Disclaimer: I really wish I could own it but sadly I don't

Warnings: There is some laguage and violence in this chapter so read at your own disgression.

Lady Meko: Yeah he was but here's one of the more action packed chapter, the one you've been waiting for.

Note: Past this point the story will be different than that of the Return of Zero sotry i had writen earlier.

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Chapter 7: Something Goes Wrong

Duo's Apartment

Talking to Howard had never left Duo feeling so lost before! Howard had no idea what he was getting at when he mentioned what Heero had said about his attacker being a girl, and one that had a really good understanding of machinery. To Duo the only job someone with that knowledge could get was one through the Sweepers. But Howard had said he knew no such girl, and Duo had to admit the ones that do hang around there weren't so much interested in learning how to fix machines than spending the night with the guys there.

Looking down,his watch now said it was 5:30. Sighing he slumped his shoulders and started walking towards his apartment. Duo had never felt this tired before, not even during the wars. 'For some strange reason I can't sleep or think clearly, something must be wrong, I've never been out of this much energy.' He was right even Hilde had started to ask him on a daily basis if he really was feeling well. Sighing once more he lifted his bag of groceries up higher on his arms and turned down the street that lead to home.

Finally reaching the apartment complex Duo squeezed his way into the door and walked up the stares with a tired limp. 'Maybe I should get checked out by a doctor, since when should a bunch of stares be so had to climb at my age' Luckily his apartment wasn't to high up and in no time at all he had reached his door.

Fumbling around in his pockets he realized he had forgotten his keys at work. "Damn it, not now! Great! Now I need to go back there and get them…. Heero would have a field day with this…" He muttered as he dug around more in his pockets, totally oblivious to the door opening and Hilde watching him with total amusement.

"I'm sure he'd only look at you like he always does and tell you it's not like you to forget." Duo looked up in surprise.

"How long were you there?"

Hilde smiled."Long enough to be worried about your sanity."

Duo frowned and crossed his arms in mock pout."Humph that's no fair I'm perfectly sane!" Duo answered now pointing his nose in the air and causing Hilde to giggle.

"I'm sure a shrink would believe you!" she smiled sarcastically.

"Just you wait I'll be more sane than...Quatre one day." He retorted as Hilde let him in.

Lifting the groceries to the counter Duo noticed a time and place marked down on the calendar.

"Why Hilde you found me a date? You know I'm already taken." He called out jokingly.

"Ha ha very funny, it's for me!"

Duo looked around the corner at his roommate and made a face. "Who would want a witch like you?" He teased.

Picking up a pillow from the couch Hilde threw it at him, only to watch Duo catch it in mid air and stick his tongue out at her. "I'm only a witch when you don't clean up!" Duo looked at her and sighed.

"Yeah yeah we both know I'm not that messy, compared to most people, I'm a saint when it comes to my messes." Hilde laughed and muttered something under her breath, which Duo decided to ignore.

"So what do you think we should eat?" He asked as he dug through the cupboards, he was yet to fill as if looking for the answers there.

"I don't know what do you think? I'm really impartial, your cooking is better than mine any day." She turned and looked at Duo and watched him as he tapped the counter deep in thought. 'Well he must be feeling better, he can't stop moving one way or another.'

"Well, Ben said I should make my stew, what do you think?" Duo asked grabbing things out of the bag and placing them in their respective places.

"Why not! I like that, and it's probably the best meal you make!"

"So true!" Hilde rolled her eyes; she had obviously stroked his ego a bit.

After a while of cutting vegetables and other ingredients Duo looked back up at the calendar. "So who is this guy? Is he nice?"

"Yeah I think so, I just met him but he comes across as a little jumpy." Duo looked around the corner and watched her.

"It's that bad huh?" He smiled.

"What do you mean?" She asked as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Oh, it's just that when you talk about this guy you get this funny look and then you blush."

"Gee, at least I don't drool."

