Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Night of the New Moon ❯ Arrival ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and all it's drop dead gorgeous bishounen don't belong to me. -.- Sigh.
Warnings: Shounen ai, AU, (((((1+2))))), a tiny little blood, angst, violence, & Death? ^.^;
Authors note: Ok, this story is VERY Alternate Universe for an attempt to stay within the
timeline and for it to work there is one change I must do to the original GW timeline: There
was never a Deathscythe/Hell/02/ OR the Gundam Pilot Duo Maxwell. The rest of the story
though, would take place after the end of the TV series.

Night of the New Moon
Part 1 'Arrival'

Heero stared at his reflection in the bus window as it drove over the brick roads of an old
American town. During the war, most of the conflict had taken place in Europe and Asia,
with America playing very little part of it. Most of its cities were untouched by the
destruction that other countries had suffered.

Now, after it was over, it seemed like the ideal place to find peace without the constant
reminders here and there of the carnage that had ended only a few weeks ago. Looking
past his reflection he briefly noted the occasional Victorian and Colonial style architecture
of the buildings he passed.

It was amazing to think that something this old could have survived, not only through so
many years but through a war as well. This small town seemed almost frozen in time,
totally forgotten by the rest of the world. It was a quiet, secluded place that seemed to
radiate warmth, and tranquility. Which was the very reason he'd chosen it...

"Hey, kid. This is the last stop, you gonna get off?" Heero looked toward the bus driver
who was eyeing him from his rear view mirror. He hadn't noticed when they'd stopped
but the rest of the people were already gone. He grabbed his duffel bag and got up,
walking to the front of the bus.

The bus driver turned in his seat to look at him as he approached. "You must be new
'round here." he said conversationally. "But you seem pretty young to be traveling alone,"
he eyed the plain green duffel, "don't tell me a youngin' like you was involved in that
nasty war as of late..." Heero stiffened and stopped in his tracks.

The man squinted at him and readjusted his glasses. "Naw, you're much to young to have
been a soldier..." He didn't reply. "I hope you didn't mind that I ask, some people get
downright touchy when it comes to the war, but it's just that 'round here we kinda kept to
ourselves and tried to distance ourselves from that nasty war as much as possible. I don't
know what it was like in other places but I'm thankful for the seclusion here."

Heero began to calm down as the man went on but he didn't advance. "Though, you
definitely seem from out of town... Tell me, kid, you gotta place to stay?" he motioned to
the area they'd stopped in, "This part of town doesn't exactly have a big residential area
or many motels." Heero raised an eyebrow at him. This guy certainly seemed to get
friendly with perfect strangers very quickly, but... "No, I don't."

He nodded. "You're Asian, correct? That part of the world most certainly would've seen a
lot of the war lately. I'll bet you're here to get away from it all, aren't you? I can
understand that. I'm sure what you're looking for is some peace and quiet..." At that his
face suddenly lit up as an idea came to him. "Perfect!" He quickly looked at his watch,
nodded and looked back to Heero.

"Listen kid, I don't have to return to the station for another half hour. Seeing as how you
said you hadn't made arrangements for a place to stay I got an idea. A friend of mine
owns an Inn not too far from here on the outskirts of town. He hasn't been fairing to well
and I told him I'd direct any newcomers his way. How about I take you there?!" Heero
just stood there, eyes widening slightly as the man rambled on. He'd thought he'd been
keeping a low profile at the back of the bus but this man was acting as if Heero was
someone he'd known for years.

His friendliness and eagerness was... not something Heero was accustomed to. 'Maybe,'
he thought, 'people in places like this are normally like that...' "Trust me, you'll love it
there." he began again. "It's the oldest Inn in town but it's got a beautiful view. I try to go
there with my family during the summer and the price is fairly reasonable." Heero took a
deep breath and nodded as he sat down. Although the man seemed unusually kind, he
wasn't going to argue. A quiet little Inn sounded just fine.

----------
Quiet? yes. Little? Absolutely not. After he'd settled for letting this man take him there,
Heero had begun to grow suspicious when he noticed they'd gone at least three miles out
of town with not a soul in sight. He had been about to say something when the Inn had
come into view. Heero had been expecting a small, modest place but the size of this Inn
was incredible.

Once they arrived the bus driver parked in front and opened the door. "C'mon kid, I'll see
you inside. Besides, I'd like to see how my old friend is doing." With that the man walked
off the bus. Heero stood, grabbing his duffel bag and followed him. Once outside he
stopped a moment to pull on his navy blue jacket.

The air in this place was crisp and cool with the approaching nightfall and the sent of the
ocean. Heero could see the sun setting on the horizon and hear waves crashing on the
rocks below. He'd noticed when they were approaching that the Inn was situated on a
small cliff that overlooked the ocean. The Inn itself was an eighteenth century three story
building. Tastefully designed but something that seemed like it should belong to a museum
rather than still be in use.

