Don't Mess with Fire
Part 2
Kaida ran through the alleyways, setting course towards the pier. Could that really have been Duo? Or is my mind just tricking me again, like when I thought I saw a monkey eating a sundae on top of the couch, when it was really just Heba eating a mango? GAH! I need a vacation… she thought, shaking her head. The brunette walked towards the empty warehouses, all while trying to staunch her bleeding shoulder. Woah… I'm feeling light headed. Either I've lost a lot of blood or the colony had a total increase in oxygen… she made it through to doors before she fell to her knees. Damn… I guess it's the blood then… she moved a manhole cover and lowered herself down the stairs, replacing the cover before she continued down. She dropped the last few feet, knowing right away it was a bad idea. The thief's knees locked, sending her crashing to the floor of the drained sewer. "Shit…" Kaida looked over at a rope that ran along the wall, disappearing into the darkness around the curve of the pipe. Summing up the last of her power, she ignited the end of the rope, her final S.O.S. and hope for survival. The rope burned quickly, traveling along the rope until she could no longer see it.
A few moments later her ears were greeted with the sound of feet stumbling over pebbles. Keahi and a black haired boy rounded the curve, gauze padding and tape in hand. The blonde shook her head at the sight of her friend crumpled up on the ground. "Dammit Kaida why does this always happen without me? IT'S NOT FAIR! I bet you also kicked the shit out of those policemen up there too. But do I get the chance to? NO!" Kaida grinned up at her friend. "Shut up and fire me up before I die. O and thanks, Zach." The boy smirked. "No prob." He had gently bandaged up her shoulder, stopping the bleeding. "Now, Keahi, heat me up before I become rat food." "Hmm I don't know… with you gone, I would become leader of the Pyronics…" "Come off it! I'm your best friend now save me before I die, dammit!" Keahi just laughed and took her hand. Fire shot from one person to another, and Kaida looked better almost instantly. "Thanks. I'm full now." The blonde let go and helped her friend up. "See, Zach! I told you that distress rope was a good idea!" "That was my idea." "No it wasn't. You just want to take all my credit for the hard work! Hey, what are you rolling your eyes at me for?" The brunette laughed inwardly at her two friends' bickering. It was gonna be a long night back at hq.
"Wow. This hotel room's not so bad!" Quatre looked around the suite, which included a kitchen, bathroom, living room area, bedroom, and balcony. Heero walked past him into the room. "It shouldn't be. You're the one paying for it." Duo flopped down on the couch. "Yep. Q's got us covered." Wufei emerged from the bedroom. "There's only three beds," the Chinese boy said. Quatre rubbed the back of his head. "Well, the sofa is a fold-out bed. That means someone has to share." Duo walked over to the mini fridge and pulled out a soda. When he looked up, he saw Wufei sprawled across the couch, and in the bedroom Heero, Trowa and Quatre had claimed beds. "So who's sharing with the braided baka?" Wufei asked, more as a dare than a question. The four pilots started playing rocks-paper-scissors to see who would have to withstand sleeping in the same bed as the nutty God of Death. Duo sighed and grabbed an extra pillow and blanket. "Never mind, Wuffers. I'll sleep outside." "Hey! It's WuFEI!" "Sorry Wu-man but I'm afraid you're sadly mistaken." "Dammit you braided baka! You're even worse then an onna!" "Why thank you, darling, right back at ya." "DUO! I've had it up to here with your mocking ways!" "Aw, to bad. I've just begun." And with that, Shinigami proudly strode unto the balcony and laid down.
"Don't you think Duo's been a little… quiet… lately?" Quatre whispered to Trowa as Wufei angrily shut the balcony door. "If you mean since the whole fire thing this afternoon? Yeah, I guess so," the clown answered. The blonde looked down. "When it happened, he seemed… to recognize something. Or remember." Trowa shrugged and kicked off his shoes.
That really seemed like Kaida… with the changing eye color and attitude. But that fire… what happened after she was taken away? I mean, if that was her… damn this is hurting my head to much. But she held up two fingers… what's that supposed to mean? Hmm. Two people equal a pair, and a pair equals a… pear? No now why would she be trying to tell me about a vegetable? Wait, is it a fruit? My brain hurts. Hmmm. No… a pair equals… a duo. She recognized me. So that really was Kaida… wow she's changed… Duo thought. I'll think about it tomorrow. At least we get to sleep in… and the braided pilot fell asleep.
