Ashleigh walked around campus of the dorms thinking on how she was going to
survive this trip. Yes she has never been in space before, but with the
updates in technology it should be like flying in an airplane right? This
and many questions plagued her head along with one that really stuck out.
Was Duo really dead?
All the evidence pointed in that direction. On TV it showed Deathscythe actually blowing up in space. This was pushing Ashleigh on the edge. The edge of what, no one knows. Insanity? Sorrow? Mourning? Or was it heartbreak?
Ashleigh sat down on a bench having changed into her black leather pants, a red t-shirt, and on top of her shirt she wore the black jacked that Duo gave to her before her flight. Basically she looked like Duo just without the 3-meter braid and colbot eyes. She leaned back and sighed.
"Where are you?" She whispered.
"Excuse me?"
Ashleigh jerked her head up right and looked at the person who had spoken. It was a tall boy with brown hair and brown eyes.
"Yes?"
"I noticed that you weren't looking do well. Are you feeling alright?" He asked sitting down next to her.
"Yes. Thank you. I'm just going through a tough time right now." She gave him a weak smile before looking at the sky.
"My name is Benjy Mathews."
"Ashleigh Berry." She turned her head to look at Benjy, "You look familiar." Ashleigh looked over him, "Oh yea. You're one of the guys Ms. Forester had move so I could workout." Ashleigh turned to look at the sky again.
"Yes. I noticed you are a very skilled swimmer." He leaned back and looked at the sky also.
"I've been swimming for 4yrs. It's no biggy. Sorry. I'm not in the best of moods today. I found out that one of my close friends may have died today."
"I understand. One of my friends did also. He came here for about 3 weeks before he had to leave. I kept in touch with him for a while, but about a week ago he stopped writing. The last letter he wrote to me was telling me about his new girlfriend. I forget her name, but I feel really bad for her. He told me that if I ever met her that he wants me to watch out for her if something happened to him. I'm going to try to find her in my spare time."
Ashleigh was now looking at him in confusion. 'Is this guy talking about Duo?' She thought to herself.
"What was your friend's name?" She spoke up after a few moments of silence.
"Duo Maxwell. Let me tell you he was one of the most popular guys that came here. He had a fan club and everything." He chuckled before looking at her.
"Anno.....I'm curious. What exactly did he say about his girlfriend?" Ashleigh fiddled with the end of the jacket as she looked down at it.
"He said that she was the best person in the entire universe. She had brown curly hair, blue-gray eyes, about 3 inches shorter than him and he is tall. 5'11 I think. She has a personality that no one can seem to resist when she is in a good mood, but when she is mad stay out of her way. Duo told me that she beat the crap out of this girl who decided to call her a whore and got a little frisky with him. I've wanted to meet her. He told me that there is one way to identify her."
"How?"
"By her right hand. I guess there is a ring that she wears on her pinky and almost never takes off."
Ashleigh looked down at her right pinky. 'He told all of that about me? Now I have to find him. Oh god Duo please be alive.' Ashleigh closed her eyes and clinched her fists before standing up.
"I'm sorry, but I have to leave. I'm leaving tomorrow and need to finish packing. It was nice meeting you Benjy. I'll tell Duo hi for you when I find him." Ashleigh shook his hand and took off in a run.
Benjy looked at her dumbfounded.
"By the way," Ashleigh stopped and turned to him, "I am Duo's girlfriend. I'm glad that he has great trust in you to take care of me, but he is not dead and I know it. He would never leave me alone like this." She then turned around and took off.
"If you are Duo's girlfriend then how did you meet?!" Benjy ran after her and stopped about 150yds away from her.
"I fell on top of him." She then took off inside of the building.
"She is Duo's girlfriend." Benjy whispered in disbelief that she had been here all along.
* * *
The next day at the airport.................
"Domo arigato Relena." Ashleigh hugged Relena as they boarded the plane to L2.
"Ja ne Ashleigh! Trinity!" Relena waved as they boarded.
"Thank you for coming with me Trinity." Ashleigh said a little shakily as they took their seats.
