The Shoot  (Part 1)

"You should thank him, Katherine. He saved your life after all."

"No one asked him to do that. I certainly didn't." Duo's tone was flat. He wished that both Doyce and Laila would drop the subject. It unnerved him to recall the events in the afternoon. He had nearly emptied his stomach after that incident and Duo Maxwell was never the owner of a tender stomach -- even when confronting blood, corpses and mutilated bodies. In his mind, that close physical contact with Shang was a hundred times more revolting and insufferable than anything he had ever encountered during the war. Duo drew a deep breath and tried to mentally block out those unpleasant memories – especially the one concerning Shang.

"Well, if you're adamant that he'll get no thanks from you, we won't force you. But don't you think at least an apology is in line here? You did punch him on the chin while the only thing he did to deserve that was rescuing you." Laila's disapproval of his actions was evident from the tone of her voice. 

"Serves him right for taking advantage of me. He should be grateful that I didn't decide to do something worse… and permanent."

Doyce cut in. "I don't understand.... Most of the girls in this school are willing to die to be in your shoes. They usually swoon with delight if Shang merely looks at them. But you.... Katherine, you are an enigma."

"Well...." Duo's voice started to sound irritable. "I don't know about you two but I'm going back to the dorm."

"But you're still soaking wet! Why don't you change into dry clothes in the girls' common changing room first?"

"I.... uh... that is... I feel uncomfortable stripping in front of other people." Duo grinned in an effort to mask the nervousness in his eyes. "I'm sure both of you will understand."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Katherine. What you have, we have." Doyce nodded in agreement to Laila's words.

Duo abruptly turned his face around so that they would not notice his flaming cheeks. "I really have to go now, bye!" He fled, leaving behind Doyce and Laila with quizzical looks on their faces.

* * * * * *

"How barbaric of her!" Sheila fussed over Shang's injury like a mother hen, her hand had been dabbing the bluish-black bruise at Shang's lower jaw with an ice-pack continuously for ten minutes. "Are you just going to let this matter rest? That devilish, uncouth girl deserves to be punished!"

The dangerous gleam in Sheila's eyes would have quailed a lesser person. Shang did not bother to remind Sheila that she was the person who started the whole thing. Getting bored of Sheila's attentions, he stood up from the chair he was sitting on and walked away without another glance at Sheila.

"Wha...." Sheila hastily dropped the ice-pack and ran after the image of Shang's back. "Shang! Wait for me!"

* * * * * *

What am I to do? It was not the first time that Heero had asked himself that question. He was in a dilemma ever since he saw her at the swimming pool two days ago. Should he confront her or avoid her? He did not know what the girl had done to him, to cause all those emotions which he had spent a large part of his life burying to resurface. Emotion -- an alien thing which had begun to fascinate and frighten him at the same time. He had never realized that he was capable of feeling so strongly for anyone or anything. The 'Perfect Soldier' had no need for emotions; emotions only bring about unnecessary hesitations and pain that could be hazardous to missions. There is no pain if you choose not to feel it. That was one of his mentor's favourite sayings which had been ingrained in his mind. Emotions are what you choose to feel.

Heero poked at the lump of meat on his plate with a fork, putting up the pretense of eating. Did I choose to feel the fear and the jealousy that I felt recently? He did not remember having made any conscious decision to do so. Maybe his mentor was wrong. Maybe emotion is something that is beyond anyone's control. Duo was right. Past training only made him learn how to conceal his emotions, not lose them completely...

"Are these seats taken?" Heero started, and looked up to see a red-head placing her dish of food on one side of his table. Without waiting for his reply, the girl waved to her companions some distance away. "Here! I found a place!"

Heero was getting irritated with the way his solitude was robbed from him. He preferred to be alone and had established that fact in no uncertain terms to his classmates. Granted that this girl hardly knew him, but she could at least have the decency to...

"A vast difference in the boys' attitudes eh, Katherine? Before you revealed your violent side, those same boys were the ones who would not hesitate to give up their seats for us. Heck, they even used to reserve three seats for us at every table before the incident at the swimming pool!" The one who said that was a brunette who was about his age, but that was not important. Katherine. It was a name that had plagued his thoughts ever since he discovered it to be the name of his dream. He took a quick glance at the brown-haired girl beside the brunette who was responsible for invoking the alien feelings inside him. Her eyes were just as captivating as ever. What is wrong with me?! Heero bowed his head so that she would not be able to see his face. The meeting was too sudden! He did not have the chance to sort out the conflict in his mind - to confront or avoid?

