Disclaimer: Not mine
Forgotten Love: Part Nine
~ ~ ~
"So you're a pilot for a mobile suit," Keiko whispered. "Even more- a Gundam……"
Heero watched Keiko's silent form before him. She wasn't angry, or scared that she had gotten involved with a soldier. On the contrary, she seemed to have fallen into despair. "Yes," he murmured.
She looked up at him from the bench she was sitting on. "Why tell me this now? Did you think that I wouldn't be able to handle it at first or something?"
"No, I didn't think that. I was stupid for never telling you, I knew that I had to leave eventually-"
"Leave?" Keiko asked, eyes widening.
"…To earth. That's where I'm being sent."
Her gaze dropped and her hands balled into tight fists that clenched and unclenched, as though they were itching to be around his throat. She said something inaudible.
"What?"
"Why didn't you ever say that you would leave me? You……lied" she murmured. Heero didn't have a chance to reply because the golden haired girl launched herself at him screaming and pounding on his chest with her fists, tears streaming down her face. "You lied to me when I asked about what you did! Bastard!"
"Keiko! I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but I didn't know what I was getting into-"
"LIAR!" Keiko screamed and punched him in the jaw. Hard, even for a girl.
Heero's head snapped to the side, then he slowly turned back to her. Keiko's eyes looked frightened, like a deer that had been caught in the headlights. Large, gaping, shocked eyes. She seemed to wither right in front of him. She had been angry and hurt, now she was shocked, scared and hurt. Keiko crumpled to her knees on the grass.
"I'm so sorry Heero," she whispered into her hands. "I'm so sorry. Please don't be angry."
He sank down so he was level with her. "You don't need forgiveness," he said, gently pulling her hands down from her face. "You had every right to hit me; I did deserve it. Like I said, I don't know why I never told you sooner. Perhaps I thought I was saving you from heartbreak, but now I know that it's only going to cause you more. I'm the one that needs to be sorry. I can't undo what I didn't say, but please……"
"When……when are you leaving?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I don't know," he stated truthfully.
"Well, why do you have to go? Can't they have someone else?"
"I've been trained to carry out the mission that I was given- Don't ask what it is or I'll have to-" he silenced himself and looked away.
"Have to what?" Keiko said.
Wordlessly, Heero made an L with his hand and placed his index finger right between her eyes. "Omae wo korosu," he returned in a calm, subtle voice that sent chills down Keiko's spine.
"I understand," she smiled slightly and got to her feet shakily. "You'll return right?"
"I don't know," he replied. "I might die, I might not."
"Please don't say that," Keiko gasped. "Promise, promise you'll come back after you're mission is over. I won't care if you don't have feelings for me any longer, just so I know that you're safe."
Heero smiled sadly. "It's no guarantee……but I promise. I'll try as hard as I can."
She walked into his arms and embraced him tightly. "Thank you, Heero." She stepped back and looked at him directly, her deep green eyes overflowing with tears that wouldn't stop. "I……I need to go home. I have to think about all this; I need to have time to soak it all in. Don't come see me for a day or two alright? I don't want to get angry again."
Her hand brushed over his face on the area she had struck him. It was starting to puff up and turn blue-ish gray. "I've never hit anyone before; it's a shame I had to begin with you."
As the girl spun to walk home, Heero started to speak but hesitated. After only one or two steps he blurted, "In case I never tell you, I love you, Keiko."
Keiko turned, her blonde hair spinning out around her like a halo. She smiled, but it wasn't yet a joyous smile. "I know Heero……," she replied. "I do believe I love you-" She froze; her entire body paled and her eyes turned glassy.
"Heero……" she whimpered in a terrified whisper. "Heero……Come back, I need you."
"I'm right here," he said and placed his hands on her shoulders. It was as though she couldn't see him. Her dead eyes continued to stare at something far away.
"Heero, where are you? I'm scared. Get it away. It's frightening. Oh god……Get it away from me!" she shrieked and tried to jerk away. "Lemme go- get away- I said away- Leave!"
"Keiko! Keiko what's wrong!" he shouted, shaking her shoulders.
"Where are you when I need you……? God, Heero I need you. Help me, help me…Get away!" Suddenly, her entire body went rigid, she let out a piercing scream, then her entire body shattered right beneath Heero's hands, just like glass………
* * *
Heero bolted upright in his bed gasping for breath; he was drenched in a cold sweat and tangled in the bed sheets. "A dream," he wheezed. "Pretty fucked up version of that incident. Oh god……" He put a hand to his brow and sat there, trying to wake up and overcome what had disturbed him.
