By : angelofvenus_l3
CHAPTER ONE
"Mission accomplished," Duo murmured as he punched the 'save' button on the keyboard. Sighing, he leaned back against the chair and stared blankly at the computer screen, his mind deep in thought. His eyes then shifted towards the miscellaneous documents scattered on his desk. Thick reference books piled at one corner while files, crumpled papers and even magazines took up another corner. All in all, it was a mess but that sight did not bother him at all. Neat and tidy weren't exactly part of his nature anyway.
When Wufei had approached him with an offer as a part-time worker in the Preventers a year and a half ago, Duo was very reluctant to join, seeing as he hated to be a part of something that required any murder, extensive trainings or intricate details of some missions but now he was glad he had accepted it, even though he had to part with Hilde and their business as salvage dealers. With his fruitful experience in various military fields and highly-trained skills, his pay was higher than average staff members and no one dared to question the upper levels about that. Being a former Gundam pilot had finally paid off. Literally.
Secretly for him, the best part about his job was working together once more with his comrades. He would never admit it and neither would they but he was pleased beyond words at the prospect of seeing them again. They had became his only closest friends during the war, the ones that could actually see through his smiles, understanding the pain he had went through and accepted him for who he was. For that he was grateful. Even though none of them had shared their stories intimately with one another but they had a rough idea of each others' past and being the private individuals that they were, they did not need any further discussion on that area.
It wasn't necessary anyway. Peace had been attained and the pilots were slowly finding ways to mend their hearts. Even though they could not erase the vague traces of wounds in their souls, they had found ways to live through their lives day-by-day in a world so new to them. For the first time, Duo was actually contented with what he had achieved so far yet he was still striving to achieve his dream, one that he had recently discovered and currently working on.
A soft rap on the door broke his random train of thoughts. "Come in," Duo uttered wearily as he looked up. The door opened to reveal an Asian man in his early twenties. Duo grinned as Wufei entered his office but his smile wasn't as bright as it used to be for traces of exhaustion and fatigue were still evident in his features.
"I see you're back from your trip," Duo said as soon as Wufei took a seat across from the braided man. "And since you're still alive, I assume the mission was successful."
Wufei smirked. "When has it never?" he replied, ignoring the previous remark. "Better than yours, at least." Duo arched an eyebrow, studying the Chinese man's scrutiny but Wufei continued before Duo could interject, "You look tired, Maxwell. Unusually tired. What's the matter? Can't handle the office work?"
Duo chuckled, waving off his friend's concern and unprovoked remark. He should have known Wufei was that observant. "I wouldn't say tired, really…I mean, yeah, work is tough, even if it's in the office but that's not it…"
"Then, what's the problem?"
Duo shrugged, his gaze shifted to the window behind him. His eyes were fixed at the busy city below but his mind was clearly elsewhere. "Bored."
Wufei frowned at Duo, partly surprised and amused. He had never heard Duo using that term to describe anything before, since the 'God of Death's' mischievous behavior and laughter were as infectious as a plague. Even the other members of the HQ were getting accustomed to Duo's pranks and after a year enduring his god-awful pranks, they were finally able to laugh at themselves despite the humiliation. Wufei was about to say something when an unusual object that was hardly seen in an office caught his eye. His frown deepened when he grabbed a particular magazine and read the title.
At that moment, Duo turned back to face his friend and watched Wufei's features with amusement as the Chinese man studied the magazine. "Are you quitting?" Wufei inquired, softer than he intended.
Duo couldn't perceive whether it was disappointment or shock in Wufei's tone for his voice was weaker than his usual strong and confident one. Yet Duo allowed himself to bask in the possible fact that Wufei actually wanted him to stay. It was difficult enough to read the Chinese's man expression, let alone his feelings so this small evident was a quite a surprise.
"No," Duo answered casually, placing his hands behind his head. "What makes you think that?" When Wufei held up the magazine, Duo replied with a shrug, "I just bought that this morning. What, can't a guy read a magazine while his on duty?"
"For you, not when it doesn't involve women," Wufei countered, eyeing his friend curiously. "Since when do you buy 'Naturistic'? You don't even like trees. Heck, you don't even support the campaigns that protect the trees."
Duo smiled sheepishly. "The beauty of Mother Nature has kept me company and those hot models kept me entertain for many dreaded hours." As Wufei arched an eyebrow in amusement, Duo sighed and continued, "Alright, they run out a copy of FHM so I bought that on impulse instead. I can't remember why but anyway, I was surprise to find the articles so intriguing and it kept me thinking for a long time. Suddenly out of nowhere, this brilliant idea just pop into my head and that's when I realize what I want in my life, what I want my future to be like, what I want to be…."
