Anger forgotten, Heero locked his eyebrow. He frowned at Duo's remark, like a child
frowning at his parents for not explaining things clearly. His hair tossed in the
air and his nose and ears were red from the attack of the coldness of the fall weather.
Duo laughed as he took into the cute vision in front of him. His cheerful and loud voice traveled and echoed in the mountains. A hint of softness flashed in Duo's violet eyes. Without saying anything, Duo automatically raised his hand and reached toward Heero's cheek.
Duo's laugh startled Heero and he skipped a heartbeat as he watched the hand extending toward his own face. The feel of Duo's early touch was still vividly lingering on Heero's burning cheek and Heero subconsciously craved for the touch again. Without knowing why, he closed his eyes and waited.
A sense of guilt suddenly overflowed Duo's mind and his hand froze in the air before he could touch Heero's face. He cursed silently.
He heard his inner voice whispered in his ears. What have you done?
Duo stood abnormally still and stared at the boy in front of him.
The inner voice started again. You had already betrayed him. How much pain do you want to inflict on him?
Duo abruptly brought down his hand and turned around.
The voice continued. Good, walk away. You have already fulfilled your fantasy. You are no longer a nobody to him. It's time to stop. You have had your fun.
Duo closed his eyes.
Your hands are stained with blood. He is a victim. Don't fall in love with your victim.
Duo opened his eyes and took a deep breath.
Walk away, just walk away. You don't deserve him.
Duo clenched his fists. "The sun is setting. We should go now." Without waiting for a response from Heero, Duo marched on.
The suddenness of Duo's cold voice pierced through Heero's newly rejuvenated heart. He opened his eyes and saw the retreating back of Duo. Though as confused as he was, Heero kept quiet. His blue eyes betrayed nothing as he picked up his pace and followed Duo.
* * *
"Trowa!" A little boy temporarily rested the seemingly oversized phone across his chest. "This person.. um..." The boy scratched his head, "oh, Uncle White.." The boy nodded to himself, " yeah, Uncle White wants to talk to Duo but..."
Trowa abruptly stopped reading the story and pressed his fingers on the hardcover of the book in his hand. Five little faces looked upon Trowa worriedly. Noticing that he was surrounded with kids, Trowa took care to remain as impassive as he always was. He calmly put the books down and absent mindly patted a little girl's head sitting near him while he got up in a smooth motion. He headed toward the phone. "I will get it." Trowa said without much emotion in it.
The little boy who answered the phone watched his caretaker curiously. But knowing better, he silently handed over the phone without asking questions.
Trowa received the phone from the boy. "Eric, please get everyone upstairs."
The little boy waited for a reason but his caretaker did not offer it. The little boy shrugged (a habit taking from his other caretaker) and Left the room, ready to do as Trowa said.
Trowa waited and watched the kids going upstairs. When he was finally alone, he mechanically spoke into the phone. "Nanashi speaking."
* * *
Heero cringed and fought hard not to cover his ears as music blasted in the car.
He was lost in total confusion. Stealing a glance at Duo, Heero suddenly
missed the arrogant grin that had irritated him for the past few days.
Duo, on the other hand, did not seem to be aware of Heero's presence in the car. He
stepped on the gas and the car raged on the highway.
* * *
"Kisama! Where were you all day?!" Wufei snapped at Heero, who walked into the door holding books in his arms.
"O, Pipe down, Wufei" With teasing in his voice, Quatre smiled. "Wufei is irritated because he is not catching up with the current news."
Heero stared blankly at his friends but said nothing.
"You finally got the books you needed?" Quatre changed the subject but in his mind, he was busy calculating how he would get some info out of Heero's mouth.
Heero didn't reply and looked down at the books that he was carrying.
"Are you okay, Heero?" Quatre became worried. His earlier confidence was gone in the wind as he saw Heero started to tremble.
Wufei stopped ranting too. He eyed at his friend with concern in his eyes.
Heero suddenly lifted up his head. "I have to start my paper." With that, Heero abandoned his confused friends and headed upstairs swiftly.
* * *
Duo Maxwell fumbled the keys in his hands, trying to get the door opened. He cursed as the key dropped on the mat and he bent to pick it up. But when he tried to insert the key again, the door suddenly swung open.
Trowa looked impassively at Duo.
Duo straightened his back and forced a grin. "I am back."
Trowa stepped aside so that Duo could get in.
Duo kicked off his shoes and started to peel off his jacket. Grin still stayed on his face. "Did you finish reading the story to the kids?"
Trowa looked at Duo harshly.
Duo frowned. "What?"
"Why didn't you tell me you are still working for him?" Trowa said monotonously.
Duo blinked. His grin faded.
"Why?" Trowa repeated, ignoring the change in Duo's expression.
Duo looked squarely into Trowa's green eyes. "How did you find out?" His voice was now equally monotonous as Trowa.
A moment of silence passed before Trowa averted his eyes. "He called."
* * *
Quinze flipped a bowie knife vertically into the air and caught it with one hand. He was irritated. He had just found a "bug" underneath his desk. It was not a good sign. Not at all. Odin Lowell was on his tail.