"You're welcome. It feels good to be out of school again and to be going home again." Trinity looked at Ashleigh who looked a little sick, "Daijoubu Ashleigh?"
"Yes just a little scared." Ashleigh fiddled with the zipper on her jacket from Duo, "Actually really scared. Are you sure that it is just like flying in a regular airplane?"
"Yes. We won't be leaving the Earth's atmosphere for about an hour. I'll tell you when we are going to in space."
"Alright." Ashleigh sighed as she leaned back in her seat.
"You look really tired Ashleigh. Did you sleep at all last night?" A worried looked crossed Trinity's face.
"Yes, but only for a couple hours." Ashleigh yawned, "I think i'm going to take a nap."
Then in a snap she was asleep and the plane took off. Ashleigh slept the whole trip, but abruptly woke up when they were about 30mins from L2.
"Are you okay Ashleigh?" Trinity put a hand on Ashleigh's arm to find her shaking.
"Not again." Ashleigh leaned over like she was going to be sick.
"Excuse me stewardess. Can we get a flight sickness bag?" Trinity asked as the stewardess walked by.
"Yes mame."
She shortly returned and Trinity gave the bag to Ashleigh. Ashleigh got sick and headed to the restrooms. As she walked down the aisle she didn't notice the set of eyes that followed her.
* * *
Ashleigh and Trinity walked off the shuttle platform and Ashleigh immediately sat back down in some waiting chairs.
"It's a good thing i'm not claustrophobic or I would have gone crazy in there." Ashleigh put her face in her hands as her stomach tried to settle.
Trinity sat down next to her and rubbed her back. After a few moments Ashleigh sat back up and picked up her carry on.
"We'd better go get our stuff and check into the hotel." Ashleigh said warily, "But first I need to stop by the bathroom." Ashleigh started walking to the restrooms.
"Okay. I'll meet you right over there." Trinity pointed over by a food stand.
"Alright." Ashleigh took off to her destination.
As Ashleigh walked she had no idea that the person who was watching her on the plane was following her. Ashleigh walked out of the restroom relieved that the last wave of flying sickness was gone. As she was walking she was pulled in to a empty walk way and a hand clasped over her mouth.
"Don't yell." The figure told her in a quiet voice.
Ashleigh elbowed the person in the stomach and spun around to see who the person was.
"Dammit Trowa don't do that!" Ashleigh yelled at him as he held his injured stomach.
"What are you doing here?" He asked after most of the pain went away.
"I came here looking for Duo." She said sheepishly as she looked at her feet once again fiddling with the zipped of the jacket.
"Duo is dead Ashleigh. I would have thought that you knew that."
"He might not be. I came here cause I might know where he is." She then looked up at him, "What are you doing here?"
"......."
"I don't understand dot language Trowa." She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.
"Relena told Quatra what you were doing and he had me come here to take you back to the academy." He looked at her with his visible eye, "He didn't want you to get hurt again."
"Figures you guys would find out about that. Look I could have protected myself this time. Duo kind of left something in his jacket when he gave it to me." She pulled back the jacket to show the gun he had left in there.
"After the near incident with Heero he gave you a gun?!" Trowa shook his head as he sighed.
"Hey just to let you know Heero and I made up. I'm not trigger happy anymore thank you very much." She folded her arms over her chest and looked out into the crowd, "Shit! I forgot about Trinity." Ashleigh ran out of the walkway.
Trowa grabbed his discarded bag and went after her. He easily caught up with her at a food vendor. He once again startled her when he tapped her on the shoulder.
"Trowa! Don't do that!" She glared at him.
"Then don't take off like that." He shrugged and looked at Trinity.
Trinity looked at him with stars in her eyes. Trowa raised his eyebrow at her.
"You chose Duo over him?! Are you crazy Ashleigh?!" Trinity looked at Ashleigh with disbelief.
Trowa looked at Ashleigh. Ashleigh sighed and shook her head.
"Yes I chose Duo over him. Trowa this is Trinity Maxwell, Duo's little sister. Trinity this is Trowa Barton. He is another one of the guys I stayed with." Ashleigh shrugged as she started to the baggage claim.
