This chapter has not been beta read. Ixy has been pushing me again to get this updated that I have written this chapter for her, but as my beta is already betaing my Harry Potter fic "Lying" I feel it is unfair to ask her to beta this as well. So, I am sorry for any mistakes that you may come across.
I am also sorry that it has taken up to three months to get this part written. I will try not to take so long next time. At least it wasn't a year this time huh?
^_^
TOUCH
Chapter 7Kayo was lead away from the safety of the schools ground to the local wood. The grip that Katie had on her hand tighten as they approached a small house deep within the forest. Kayo could recall the house as an old play ground for her, back before her father had died. Heero was leading the way down the path towards the back of the house and he didn't bother to look for the key. A sharp kick to the door made it swing open and he entered the dark house, not caring if the others followed him or not. Kayo and Katie brought up the rear.
"Don't worry." Katie reassured her again. "We are not going to hurt you in anyway, as long as you do as we say." Kayo's heartbeat quicken as she found herself standing at the top of an stairwell that lead down into a pitch black tunnel.
"We're not going to let you fall. I'm behind you and Trowa's in front. If there is a problem, he'll catch you and I'm holding you from the back."
Kayo found herself nodding her head for some reason. There was no reason, she told herself, to fear these guys. I have sat with them at lunch and during lessons and they have never given reason for me to fear them. But the memory of the guns in their hands sent shivers down her back as she took a small step forwards and began the descendent into the unknown.
Ahead of Kayo, Heero was running quickly down the stairs, taking most of them two at a time. Blood was still dripping down Duo's chin and he was no longer responding to Heero's very bad attempt as "small talk". Behind him, Wufei was also running down the stairs, a plan forming in his mind over what to do now that Kayo had discovered them. But, he concluded, it would be a group decision in the end, and both Duo and Quatre would vote to spare the young girl's life.
They hit the final step and rushed out into the hanger where the gundams stood. Heero headed quickly to the small room located at the far end. It was filled with medical equipment and, with luck that would be enough to help Duo. If not, Sally Po would be able to come to their call if need be.
Kayo's mouth fell open at the sight of the five massive fighting machines. She knew of the gundams, just like everyone else in the world did, but she never believed that she would come to stand so close to one.
"You see now." Katie whispered. "Why we brought you here."
"Didn't a recording from a gundam pilot once say, 'whoever sees my gundam, has a date with my maker'?"
Katie chuckled. "The madness of battle." She spoke as she touched one of them. "When you fight, you have to detach yourself from all human emotion. You mustn't feel sympatric for those who you kill and you must not let your feelings blind your actions."
"It sounds complicated."
"It is." Trowa spoke as they reached the room where Heero and Wufei were already patching Danielle up. "That is why we are misunderstood."
"Forget all that you have heard about us." Katie said with a smile. "We are not the evil terrorists that Oz makes us out to be."
Trowa nodded to the two. "I must help them. Katie, see that our guest is well cared for."
"Come on." Katie moved her hand to hold Kayo's as Trowa disappeared, shutting the door behind himself. "Lets get you seated and I'll explain to you what I can."
* * *
Kayo had fallen asleep by the time Trowa and Wufei joined them.
"How is he?"
"He's asleep right now. We managed to stop the internal bleeding. Heero refuses to leave his side."
Quatre gave a soft smile.
"We should wait until he wakes."
"Maxwell had bad luck doesn't he?"
Quatre nodded. "It would seem so. But good luck, considering he found Heero though all the blood and death that covers our path."
Trowa watched Quatre, his bright eyes filled with sadness as Quatre chose not to look at his ex lover.
"Things," Wufei started, "always work themselves out in the end, all you have to do, is give it time."
* * *
Duo's eyes fluttered open as a groan of pain passed his lips. Instantly he felt a hand gently touch his, and a voice whispered in his ear to remain still. He resisted the urge to close his eyes and go back to sleep.
"Where am I?" He asked.
"The hanger. You are lucky."
"Lucky? I feel like I had the shit beaten out of me."
"You did."
Duo slowly turned his head to look at Heero.
"He…"
"Shh. Go back to sleep."
Duo gave a weak nod and closed his eyes again. Heero sat there and watched him before he stood up. His hand brushed a piece of hair away from Duo's face and he left the room, in search for the others.
"She's asleep." Quatre nodded at Kayo and Heero gave a nod back.