"I bet you do, you just don't do it around me." He answered back placing a hand exaggeratedly on his chest. "Are you sure he's straight, maybe he didn't want his lover to see him with a pretty girl…. not that your that pretty!"

"DUO!" Hilde yelled getting upset.

"Hey I was joking!You're pretty…I'm sorry!" But it was too late Hilde had walked around the corner. "Sheesh it's not like I meant it." He muttered.

Half an hour later Duo had finished cooking, but Hilde was nowhere to be seen. "Great where is that girl. I say one thing to her that she gets offended and she disappears from the apartment."

"HILDE" Duo called as he walked down the hallway and stopped at her room.

He stood there for a moment trying to fight the urge to just fling the door open and scream 'boo'. Smiling at the thought though he quickly dismissed it, he was in enough trouble as it was. Opening the door slowly he peeked in and saw her sitting on her bed with a book. Sighing he pushed the door and walked up to her. "Is it that good a book that you can't hear me?" He asked as he bent down towards her. "Hey are you still mad at me?" He asked softly.

Hilde looked up from her book and smiled. "No I can't stay mad at you for very long. I'm sorry I got mad at you I know you were poking fun." She smiled and put her book down. "I guess I'm just a little worried about you right now."

"What for? I'm fine!" Duo looked at her more closely. 'What's she trying to get at? I'm fine.'

"You just seem so lonely, and lost." Hilde was looking down at her feet and Duo could sense she was about to get all mushy on him. Hilde looked up and smiled weakly.

"Why don't we talk about this in the morning, let's just enjoy dinner. I don't want it to get in the way." Duo said trying to push the matter aside.

Both Hilde and Duo ate their dinner in silence and neither tried to start a conversation. Hilde sighed and picked around at what was left of her stew. 'Duo has been acting really strange these past few months. He isn't even talking during dinner and it's usually his favourite time to talk.'

Looking up Hilde took a closer look at her roommate. He seemed so lost, and sad. Duo's eyes were focusing on this one piece of carrot, which caught Hide's attention; he had barely eaten a thing. 'Okay this is getting to weird! This is the guy who had to eat at least three or four bowls of stew before he even thought of quitting. Now all he does is watch it get cold. I need to get him to see a doctor. I don't care how many times he says he doesn't want to go there, I'll just have to force him!'

"Uh…Oh yeah Ali called this afternoon." Hilde said reluctantly trying to spark up some conversation.

"Really, what's up with her?" 'Okay he sure didn't seem very interested.' Hilde thaught.

"Duo, she's your girlfriend and she's worried about you. You haven't called her in four days!" Duo's head slumped towards his bowl.

"Damn! Well I hope she's not mad at me." He stated indifferently. 'Okay I forgot, I'll make sure not to do that again. 'He thaught to himslef as he pushed the same carrot around the bowl.

"She wants to know if you could go with her out to dinner on Friday." Hilde watched him even closer and was surprised to see so little emotion. "Duo? Are you listening?"

"Huh…. oh sorry lost in thought there." He smiled lifting his fork for what must have been the fourth time in an hour and placing it down before putting it in his mouth.

"Duo you can't eat without actually putting the food in your mouth! Really what is wrong with you?" Duo looked at her with a steady stare.

"I told you I'm fine, I'm just not so hungry. I have no clue what's worrying you like this." Hilde leaned forward and placed her hand on his forehead. "Hey what's that for? I'm not sick!"

"Could have fooled me, you're warm, almost feverish, don't tell me I don't know what I'm talking about Duo Maxwell! You know perfectly well there's something wrong with you. You just don't want to admit it!" Duo looked at her with a fixed stare. "I hope that's not how you stared down that poor innocent carrot!" Hilde tried to say while keeping a straight face.

"Huh?"

"It was a joke!" Hilde laughed as Duo smiled and finally ate the carrot.

"Happy, I put it out of its misery it won't have to see my face again!"

"Yeah your ugly face."

