Because of some of the responses I got, I've decided to write another chapter or two to this to see how it will turn out. Maybe I'll meet expectations. Maybe I won't. That is for you, the reader, to decide.
Disclaimer: Don't own. So don't sue.
BANG! The gun's muzzle belched forth the bullet, throwing it toward the distant target. After several seconds, a satisfying wham resonated through the hall and a neat little circle appeared in the cutout's forehead.
After a brief second's pause two more targets sprung up. BANGBANG! Again the echo in the cavernous chamber, again the small, neat holes in the target.
It was too easy, at least for Heero Yuy. He absently checked the magazine of his weapon, noting the perfect alignment of the ammunition inside.
Perfection. It was a concept that had long bothered him. He wasn't quite sure about what it meant to him personally, but he felt a connection with the word. All his life, he had trained himself, his body and mind, to be able to overcome all challenges. Eventually he would die, but why waste the time between his entry and exit from this world on anything less?
Absently he shoved the magazine back into his weapons grip, listening for the clicks signaling a clean lock. Hearing it, he turned back to the firing range.
Time to make things a little more interesting.
Duo Maxwell and Quatre Winner stood before the small house, uneasy about what they had come to do. No one knew exactly what kind of temper their quiet friend had or what would set him off. They didn't want to be the ones to find out.
It had only been a week since discovering the secrets of Heero's birth, and they had spent most of it in deep discussion on the appropriate course of action. That Sunday they finally decided just to tell him.
They were both having second thoughts now.
"It can't be too bad, could it?" Duo glanced over at his blonde friend, hoping that his optimism would lighten the mood.
"I don't know, really. I'm just not sure what to do if he doesn't believe us. I'm beginning to wish we hadn't burned those papers. They might be useful now."
Duo shook his head slowly. "That? That's not a big problem. What I'm worried about is him not liking the news. What if he pulls a gun and starts shooting?"
They both fell silent for a few moments. Finally Quatre just reached up and pushed the buzzer. Then they waited. After about a minute, the door opened a crack, a woman's head visible through the gap.
Her voice was quiet but strong when she spoke. "Can I help you?"
Taken slightly aback, they just gaped for a moment before Quatre had the idea to introduce them. After another awkward moment of silence, he finally asked. "Is the Yuy residence?"
The lady smiled. "Yes. But Heero's not here at the moment. He's at the shooting range. He tries to keep in touch with his old lifestyle once a week. I've heard the military doesn't like him there. He makes their shooters look bad."
The two men thanked her and turned to leave. When they heard the door shut, Duo grinned. "He never said anything about a woman. Maybe he is human after all."
When they finally arrived at the shooting range, they faced a crowd of people surrounding a single man. Heero, they guessed.
Quatre turned to the soldier next to them. "What's going on?"
He turned, a burly man with a hard face. His eyebrow raised when he saw them. "More civvies, eh? Come to join your friend in showing off?"
He glanced over at Duo. "Don't think you two could keep up with him though."
"Why?"
He never got a response, for at that moment the crowd parted and Heero walked through, carrying his now empty pistol a thick strip of cloth. Spotting his friends, he silently strolled over. "What are you doing here?"
Quatre answered. "We're looking for you. We need to talk."
An eyebrow arched in response. "Really. Let's go."
They all sat comfortably around the table in Heero's home. The room's decoration fit the owner perfectly: Spartan. After getting over the initial uneasiness at the sight of all the bare walls compared to the rest of the house, they began to chat about whatever came to mind. After several minutes, Heero finally cleared his throat.
"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
Duo responded quickly. "First, I've got a couple questions. First off, who's that?"
He motioned, and the three of them turned to the woman behind Heero. She turned away, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Heero sighed. "This isn't actually my place. This is Jade Horad. She actually owns this house. I just rent this room and the adjoining bathroom. It's all I need, really. She's been kind enough to let me use it. What else?"
"Why was everyone watching you at the range?"
"I was shooting." The response was short, almost rude.
"I know that," the braided man continued. "But what was special about it? There has to be a reason someone would attract a crowd."
Heero didn't answer, but Jade raised her hand slightly. "I can answer that. He likes to try it different ways. This morning, when he left, he asked for a thick material. I'm guessing it was used as a blindfold."
Quatre inhaled sharply. "And just how did you do?"
Heero shook his head. "Not as well as expected. It was more of a memory exercise than an accuracy one anyway."
"Memory?"
"The targets always appear in the same order. I was testing myself, seeing if I could remember the order."
"How many did you hit?"
"All of them. Had they been actual people, most would have survived though."
When he quit speaking, silence engulfed the room for several more minutes. After shifting uncomfortably several times, Duo looked up at Jade.
"Would you mind leaving for this? We want to discuss some sensitive stuff with Heero and I don't know if you need to hear it."
Nodding once, she left.
When the door clicked shut, Heero stared at both of them, uneasy for the first time. "What's going on here? What is this about?"
Glancing once more at his partner, Quatre began to explain.
I'll stop there so that way I have incentive to write for the next chapter. Plus, it'll give me time to think of the correct way of revealing everything. Tune in next time for the full explanation of the birth of Heero Yuy.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed this. You guys inspired me to keep going. You gave me an idea of what to do next. Maybe I'll receive more reviews so that I know what I am doing right or wrong.
Thanks again,
Colonel