Phoenix's child…had other children…never married…or…was I? Yes…I remember…a girl. Only one to marry me. Her name… "Kobura, what happened to Clept?" He whispered softly as he drifted to sleep. "I want to see her…I…*yawn*…miss her…and my baby, Reora…"
Kobura smiled sadly. He remembers her. I wish he didn't. Her parents broke them up. Made her divorce him, and he doesn't even know. I should tell him, but what's the use. He won't remember it tomorrow. The Egyptian ruffled Yowlin hair, and walked out, giving one sad look over his shoulder as he shut the door.
~~~
Scene: Dakota and Trowa come home.
Dakota smiled. Their lunch had been perfect. Clept had been an absolutely wonderful waitress, bringing them refills of everything, even when they didn't ask her. And when she had sensed that the couple would like some time to themselves, she conveniently didn't show up at the table for a good half an hour.
She looked over at her date. He was smiling, and looked very good that way. He was leaning close to her, smiling softly. "I want to say something to you. I promise to always protect and love you. You are my love, and you mean everything to me. I will be myself to you, you will be the one who knows me. Only you."
Dakota was taken aback. He had never…she breathed in awe. "Thank you. For…everything. And trusting me. But…God knows you too."
He smiled, and got up offering her his hand. "God too."