Kaida was part of the family. She, Duo and Solo did everything together. Heists, chases, jokes… then IT happened. Kaida had just turned six, and decided to steal something to celebrate. She and her long-haired friend window-shopped for hours, until they came upon the item: a jacket. It was beige, and had a high collar. The pockets on the higher part of the arm would be useful for storing things, and the price stated its high quality. "That's it." "Um are you sure, K? I mean, this store is really high security and all…" "Stop being a wimp, Duo. We can do it. I mean, come on, how hard can it be?" They walked in. Fortunately, the owner didn't yell for them to leave. The kids "browsed" through the store, wearing pictures of wish and whimsy on their faces the whole time. Then they snatched it. Shouts of "Stop!" and "What do you think you're doing!" filled the air as they stumbled into the street and split up. Duo took the jacket, being the more experienced of the two. "Don't get caught!" Kaida yelled her parting words to her friend. Her friend smirked. "Why would I?" guards sped after them, yelling "Freeze!" like in those cop movies. It took a few moments for Kaida to notice the few guards that ran after her gave up, and she ran down an alleyway to get to where she and Duo would meet up. The first thing that met her eyes was something she could never forget. A guard stood there, gun raised inches from her friend's head. If he shot, he wouldn't miss. The guard still hadn't noticed her yet. Kaida didn't tell her body to move… but it did. Towards the unsuspecting guard… who she kicked in the balls. "OW! DAMMIT YOU LITTLE BRAT!" she took off the other way. She looked behind her to see Duo's worried expression. "Don't worry! Tell Solo I'll be back tonight!" she yelled. But she knew she wouldn't. And as long as he escaped… she was glad. "You had better be!" shouted Duo, who had already begun to run. Kaida turned the corner, just to run into two more guards. "Say goodnight, girly," one sneered, hitting her over the head with the butt of the gun. The six year old passed out at the hands of three grown men. The pathetic thing is it took all that time just to catch her, not noticing the other one got away.
"Duo… Duo, wake up…" "Just five more minutes…" the self proclaimed God of Death pleaded. "Come on Duo, it's already 12 o'clock!" "Look at it, the idiot drools in his sleep." "Aw, shut up Heero," Duo opened his eyes to see his two friends attempting to drag him inside. Quatre gave up. "Fine if you want to get rained on, that's your choice. I'm going to get some coffee." "COFFEE!" Duo leapt to his feet, wide awake. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO! COME ON, Q! I'M READY FOR CAFFEINE!" Trowa groaned, sipping his own cup of tea. "Doesn't he already have caffeine?" Wufei poured himself a cup and shrugged. "Seems that way to me."
"Hey Q." "Yes?" Quatre looked up from a painting he had been inspecting. "Um, wait a sec… never mind. I forgot." Duo kept on walking through the streets of the colony, not quite sure if he was looking for something, or WHAT he was looking for. His mind was just away from his work. The Shinigami and Quatre had been sent by Wufei to find a Chinese restaurant for that night. Big surprise. "Uh, Duo, that's the fifth one we've passed in the last hour." "Huh?" The blonde just shook his head. His braided friend had something on his mind, and he intended to sneak it out of him by any means possible.
The previous night had been horrendous. The entire gang had been awake until 3, drinking Dr. Pepper and partying over the victorious heist. They even persuaded Kaida into fire illusions and Keahi into acrobatics. After everyone had stopped dancing around, it was, as Zach said, "The only kind of quiet that happens before Heba starts snoring." Heba however, instantly began to berate the elder teen with shouts of "I DO NOT! THAT'S DANIEL!" and throttling him until a certain blonde held up a recorder with snores emitting from the speakers. Kaida, exhausted and confused, slipped quietly into her "room" and fell asleep instantly, without a second thought of what had happened that afternoon.
Now, as Kaida wondered the streets, she contemplated the odd sighting yesterday. It had never occurred to her that Duo would return back home, or if he even did, if he would run into her. She had known he was a gundam pilot ever since he had been captured by OZ the year and a half before, and shown on the huge screen in the colony's square. But was that really him that she bumped into in her getaway? And again on the roof? And why did she just now have a sudden urge for caffeine? She felt as if she might never know.
A/N: hey peoples! Me again. I just wanted to ask y'guys to review. I didn't get any the first time around, but I'm confident I'll get some flames or somethin in round two! Thanks! Now Saruwatari! Come to me! (Giant flaming wolf appears from nowhere, and disappears into the sky with DML on its back) (DML turns back around to reader) REMEMBER TO REVIEW!