"Duo just woke up. I sent him back to sleep. He's weak."
"What did the men want? I don't understand why they just attacked Duo and Kayo like that."
Heero shrugged. "Its hard to say. It could be anything."
"They could have been sent by the guy who sent us here." Wufei spoke; he was sitting beside Kayo, almost like he was keeping guard over her. She was, after all, just an innocent bystander.
"Indeed."
"We'll find out when Duo wakes up."
"I'm back to him." Heero left quickly and strolled across the hanger. As he passed Zero he paused and look up at his gundam. He closed his eyes and tried to block out the sound of Duo's pleas. The memory of the day when he had hurt Duo came back to him. He winched, even though he wasn't in pain. Heero hurried onto back to Duo. He sat back down beside his love and took his hand carefully. "What have I done to deserve you?" Heero whispered, a stray tear falling from his eyes. But he never noticed it.
* * *
"I've returned Kayo to the school. She has sworn to keep us a secret. She sends Duo her love and best wishes." Wufei reported as he entered Duo's room where all the other pilots had gathered.
"Thank You." Duo smiled. "Those man were sent to deliver a message, for Zero One."
"So why you? Why did they pick you?"
"They guessed I was a gundam pilot. Decided that I had to pass the message on."
"What was it?" Heero asked, he was leaning against the door, far away from Duo. Quatre was beside the braided pilot, and Trowa was nearby Quatre.
Duo bite his lip in thought as he tried to recall the message. "Um… the clock is ticking, the grains of sands… that are his life… are fading away slowly."
"Are you sure Maxwell?" Wufei asked.
Duo thought again and nodded. This time with more confidence, he repeated. "The clock is ticking, the grains of sands that are his life are fading away slowly."
"Any sense to you?" Trowa asked the Japanese pilot.
"None."
Duo hissed in pain as he tried to move. Heero's eyes were instantly on him.
"Stop moving." He ordered.
"I gotta go find Kay." He said, trying to hide the pain in his voice. "She was there. When the men delivered the message, she'll be in danger."
Wufei sighed. "I saw her back to her room. She should be safe there. I can't see why not."
Duo settled himself back down, but his eyes stayed wide and concern was still clear in them.
"How are you feeling anyway?"
Duo shrugged. "Still hurts everywhere."
Quatre gave him a sympathetic smile.
"So what's the excuse as to why I'm not in school?"
"Your grandmother died and you and Heero have gone to her funeral."
"Me and Heero?" Duo raised an eyebrow.
"We figured that your boyfriend would go with you for comfort reason."
Duo smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Are you ok?" Trowa asked.
"I'm just concerned over Kayo."
"Would you like me and Quatre to go check on her?"
Quatre looked over his shoulder at the green-eyed boy.
"Please?"
Trowa gave a nod and Quatre smiled.
"Thank you."
Trowa and Quatre stood up and left the room.
"Shall I get some take out ordered?" Wufei asked, hating the fact that he was now the third wheel in the room.
"Chinese!" Duo replied.
Wufei left too and Heero shut the door behind him. He strolled over to where Duo was sitting on the bed.
"What's wrong?" Duo asked.
"I need to tell you something."
Duo's back straightened. "What is it?"
Heero knelt down in front of Duo. "The other day, I was scared that I was about to lose you. I didn't really know what I would do if I had."
"Hey, I'm still here."
"But…"
"I'm not going anywhere Heero, I promise."
Heero raised his prussian eyes to look deep into Duo's.
"Do you know something?"
"Do I know what?"
"I… well um…. I…"
"You what?"
"I… I'm glad you are ok."
Heero patted his boyfriend's hand before standing up and heading after Wufei.
Duo flopped back on the bed disappointed. "Yeah, I glad too." He whispered.
* * *
Trowa lead the way through the small woodland area towards the school. Quatre following him silently. The tension between the two was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. As they neared the edge of the school parking lot, Quatre found himself running into Trowa's back.
"What's wrong?" He asked the tall boy.
"We need to talk."
Trowa turned to face Quatre with serious bright green eyes. Quatre swallowed, suddenly nervous.
"Then lets talk." Quatre gestured to the bench that on the other side of the parking lot.
Trowa reached for Quatre's hand, and he pulled the boy over to the bench and sat down.
"Quatre, I need to know what happened between me and you."