After they had collected their luggage they started off to the hotel. Of course Trowa being Trowa stayed quiet the whole way and blocked out the questions Trinity was asking. When they got to the hotel Trowa got a room next to Ashleigh and Trinity's. Before Ashleigh walked into the room Trowa pulled her aside.
"How old is she?" He asked skeptically.
"13. Why?"
"Isn't she a little young to be out here? Especially during the war?"
"Look she hasn't been out of that school since she was 9yrs old. I think she needs to get out. Besides she helped me calm down on the flight."
"Is she anything like Duo?"
"No. We're going to be leaving in 20mins can you be ready to leave since you are now my personal 'bodyguard'?" She said sarcastically.
"I'm already ready." He went into his room and shut the door.
"Whatever." She sighed and went into her own room.
* * *
Trinity, Trowa, and Ashleigh walked down the street to the scrap heap where Ashleigh thought Duo was.
"Ashleigh. Who exactly owns this scrap heap?" Trinity asked giving up on talking to Trowa.
"Her name is Hilde Shubeiker." She told Trinity then turned to Trowa, "According to my comic books he should have met up with her by now."
"......."
"Translation please." Ashleigh glared at him.
"Let's hope you're right." He mumbled.
The trio turned the corner and walked in the gates to the scrap heap. As they were walking and unexpected truck backed up rather quickly and just about hit the three. Trowa grabbed Ashleigh's wrist, but before he could reach Trinity's someone else knocked her out of the way and Trowa pulled Ashleigh out of the way.
"Watch where you are going Fred!" They guy who got Trinity out of the yelled as he helped her up, "Sorry about that babe." He quickly went to the truck and talked to the driver.
"Are you okay Trinity?" Ashleigh ran over to her and Trowa walked.
"I'm fine. That guy really needs to watch where he was going." Trinity scowled as they started to walk to the office.
The guy looked over from where he was talking to 'Fred' to see the girl he got out of the way joined by two others; a boy and a girl. 'Trowa' He thought to himself before going into the warehouse.
* * *
"Good Afternoon. May I help you?" Hilde greeted when Trowa, Trinity, and Ashleigh walked in.
"Yes. We are looking for a Duo Maxwell. We have reasons to believe that he is here." Ashleigh said politely.
'Shit. They found him.' "I'm sorry, but who?" She put on a face of confusion.
"Duo Maxwell."
"I'm sorry, but there is no one here by that name."
Ashleigh's hopes fell at her words. She felt like crying right there, but kept it welled up inside of her.
"Thank you. Sorry for disturbing you." Ashleigh told her with pain in her voice and a look of hurt in her eyes as she turned and walked out of the building.
Trinity and Trowa followed her out. Ashleigh went and sat on a piece of metal and put her hands on her face and began to cry. Trinity and Trowa sat on either side of her. Trinity put her arm around her friend and comforted her.
"We had our hope up to high Ash. We knew that this could have happened." Trinity told her in as soothing way as she could.
"I can't believe he is gone. He is really gone." She choked out, "Can you guys let me be for a few minutes?" She looked up at them.
"Sure." Trinity gave her a slight pat on the back as she and Trowa stood up and went outside the gates.
Ashleigh sat there crying for about 5 more minutes then she just sat there staring at the ground with tears staining her cheeks. She would let out a sob every now and then go back to staring at the ground.
"What cha crying for?" Someone asked from behind her.
"Please leave me alone." She said breaking out into another sob.
"Sorry I can't let anyone who sits in the middle of a scrap heap crying alone." He sat down next to her, "You look like you just found out someone died."
"I just did." She put her hands in her hair and continued to look at the ground.
"Sorry about that. Who was it? Mother, father, family member, friend?"
"My boyfriend. I came here hoping to find him, but I was wrong to even think that he was here." Ashleigh took her hands out of her hair and folded them in her lap still looking at the ground.
"I see. What happened to your friends that came in here with you?"
"I asked them to leave. I wanted to be alone for a while."
"I can understand that. I was like that for a while when my girlfriend was shot."
