Rose colored curtains cover large decorative windows, casting a cheerful light throughout an extravagantly designed bedroom. In the center of the room, seated on her cushion chair like a painted doll, Relena Peacecraft sits as if ready to be played with by a young and spoiled child.
Maids are attending to her every need, singing songs of praise to the princess of Heaven.
"Oh Miss Relena, you have such lovely hair." One maid proudly says as she brushes it.
"Your eyes look so powerful dressed in this way; and with your hair in such high fashion too! It's no wonder why so many would devote their lives to your service." The other continues.
Under the guidance of Relena, the world reveled in peace and serenity, and in her position Relena had acquired many admirers. Many would give anything for her place in the Kingdom of Heaven, but would they truly desire the position if they knew the true life that she lived from day to day? Would everything seem rose tinted when the horrible shadow of truth bore down over the cheerful, false light?
Contrary to the popular belief of her people; with each passing day in Heaven, Relena continues to grow increasingly bitter and disgusted. Despite the elaborate show that she puts on in front of her people, in reality all that she is in Heaven is a doll set on display. Her only purpose, was to bring hope for the workers in Pearl City and to make them think that their royal family has not forgotten them.
The same royal family that in the dark past, sent them to work in slavery; the same royal family that condemned them to a meaningless and doomed life, while those in Heaven sit above them drinking tea and eating expensive foods; the same royal family, that would not lift a single finger in aid, or spill a drop of blood to save them when the wars came.
Yes, after realizing the truth, Relena has learned to hate her life. There are marks on her wrists that now serve as a constant reminder of her anger, and her deep sorrow . . .
"Why won't they just let me die?" Relena asked herself, trying not to speak loudly. Across the room she could see Dorothy seated quietly, staring at her. Dorothy was seated in her plush, pink chair, drinking tea as she always does when it's time to play dress up with Relena. Her cold eyes look deep into the soul of Relena; always knowing; always seeing. Relena looks away from her, knowing that she has been found out. No matter how she tries, or what precautions she takes, it seems Relena can never escape Dorothy's gaze or presence.
"Why? I can't go on living in such a lie as this . . ." Her voice used to be spirited in nature, now only sounds as old and tortured as if rising from the grave.
"Why Miss Relena, do I detect another episode coming on?" Dorothy says from across the room. She sits up strait and stares at Relena before continuing. "Should I call Sally in to give you your shot to make you a good little Princess while Treize plays King?"
"Plays God you mean!" Relena shouts.
Damn . . . I can't afford an outburst like that to Dorothy.
"No Dorothy, You don't need to trouble yourself with calling Sally." Relena recomposed herself. "I'm feeling better."
"Come now Relena, there is no need to feel that way. His Excellency is just doing for your people what you could not, what you were never able to do . . . Rule." Setting down her cup Dorothy strolls to be at Relena's side. Relena could feel needles running up her spine as Dorothy crosses the room; her dress began making a ruffling sound with every step, each sound brining discomfort closer to home. "You just give one of those beautiful speeches of yours like you always do, so that the people stay loyal to you and let His Excellency handle the rest."
Dorothy waves for the maids to move aside; as they retreat, Dorothy slides behind Relena and wraps her arms tightly around Relena's sides. Both women look deeply into the mirror before them; each seeing something different.
"Now how hard is that? The people love you Miss Relena; we all do." Dorothy whispered in Relena's ear and rubbed her cheek against Relena's neck. "So just smile pretty for them, because; it just may be the only happiness they have." Dorothy kisses Relena's cold cheek and begins to back away.
Relena began feeling less frightened as Dorothy started to leave, but when Dorothy Catalonia was involved, nothing is ever easy or calm.
"Maybe what is really ailing you right now isn't yourself, but maybe it is a certain purple eyed ex-bodyguard that's gone missing?" Dorothy's voice boiled over with friendly warmth as she spoke. The idea that Dorothy was happy as she said it brought back Relena's unease. On impulse, Relena turns and glares toward the offending blonde. "I wonder what he's doing right now? I wonder if he's even thinking of you?" Dorothy laughs as she exits the room.
Dorothy knew her words were like a dagger plunging deeply into Relena's heart; her demeanor had been poor all morning knowing that he was still missing and Dorothy's words were salt on an all ready open and bleeding wound. She stared out of her window, gazing over the Slaughter Pen through the clouds. Relena would have cried then, if her tears had not been used up so long ago . . .
"Duo, I am so, so sorry . . ."
The sky glowed red with the anticipation of the rising sun waiting behind the horizon. Heaven glides hidden amongst the clouds, but the site of the ground poking out shows it is a forever present.
Maxwell stands outside the building that has provided him shelter for the past week deep in thought. His memory, unlike his body, has shown no sign of improvements in the passing days. Hilde has been a big help, risking her life by asking around for any kind of information. Sadly she has come up with nothing more than what Howard has told him. He pulls out a money clip that holds five thousand dollars it, staring blankly at it trying to remember why he would have such a thing. Something that Hilde said was also was bothering him; the letters RW are engraved onto it; another mystery to add to an all ready too long list with no answers in sight. Taking in a deep breath and sighing heavily, Maxwell looks toward Heaven.
