Haunted Memories
Chapter 2
A/N: I should have had this up sooner. Then maybe I could have gotten a review or two, well besides my cousin (thank you by the way). I just really hate typing things out after I write soo many pages. Anyways, if you have the time, let me know what you think so far. : -
Disclaimer: I don't own, though I wish I did.
-Death is a gift. A gift from God that everybody receives.-
Colorful leaves flew in bunches carried by the crisp autumn wind that held the biting chill of the oncoming winter. Duo pulled his jacket tighter against his body trying to resist a shiver that ran through his body. It was a perfect fall day with the bright sun shining down and occasionally hiding behind a wispy cloud. Perfect for everybody but him anyways.
He heard a loud bell ring from the school up ahead. The building erupted with yelling and laughing kids, which reminded Duo of an agitated anthill. A small smile played on his lips as he had to dodge a student barreling towards him on a bicycle and then three more on roller skates.
'Young innocence, so precious and pure,' Duo thought to himself sadly. He picked up his pace a bit. He had to do what he set out to do before he changed his mind. The small flower shop was just up ahead.
The place was crammed in between a grocery store and some outdated audio store. The sign for the shop was so old and faded Duo could not even make out the name. The only reason he knew of the place was because he had stepped inside on a hot summer day to get some cool air. The audio shop wasn't air-conditioned and he couldn't very well hang out in a grocery store.
The small shop was always filled completely with flowers, but somehow the scent of all of them close together wasn't overbearing. Duo had instantly liked the store because it felt homey and the extremely cheap prices helped quite a bit.
He stopped in front of the entrance and took a deep breath. He wasn't here for a happy occasion. He released the breath he was holding and stepped inside. As usual, the interior was cool and the lights were dim. A tinkle from the bell hung above the door announced his arrival.
"How can I help you today Mr. Maxwell?" the short girl behind the counter asked cheerfully.
"I would like to look around a bit Kanami," Duo answered.
"Ok, let me know when you are ready." It didn't take him too long before he had everything he needed. Duo walked up to the counter and laid a dozen red roses and another dozen white calla lilies down by the cash register.
"I also need two long white candles," Duo told her. She grabbed the candles from behind the counter and rung up his order.
"Do you ever really smile, Duo?" Kanami asked as she wrapped up the flowers.
"I will when I have something to smile about," he answered. He grabbed the two bundles of flowers and put them in the crook of his arm and grabbed the bag containing the candles after he paid for them. He bid Kanami farewell and made his way to the door. When he looked back, she had stepped out from behind the counter to help another customer. He tried a small smile, but just couldn't do. He turned back around and walked out the door.
Clouds had gathered while Duo had been inside. He threw a prayer up to the sky asking for the rain to hold off for a while. He still had a ways to go before he would get to the cemetery. It seemed to have gotten a lot colder also. Duo could smell the storm coming.
As he walked, he tried to keep thoughts of the past out of his mind, but it was no use. He still had hopes of his best friend and probably would have been lover still being out there somewhere, even if nobody else believed it. Why else would he keep the second bed in his apartment?
They had thought the war was finally over, but they had somehow gotten a "final" mission. It didn't seem right, but they all went anyways. But, before that, that was when all five of them had split up to go their own way. Duo, without a job and wanting to be alone, went back to L2 and got the cheapest apartment he could find. A month later Yuy was on his doorstep asking to stay with him for a while.
At first it was awkward. His former partner was never much of a talker in the first place. Also, Duo never knew exactly where their friendship stood. After all, being partners for a couple of years amounted to something, right? Slowly, though, Heero had decided to open up and actually talk like a normal human being. Duo started to feel as if maybe, just maybe they could be something more. But before anything could really happen, the mission came along. The mission that screwed up everything.
Him and Heero had gotten the message a little after two in the morning. They were staying up late having a rare move marathon that Yuy really seemed to enjoy, when all of a sudden Yuy's laptop started going nuts. A little surprised, Yuy had gone and checked his messages.
Sure enough, a mission message had been sent. Also confirmation messages from the other pilots had been sent to them. When Yuy came back to the overstuffed chair all emotion had left his face as he told Duo of the mission. They had five hours before they had to meet up with the others outside a base they had thought had become neutral and without any live weapons.
The worse part about the whole thing was that his best friend had transformed back to his former self in mere seconds. Months of trying to get him to be human and what most people would consider normal was ruined by one message.
Duo was so lost in his thoughts that he almost missed the front gate entrance. The cemetery was actually pretty small. It just looked large because it was set so far back from the road. The path at the front gate wound its way through a flower garden and over a hill that was behind a thick line of evergreens.
As Duo reached the first line of tombstones the sky was darkening from the setting sun and incoming storm. He sighed as he picked his way through and headed towards the back.
Their grave markers were side by side. Trowa Barton and Quatre Winner. Best friends up until the very end. Duo held back a sob as tears slid down his cheeks. He arranged the deep red roses at the base of Trowa's headstone. Duo had gotten the lilies for Quatre. Their headstones were small and simple, only containing their names and the date that they died, one month ago, this day.
Duo sat on the cold ground between the two graves and searched for a lighter that was somewhere in one of his pockets. Finally found, he used it to light both candles. He pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs, fingers interlocking.
Slowly, in a low voice, Duo began a prayer over his friends' graves.
"Death is a gift. A gift from God that everybody receives. May your souls find peace as they travel together and come to rest. You will be remembered, my friends."
"Once he was finished, Duo set his chin upon his knees and started to hum a haunting tune. The wind carried his voice throughout the cemetery and brought it back to him. The effect was eerie as it seemed that his voice was in a continuous echo.
The storm decided that its burden was heavy enough and decided to finally show itself. Duo stayed where he was until there was barely anything left to the candles. They were nubs when the rain started coming down hard enough to put them out. He put what was left of the candles into a coat pocket and stood up stiffly. His body ached and screamed in protest at his sudden movement.
Duo sighed one last time and turned to leave when he saw somebody standing not far off. That person, being seen, stepped forward. Duo was surprised to see that it was Wufei and that he was completely soaked.
"So how long have you been there Wu?" Duo asked quietly. He motioned to his friend and they both started walking towards the front gate.
"I heard you start humming your song as I came up the hill. I figured you wanted to be alone for the time being."
"Thanks, I appreciate it." They walked in silence for a while.
"Where are you staying at?" Duo asked flipping his sopping wet braid over his shoulder.
"Some hotel in town." There was a pause. "Do you want some company for tonight?" Wufei asked with a raised eyebrow. It took a moment for Duo to answer.
"Sure, why not," he said with a shrug.
"Duo, I know you probably walked here and everything, but would you mind taking the bus back? I really do not intend on getting sick." All Duo could do was nod. He just followed as his friend led the way to the bus stop not too far from the cemetery and to the place he called home.