This sparked Ashleigh's attention.
"I was scared to high heaven that she was dead when her friend found her on our back patio. She pulled through though. If she died I don't know what I would do."
Ashleigh looked up at the guy. He wore a black hat that had "Cart" written on it, a red shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. Ashleigh stared at him for a moment in complete shock. He looked at her and saw the shock in her eyes. He raised an eyebrow at her then toppled over when she tackled him.
"Oh god Duo!" She cried out as she tackled him.
"Whoa there a minute." He cried out as she sat on his stomach, "Who are you?"
Ashleigh sat there staring into his eyes and not answering his question. When he looked at her awkward she unzipped her jacket and lifted up her shirt to where you could see her bandage from her wound.
"A-ashleigh?!" He stared at her in disbelief, "What are you doing here?!"
"I told you already. Looking for you." She choked out in happiness as she stood up and helped him up, "Why in the hell didn't you tell anyone you were alive?!" She demanded, "I was so fucking worried along with everyone else."
"I couldn't. There are people out there looking for me. If I sent out any type of transmission then they would find me. All five of us are supposed to be laying low for now." He explained to her.
Ashleigh let the anger flow out of her before she hugged him, "I had thought that you were gone. Quatra called Relena and Relena told me. I had her arrange to have me and my friend transported up here. Then I found out that Trowa was sent by Quatra to take me back because he didn't want me hurt again." Ashleigh then pulled away and reached into the jacket, "You forgot this." She pulled out the gun and handed it to him.
"So that's what I did with it." He scratched his head and laughed, "I've been looking for this for months."
Ashleigh just stared at him, "You mean I found a gun you were looking for in a split second and you've been searching for months? Why not just dye your hair blond? It would fit with the blond moments you have."
"I resent that." He put his gun back in her jacket and folded his arms over his chest and looked at the sky pouting.
"Will you stop that look? I had to use it on Relena just to get here okay." She laughed and took his hat then took off running towards the gate.
"Hey get back here with that!" He ran after her.
Duo caught up with her at the gate and pinned her to the wall by her wrist.
"Now are you going to hand it over or do I have to force it out of you?" He looked at her mischievously.
"Hey Trin!" Ashleigh yelled.
"Yeah?" She poked her head around the corner.
"Catch!" Ashleigh threw the hat as best as she could to Trinity who caught it, "Now run!" Ashleigh laughed.
"You can be a pain sometimes." Duo rolled his eyes at Ashleigh.
"So can you." She giggled then yelled, "Take it back to the hotel Trin!"
Trinity and took off to the hotel and Trowa followed totally oblivious to what was going on.
Duo sighed and let Ashleigh go knowing that he wasn't getting his hat back anytime soon.
"Oh well. I'll just go get my other one later." He said leaning against the wall then looked at Ashleigh, "I'm guessing the girl that I had to knock out of the way earlier was Trin."
"Yep. Trowa would have gotten her too, but you got there first." Ashleigh leaned against him, "Benjy says Hi."
"I see you meet Benjy."
"No ya think? I was sitting outside last night and he came up and talked to me. He seems to be a good friend if you trust him so much to take care of me."
"Yea. He was the one who saved me from all the girls."
There was a moment of silence before someone spoke up, "I made the swim team there. I'm actually the fastest one."
"That's good. Maybe it will help your side get better."
"Maybe you should go back to school."
"NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Not you too!" He sprawled up against the wall.
"I'll just drag ya to Saint Gabriels again and put you through the torture of the pacifism class."
"Oh hell no! You are NOT getting me back into that class!" Duo stared down at her and Ashleigh glared back at him.
"Fine."
"Fine."
"I have a surprise for you."
"What?"
"Can't tell you other wise it wouldn't be a surprise."
"Is it a new Deathscythe?"
"Do I look like i'm made of money?"
"Anno........."
"You answer that you will regret it." She poked him in the chest and then went to her purse and dug around in it before pulling out a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote something on it and handed to him, "Here is where we are staying. Come by tonight if you can, K?"
"Alright."
