20: Shinigami wakes
Why did I even come with her? She had a limo waiting outside, and she accepted my ill-planned offer to give her a ride, when I don't have a car? Heero thought grudgingly staring out of the black tinted windows. He sat at the far end of the limo seat from Relena, as he pondered he wondered mostly about his nightmare. He didn't feel as queasy as he did when he first experienced, but the sheer recklessness dream-Duo showed him clearly informed he still blamed himself although he wasn't going to admit it to himself or anyone he knew. Heero propped his head up against the back of the leather seat with his eyes on the ceiling of the limo. Maybe I'll never get over this..., Placing a hand underneath his bangs, Heero closed his eyes.
Relena glanced over at Heero pondering on what exactly should she talk to him about, they were confined in a small space for the time being and either of them were bound to get agitated with all the silence between them. And she had seen an agitated Heero before. Scooting her way over toward the Japanese teenager she cleared her throat loudly to get his attention, Heero opened his eyes and shifted it in her direction. "Heero, I'm sorry If I bothered you earlier," Relena began. "Its just that I worry about you is all." She stared down at her hands, she found it all so hard to speak in his presence now.
"No need to apologize Relena," Heero stated simply. "I wasn't feeling well, and that's that." Relena's head shot up in confusion at his behavior; he was acting so strangely that she began to believe he was hiding something from her, something that was obviously gnawing at his very sanity. Although she didn't want to fight with him, she decided to at least try to get whatever was on his mind out in the open. "Pegan, stop the car please," Relena said suddenly. Pegan asked no questions, he pulled the car over immediately near the park then shut the engine down.
Heero stared at Relena in question before she stepped out of the car without warning, groaning Heero followed her out of the limo. He watched her head toward the slide and swing area of the park and chased after her, knowing exactly where this would lead them. Relena never looked over her shoulder to see if Heero was following her, she knew he was following her. If he thought she would let him beat himself up over something that happened during that mission, Heero didn't know her very well. Stepping over the wood railing that kept sand and marble stones in one place, Relena made her way across the semi-soft surface and stopped near the swings.
She sat herself down on the cleanest swing she could turning to find Heero standing outside the sand/stone box. "What's wrong with you Relena, it isn't safe for you to be out here in the open," He stated blandly stepping into the box. Relena scoffed. "No place is safe for me, not even my own home," She muttered lacing her fingers around the chains. Heero leaned up against the metal support system of the swing with his arms folded across his chest. "That's not true and you know it," Heero retorted. Relena scowled at him causing his brow to furrow in question. "What is with you lately, Heero? You come back from your mission and I find you slamming your fist against the wall in the hall beating yourself up over something! What happened?" Relena proclaimed. "What has got you so uptight, that you can't tell me? Your friend?"
Heero turned his head in the opposite direction of Relena, his lips pressed firmly against each other. Relena was going out of her mind, he had just come out of this phase two years ago and now he decided to go back to acting like the person she met lying on the beach washed up on shore, and in school. "Fine be that way Heero. I'm sorry for even asking," Relena said. Rising from the swing she stormed passed Heero with her hands in fists, Heero reached out to grab her but she tore away as soon she felt his fingers touch her skin. "Rel---!" Relena turned abruptly stopping Heero's plead in his throat. Heero felt like heel as he watched a hurt Relena return to her limo, shoving his hands into his pockets he stared down at his sneakers with disdain and regret. You should've just told her, Heero's consciousness sighed. Heero banged his up against the pole wanting to shoot himself.
Relena slammed the door behind her settling into her seat, Pegan stared at her in the corner of his eye as he stared the car up never bothering to ask what happened. She and Heero obviously had a big fight. Relena stared out through the window watching Heero vanish behind a shroud of tress. Looking down at her hands she noticed her palm was damp, reaching up she touched her face and discovered she was crying. But for what reason? Heero got what he deserved. "I won't cry, I'm stronger than that," Relena told herself quietly, wiping her face.
Heero entered the house hoping he wouldn't have to talk to Hilde, he had just about enough of people asking what was bothering him. Slipping out of his shoes Heero made his way toward the kitchen when he spotted Hilde standing in front of the sink with her face buried in her hands sobbing, concerned he made his way into the kitchen careful not to alarm her. "Hilde-san?" He whispered approaching her carefully. Hilde turned around quickly with a gasp, her eyes were red and puffy, she looked like she had been crying for hours on end. Heero noticed the second she saw him she began to grow angry.