Keiko had never freaked out, not when it really happened, but everything else had been the same. She had said, "I think I love you too, but I don't think anyone really knows what love is these days." Then she had walked home and he had left her alone for a few days.
Squinting against the bright light he glanced at the clock. "I slept in," he stated softly to himself. "Okidoki then, time to get up and get some lunch."
Still, even after occupying himself with getting dressed and all, his mind was still uneasy and on guard. How odd, he thought, pulling a plain black shirt on. All my dreams of late have been about Keiko- which definitely isn't bad- but……several have ended with her screaming to me for help.
* * *
"Well look who's finally up!" Duo exclaimed as Heero strode into the kitchen.
"Where's Keiko?" he returned with a quick sweep of the room.
"Jeez not even a good-morning……"
"Where is she?"
"Relax man she went out for some grub. She'll be back," Duo answered brushing his bangs back from his indigo eyes with his hand. The other man collapsed into a chair beside him and sighed loudly. Duo glanced over at him with concerned atmosphere.
"What's up with you? You're acting all uptight, got something stuck up your……" He quickly cut off the thought, if Heero was gunna be bitchy, best not to try and piss him off any extra.
He mimicked Duo's earlier movement and swiped back his own hair. "Dream," he said.
"Weird dream?"
"Yeah."
"That sucks."
"I know."
……
"Does she know about Relena?"
Heero's eyes quirked, he made a cute little noise of exclamation and nearly toppled out of the chair. Duo's laughter rang out in the kitchen.
"Guess that's a no then?"
Heero nodded, silently.
"Well, since Madame Stalker will most likely meet us at the terminal, she'll see Keiko and either- the two will fight over you- with Keiko kicking the crap out of Relena, or she'll finally give up on you."
"Must it all end in violence or heartbreak?" The usually stoic man asked in an overly high, exaggerated voice. "I don't quite fancy it." He sipped an imaginary cup on tea and adjusted his monocle.
Duo burst into laughter and just about fell off the stool also as he clutched his sides. Heero chuckled softly at first but seeing the other pilots reaction next would make even the stoniest man go into fits just like Duo's.
"I never thought I would see that from you, Heero Yuy. Never!"
"Don't doubt what hasn't been seen and has yet to be proven it's nonexistent."
The two men turned as Keiko set several bags of groceries onto the counter by the refrigerator, solid as anything and everything, and not just all the pieces hastily glued back together. Heero practically leaped to his feet and had his arms wrapped around her waist before she'd put a single item away.
"I'm glad you're ok."
"I was only gone for a few hours Heero," she laughed. "You were sound asleep anyways!"
"I'd rather be in prison than have nightmares about you," he replied nuzzling her neck.
She stilled, then reached behind her and placed a warm hand on his neck. "I'm right here, and a dream is a dream, so don't fall under its trick-that's what it strives for. Nightmares are the seeds of our greatest fears, dwell on them and the fear will spread out everywhere like ivy," she said and gently kissed his temple.
"Tell that to Mr. Bun Bun in my dreams!" Duo snorted.
"Oh, Duo that reminds me, I got something for you!"
"Really?!"
"Yeah! Here!"
She thrust into his hands a small something wrapped in brown paper. He tore it off and grinned widely. "You got me fudge! Awwwwww, I feel so loved!" T_T
"Of course you are!" Keiko replied then gasped slightly. Gently she touched his face and pressed down lightly; Duo made no response. "Heh, you're bruise is gone already."
* * *
He silently watched her as she stuffed some clothes and a stuffed panther into the large cardboard box and taped it shut. Then she began to work on another, this one was for books, journals and photo-albums though. "What did you do before your published your book?" he inquired softly.
"I worked with Alex for the newspaper," she replied, trying to fit one last stubborn album in the box. "I was an editor."
"What about after- did you quit your day job?"
"Not really. I just- started-working-at home," she grunted as she jammed it down and quickly taped up the box. "A couple weeks later I decided to take a break, and then you showed up, so I gave my two weeks notice that day."
"I've never heard you on the phone with anyone."
"They email me all my stuff to my laptop. Saves the hassle."
"What did Alex do?"
"Small name journalist- Oh crap that reminds me, he has my book. Damn! I need to get it back!" She hurried over to her bedside and swiped her phone up.
Heero rolled over on his back and looked up at the canopy of her bed. Only a few days left until they went back to earth……and with one more person. He was still expecting to wake up to Duo screaming in his ear at Quatre's estate. Yet he still hadn't, and that was the only proof he had that he wasn't dreaming, or else he would have woken right after Keiko asked to come back.