"I'd better get going so that Trowa and Trin don't start worrying about me." She gave him a hug and a kiss then left.
"See ya laters!"
All the evidence pointed in that direction. On TV it showed Deathscythe actually blowing up in space. This was pushing Ashleigh on the edge. The edge of what, no one knows. Insanity? Sorrow? Mourning? Or was it heartbreak?
Ashleigh sat down on a bench having changed into her black leather pants, a red t-shirt, and on top of her shirt she wore the black jacked that Duo gave to her before her flight. Basically she looked like Duo just without the 3-meter braid and colbot eyes. She leaned back and sighed.
"Where are you?" She whispered.
"Excuse me?"
Ashleigh jerked her head up right and looked at the person who had spoken. It was a tall boy with brown hair and brown eyes.
"Yes?"
"I noticed that you weren't looking do well. Are you feeling alright?" He asked sitting down next to her.
"Yes. Thank you. I'm just going through a tough time right now." She gave him a weak smile before looking at the sky.
"My name is Benjy Mathews."
"Ashleigh Berry." She turned her head to look at Benjy, "You look familiar." Ashleigh looked over him, "Oh yea. You're one of the guys Ms. Forester had move so I could workout." Ashleigh turned to look at the sky again.
"Yes. I noticed you are a very skilled swimmer." He leaned back and looked at the sky also.
"I've been swimming for 4yrs. It's no biggy. Sorry. I'm not in the best of moods today. I found out that one of my close friends may have died today."
"I understand. One of my friends did also. He came here for about 3 weeks before he had to leave. I kept in touch with him for a while, but about a week ago he stopped writing. The last letter he wrote to me was telling me about his new girlfriend. I forget her name, but I feel really bad for her. He told me that if I ever met her that he wants me to watch out for her if something happened to him. I'm going to try to find her in my spare time."
Ashleigh was now looking at him in confusion. 'Is this guy talking about Duo?' She thought to herself.
"What was your friend's name?" She spoke up after a few moments of silence.
"Duo Maxwell. Let me tell you he was one of the most popular guys that came here. He had a fan club and everything." He chuckled before looking at her.
"Anno.....I'm curious. What exactly did he say about his girlfriend?" Ashleigh fiddled with the end of the jacket as she looked down at it.
"He said that she was the best person in the entire universe. She had brown curly hair, blue-gray eyes, about 3 inches shorter than him and he is tall. 5'11 I think. She has a personality that no one can seem to resist when she is in a good mood, but when she is mad stay out of her way. Duo told me that she beat the crap out of this girl who decided to call her a whore and got a little frisky with him. I've wanted to meet her. He told me that there is one way to identify her."
"How?"
"By her right hand. I guess there is a ring that she wears on her pinky and almost never takes off."
Ashleigh looked down at her right pinky. 'He told all of that about me? Now I have to find him. Oh god Duo please be alive.' Ashleigh closed her eyes and clinched her fists before standing up.
"I'm sorry, but I have to leave. I'm leaving tomorrow and need to finish packing. It was nice meeting you Benjy. I'll tell Duo hi for you when I find him." Ashleigh shook his hand and took off in a run.
Benjy looked at her dumbfounded.
"By the way," Ashleigh stopped and turned to him, "I am Duo's girlfriend. I'm glad that he has great trust in you to take care of me, but he is not dead and I know it. He would never leave me alone like this." She then turned around and took off.
"If you are Duo's girlfriend then how did you meet?!" Benjy ran after her and stopped about 150yds away from her.
"I fell on top of him." She then took off inside of the building.
"She is Duo's girlfriend." Benjy whispered in disbelief that she had been here all along.
* * *
The next day at the airport.................
"Domo arigato Relena." Ashleigh hugged Relena as they boarded the plane to L2.
"Ja ne Ashleigh! Trinity!" Relena waved as they boarded.
"Thank you for coming with me Trinity." Ashleigh said a little shakily as they took their seats.
"You're welcome. It feels good to be out of school again and to be going home again." Trinity looked at Ashleigh who looked a little sick, "Daijoubu Ashleigh?"