He began to wonder if he had a sign on his forehead that said 'get angry at Heero Yuy.' "What's wrong Hilde?" He asked. Hilde lowered her hands away from her face balling the tissue in her hand up, she advanced on Heero quickly and shoved him. He stumbled but managed to grab the edge of the counter his impassive expression remained on his face while his mind was full of confusion. "Why didn't you tell me Duo was alive?! How'd he end up in a coma!!??" She screamed grabbing his shirt. Heero stared down at her with his Prussian blue eyes as though he were saying he meant to but forgot.
Hilde tightened her gripped his shirt tighter as she searched for words foul enough to hurt Heero but could find nothing. She felt Heero's arm around her waist, she began to pound against his chest relentlessly until she got tired, Hilde then cried on his chest. Heero pondered how he was ever going to forgive himself for keeping this from her as he heard her crying die down. "Do want to see him?" He asked averting his eyes down at her.
Hilde looked up at him in question. "Wha--?" She hiccupped wiping her face. Heero would have almost smirked if it weren't for the situation at hand. "I said do you want to see him?" Heero repeated. Hilde nodded hiccupped again resting her throbbing head against his chest, Heero breathed a mental sigh of relief knowing he had fixed something between one of the people he cared for. He had to fix the problem between him and Relena.
How is he Dorothy?
Fine miss Sally, he's been moving more.
That's good. I suppose its better than nothing.
Have you told the others about his condition? Zechs, Noin, miss Relena, Hilde?
I've told everyone except the vice foreign minister. I have yet to catch her at home, or when she's available.
Miss Relena is a busy one, keeping the peace and all.
So it would seem. Get some rest Dorothy, let that leg heal up.
All right miss Sally.
"Moving? Condition?" Duo wondered curiously. His brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to move, he found that he couldn't for some reason. He wanted to move, but something told him that he couldn't and that he should just sleep for a while longer, he needed it. Duo wondered why he couldn't see himself but the blurry world around him? Not a muscle in his body would respond to his command to move and it began to scare him. Was he really dead and in Hell?
Fear began to creep up him as the white room began to vanish being replaced by the darkness that surrounded himself for as long as he can remember. "Why can't I move?!" He cried out. Nothing but silence answered his question. "What the heck is going on? Why I can't I see anything? Heero? Trowa? Anybody??" No one he knew answered his panicked cries and this only made Duo's situation worsen. As he tried desperately to find a way out of the darkness, Duo felt something shove him forward. Duo felt himself hit a soft muddy ground looking up he saw everyone he knew dressed in black as two men lowered a casket into the pit he fell into. He stepped out of the way the casket touched the ground.
Peering upward again he saw Hilde turn away just as the men began to refill the hole with dirt. She cried against Howard's chest as the men continued to full the hole with dirt, Duo tried to grab the edges of the casket but he fell through and almost choked on his tongue at what he saw. In the casket he found himself pale as the moonlight itself with a pendant in his hand. "N-no..... its not possible....... I didn't die...... I'm alive," He stuttered pulling himself out of the casket. Duo dug his nails into the dirt walls and attempted to climb out the hole but fell back down into the mud. The hole was halfway full and he was up to his knees in dirt, things were not looking good for him. Attempting to climb out of the hole again, he shouted out to Hilde, but she didn't seem to hear him. He shouted again but to no avail, she wouldn't or couldn't hear him. He began to climb down when the entire wall collapsed around him burying him completely.
"I'M NOT DEAD!" Duo screamed out desperately. He opened his coalbolt eyes and found himself in an empty town. There was nothing in the town except empty houses, before him was a road that never seemed to end. "If your not dead, then prove it," Came a familiar voice. Duo blinked at the person in front of him; a younger version of himself, a seven year old version of himself from what it looked like. "Huh?" Duo stuttered in confusion. The sever year old Duo scowled. "If your not dead, then prove it!" He shouted pointing down the road. "If you can make it to the end of the road, then you have proven you aren't dead. If not, prepare to join the dead." The 16-year-old never gave his younger self a second glance, he dashed down the road in a blinding speed. Seven year old Duo sighed and watched his older self vanish into the distance. Pulling his cross out of his shirt, he sighed and made his way back into the deeper part of town. "Good luck, you'll need it," He muttered.