"Since I don't suppose it's possible that you want to become a tree, I'm guessing a model?" Wufei asked, disgusted at the thought of Duo baring his chest in a ridiculous pose. "You do realize you'll put your identity as a Preventer at risk by this kind of exposure and unwanted media attention."
Duo threw his head back and laughed heartily. "No, of course not! I mean, I know I have the bod for it but I don't think my reputation as a former Gundam pilot would qualify for that." Suddenly, Duo's eyes twinkled as he looked wistfully at the former Shenglong pilot. "But that's nice of you to envision my popularity so soon. You really think I'll make it one day?"
"Coming back to the point," Wufei stated in annoyance. "So what you're saying now…you want to be…." He hesitated, as though reassuring himself of the unexpected discovery. "A photographer?"
Duo winked as he exclaimed excitedly, "You got that right, I even bought the equipments and books about them. I haven't really test the camera, though because with all the work in the HQ, I hardly find the time to snap some shots or even go through the manual…Hey, I know! Why don't you and I go to the park tomorrow to take a few pictures? Maybe we can test out on a few…"
"Hold it," Wufei interrupted, unable to digest the series of information packed into his head. "Are you serious about this? You're quitting?"
"No," Duo insisted softly after a moment to ensure his friend of his own seriousness on that matter. "I told you, I'm not. This is not even a part-time thing. It's more of a new hobby I just found but if I can make a living out of it, that'll be great."
"Still," Wufei muttered, looking unconvinced. "Do I get an explanation for this sudden change of interest? This photographer thing…it's not like you at all."
Duo remained silent for awhile, looking deep in thought. Wufei could sense Duo's slight discomfort at the question and couldn't help wondering if he had probed a little deeper than Duo had liked. As though sensing Wufei's own discomfort at the silence, Duo quickly smile in assurance at Wufei and spoke softly to him, "I just don't feel like doing this for the rest of my life. Haven't we done that enough?"
Wufei studied Duo's expression, noting the unusual grim tone from his comrade. Duo might be one of the most capable men in the HQ but he was also the most least person to take up a mission or an assignment without the proper motivation. Unlike him and Heero, Duo only took up the job for the money and from the very beginning, Wufei could sense Duo's meager interest when it came to missions, though he did quite a splendid job once he was assigned to it. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before Duo resigned his current job and took up the ones with better prospect for his future.
"I suppose," Wufei murmured thoughtfully. "Well, if that's what you want, no one's going to stop you from doing it. Just as long as you don't go overboard with it like the last time Quatre entrusted you with his camera."
"You mean during last Christmas where I snap shots of you and Sally stealing kisses under the mistletoe and pasted those pictures on the office board?" Duo quipped, his grin widened as that memory. Wufei glared at him but after years of receiving the same look from him, Heero and sometimes Trowa, it did very little effect to intimidate the braided man. "Come on, you guys look sweet in that picture. And you gotta admit, I got a good angle on those shots. Even Trowa was impressed…"
"One more prank like that and I'll shove the camera so far up your butt, you wouldn't be able to feel it," Wufei said, almost menacingly. His face had grown red all of a sudden and it seemed clear to Duo that his friend was still sore over the humiliation. At least Sally was able to joke about it after a couple of months.
"Yea, yea, I heard that line before," Duo exclaimed casually with a wave. "So you're coming with me to the park tomorrow, right?"
"Alright, that's it for today!" the coach exclaimed after blowing the whistle to signify the end of the game. "Good work, girls!"
The volleyball players immediately parted from the court to their own resting place in the hall to quench their thirst. Some of them chatted excitedly about the latest rumors going on around school while the others merely trying to catch their breath from the previous game. Most of them were spread in clusters, gathering in their own circle of friends.
The coach suddenly came up behind a particular group of girls, prompting their immediate attention. "That's a great spike you just did, Aino," he complimented to one of the girls. "Keep it up and you'll represent our school in the school championship tournament next month."
The particular girl's face broke into a smile as her other friends congratulated her with a small pat on her back and soft whisperings.
"Arigato, Sensei!" the girl exclaimed happily and gave him her trademark victory sign. "Daijobu, with Aino Minako around, no one will be able to defeat our team!"
When the coach left, her group began to chat excitedly about the upcoming tournament. The girl, Aino Minako was the most excited one in the group. Among the teenagers gathered in the gym, she stood out from the rest, physically and mentally. Her shining golden hair was a luxurious tumble over her shoulder and back, left unbound as it normally was and framed a face of striking, flawless beauty. Her molded cheekbones were slightly high, her creamy skin glowing with health and her lips soft and generous. But her eyes were her most striking feature. Beneath delicately winged eyebrows, long, curly lashes fringed eyes that were a vivid, startling color of blue. Wonderfully expressive eyes that sparkled like diamonds when she was happy or darkened when she was pensive. With her sweet and innocent demeanor and her bubbly personality, it was no wonder she had managed to catch the eye of teenage boys from all around. Her exuberant nature intrigued them and her laughter and smiles were infectious to those surrounding her.