"Yes just a little scared." Ashleigh fiddled with the zipper on her jacket from Duo, "Actually really scared. Are you sure that it is just like flying in a regular airplane?"
"Yes. We won't be leaving the Earth's atmosphere for about an hour. I'll tell you when we are going to in space."
"Alright." Ashleigh sighed as she leaned back in her seat.
"You look really tired Ashleigh. Did you sleep at all last night?" A worried looked crossed Trinity's face.
"Yes, but only for a couple hours." Ashleigh yawned, "I think i'm going to take a nap."
Then in a snap she was asleep and the plane took off. Ashleigh slept the whole trip, but abruptly woke up when they were about 30mins from L2.
"Are you okay Ashleigh?" Trinity put a hand on Ashleigh's arm to find her shaking.
"Not again." Ashleigh leaned over like she was going to be sick.
"Excuse me stewardess. Can we get a flight sickness bag?" Trinity asked as the stewardess walked by.
"Yes mame."
She shortly returned and Trinity gave the bag to Ashleigh. Ashleigh got sick and headed to the restrooms. As she walked down the aisle she didn't notice the set of eyes that followed her.
* * *
Ashleigh and Trinity walked off the shuttle platform and Ashleigh immediately sat back down in some waiting chairs.
"It's a good thing i'm not claustrophobic or I would have gone crazy in there." Ashleigh put her face in her hands as her stomach tried to settle.
Trinity sat down next to her and rubbed her back. After a few moments Ashleigh sat back up and picked up her carry on.
"We'd better go get our stuff and check into the hotel." Ashleigh said warily, "But first I need to stop by the bathroom." Ashleigh started walking to the restrooms.
"Okay. I'll meet you right over there." Trinity pointed over by a food stand.
"Alright." Ashleigh took off to her destination.
As Ashleigh walked she had no idea that the person who was watching her on the plane was following her. Ashleigh walked out of the restroom relieved that the last wave of flying sickness was gone. As she was walking she was pulled in to a empty walk way and a hand clasped over her mouth.
"Don't yell." The figure told her in a quiet voice.
Ashleigh elbowed the person in the stomach and spun around to see who the person was.
"Dammit Trowa don't do that!" Ashleigh yelled at him as he held his injured stomach.
"What are you doing here?" He asked after most of the pain went away.
"I came here looking for Duo." She said sheepishly as she looked at her feet once again fiddling with the zipped of the jacket.
"Duo is dead Ashleigh. I would have thought that you knew that."
"He might not be. I came here cause I might know where he is." She then looked up at him, "What are you doing here?"
"......."
"I don't understand dot language Trowa." She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.
"Relena told Quatra what you were doing and he had me come here to take you back to the academy." He looked at her with his visible eye, "He didn't want you to get hurt again."
"Figures you guys would find out about that. Look I could have protected myself this time. Duo kind of left something in his jacket when he gave it to me." She pulled back the jacket to show the gun he had left in there.
"After the near incident with Heero he gave you a gun?!" Trowa shook his head as he sighed.
"Hey just to let you know Heero and I made up. I'm not trigger happy anymore thank you very much." She folded her arms over her chest and looked out into the crowd, "Shit! I forgot about Trinity." Ashleigh ran out of the walkway.
Trowa grabbed his discarded bag and went after her. He easily caught up with her at a food vendor. He once again startled her when he tapped her on the shoulder.
"Trowa! Don't do that!" She glared at him.
"Then don't take off like that." He shrugged and looked at Trinity.
Trinity looked at him with stars in her eyes. Trowa raised his eyebrow at her.
"You chose Duo over him?! Are you crazy Ashleigh?!" Trinity looked at Ashleigh with disbelief.
Trowa looked at Ashleigh. Ashleigh sighed and shook her head.
"Yes I chose Duo over him. Trowa this is Trinity Maxwell, Duo's little sister. Trinity this is Trowa Barton. He is another one of the guys I stayed with." Ashleigh shrugged as she started to the baggage claim.