Duo looked confused for a moment."Now Hilde I don't think you have that right, remember it's you who has the ugly face." Both burst out laughing.

"Okay I give! How about I do the dishes and you finish what you have."

Duo looked up at Hilde as she stood up."Sure I guess I can do that."

Once Hilde had finished the dishes Duo had finally eaten the rest of his meal and wondered over to the television to see what was on the news. So far they were just talking about the resource issues that the Vice Foreign Minister was having the latest meetings over. Still changing channels something caught his eye; it was a bulletin.

"ON TUESDAY THE 16TH A MENTAL PATIEN HAS ESCAPED FROM THE LOCAL MENTAL HOSPITAL AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, IF ANYONE SEES ANYBODY WHO FITS THIS DESCRIPTON PLEASE LOCK YUR DOORS AND WINDOWS AND CALL THE POLICE. THE PATIENT IS UNSTABLE AND CAN ATTACK WITHOUT WARNING. ANY INFORMATION REGARDING HER WHEREABOUTS WILL BE GREATLY REWARDED AND WILL AID IN KEEPING OTHERS SAFE FROM HER."

"Hey Hilde did you hear that?" Duo asked as he turned around.

Hilde just stood there staring at the picture of a nineteen-year-old girl with white hair. Hilde's face was white and she looked really worried. "Hey Hilde something wrong?"

"Huh? N..no I..I'm okay just thinking." she sighed. 'Okay that's weird I could have sworn I saw her at the mall today when I was having coffee with my date…he knew her too.'

"Humph." Duo snorted as he slouched in the chair. "I don't believe them, they did the same thing for us. The girl could be perfectly sane! They just want to keep it under wraps. Besides if she was so dangerous the Perventers would know, and ironically we don't! Man she looks pretty smart too. i really doubt she's got some metal problem."

"Then what? It's a hoax?"

"Nope they're trying to capture her, and I bet it's OZ too!" Duo waved his hand and placed it down as he flipped through even more channels. "Ever since they were nearly wiped out they've been trying to keep things behind closed doors so we don't find out what's going on. The whole point is to do everything in a way that the Perventers can't touch them. I bet Heero already knows about it!"

"I wouldn't put it past him!"

"Hmm…"

Two more hours passed Hilde had gone to bed half an hour ago and Duo was left alone to watch TV. But to his disgust like every other night there was really nothing on, so he spent most of his time just thinking about the meeting at Quatre's place the next day.

'By then Heero should have some more information for us to work with. Maybe just maybe he'll have a description of who we're after!' Yawning heavily he stretched his arms and stood up. "Well I guess it's about time I get some sleep. It's 10'o clock, hmm.. that's early for me…aw well more sleep for me then!"

But once in bed he couldn't sleep; something was seriously bothering him, but he couldn't put his finger on it! For weeks now Duo has had trouble sleeping not only is he plagued every night with his usual nightmares but they've gotten worse and on top of that he can't help but feel a little depressed. 'I can't even have feelings for my girlfriend, I barely eat, and when I do it's not the normal amount, and I have troubles sleeping. Maybe Quatre will has some sleeping pills I can get off him, I want to avoid the doctor as much as I can and with the conferances he attends I bet he does have some!' Slowly Duo had felt himself begin to dose to sleep, which was fine except for the nightmares.

Slipping into the kitchen window Ray managed to keep it quite, despite the dishes neatly piled by the sink. 'Why put all the dishes here and not away? I'll never understand people!' It was eaither glass or porcelan she hated most, both blroke easiy and both couldn't hold her waight if she fell on them.

Ray stood up and slowly turned around in full circle to get her bearings. 'This is the kitchen, that's the living room. So if I go down the hall and just before the back door it should lead me to my target!' So quietly Ray stepped out of the kitchen taking in as much information as she could. It was easy for her to do so since her vision was better than average.

'So far this is too easy I really can't believe it's this easy. There's nothing here that tells me I'm even in the right place!' Looking around in the living room Ray noticed a laptop and moved toward it.