Quinze threw the knife across the room and it landed deadly on the wall. He had to act fast. No more playing around. No more psychology game. Quinze opened a file of photos. This would be his last resort. No hard evidences, no trial.
Suddenly a phone rang, breaking the silence of the room.
Quinze smiled.
* * *
Heero sat at his desk. At first glance, with his laptop on and his books open, Heero looked like a busy student who were trying to finish his paper.
But in reality he wasn't.
To be honest, he couldn't concentrate. Not with Duo's vacant eyes imprinted in his mind or the feel of Duo's touch still lingered on his cheek. Heero hesitantly reached up and touched his cheek, trying to recreate the feeling that he was craving for. It didn't work. He needed Duo. He wanted Duo.
Heero turned around and looked out of the window. The basketball pole in the driveway drew his attention. He pushed the chair away from the desk. His hand reached the basketball on the floor and he stood up headed toward the door.
Few minutes later the thumping of the basketball broke the stillness of the night.
* * *
"Mission status?"
"Don't talk to me like you are still my superior."
"Remember our agreement, Shinigami."
"Oh, yes, I remember perfectly. I tracked the kid down for you. And when the kid enrolled in my school I even threw a bonus of keeping an eye on him. I earned my freedom."
"Circumstances changed."
"Don't care. You don't own me anymore."
"I own your past."
"I warn you, Quinze, keep your promise. I did my part. You do yours."
"I want you to terminate the subject immediately."
"Wake up and smell the roses, Quinze. I am no longer part of White Fang."
"I heard that there are two top ex-government assassins running an orphanage. You think the media is interested in this?"
"Very clever Quinze, you don't think a hacker like me already erase my file?"
"How about photos."
"What photos."
"Photos of your best work, Shinigami. Complete with blood and your lovely face."
"....."
"I see we have a new agreement?"
"....."
"Very well. New parameters. Termination of Heero Yuy and abduction of Quatre Winner and Wufei Chang."
"......"
"Execute the mission immediately. Understood?"
"This will be the last time I hear from you, Quinze. Mark my words."
* * *
Monday came slower than Heero could ever imagine it Programming class came even slower. He arrived in the class exactly 1 minute early. He put down his books on the desk and pulled the chair, ready to sit.
The bell rang. Heero looked at the door. He was always late. Heero told himself.
Mr. J started to take attendance. When he read off Heero's name, the teacher did not get a response.
Heero looked back at the teacher blankly as Quatre elbowed him on the arm. "Heero, you okay?"
Heero slowly raised his hand to signal that he was in the room.
Mr. J put a check next to Heero's name and started the class.
20 minutes past. There was still no sign of him.
Heero found himself getting restless. His feet shifted under the desk.
22 minutes past. Heero started to tap his pencil on the table.
Stopping in the middle of writing on board, Mr. J turned around and raised his eyebrow. "Mr. Yuy, do you need something?"
Heero stared back at the teacher. He could not answer the question.
* * *
"Geez, pretty boy, thanks A LOT for making that homerun." A football player nastily shoveled a deceptively skinny boy, who crushed into the locker hard and slided down to the floor. Three more people started to enclose the fallen boy but the leader of the group stayed back, leaning against the opposite row of lockers. His icy blue eyes focused coldly on the boy.
The fallen boy stayed on the floor, not moving. His head dropped to his chest and his arms laid next to his body. His long chestnut hair was unbraided and cascaded down his shoulder in chaos.
The football player smirked. With a growing air of confidence surrounding him, the football player took a step toward the fallen boy. Kicking away the boy's backpack, he kneeled down in front of his intended victim. He grabbed the collar of his T-shirt, pulling the boy toward him without much elegance. "Not so tough anymore without your bat huh?"
The other three football players barely started to laugh when the fallen boy sudden swung his tight fist toward the kneeling football player's jaw with deadly precision. In response to the impact, the injured football player's head was thrown back and his fingers loosen the grip on the boy's collar, causing his whole body to follow the movement of his head. The football player landed heavily on the ground.
When the three football players finally recovered from the initial shock and ready to pounce the offender, the boy was already on his feet. One of the football players took the first move. He took a big step forward and threw his tight fist, aiming at the vulnerable nose bridge.
The boy pushed and grabbed the attacking arm with his right hand in a fluid motion without much effort. The boy's body then followed through the momentum and ended up to be behind the football player, twisting the fragile arm in his back. The football player winced and involuntarily stood on his toes, trying to compensate with the twist. But the boy did not let go of the arm. Instead he twisted it harder and higher.
The other football players scrambled to come to their comrade's aid. But the nasty sound of a bone snapping out of its place halted the football players in their position.
An eerie moment of silence passed before the victim started to howl in pain.
The boy smirked. He released the victim, pushing him roughly on the floor. Ignoring the running football players and the scream, he bent down and picked up his empty backpack. Casting a quick glance at the leader who still stood silently across the hallway, the boy turned and started to whistle and walked away. His footsteps were light and his hands were in his pocket. The boy turned and easily erased his presence as a group of teachers rushed toward the fallen football players.
Treize froze in his place, hardly noticing that a teacher was questioning him. For the first time in his life, Treize shuddered.
He had not seen the eyes of a boy of his age. He had seen the eyes of Shinigami.
* * *