Disclaimer: Hmmmm … Idon'townGWorSM. That translates to … Idon town Gwor SM. There. I said it. Lol. ^^
A big bunch of thanks and pocky to Ashika for editing! Lol…
Chapter 16: Recalled to Life
Artemis didn't blink as his secretary walked in through the door and handed him his daily mail even though he was startled out of his thoughts. He didn't blink when he flipped through the thick and thin envelopes to one with the return address of Quatre Winner. And though he didn't blink when he opened the letter and read it, his eyebrows slowly rose and disappeared under silver bangs as he digested every word.
Winner's gesture was phenomenal. Despite threats and bluffs, Quatre had, after all, decided to petition for Innocence and had gotten as far as he could get with his influence – preventing the government from laying a finger on Innocence until something drastic occurred.
But the good news didn't come alone. Accompanying it, Quatre informed him of the situation Usagi was in. It was desperate and unless Artemis thought of something to do and fast, Usagi would find herself waiting with twenty-two others come September on death row.
…………………
It was difficult recalling the past night's events when morning came, being drugged on antibiotics and mild painkillers and all, but, after briefly falling asleep for less than an hour right before dawn, Hiiro mulled over the incident. The most obvious conclusion would have been that last night's intruder had been one of Treize's henchmen, out, on orders, for his blood. But, for some reason, his gut instinct told him that Treize had absolutely nothing to do with last night.
"Rise and shine, sleepy-head!" Usagi grinned as she held the door open with her foot, both hands occupied with balancing the breakfast tray. Hiiro jumped and winced as his wound throbbed briefly.
"Let's see … today's room service special was bacon, scrambled eggs, and French toast … how 'bout it, Hiiro?"
He stared starkly at her before calmly replying, no betraying smile on his face, "It's better than anything you would have cooked."
Usagi didn't take it personally and instead grinned down at him. "Looks like you're well enough to be cracking jokes. According to Ami's instructions, you should be up and about any day now."
Hiiro made an attempt to get out of bed but was instantly pushed back down by a stubborn Usagi, shaking her head adamantly. "Nope. Not yet."
"Ami's instructions says I should be up any day now," he argued back coolly, raising an eyebrow at her. "And I have work to do."
"Yeah well, everybody has work to do and Ami's instructions say sometime later this week."
"Am I allowed to see these instructions?"
Usagi tilted her head to one side and studied him for a protracted amount of time. "Are you calling me a liar?"
"No."
"Then what are you saying?"
"That I know my body better than some doctor across the-" He stopped abruptly and jerked to an upright position, eyes darting around the room as he slowly pulled the covers back and attempted to stand up.
Usagi followed the sudden change of mood and glanced uneasily about the room with him. "What is it?"
"I heard something."
She instantly stilled herself and sifted through her pockets surreptitiously, finding that all weapons had been left in her bedroom and muttering a curse under her breath.
"Somebody was in my room last night," he murmured in a low tone as he stood stiffly beside her wearing only sweatpants and an intense look of suspicion and vigilance.
Usagi started and whirled to glare at him. "And you didn't tell me earlier?! What is this, Hiiro? Don't you know I'm on your side?"
"I didn't want to worry you." It sounded like a reasonable enough explanation to him but one eyeful of Usagi's darkening expression and the reasoning didn't seem too great anymore.
"You could've been killed, Hiiro! Why can't you just admit that you need other people's help?!"
"He's always been like that."
Usagi and Hiiro both started and tensed at the new voice.
"Who are you?" she asked in a quiet tone, glancing around the room and balling her fists so that she might be ready for a head-on attack.
"Somebody you know very well…" the voice returned, suddenly sentimental and almost wistful.
She frowned but kept up with the conversation, knowing the voice was familiar and buying herself time to place it. "How did you get in here?"
"Window." The voice was most definitely masculine though she couldn't ascertain exactly from where it was coming from and from Hiiro's all defensive stance, he couldn't either.
"How do you know Hiiro?"
"He's pretty famous in my world … pretty famous in yours too, I might add."
Usagi knew the voice was now taunting her but she decided not to push her luck, choosing to play along. "Why are you here?"
There was no answer.