If his brain was not so muddled by fiery emotions, he would never have considered the option of confronting her at all. He had known the moment he first saw those liquid violet eyes that she was dangerous, and must be avoided at all cost. He had known that he must escape before those same eyes held him prisoner. He had known.....

Heero knew that the longer he stayed, the greater would be the chance of confronting Katherine. He bent his knees and prepared to stand up. Fortunately – or unfortunately (Heero didn't know which) – Katherine  chose that same moment to turn to him. Their eyes locked.

* * * * * *

Heero? Duo rubbed his eyes violently with the back of his hand and peered at the face of the boy in front of him more closely. It was not a hallucination. Granite-faced Heero Yuy was standing across the table with his usual blank expression. Why in the world would he....?! No, that's not important. What's important is that he's here and I'm still in this shameful and embarrassing state! His heart was hammering in his chest and beads of perspiration were threatening to break out of his forehead. Had Heero discovered his identity? Did his superior inform him about Duo's presence in the school as a girl? How should he react?

Duo didn't notice that both him and Heero had been staring stupidly at each other for more than a few seconds. Why doesn't Heero do something?! Talk... walk away... anything! The uncomfortable silence stretched longer. Duo wished the ground would open up and engulf him.

* * * * * *

Doyce and Laila exchanged side glances, knowing smiles playing on their lips. Their new friend had finally formed a crush on someone. About time!

Doyce moved behind Katherine and gently shoved her onto a chair, her palms pressing down on her friend's shoulders. "Don't have to stare too long. Take a seat."

At the same time, Laila snatched the plate from Heero's nerveless hands and prodded him back to his seat. "I'll return this plate for you. I'm sure both of you have lots to say to each other." Laila winked at Doyce and both of them scampered away, breaking into giggles once they were out of earshot.

* * * * * *

"And what happened?" Doyce and Laila were hungry for news and had not left Duo alone for a second ever since his encounter with Heero in the canteen. He had been tight-lipped about the matter but under Doyce and Laila's incessant pestering and cajoling, he finally decided to let out some information.

"Nothing happened. He just told me that he'll return some property of mine to me tomorrow. End of story!" Duo's eyes took on a distant look when he thought back about Heero's response. "I still have your ribbon with me. I'll give it back to you tomorrow afternoon." And he just walked off after that without another word. Duo had breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that Heero was still ignorant of Katherine's true identity. However, he also felt slightly annoyed with Heero for knotting his guts and filling his stomach with butterflies just because he wanted to return a mere ribbon. Why was the boy holding onto that piece of cloth for so long anyway? He could just dump it in the trash can after it had served its purpose. Heero was getting more and more difficult to understand.

"Property?" Doyce's eyes twinkled with excitement. "What property?" She and Laila had locked both his arms and were determined not to release him until he had spilt everything.

"It's just some cheap ribbon that somehow ended up in his hands."

Laila pondered for a while before whispering to Duo. "You know what I think? I think that he was just using the ribbon as an excuse to meet you again. I saw the way he looked at you."

Hearing this, Duo resisted the urge to burst out laughing. They didn't know Heero, otherwise they wouldn't be saying such things. He could not imagine Heero wanting to meet a girl - or anyone for that matter - any more than necessary. The only things that mattered to Heero were his mission and his 'honour'.

"So, what's the name of that gorgeous hunk?" asked Doyce, evidently impressed by Heero's good looks.

"He.... uh.." Duo suddenly realized that Heero should not be using his real name in school. "I don't know."

"What?! After all that chemistry between you two..." Duo grimaced visibly at her choice of words. "... I thought both of you should have at least reached the stage where you know each other's names."

Duo was getting agitated. "I really don't know his name!"

Laila patted him on the back sympathetically. "Don't worry, we'll investigate for you. You'll get to know his name before this day ends." Duo let out his breath in vexation. These girls were being much too helpful in the wrong areas!

* * * * * *

Heero sat cross-legged on his bed, his arms folded across his chest. Two identical pink ribbons laid on the bed sheet in front of him. One of them was Katherine's; the other was bought by him in the town market during the weekend. He did not really understand why he did what he did ..... but there it was in front of him - a perfect replica of the original ribbon. Katherine would never be able to tell the difference between the two.

Picking up the silky ribbon which had once been around those thick, wavy brown locks, he allowed his fingers to caress the fabric for some time before placing it safely in his drawer. He negligently shoved the other ribbon into his school bag before switching off the lights.

                                                                                                                             < To Part 2 >