'Well it's definitely from the Perventers so I must be in the right place; he's the only Perventer in this building! Seriously they should put everyone together, that way it would be harder for me to pin point where he is!' Flipping open the laptop Ray realized there was some information Duo had collected that she didn't have. 'Why not I'll take the info and leave a virus, just in case I don't make it!'

Slipping a disk into the disk drive Ray started to download the information. 'I'm surprised he never read this! There is a lot on me! Well I can't let him get that!' Once the information was downloaded she erased the data and put in yet another disk, this time she was downloading something into his computer. 'This ought to keep them all busy, I bet he'll even take it to Heero right away, that would make for a good laugh! Too bad he might not make it!' Closing the laptop Ray made her way toward the room where Duo was sleeping.

Opening the door quietly she looked in. 'This is way to easy he's laying there out in the open. If I had my gun on me I would have been done by now.' She didn't though, it had gone missing, and she knew just who took it and he was going to pay for it in the morning.

Stepping in as quietly as she could Ray managed to get the side closest the window, in case she needed a quick get away. Watching carefully not to step on anything Ray took a closer look at the young man she was about to assassinate. 'The serum has already taken effect! Great just great I have to do this quickly, he only has one more exposure before it takes over.' Moving her hand slowly to the blade she was planning to use she slipped it out of it's holder. Taking a close look at the blade Ray took a last glance at Duo. 'It's really too bad. He looks somewhat peaceful, but I can't let him live not like this, I can't afford the problems he'd cause me.'

Ray braced her feet in case he woke up, and plunged her hand down in one swift movement.

Duo was dismayed as he lay there with his eyes closed; he really wasn't going to get any sleep. Sighing he rolled onto his other side only to feel a sharp pain lancealong the back of his shoulder. With his quick reflexes; still left over from the war, he managed to grab the knife he kept under his pillow and swung out at his attacker.

The girl backed up with quick reflexes but wasn't expecting his reaction and took the brunt of his swing in her arm; causing a deep gash to open. Duo watched as the girl took in just what had happened and to his surprise it didn't take too long for her to retaliate. She quickly lunged straight at him and took a swing of her own only to have him duck under, but she was expecting it and kneed him directly in the face, sending him into the wall.

Dou's head was aching so much he had troubles seeing what she was about to do next. "What do you want?" He asked hoping to coax her to talk but all he got was a foot in his face as an answer.

Coughing up blood Duo looked up at his attacker defiantly. "Hey look what ever it is I'm sorry, but I really didn't do anything." He tried again as he stood up using the door for support. But still no answer. Clutching his own blade even tighter Duo planned his retaliation.

He knew he had two choices; hurt her badly and run or to kill her. So far the last one was the only one he could manage in a corner. It was the last thing he wanted to do but maybe he can tire her out enough, only if he could get out away from the corner she had him in.

The girl took another swing with her knife and missed as Duo ducked. He managed to swing her feet out from under her and got to the other side of the room. 'Damn she's fast, I need to get a good look at her so I can figure out what to do.' But even then the girl managed to get up within seconds. 'Shit! She's really fast, I have no chance like this I need to injure her enough to slow her down.'

He knew two things about her so far, the cut on her arm made no difference and she had reflexes as fast as his own. Watching her as she came towards him, Dou decided now was as good a time as any to attack, but first he needed her to make another swing.

Doing exactly as he had planned the girl took yet another swing, aiming for his throat. Duo ducked to the side, caught her arm and pulled her toward him, finishing with a hard blow of his elbow at her nose. Duo watched as the attacker backed up, but still she did not show any sign of pain 'Okay... that didn't really work out she's as stubborn as Heero.' Duo waited again but remembered a day he had training with Heero.