"Relena . . ."
She could possibly be the answer to the questions that keep running through my mind over and over, but how can I get to her . . . ?
"Don't even think about it! Getting into Heaven is impossible. And, even if somehow you do, Relena is going to be heavily guarded!" Hilde exclaimed, walking up beside him.
"I know babe, but she may be the key to who I am. I remember her. She must be important to me." Hilde, like so many times before in the week, wraps her arms around Maxwell's waist in a comforting hug. Maxwell, returning the hug, knows what he must do despite Hilde's protests. "I need to get into Heaven Hilde, would you please help me?"
"Damn you." She replied shaking her head in annoyance. "If you keep this up, you're likely going to get yourself killed."
"Nah, Heero already killed me remember? And I don't think much can be done to a man that is all ready dead."
"Don't you mean, to the God of Death." Hilde remarked.
Maxwell couldn't help but chuckle.
"You're right. I guess I am Shinigami." The name has grown on him but he can't help but wonder. What did he do to obtain such a nickname? "So I guess we should tell Howard."
Hilde pulls away; her eyes are soft but hold a hidden sadness that never seems to leave, even when he would make her laugh. In the few days he has known her, she has become close to him. His only friend here, his only connection to this messed up world. Maxwell feels like he has known her his whole life; yet in a twisted manner, it was true. His life as the newly found Maxwell had only begun one week ago.
"We can't. Howard is a great guy and all but it could endanger us both. It's best to keep things to ourselves. Even though Howard is a good man, in the wrong circumstances, he may become a liability we cannot afford." Hilde stretches out like a happy cat waking from a long nap. She smiles at him as she disappears into the building only to quickly return with two cups of coffee.
"Here, we have time before Howard wakes up." Maxwell nods thanks as he takes the cup. He looks down into the black drink. Hilde told him it was too soon for him to drink coffee so this must mean she thinks he's ready for it. Maxwell takes a small sip to test out the drink. Tears fill his eyes as the coffee gives him a quick punch. It was strong, but good at the same time. "Black, just the way you like it."
Maxwell jerks his head toward Hilde, startled by her words. Hilde doesn't look at him, showing only her profile to him as she looks into her own cup.
"What did you say?" He says darkly.
"You seem like the type of guy that likes his coffee black." An innocent response, almost. Maxwell was going to insist she elaborate but decides against it.
"Right." Taking a deep sip coffee Maxwell looks toward Heaven. "It's odd. There is barely enough food to go around but there seems to be a great abundance of coffee."
"It keeps us working. Heaven wants us to have coffee to stay up longer and all that shit."
"How kind of them." Maxwell states sarcastically. The rest of the time is spent in silence as they finish their coffee. Both lost in their thoughts.
By the time Howard had awoken up the sun had already risen. He checks in the back room for Duo and Hilde, but finds it empty. Moving toward the window he sees two empty cups on the windowsill. It was obvious that Duo and Hilde were no longer in the building, and it wasn't clear if they were going to return. He knew sometime soon Duo would have to leave, probably for the best.
"Howard?" The old man almost jumped out of his skin at the cold familiar voice.
"Trowa! How's it going man? Long time no see huh?" Howard's voice is smooth and cool, revealing nothing of his confusion.
"Where is Duo?"
"Blunt and to the point as always. Dead I guess. Much like Solo. Why are you asking me?"
"There is no body. Solo's we found but not Duo's. And until we find a body he's a lose end." Trowa walks over to Howard, towering high over the old man. "And we can't have that. Now can we?" Howard gulps at the power Trowa emits in his cold and emotionless gaze. But for Duo's sake, he has to be strong.
"Damn it Trowa! Duo isn't some lose end! He's a human being! And I thought he was also your friend."
"If he gets caught he could kill us all with what he knows; ruin everything we've worked so hard for. I will not lose it, not even for him."
"But if he's alive and we can save him before he's found . . ."
"Unless we know where he is, and what's happened, that is not an option. I do not expect it to be an open option either."
"God damn you Trowa! I won't let you do this! Let's try and save him ok? Remember, he's our friend."
"Hmm." Trowa seems to ease up. "Middie said the same thing. I know this is hard but Heero is on the move and no orders were given. It must mean Duo is alive and Heero's on his trail."
"You think so? Trowa . . ."
"I will find him and bring him back, dead or alive. Duo will be found." Trowa nods to the old man before turning to leave. "Oh, by the way. How are the boy's coming along?"
"Coming along just great now that we have the Mad Five helping out. We should be ready soon." Trowa makes a nod of approval as he leaves. Howard just watches the young man walk off praying he doesn't go in the direction Duo and Hilde went. Howard breaths a sigh of relief as Trowa leaves in the direction he had come from. Duo and Hilde are safe for now. But what of Heero?
"Maxwell, where are we going?" Asks Hilde as they walk down the streets of Slaughter Pen. Men stare hungrily at her, but make no moves toward her while she remains close to Maxwell. Women of the street with their painted smiles reach out to Maxwell sometimes touching him as he passes calling out their prices. Hilde fought a near loosing battle to control her urge to punch them.