After they had collected their luggage they started off to the hotel. Of course Trowa being Trowa stayed quiet the whole way and blocked out the questions Trinity was asking. When they got to the hotel Trowa got a room next to Ashleigh and Trinity's. Before Ashleigh walked into the room Trowa pulled her aside.
"How old is she?" He asked skeptically.
"13. Why?"
"Isn't she a little young to be out here? Especially during the war?"
"Look she hasn't been out of that school since she was 9yrs old. I think she needs to get out. Besides she helped me calm down on the flight."
"Is she anything like Duo?"
"No. We're going to be leaving in 20mins can you be ready to leave since you are now my personal 'bodyguard'?" She said sarcastically.
"I'm already ready." He went into his room and shut the door.
"Whatever." She sighed and went into her own room.
* * *
Trinity, Trowa, and Ashleigh walked down the street to the scrap heap where Ashleigh thought Duo was.
"Ashleigh. Who exactly owns this scrap heap?" Trinity asked giving up on talking to Trowa.
"Her name is Hilde Shubeiker." She told Trinity then turned to Trowa, "According to my comic books he should have met up with her by now."
"......."
"Translation please." Ashleigh glared at him.
"Let's hope you're right." He mumbled.
The trio turned the corner and walked in the gates to the scrap heap. As they were walking and unexpected truck backed up rather quickly and just about hit the three. Trowa grabbed Ashleigh's wrist, but before he could reach Trinity's someone else knocked her out of the way and Trowa pulled Ashleigh out of the way.
"Watch where you are going Fred!" They guy who got Trinity out of the yelled as he helped her up, "Sorry about that babe." He quickly went to the truck and talked to the driver.
"Are you okay Trinity?" Ashleigh ran over to her and Trowa walked.
"I'm fine. That guy really needs to watch where he was going." Trinity scowled as they started to walk to the office.
The guy looked over from where he was talking to 'Fred' to see the girl he got out of the way joined by two others; a boy and a girl. 'Trowa' He thought to himself before going into the warehouse.
* * *
"Good Afternoon. May I help you?" Hilde greeted when Trowa, Trinity, and Ashleigh walked in.
"Yes. We are looking for a Duo Maxwell. We have reasons to believe that he is here." Ashleigh said politely.
'Shit. They found him.' "I'm sorry, but who?" She put on a face of confusion.
"Duo Maxwell."
"I'm sorry, but there is no one here by that name."
Ashleigh's hopes fell at her words. She felt like crying right there, but kept it welled up inside of her.
"Thank you. Sorry for disturbing you." Ashleigh told her with pain in her voice and a look of hurt in her eyes as she turned and walked out of the building.
Trinity and Trowa followed her out. Ashleigh went and sat on a piece of metal and put her hands on her face and began to cry. Trinity and Trowa sat on either side of her. Trinity put her arm around her friend and comforted her.
"We had our hope up to high Ash. We knew that this could have happened." Trinity told her in as soothing way as she could.
"I can't believe he is gone. He is really gone." She choked out, "Can you guys let me be for a few minutes?" She looked up at them.
"Sure." Trinity gave her a slight pat on the back as she and Trowa stood up and went outside the gates.
Ashleigh sat there crying for about 5 more minutes then she just sat there staring at the ground with tears staining her cheeks. She would let out a sob every now and then go back to staring at the ground.
"What cha crying for?" Someone asked from behind her.
"Please leave me alone." She said breaking out into another sob.
"Sorry I can't let anyone who sits in the middle of a scrap heap crying alone." He sat down next to her, "You look like you just found out someone died."
"I just did." She put her hands in her hair and continued to look at the ground.
"Sorry about that. Who was it? Mother, father, family member, friend?"
"My boyfriend. I came here hoping to find him, but I was wrong to even think that he was here." Ashleigh took her hands out of her hair and folded them in her lap still looking at the ground.
"I see. What happened to your friends that came in here with you?"
"I asked them to leave. I wanted to be alone for a while."
"I can understand that. I was like that for a while when my girlfriend was shot."
This sparked Ashleigh's attention.