"Ne, Minako, you'll be chosen to go to the tournament this time for sure," one of the girls, Ikiko said as they were walking back to the changing room.
Minako beamed proudly but not wanting to seem arrogant or over confident, she replied in a casual tone, "I hope so, too, but the competition's fierce. Everyone wants to be in the team."
"Daijobu, we know you'll be selected," Rin assured her. "Didn't you hear what Takigawa-Sensei said? He has faith in you."
Minako laughed. "That's not what he said."
"Well, that's what it sounded to me," Rin answered with a shrug.
"We all have faith in you," Ikiko added, smiling warmly at her friend as she placed a hand on Minako's shoulder in a manner to support. "I'm actually glad, though that you're taking volleyball more seriously than that idol thing you've been obsessing on for years…"
Minako's smile was still evident in her features and she merely shrugged her shoulders in reply, not bothering to offer any explanation but unknown to her friends, her eyes had instantly grew dimmed at that statement. She could feel the familiar ache and longing in her heart as she recalled back her dream, now lost in a river of illusions and false securities.
"Hey, yeah," Rin intruded, realization dawned across her features. "Whatever happen to that anyway? You didn't mention anything about it since school reopens. If I recall correctly, you were in the middle of an audition when news about the war broke out. Did it went well?"
Minako hesitated as a pang of guilt washed over her, wishing her friends hadn't brought that subject up. "I didn't get the part," she muttered softly but casually enough so that her friends would misinterpret her weak tone for mere disappointment. "It wouldn't have work out anyway. What, with the war and everything. It's better that I quit now and focus on the more important things that actually benefits me." Noticing her friends' mixture of dubious and concern glances, Minako was hastened to continue, "Come on, I've been going for auditions for years and barely have enough part to secure a part-time job as an actress, let alone a singer. And you guys knew I wouldn't make it anyway…"
"We never said that…" Ikiko argued weakly, glancing at Rin desperately to fill in her sentence.
"It doesn't
matter," Minako insisted,
struggling to suppress the tremble
in her voice and the
tears from spilling. "I'm getting tired of
all the rejections
and failures. I'm just
not cut out
to be a singer. But it's
not really a
bad thing. At least
now I can concentrate on
volleyball and maybe
one day, become a
famous star player
for the country
or something." She flashed
them a bright smile, though she
lacked the enthusiasm
in her speech.
"So you're…giving your dream up
for this?" Rin asked
carefully.
Minako nodded in affirmative, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Yep."
"Wufei, I can't help but think you're partly responsible for this miserable ordeal I'm forced to endure," Heero muttered with a scowl. "Tell me again why do you insist on dragging me into your little outing today? And on a very, relaxing Sunday at that?"
Even though it was a weekend and his day-off from work, he still did not appreciate his comrades knocking bright early on his door and taking advantage of his sleepiness to drag him all the way to the park, only to have him stand in ridiculously long hours while 'assisting' Duo on selecting the most appropriate spot to capture on film.
When Wufei came knocking furiously on his door and muttering something about an urgent mission that morning, Heero had accepted it without a word since it was normal for the HQ to contact their members, directly or indirectly at unreasonable hours to complete a mission. However, it just so happened he had a rough time at the office the night before and had slept for barely two hours when his friends came banging on his door, waking up half of his neighbors in the process. He had been extremely exhausted and groggy that he had missed all the obvious evidence of faulty information being fed on him by Duo while they were in the car.
When they reached the park and after an hour of standing and 'studying' the same spot with an agitated Wufei while Duo kept fiddling with his camera and snapping the view at various angle, only he realized that he had been conned into Duo's regular outing. Or some unusual activities that he normally got the pilots indulged in every week. Heero was blaming his ridiculous predicament on Wufei but due to his exhaustion that still hadn't wore out since the night, he didn't have much energy to argue. Besides, the pilots got conned regularly every week so it was common for them to bring the others down as well.
"I don't want to be the only idiot who was forced to participate in this ordeal," Wufei muttered. He had his back against a tree nearby, his eyes closed and his arms crossed in a form of meditation.
Heero cast a glare at the Chinese man and said harshly, "Why didn't you take Trowa or Quatre instead? You and I were at the office until six this morning and somehow you have to drag me into this?!" It was not like Heero to complain over such a tenuous matter but he couldn't help it. He needed his rest and this was definitely not what he had planned to start his weekend. And he would have walked out on them this instant if Duo hadn't hid his car keys and the fact that they were quite a distant away from his apartment.