…………………
Treize groaned, making a note in his planner to fire his secretary come Wednesday. Apparently, his long chase of Tsukino Usagi had leaked out to the press and his secretary, unaware, had scheduled him an interview with a reporter from the New York Times. It was difficult to decide to go on with the interview, considering it was a lose-lose situation for him. If he had decided against it, it would have been obvious that he had something to hide, but going with it could mean his involuntarily giving away a crucial detail.
"Mr. Khushrenada," the reporter greeted. Treize immediately disliked her as she sat down opposite of him without being invited to.
Her formal pantsuit complimented her nicely and arranged itself becomingly when she sat. She brought out a tape recorder, placed it onto his desk, and started it. Chewing the end of her pen, she readied her notepad and finally settled down.
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview you for the New York Times, Mr. Khushrenada," she started. He nodded mutely, mentally aware that if it had been his decision, this interview would never have taken place. "We've heard rumors lately about your almost … obsessive chase of Usagi Tsukino. Can you explain to us why?"
"She's a criminal and needs to be put behind bars. And she's been out for far too long and I swore to myself at the beginning of my appointment as Head of Deputies to finally arrest her."
"So you bear no grudge against her?"
"I bear a grudge against all criminals."
The reporter scribbled away furiously but from the small frown playing on her face, he could tell that his impassive answers frustrated her.
Beat that, he thought to himself as he readied himself for further questioning.
…………………
Usagi cleared her throat and glanced uncomfortably around. "Why are you here?" she repeated.
Finally, the voice sighed and enigmatically replied, "Why don't you answer that yourself."
She didn't take the hint. "Are you out for Hiiro?"
"Not really."
"Then…"
"I'm here because of you, Usagi."
"Here because of…"
Hiiro had had enough of being passive and clenched his fists to his sides. "Cut the crap and answer the question."
"Nope, sorry, Hiiro. I don't take orders from you."
Usagi remained unhearing and unseeing as she repeated the voice's last answer to herself slowly, contemplating it. "Here because of me … here … because of…" she paused and frowned suspiciously. "…me?"
"Here because of you," the voice echoed.
…………………
Treize had to admit to himself that the interview went pretty well. All of his answers led to nowhere. Or, at least, to nowhere that the reporter wanted to go. In short, the New York Times now knew that there was no story here.
"Mr. Khushrenada, a man came by this morning and left this by my phone." The soon to be jobless secretary stepped into his room and handed him a blank envelope with nothing on it except a simple "T. Khushrenada" on its front. He waited until she was out of the room before opening it almost cautiously, wary of anything besides a letter that the envelope might contain.
The paper crinkled as he slowly unfolded it and Treize's frown grew deeper and deeper as he scanned it, skimming once before going back and reading it more detailedly a second time.
Shaking his head slowly, ignoring that he was deathly pale, Treize watched as the paper shredder slowly tore the letter down to thin strips. Was this some sick joke?
…………………
"Stop being a coward and show yourself," Usagi ordered shakily. "If you're who I think you are … you'll have nothing to hide."
"Nothing to hide…" the voice pondered over this. "I suppose it couldn't hurt…"
"Promise to come out with your hands raised." Her voice wavered as she pleaded rather than ordered.
Hiiro prepared his fists as a shadowy figure headed towards them, but Usagi moved to stand in front of him, her body shielding the anonymous person. He growled in frustration as the figure drew closer.
Hiiro gaped and staggered back as, finally, it was plain who the voice had been. Usagi, however, didn't do anything but close her eyes for a shuddering moment and smile weakly at the intruder.
Then, voice soft and almost casual, she carefully said, "How's it been, Duo?"
…………………
Waaahhh~!!! I'm so happy! DUO! Heh heh heh … I missed you. ^^;;; Anyhow … slight turn of events … this is ending at chapter 20! Wow … flies by, doesn't it? Lol. Next chapter is a bit touchy-feely. Lol … Thanks for reading! Yours, Angel.
Kylara: Lol … even if I hear that a lot (which I don't … haha. -___-;;;) each and every one are still as special! As cliched as that sounds … ^^;;;
Princess2000204: Heh heh heh … hints … actually … the only people I describe as to having bright eyes are Quatre, Duo, and girls. So … it couldn't be Quatre … but you'd probably have to know me pretty well to figure out the bright eyes part. Lol. ^^;;;
Firefly Princess: Treize's "cronies" … LOL. ^^ Write!!! Soon! Lol…