'Okay I get it maybe I'm doing this all wrong. All I need to do is mirror her moves, she should get confused and then I'll…' But before he could finish that thought the girl lashed out again but this time the pain quickly followed a deafening ' CRACK'. Duo hit the floor as pain lanced through his left leg. "Hey I kinda needed that leg to defend myself! How about letting me at least keep the other okay!" He retorted as he winced in pain, "Why won't you say anything! Damn it, SAY SOMETHING!' He yelled as he managed to stand up with help of a nearby chair. "You can't just attack a guy without telling him why!"

Amazingly the girl stopped and looked at him from the shadows. All he needed was a light. Looking around him he noticed the lamp, luckily it only had a switch to turn it on. Quickly grabbing the lamp Duo flicked the light on and blinded his attacker. Although he had thought he had won there the girl made one last attempt but Duo was expecting it and lunged forward swinging his knife and catching the girl.

Fumbling around in the dark Duo managed to limp heavily toward the light by his door only to have the door fling itself wildly into his face.

"Ahhhhh! Damn it" He cursed as Hilde's head poked through

"Duo! Are you okay? I heard a lot of noise coming from here," She asked as she looked down at Duo as he rubbed his nose and was clutching his leg with his free hand. "What happened? You're covered in blood. Duo stood up and without a word flicked on the light only to stare in shock himself.

No wonder he was covered in blood he had done more damage to the girl than he had originally thought.

"Oh my god! What…Did she…" Hilde asked completely astonished by what she was seeing.

Duolimped heavilyover to the figure laying on the floor in a heap. Slowly he grabbed her shoulder and turned her over gently. "Yeah she got in some how." But Hilde had no reply, so Duo turned around and stared at her pale face. "Are you okay?"

"Duo we need to get you to the hospital, you're loosing a lot of blood."

"Huh? What? She really didn't hurt me that bad!"

"Uh! Yes she did, you have a huge cut almost all the way down your back" Duo looked at her again.

"Oh I forgot all about that. First I want to take a good look at her." But as he finished turning her over he realised why it had all ended so fast. As he had blinded the girl the light also blinded him, and the final blow he had made was straight to her neck. "What the..!" Duo quickly felt for a pulse and was surprised to still feel one. "Hilde get me a few towels and some water. I think she's the one that needs to get to the hospital first."

Hilde stared at him wide eyed and nodded slowly before she left the room. Dou smiled and knew she'd do as he told her.

Taking a closer look Duo noticed the gash he had initially made, was still bleeding furiously. "How much blood do you have? Man you should be nearly out of it by now!" The gril had lost soo muchblood that her brown hair was stained with it.Again he looked around the room and found the blade a few feet away and stared at it for a few moments.

"Hmm.. Well I'll be, it's the same as the knife we had found a few weeks ago. Sowas ityou? I really doubt it though, you're too small the throw it." He said as he looked down at her face and moved some of the long hair out of the way. "It's a shame really that I had to hurt you like that."

A few minutes later Hilde came in and was followed by Wufei. "I found him at the door, I guess I didn't hear him knock."

Wufei stopped at the doorway and stared at the sight before him. "What happened?"

"What's it look like, she attacked me!" Duo answered as he placed the towel tightly around her neck and tore the other in half soaking it in water and placing it around her injured arm. "She almost got me too, if it wasn't for that lamp!" He finished as he did the same for her neck.

"Maxwell you need to go to the hospital"

"Yeah I know, but first she's my priority, I want her to live; so I can find out why she was after me. Wufei do you mind driving us there?"

"Duo you do know they'll make you stay there a few days?" Hilde added as she put her hands to her hips expecting him to fight back.

"Yeah I know they're going to, at least then I'll be there when she wakes up!"

"She's Dead Maxwell its over!" Duo winced. He had just arrived and he was already throwing around assumptions he had no right to make.

"NO SHE"S NOT!" Duo was getting mad none of them understood. "She's still alive, her pulse is strong!" Duo watched as both of his friends stared at him with disbelief. "Okay then come and check for yourselves!" But both just stood there in bewilderment.

TBC...

A/N: hmmm. interesting...more to come!

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