Elsewhere, Sally made stood in front of Une's door, finding it pretty lonely without Wufei to bug her everytime she went past him. Straightening her hair along with her clothes out she gripped the door knob and the office. Inside she found Une with the phone to ear with a smile on her face that seemed to get bigger with each passing moment. Sally figured she was talking to Mariemaia who had just been enrolled into the St. Gabriel institute to study people more her mental age. Walking forward she wondered if she had ever seen Une smile like she was now in the time she spent with her, shrugging the thought off Sally stopped in front of the desk. "I've gotta to call you back, Mariemaia........ bye," Une sighed hanging the phone. Her eyes rested upon Sally with a questioning expression. "Yes what is it, Sally?" Une said. "Ma'am, might I suggest that move Duo Maxwell someplace else? Like his home?" Sally said hesitantly. Une shook she head fiddling with a pen in her hand.
"Why not?" Sally asked almost surprised. "Because, if we moved him, we might kill him. He's better off where he is until he wakes up Sally," Une replied strictly. Sally knew her tone of voice meant to argue with her so she didn't, wanting to change the subject Sally decided to bring up Mariemaia. "Was that Mariemaia on the phone?" She pretended to not to know of her conversation between Une and her foster daughter. "Yes, why?" Une questioned. Sally shrugged simply hoping she wasn't catching onto her. "Nothing, I just wanted to know how she was doing in her new school," Sally replied. "She's doing fine Sally, now," Une leaned back in her chair. "Don't you have work to do?" Sally's eyes widened in realization and she made a dash for the door. Une watched the woman exit the room in a hurry with a sense of relief. I wish I could take a break, She thought running her hands through her hair.
Mariemaia stared at her cell phone and wondered what had gotten her mother's attention so quickly. Sighing she stuffed her phone into the bow of her school uniform (mostly like the one Relena wore) after spotting a nun coming down the hall. The nun caught sight of Mariemaia and waved to her, the nine year old waved back pleasantly before walking away. She had to get to her next class before she was late. Of course once Mariemaia got to the door of the class the room she realized that she exactly two minutes early. Breathing a sigh of relief, Mariemaia entered the large room full of energetic students moving everywhere inside the room.
She jogged up the stairs passing several rows until she reached the middle row of tables and chair, scooting through the small space she seated herself on the right of the middle row before any of the senior students could reach it. She pulled out a mirror and examined her newest hairstyle; her hair had grown out to jaw length and was curled slightly at the ends while her bangs remained straight against her forehead. "Did you here about the newest transfer student coming in today?" She heard one of the senior student female behind her whisper. "Yeah, they say he's from the colonies! I wonder what's he like?" Another girl said.
"Cute maybe, but rumor is that he's only 11 and that he's a war orphan," A third girl grumble. "I hear their trouble," A fourth girl spoke up. Mummers began to rise in volume amongst the students making Mariemaia uncomfortable. "Years ago, one of the nuns said a young boy who happened be a war orphan enrolled in this very school. But didn't stay very long. Some even say he vanished like a ghost," The four girl explained. Awe could be heard coming from the entire student body, Mariemaia rolled her eyes and pretended not to hear them. "Who care's? I'm just glad a boy is coming to the school. There are far too many girls around here," She heard a boy whine. There several male students that whistled and rooted in agreement, while all the girls snapped at them for their statement. Mariemaia couldn't care less, just as long he or she was friendly she was happy. Pulling out her math book, Mariemaia began to read up on her first lesson: Fractions and Division.
And after a moment of ruckus and chaos the rest of the students settled down in their seats just as Sister Renee came strolling into the room followed by a young boy. "OMG, there he is!" The first girl squealed in excitement. "Wow, he is cute, even for a little boy!" The second one exclaimed in surprise. "Shut up!" The boy hissed. Silenced filled the room afterward. Mariemaia focused her attention on the boy beside the nun but tired not to look like she was staring at him.