"…… So yeah, that's why I need it back," Keiko was saying. "Do ya think you could possibly return it today sometime?.......Ah yay thank you so- wha?.......Well, yeah I guess that's fine……No! Its okay……Really, I promise I'm okay with it!.......Yes. Did you at least read it?.......That's good. I'd feel badly if you hadn't finished it……Alrightly, I'll expect it shortly. Byeeeeee."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothings wrong, I'm just overreacting."
" 'Bout what?"
She shook her head. "Nothing big; something trivial. Alex is having Rykoshi drop the book off since he's busy with a deadline. I'm just," she added. "So stressed……"
Heero rolled off the bed, walked up behind Keiko and put his arms around her shoulders. "It'll be over soon love, don't worry. I know you can cope."
"Heh," she laughed. "I'd better be able to cope with a little stress." Keiko closed her eyes and rested her head against his arms. "I'm so excited though."
"Me too," he said. "Have you ever been to earth?"
"Never. But I've always wanted to go, but when the war began I rather lost my interest in going. By the time it was over I was trying to get a job and pay for college and-bleh."
"You'll enjoy it. What do you want to see the most?" Heero asked softly.
Keiko glanced outside while thinking for a moment. "Real sunlight," she replied, smiling. "And real air."
He nuzzled his face into her hair. "Good choice. I hope it's sunny and breezy when we get there."
"It wouldn't matter; you're going to be with me so it will all be okay."
* * *
"Thank you Rykoshi," Keiko said stiffly as he handed her the novel on the doorstep.
"You're welcome," he replied, smiling.
"Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" The formalities of being kind to others, they were sometimes a nuisance. She only did it out of habit, but Rykoshi never came in. Maybe he felt it would be too awkward or impolite after what had happened, but Keiko was glad that he never accepted the offer.
"Oh, no, thank you. I have to get back home. But if you don't mind me asking, why did you need it returned to soon? I had hoped to borrow it after Alex."
She gazed down at his smiling face. He was handsome enough and had been popular in school, but no one knew the real him; he was two faced. One moment he could be the most gentlemanly person in the colony, the next, a whirl or scarlet rage and anger. Still, standing below her he looked so docile…... Enough to fool even the least naïve woman.
"I'm leaving," she stated.
His smile vanished. "To where?"
She smiled to look casual. "I'm moving in with Heero."
"On earth?"
"Yes."
A deep scowl formed beneath his eyebrows. "You can't go- what about everyone here? Like your mother, she's getting old. Are you just going to leave her alone to be with some guy?" Rykoshi snarled.
Anger rippled through her. "No, my mother was the won who suggested that it would be best if I go."
"What a stupid choice- I can't, I cannot believe that you would just up- and- go when you have friends, family, a nice home and a nice job. How immature."
"If all you're going to do is criticize me then you can leave," Keiko hissed. "Because I'm not going to take it." She turned and opened the door when he grabbed her wrist. Her stomach plummeted as memories flashed in front of her eyes.
He had grabbed her wrist……The anger in his eyes……Fear……Her own anger and fear. The screaming. The blow that stung like fire on her face. Then the blow from her, from some source of strength buried deep inside her……
She gasped and spun, jerking her arm away. "Don't touch me!" she spat.
Rykoshi looked at her with pleading eyes. "Please, Keiko, don't go to earth. I beg you. It's a vile place full of death and sickness. There are so many poor there and everything can get contaminated. Stay here for your own good. Here you're safe. On earth, men turn on each other and kill-"
"All that is here as well!" exclaimed Keiko. "I want you to leave. And don't come back without Alex."
"Keiko?" Heero asked from behind the half open door. "Alright?"
"Yeah, I am. Rykoshi was just leaving."
He stood, unmoving, then asked, "Can I have a hug goodbye as a last request?"
She strode to him without answering, threw her arms around him and let his wrap around her for just a second, then pulled away.
"It was a pleasure to know you Keiko, too bad it never really worked out," he said.
Keiko nodded curtly. "The same. Goodbye."
"I'll be seeing you."
And as she watched him go, she hissed under her breath. "I dearly hope not." Then she turned and went back inside, having only eyes for Heero as he stood there, looking concerned. He embraced her warm body and gave her a short, tender kiss.
"Stress level down?" he whispered.
"Of course."
~ ~ ~
Yay! Done! Oh yeah I rock. Kinda ^_^ heh. And thankies so muchies for all the nice reviewsies (too many –ies……) Your feedback was greatly appreciated ^_^ Thank you!
Up next we'll have Keiko finishing her packing, A mysterious man, and an encounter with Relena so don't stop reading!