"I was scared to high heaven that she was dead when her friend found her on our back patio. She pulled through though. If she died I don't know what I would do."
Ashleigh looked up at the guy. He wore a black hat that had "Cart" written on it, a red shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. Ashleigh stared at him for a moment in complete shock. He looked at her and saw the shock in her eyes. He raised an eyebrow at her then toppled over when she tackled him.
"Oh god Duo!" She cried out as she tackled him.
"Whoa there a minute." He cried out as she sat on his stomach, "Who are you?"
Ashleigh sat there staring into his eyes and not answering his question. When he looked at her awkward she unzipped her jacket and lifted up her shirt to where you could see her bandage from her wound.
"A-ashleigh?!" He stared at her in disbelief, "What are you doing here?!"
"I told you already. Looking for you." She choked out in happiness as she stood up and helped him up, "Why in the hell didn't you tell anyone you were alive?!" She demanded, "I was so fucking worried along with everyone else."
"I couldn't. There are people out there looking for me. If I sent out any type of transmission then they would find me. All five of us are supposed to be laying low for now." He explained to her.
Ashleigh let the anger flow out of her before she hugged him, "I had thought that you were gone. Quatra called Relena and Relena told me. I had her arrange to have me and my friend transported up here. Then I found out that Trowa was sent by Quatra to take me back because he didn't want me hurt again." Ashleigh then pulled away and reached into the jacket, "You forgot this." She pulled out the gun and handed it to him.
"So that's what I did with it." He scratched his head and laughed, "I've been looking for this for months."
Ashleigh just stared at him, "You mean I found a gun you were looking for in a split second and you've been searching for months? Why not just dye your hair blond? It would fit with the blond moments you have."
"I resent that." He put his gun back in her jacket and folded his arms over his chest and looked at the sky pouting.
"Will you stop that look? I had to use it on Relena just to get here okay." She laughed and took his hat then took off running towards the gate.
"Hey get back here with that!" He ran after her.
Duo caught up with her at the gate and pinned her to the wall by her wrist.
"Now are you going to hand it over or do I have to force it out of you?" He looked at her mischievously.
"Hey Trin!" Ashleigh yelled.
"Yeah?" She poked her head around the corner.
"Catch!" Ashleigh threw the hat as best as she could to Trinity who caught it, "Now run!" Ashleigh laughed.
"You can be a pain sometimes." Duo rolled his eyes at Ashleigh.
"So can you." She giggled then yelled, "Take it back to the hotel Trin!"
Trinity and took off to the hotel and Trowa followed totally oblivious to what was going on.
Duo sighed and let Ashleigh go knowing that he wasn't getting his hat back anytime soon.
"Oh well. I'll just go get my other one later." He said leaning against the wall then looked at Ashleigh, "I'm guessing the girl that I had to knock out of the way earlier was Trin."
"Yep. Trowa would have gotten her too, but you got there first." Ashleigh leaned against him, "Benjy says Hi."
"I see you meet Benjy."
"No ya think? I was sitting outside last night and he came up and talked to me. He seems to be a good friend if you trust him so much to take care of me."
"Yea. He was the one who saved me from all the girls."
There was a moment of silence before someone spoke up, "I made the swim team there. I'm actually the fastest one."
"That's good. Maybe it will help your side get better."
"Maybe you should go back to school."
"NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Not you too!" He sprawled up against the wall.
"I'll just drag ya to Saint Gabriels again and put you through the torture of the pacifism class."
"Oh hell no! You are NOT getting me back into that class!" Duo stared down at her and Ashleigh glared back at him.
"Fine."
"Fine."
"I have a surprise for you."
"What?"
"Can't tell you other wise it wouldn't be a surprise."
"Is it a new Deathscythe?"
"Do I look like i'm made of money?"
"Anno........."
"You answer that you will regret it." She poked him in the chest and then went to her purse and dug around in it before pulling out a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote something on it and handed to him, "Here is where we are staying. Come by tonight if you can, K?"
"Alright."
"I'd better get going so that Trowa and Trin don't start worrying about me." She gave him a hug and a kiss then left.
"See ya laters!"