"Good morning everyone, I would like you all to meet your new classmate," Sister Renee said cheerfully. All students inside the room leaned forward to get a better look at the boy. "Please won't you introduce yourself young man." Mariemaia gasped in realization at who the young man was. He turned away from the nun to face the students. "Konichiwa, my name is Jin Toshino, pleasure to meet you all," He said. The students began to whisper to eachother as they examined the young boy in below them, Mariemaia smiled thankful that she was the only among them that knew something about him.
"Take the seat beside Julia, feel free to ask her any questions you have," Sister Renee said. Mariemia's spirits dropped, Julia was all the way at the top the class room but just in Mariemaia's line of sight. Jin nodded and made his way up the semi-long flight of stairs. Mariemaia watched him pass her without even looking at her and decided to let him know she existed. The nine year old grabbed his wrist and got the opposite reaction from him.
Instead looking curious Jin was looking more annoyed, swallowing her fear Mareimaia spoke up. "Hi, my name's Mariemaia, I hope you have a swell time here at St. Gabriel," The nine-year-old said. Jin scowled and yanked his wrist out of her grip before resuming his walking up the stairs. Mariemaia almost fainted as she tried to calm of her beating heart ignoring all the whispers of students. "Quiet, class will now begin," Sister Renee announced. Mariemaia brought her out her note book and pencil awaiting the nun's directions on her work. Baad move, Mariemaia.......
Zechs looked up from his book for the second time in two minutes at the stairs that lead to the hallway of living rooms, after hearing a loud thump above him. He glanced toward Pegan who was polishing a mirror frame back to his original copper state, the elderly man turned to meet his gaze with a suspicious look in his squinted eyes (although Zechs could not see that). Exhaling, Zechs returned to his reading focusing on the content within the book as best he could without being distracted by the thumping above his head.
He figured it was one of the house maids moving things around, but his better judgment thought otherwise. Shifting deeper into the cushion of the couch, Zechs pretended that his mind was saying Relena was behind the mysterious thumping noises above him and tried to read. But everytime he did, he'd find himself reading the same line over and over again. This is getting tiresome, The blonde thought placing a bookmark into the last page he stopped on. Setting the book aside, Zechs rose from the couch and made his across the living room floor. "Mr. Milliardo where are you going?" Pegan asked. Trotting up the stairs, Zechs replied, "To find out what the all the ruckus is about." Pegan groaned quietly hoping Relena wouldn't star a fight with her bother as well, like she had done with Heero. Turning back to his work, Pegan pretended not to have seen anything that happened.
Zechs stopped at Relena's door (the only door with a picture of blossoming flowers painted on it) and lightly tapped on the door. He heard the thump he had been heard the entire he was room then the rattling of the door knob as Relena unlocked the door. The door swung open revealing a distraught Relena, Zechs almost said something rude about her drowsy appearance but stayed silent and clamped his mouth shut. "Yes, Milliardo?" Relena sniffled running her hand through her messy hair. Zechs forgotten why he had come up the stairs to her bedroom door in the first place before she began to close the door.
Before the door could shut completely he put his foot in-between in the door and locking mechanism causing Relena to throw the bedroom door wide open revealing her once neat and clean room, that was now a mess. The floor the was covered with her clothes, her closet was full of her stuffed dolls, and lamps were on their sides on the night-table and vanity. "What happened in here, Relena?" Zechs asked stepping inside the room. Relena shook her head wiping her eyes with her arm, Zechs stepped over the clothes amongst various objects. "I.....I....I had a fight with, Heero," He heard Relena whisper. Zechs turned around to face her with eyebrows raised, Relena stared at her feet as she heard her brother advance toward her.
Zechs stopped inches away from her as he folded his arms across his chest. "A fight? About what?" He asked. Relena shrugged unsure herself. "Something was bothering him and I could tell it was seriously affecting his mood. But when I asked him he wouldn't tell me. I got angry at him for that and I left him the middle of the park," Relena explained. "If you ask me, he should apologize to," Zechs said sternly. "If he had a problem, then he shouldn't have been taking it out on you." Relena shrugged looking down at her floor before sighing of relief. "Thanks for listening Milliardo," She said. "Not a problem," He said smirking.