And so Quatre began.
Trowa listened as Quatre shyly explained how he had been set up on a blind date and how he had tried to back out of it. And how Duo was meant to keep Trowa distracted until Quatre had sorted everything out. But the plan had failed.
"I never meant to hurt you Trowa. I was trying to not hurt but I guess that failed too."
"You could have just told me."
"That would have been too easy." Quatre shrugged. "I'm sorry."
"Quatre, I'm not heartless. I would have understood if you had just told me. I don't say often, but I do love you. You mean the world to me."
Quatre's eyes welled up with tears.
"Oh Trowa." He jumped forward and wrapped his arms around Trowa.
Trowa silently held him back.
"I love you too, oh so much!"
The two lovers embraced each other, unaware of the blue eyes that watched them.
* * *
Kayo had stepped out of the shower room when she noticed that her bedroom door was slightly ajar. She could have sworn that she had shut it when she left her room for a shower. She walked down the corridor slowly towards it. She reached out and pushed it open to discover Brady sitting on her bed.
"What are you doing here?!" She yelped, trying to cover as much of herself as she could.
"I was wondering where you were. Mother said she called but you never answered. They were worried."
"I was out. I am not allowed to go out?"
"Who were you out with?"
"Katie and Elli. Why? You wanna come out with us?"
"I was just wondering."
"Brady if that is all, please leave!"
"Darling sister, would you know anyone called Duo?"
"No. Its not a name. Leave it. You are obsessed, you know that? Look I've had a rough day. I wanna go to bed. Now leave before I call the god damn police."
Brady stood up. "Just a word to the wise, be careful who you hang out with. Some people may be the wrong sort."
As he left, he shut the door behind him. Kayo grinned.
"You have no idea."
Kayo quickly finished drying herself before she slipped into a pair of knickers and a grey tank top. She slipped under the covers and flipped the switch to turn the light off.
It was as she did that, the room around her exploded.
* * *
Both Quatre and Trowa stated as the explosion rocketed through campus.
"Kayo!" Quatre breathed and the two pilots leapt into action. They raced towards the girls' dorms. When they arrived, there was smoke and fire coming from the third floor.
"Stay here." Trowa ordered and he raced into the building.
The fire alarm was screaming and the girls were streaming out of the building. Many teachers had arrived on the scene and were trying to organise the panicking girls. There was nothing they could really do until the emergency rescues teams got here.
Quatre bite his lip, silently praying that Trowa made it out all right.
Wailing noise to his right signalled the fire engines was about to arrive.
"Katie?!"
Quatre turned to see Nerys and Cassie making their way towards him.
"Are you both ok?" He asked and they nodded.
"Where's Elli?"
"She's with Heero."
"Oh."
"Isn't it against the rules for her to be with Heero after curfew?"
The two girls turned to glare at Brady and Quatre simply rolled his eyes, and kept look out for Trowa.
"Why are you here?"
"He's just jealous that Elli got Heero first."
Brady smirked. "Where's Kayo?"
That was when the two girls panicked.
"Oh my god! She must still be inside."
"Shh." Quatre ordered. "She's there." He pointed at the door, which Trowa had just appeared from. In his arms he held the limp body and Quatre felt his stomach drop. He hurried quickly towards Trowa.
"She's still alive. But barely."
"This is our fault."
"Don't." Trowa whispered. "Lets just help her right now."
Brady came running up.
"Is she ok?"
"I don't know."
Quatre took Brady's arm. "Let Trowa get her to the doctors. They can help her now, not you. Follow Trowa."
Trowa lead Brady through the crowds to where the emergency services had just pulled up. A paramedic quickly took Kayo from Trowa and Brady took over control. He informed them of her name, and stated he was her brother.
Trowa turned back in time to see another explosion rock the dormitory.
Quatre turned to face him, the flames of the fire burning brightly in Quatre's blue eyes. The guilty of what they had brought upon the school and their friends burned in them deeply.
Without thinking, he gathered the boy into his arms and tried to sooth away Quatre's pain. But as he stared at the burning building, he knew there was no doubt. This was because kayo knew who they were. But who was it that was willing to do this much damage, just to get at them?
TBC…Well? Did you like?
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Thank You so much for those who are still reading this fic even after, what three years now?! I love you all ^_^
BYE!!!!!
~Shinigami195~