"Just walking that's all. I haven't been out of the shop since day one, and so I'm looking around. Learning my way around."
"What? Du - Don't you know the danger this place poses for us!? We're not fucking window shopping here! This is life or death!"
"What are you talking about?" Maxwell smiles at one pretty woman as he passes by. He stops when he doesn't hear a response from her. The woman he just smiled at points to the alleyway. Walking over, Maxwell sees nothing but shadow. "Hilde?" Nothing. "Babe where did you go?" A man comes out of the shadows with Hilde in his arms, a hand over her mouth.
"Looking for her?"
"Yeah, let her go."
"What you got?" He smiles at Maxwell as he tightens his hold on her. Maxwell reaches into his coat, pulling out the badge.
"This." He shows the badge to the man and grins as the man pails at the sight of the name Heero Yuy. The man slowly lets Hilde go who imminently runs behind Maxwell.
"H-heero! I wasn't going to do no harm to the little lady."
"Little?!" Hilde yells at the insult.
"My girl here doesn't seem to like your choice of words. Let's try that apology again."
"Uh. . . I . . . don't kill me!" The man disappears into the shadows.
"Hey! Get back here!" Maxwell runs after him leaving Hilde behind.
"Maxwell wait! Don't leave me." A still silence surrounds her and soon Hilde can feel eyes on her, making her skin crawl. Seeing no choice she runs into the darkness after them. The sun, high in the sky, cannot even seem to penetrate this darkness with its light. Wrapping her arms around herself, Hilde ventures on.
There seems to be no sign of Maxwell or the guy. Left alone again. The thought scares her but the blood curdling scream almost gives her a heart attack. "Duo!" Not caring anymore Hilde runs to his aid. She didn't have to run far to find him hunched over. Slowly she walks to him. Is he hurt? Where is the other guy? Looking down she sees that he's hunched over a body. "H-hey?" Her voice is uncertain as she comes closer. Maxwell looks over his shoulder at her. His eyes dark but upon seeing her they lighten up and he grins at her.
"Hey babe. Stay there for a sec." He orders as he returns to whatever he was doing. Hilde, staying where she is, looks over his shoulder as best as she can. But what she saw she wishes she didn't look. Duo was fine; it was the other guy that wasn't. And now Duo writes out the name Heero Yuy in the guy's blood. Once done, Duo gets up and dusts himself off. Turning around he smiles to her like nothing was wrong.
"What? If I going to use Heero's name I need to act like him."
A shiver runs over Hilde's spine; something in the act did not sit well with her. The sooner he finished and the faster they got away from the gruesome sight, the better she would feel. "Don't make it a common thing ok?" Maxwell drapes an arm over her shoulder as he leads her away from the unpleasant site.
"Nah, seem like a tight ass to me." The two leave unknowingly of the eyes that watch them. As soon as Maxwell and Hilde are gone from the scene, the eyes gain a body and emerge from the shadows. A smile spreads on their face as they think of how much they could get from this little bit of information.
Hours have pasted since the incident in the alley and the sun is starting to set. Hilde, staying closer to Maxwell, is starting to panic. If they don't find shelter soon they are going to be faced with bigger problems. Night is when the big boys like to come out and play. Maxwell, sensing her discomfort, gives her shoulder a light squeeze.
"Let's call it a night and . . . Hey what's that?" Maxwell points The Devil's Den. "I think I've been here before."
"I hope not!"
"Nope. I have, I remember this place!" For the first time Maxwell feels the joy of hope. All day they have been walking around looking for anything that feels familiar. "Let's go in." Hilde halts his movements.
"No Maxwell! This place is bad news! It is home to Slaughter Pen's most feared residents. Owned by the crime boss Alex Cross. Nothing good ever comes from this place."
"Hilde, maybe you should go. I don't want you to get hurt. Just hide somewhere and I'll find you when I'm done ok?" Hilde gives him her best glare.
"I'm the only friend you got." And that is all that needs to be said. Turning toward Devil's Den they took a deep breath. "Let's go." Maxwell nods and moves toward the building.
As they enter a wall of familiar scents fills his nose. Yes, he was here before. Now he needs to know why. Looking around he sees all kinds of people here. They give him one glance and return to whatever they where doing. Maxwell was hoping someone would recognize him but none approached him.
"Hey there handsome. Long time no see huh?" Maxwell and Hilde look to a blonde woman behind the bar. She smiles sweetly at him and she moves around the bar. The woman moves to stand in front of Maxwell with one had on her hips, flipping her hair over a shoulder with the other. "You have been a very bad, bad boy Roger." A light laughter escapes from her pink lips as she wraps her arms around his neck. "We've been waiting for you."
Thanks you Mama-sama and Michelles Double for the reviews! They really help me write faster. ^_^ And thanks to Duo Sheilds again for putting up with my horrible grammar and help making sense of what I write before I post. Hoped you like this chapter as much as I enjoyed writting! Till next time.