Shaking her head, Relena bent down and began to pick her things up off the floor. Pausing for a moment she paused to glance up her brother who seemed to scanning the bedroom, reaching down she tugged at an envelope underneath his foot. Without looking Zechs lifted his foot off of the envelope. "Thank you," Relena grunted placing the envelope in her jewelry box. "I'll be down stairs," Zechs said exiting the room. Relena continued to pick object off her floor mentally reminding herself to give Hilde's house a call. She had to fix the problem between herself and Heero.
[Preventers HQ]:
Heero stood outside the critical room counting how much money he had left after the excruciating long taxi drive from the house to the PHQ. He groaned as he listened to Dorothy attempt to strike up a conversation with Hilde who he guessed wasn't even listening to. He stared down at himself flashing back to when Duo kneed him in the stomach knocking him unconscious. Pulling himself out of his thoughts Heero rested his head against the wall as the guilt he felt twisted knots in his stomach at the thought of Duo never waking up. Who would annoy him whenever he got the chance?
How would look after a depressed Hilde without Duo telling to look on the brighter side to life or at least lighten up? Groaning, Heero stepped into the room preventer himself from going crazy with guilt. "Hello Heero," Dorothy said pleasantly. Heero nodded in her direction as he made his way toward Duo's bed, he spotted Hilde sitting on the bed talking softly to the braided American holding his hand in hers. He stopped one bed away from them watching Duo's facial expression twitch everytime Hilde would squeeze his hand, Heero's brow furrowed in confusion as he resumed walking toward the two.
Hilde looked up from Duo finding Heero standing in front of the empty bed beside Duo's with his hands in his pockets. "Hi," Hilde said barely about a whisper. Heero's eyes widened briefly before returning to their original state indicating he was responding to her. "I'm sorry for yelling at you---- I was upset," The German girl said. "I deserved it," Heero said incontrovertibly. Hilde lowered her head with a short nod before jumping off the edge of the bed. She stared at Duo's still face before she placed his hand back at his side. "Is he gonna wake up?" Hilde asked worriedly. Heero shrugged with a blink of his eyes before he turned to leave the room.
Groaning she began to follow behind Heero when someone grabbed her by the wrist, Hilde almost screamed if she turned around in the alarming rate she had. "Duo..!?" Hilde gasped in alarm. Duo's face scrunched up in evident confusion, his lip trembled as his face turned red from lack of air. Hilde jumped in shock as he opened his eyes in a sudden rate catching Dorothy's attention as well. Heero's mouth open slightly at the sheer sight of Duo's confused face. "Wha-what happened?" The 16-year-old turned his head toward Heero. Hilde could barely contain herself yanking her wrist out of his hand she flung herself over his body embracing Duo in a hug.
The braided teenager managed to pull himself (with Hilde still around his torso) into an upright position scanning his entire body that was covered in bandages from the torso up. "What the--- how'd I end up here? What happened to Jin?" Duo blurted out. Hilde looked up at him with a worried expression as Heero placed a hand on his friend's shoulder bringing Duo out of his daze state of mind. "I'll explain everything to you later, now is not the time though," Heero explained briefly. Duo slowly nodded just as a spike of pain shot through his lower abdomen, he grunted in pain and pulled Hilde from around his waist. Hilde stood herself up hiding her obvious hurt, Duo looked up at her with a weary smile.
"Are you feeling all right?" Hilde asked placing a hand on his hand. Duo nodded flexing his arm, it felt like it was weighed down by a tone of led but he managed to hide his pain from his friends. "I'll go inform Sally, be back," Heero said abruptly making his way toward the door. "Oi--- Heero---- wait a minute!" Duo stuttered at the last minute. Unfortunately Heero did not hear him, the Japanese teenager was out the door in a flash. The American sighed in defeat before Hilde came up to sit by his side, he scooted over with some difficulty giving the German girl enough to space to sit on the bed.
"Don't worry, Duo," Hilde said reassuringly. "He's glad your okay. He just won't show it." Duo shrugged with a look of indifference before he leaned his head against the German girl's shoulder, Hilde smiled wrapping her fingers around his wrist. At the present moment Hilde wanted to tell Duo what she had gone through, but she knew he was suffering from fatigue and was presently in no condition to her story. He was all right, that's all that mattered to her the moment.
[TBC]