"Hey, kid! You just gonna stand there in the cold or are you coming in?!" Heero looked
back to the bus driver who was standing at the entrance to the Inn along side another,
much older man. The bus driver laughed good-naturedly and looked at his watch. He said
something to the other man and patted his back before running back towards Heero who
was beginning to approach them.

The bus driver stopped briefly at Heero's side, "Don't worry, kid. Kenji's more than
happy to give you a place to stay. I gotta get going though, don't wanna be late." The
man quickly took his hand, giving it a quick shake before running back toward his bus.
Heero raised an eyebrow but said nothing and continued walking toward the waiting man.

The old man at the front door squinted at Heero as he approached. Surprise crossed his
features for a second before he smiled, "Konban wa, welcome to my humble Inn young
man." When Heero was at the door the man held out his hand, "My name is Kenji Okada,
I am the Inn keeper. It's nice to meet someone with a similar background in a small town
such as this." Heero took his hand and shook it politely. "Heero Yuy."

Okada nodded and opened the door, "Lets go inside, it gets pretty chilly out here at
night." He held the door open for Heero and they both walked in. The inside of the Inn
was warm and Heero detected the underlying sent of incense as soon as he walked into the
room. Okada closed the door behind him and walked to the far side of the lobby, it looked
more like a large living room, to a desk messy with folders and papers. Heero followed
him, all the while looking around.

The 'lobby' was actually very cozy. There was a fireplace on the other side of the room in
which a fire seemed to be dying but could still be saved if fed more wood. Above it was a
large painting partially shrouded in shadows, leaving the people in it unable to be seen
from where he stood. The floor was polished wood and *everything* was done in old
English oak. The furniture and rugs both seemed to be done in a curious English-oriental
pattern...

"So my friend tells me you were looking for privacy." Heero looked back to Okada who
had opened up a notebook and was waiting, pencil in hand. The man was venturing,
perhaps trying to start up a friendly conversation but after an entire day of traveling,
Heero wasn't really in the mood for small talk. So he just nodded. The man smiled as if he
understood and decided to continue the 'conversation' by himself.

"Well, this is as good a place as any. I only have four guests here at the moment. It's the
slow season and this big place is pretty empty." Heero almost smiled, the idea certainly
was appealing. After asking Heero all the necessary information and jotting it down,
Okada turned around to pick a key off the rack hanging on the wall behind the desk.

"I'm going to put you on the third floor, Yuy-san." He paused to briefly check the room
number on the key and nodded to himself. "There is only one other guest up there and I'm
sure you'll find this room to your liking. It has a very nice view of the cove." Okada then
motioned behind him, "the right wing has a few more rooms, my room, the laundry for
long staying guests, and the kitchen."

He then motioned to the hall on the opposite side, "The left wing has a study, a small
library, the dinning room, and a den. Theres a lounge with a bar at the back which leads to
the patio and the pool. Upstairs are just guest rooms but each floor also has it's own
sitting room. Breakfast is served from eight to nine, lunch from noon to one and dinner
from five to six but the bar is always open."

When Heero nodded, Okada walked out from behind the desk and began heading toward
the main staircase. "Follow me, I'll show you to your room." Heero picked up his duffel
and followed the man upstairs, noting for the first time that there was a slight limp in the
way he walked...

"You know, you're the second young man to come here who has been traveling alone in
the past week. It's a real treat considering I never receive guests as young as yourself.
Usually my guests are a bit older and just looking for someplace secluded to relax, or the
occasional couples. Things might start to get... interesting once again."

He said the last part almost under his breath but Heero caught it. Least to say, it began to
cause his over developed instincts to stir suspiciously. "'Interesting..?'" he repeated.
Okada's stride hesitated a moment before he continued and stopped on the second floor.
"Maybe I should've warned you earlier. You see, it's the reason why this Inn isn't doing
so well... This place is haunted. Not the Inn itself, not really... but the area around it."

Heero raised an eyebrow but silently urged the man to go on. He got the picture and
sighed, "I usually warn my potential guests right away. I apologize. If you do not wish to
stay I will not charge you for the night and refer you to another place in town in the
morning." Heero shook his head, "I like it here. Besides, I don't believe in ghosts." The
Inn keeper smiled slightly but sadly. "Oh, I guarantee that by the time you leave, you will."

Okada turned around and began up the stairs again, continuing. "It is believed that there
are two ghosts that roam about the area, actually. One has yet to be identified... but the
other is a friendly youth that haunts the cove below the Inn. For some reason though, he
only reveals himself to young people, which is why I said your presence here might
become interesting."