"Trowa's traveling with the circus troupe and won't be back till next month. And it would be unfair to drag Quatre around considering he have more important matters to attend to."
"You're talking about unfair?" Heero asked incredulously, his outburst prompting Wufei's eyes to open.
"Look, I don't want to go through this anymore than you do," Wufei replied softly and patiently, surprising Heero. Then his voice rose to a slightly higher octave, "But that poor excuse of a god was already up by the time I reach home and he refuse to leave until I agree to this little outing! So, if you think for one minute I am enjoying every single moment of this torturous…."
"Hey, keep it down back there!" Duo exclaimed ahead of them, completely oblivious to the glares directed from his friends. "I can't concentrate with all the yelling. Some help you guys are." He paused to snap another shot of a particular scenery in the distant across from them. "Alright, that's good. Now let's see if we can find a spot that has it all, know what I mean? I need to get a picture that can summarize summer at its best. You know, children playing, adults laughing, flowers blooming, the works." Duo's eyes darted from one corner to another until it fixed at the far end of the park where most of its visitors occupied in clusters of families and children. A group of girls were indulged in an intense game of volleyball nearby, their excited cries were clearly heard from a distant. "Oh, how about those crowd over there? They have nice trees there for a background."
Heero was clenching and unclenching his fists while mentally counting to ten but that method appeared ineffective at this moment. Wufei was cursing under his breath and he, too appeared ready to jump at the next opportunity to kill the braided man.
"I've got a better suggestion," Heero muttered through gritted teeth. "How about your face in a bloody pulp and two guns trained right at your throat? With those nice trees for a background."
Duo chuckled in amusement, well aware of his friends' annoyance at his dalliance. "That doesn't summarize summer."
"That's what you always get yourself into every summer."
As soon as the ball hit the pavement sharply, the girls let out a squeal, cheering their victory and slapping each other high fives. Instead of moaning their defeat, their opponents congratulated them earnestly, holding no grudge or displaying the slightest of resentment. It was expected, though because they were schoolmates. Every Sunday the girls would get together for a short practice to exercise and sharpened their skills for the upcoming tournaments. However, this time the girls took longer than usual to defeat their own schoolmates, which displayed evidence of trained players and their skills.
"Yes!" one brunette girl exclaimed after quenching her thirst. "At this rate we'll be able to defeat our rivals for sure!"
"No doubt about it," another girl retorted, equally enthusiastic at that thought. "All we need to do now is work out more strategies and more practice."
At that point, their conversations grew excited as their enthusiasm soared. Minako drew in a steady breath as she went over to her resting place, waiting patiently for her breath to regain its normal rhythm. She plopped down on the ground and quietly drained her bottle while listening half-heartedly to her friends' mixed voices. She felt unusually exhausted and her limbs ached while the blood rushing through her temple began to throb. Frowning at her recklessness for overexerting herself for a mere practice, she decided to cancel lunch with her friends and head back home instead to regain her strength.
After declining their offer for lunch and excusing herself, Minako slipped on her sweats over her school gym shorts and left the area. As she was walking down the path, she watched silently as children trotted past her, seemingly to be chasing one another in a familiar childhood game. Families stood at the other side, enjoying their picnic and mere discussion of the weather and other pleasant matters. Several individuals were seen happily walking their dogs and lovers were quietly snuggling at the corner, half-hidden by the trees or bushes.
Everything was certainly back to the way it was before the war, Minako thought solemnly, unable to suppress the bitterness that began to emerge deep inside. All the pristine beauty of nature, the joyful sounds of people's laughter, the sights of children playing and teenagers fooling around, all those things she used to enjoy and appreciate that had any inkling with peace were no more than a painful reminder of how things used to be back then before the war. Now those sights only ached her, seemingly to mock her at every turn and threatening her at the brink of sanity.
Every night she was haunted by the phantom ghost of a teenage boy with a tender smile that promised happiness and eyes that radiated with hope, reassuring her with securities. His charming features were a small inkling of his many gifts but many did not know how to appreciate his skills, blinded by the beauty of his face and thus, failed to discover the withering soul that craved for understanding and passionately fought for peace.
His kind words echoed in her ears and his handsome face settled in her mind, spinning wildly in mockery to force her emotions to emerge. She flinched at the memories as they came pouring into her mind and playing them over and over like a waltz, acknowledging the aching loneliness and pain with a muffled sob. She closed her eyes when she felt tears threatening to spill, all the while quickening her pace.
"Okay, okay, just shut up and let me take this one last picture and…HEY!"
That unexpected cry brought her back to reality, prompting her eyes to snap opened and her tracks stopped abruptly as she glanced around, in time to see a flash of lights blinding her eyes momentarily.