Heero snorted. "Do you really believe that?" Okada heard the skepticism in his voice and
smiled. "Oh, yes. I've witnessed both them and their handiwork first hand." Heero
frowned at that. "What do you mean by 'handiwork'?" Before, it had been Okada fishing
for answers. Now it was him. He hadn't meant to actually strike up a conversation with
the man but the Inn keeper had caught his curiosity.

"Well, the cove spirit has never been hostile in the slightest but... there is another that has
proven much more violent. You see, this Inn first opened in 1850, and has not stayed open
without being restored more than once mind you, but my point is that since then there
have been 67 deaths within or right outside the Inn." Heero's eyes widened slightly.

"The first few, appeared to be accidents. A few guests had mysteriously fallen to their
deaths over the side of the cliff, forcing the Inn keeper at the time to put in railings along
the property for the protection of the people." They had reached the third floor and Okada
had walked off to the left. Heero followed closely behind, listening intently.

"But people kept falling anyway, and then later they began to find guests dead in their
rooms, knives plunged into their chests over their hearts. The murders were always the
same and always done under a new moon so the authorities suspected a serial killer. Of
course, the Inn keeper was their first suspect but that was soon disproved. Throughout the
years, the Inn acquired several owners but murders continued. Even through out the years,
decades, and eventually centuries.

"The towns people finally had enough and closed the Inn down long ago, in the hopes that
the murders would cease. They did. People eventually forgot all about it until my
grandfather came across this place in AC 100. He bought it, restored it and put it back
into business. As soon as new guests arrived, the killings began again. My grandfather
whole heartily believed one of the ghosts was responsible and tried everything from
séances to exorcisms but nothing would ward away that vengeful spirit."

They finally reached Heero's room at the end of the hall and Okada stopped in front and
continued, "The last death to occur here only happened some ten months ago. This Inn
has gained a very bad reputation because of these murders and I fear I will soon have to
close it down." he said solemnly but he quickly shook his head, shaking off his mood at
the same time and grinned at Heero, dangling the keys in front of him. "Still want to stay
here youngin'?"

Heero smirked and took the keys from him, unlocking the door to his room. "Like I said, I
don't believe in ghosts." Okada crossed his arms as Heero entered, his expression never
changing. "Well, I always leave the keys to the patio door on the bar counter incase one of
my guests were to want midnight stroll. Why don't you head down to the cove tonight, or
tomorrow night if you're feeling a bit tired. I'm sure our friendly neighborhood spirit will
be glad to set you straight."

Heero's smirk grew into a real smile and he almost laughed, "Maybe I will."

----------
Heero turned on the lights and, it being the first piece of furniture he saw, threw his duffel
on the bed. The room was a good size, furnished to match the style of the lobby. To his
right the head of the bed was up against the wall. Next to the bed was a nightstand with a
single lamp and beyond that, closer to the door was the in-suite bathroom.

Across the room Heero noted an oak dresser, with an oval bronze-framed mirror hung on
the wall above it. To Heero's left was a narrow bookshelf, half full, and a closet. He
walked across the room and opened the sliding glass door, stepping onto the balcony and
closed it behind him absantly. Looking around he had to admit, Okada had been right
about the view.

The sun was still setting in the distance, painting both the sky and the ocean in shades of
orange, gold, and purple. A cool breeze brushed passed him and his hand wandered up to
close his unbuttoned jacket over his chest. The unexpected call of a dolphin pod brought
his gaze down, below the cliff.

The infamous cove was easily visible from his balcony. Just a small inlet in the cliffs that
the dolphins had entered. There really was nothing special about it. It's bank was covered
in sand like any beach would be but a rocky barrier separated it from the water.

Most important of all.... there was no ghost.

Heero 'humped' and looked back up in time to see the last of the sun disappear beyond
the horizon. He'd known all along. The Inn keeper must've just read one too many ghost
stories. Heero was about to turn around and go back inside when another sound caught
his attention. One of the dolphins had approached a large boulder on the far side of the
cove and was calling out.

A hand then reached down to gently stroke the dolphins head. Heero blinked. It was a
hand... *just* a hand. His eyes widened, "Masaka..." The hand was soon followed by an
arm, a shoulder, a head, until the somewhat transparent body of a young boy emerged out
of thin air. The dolphins ever-smiling mouth erupted in sounds of joy once the boy
appeared and Heero heard the distant but deep, and yet still boyish voice of the young man
laughing playfully in return.

The boy swung a long chestnut braid over his shoulder as he sat up on the large boulder
and looked toward the Inn... at him. Heero's eyes, already surprisingly wide, grew to an
impossible size. The boy down below chuckled briefly, smiled at him and waved.

-----------

End of Part 1