Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Reputations ❯ part 8 ( Chapter 8 )

REPUTATIONS

PART EIGHT

* * *

"Jack, I think we've done enough already." Kevin whispered in horror, looking down at the boy lying on the floor. The poor boy was trembling in fear, his eyes shut and his lips trembling as well. Tears ran down his pale cheeks and down to the floor. His T-shirt was soaked with water, since he was lying in a muddy puddle. Jack's foot on his back, preventing him from moving. His arms were lying limply above his head, fists clenched but yet shaking.

"We made our point." The teen continued, looking up at his crazy leader.

"The point is made when I say it's made!" Jack roared, glaring at his gang member. "And I say it isn't."

Heero looked up from the floor at the boys towering above him. He blinked away the tears, his gaze shifting from Jack to Kevin and then back again. He forced himself to take deep breaths and calm down. But he was still trembling like a frightened child.

"... get into trouble!"

The argument between the two continued, and Heero took the opportunity to turn his aching head to the other side. He was now facing the door, still closed and guarded. But the guards were too busy watching the argument between the two boys.

"... Knifes... isn't funny... remember last time when..."

"Shut up! I'm the one who decided what's..."

Heero blinked again, and took another deep breath, struggling to stay conscious. His head was pounding, and he could feel blood seeping out of a wound in the back of his head, making his hair all sticky. He forced his vision back into focus, and looked up at the door again.

One chance. He has one chance.

All he has to do is get up and run out that door and get to Duo. Duo will protect him. All he needed was to get to him.

"Listen, asshole! If you ain't gonna..." Jack continued to rage on, stomping his foot on the floor, the same foot that had pinned Heero down.

Once he realized the obstacle was gone, Heero decided to act. Gathering all the strength he could muster, Heero took a deep breath and slowly raised himself up, using two arms to support his body.

"If you don't like what's going on around here, just leave! We don't need wimps in our gang!"

"Maybe I should leave! I'm getting sick of being pushed around!"

"Watch it pal!"

"Maybe Max has the right idea! Maybe I should join him!"

"And become a fag too?!"

"You know what I mean!"

"What the--?" Someone called as Heero jumped up to his feet and launched towards the door, moving like a deer on the run.

Heero ignored everything and just concentrated on one, single, thought: run. Escape. Get to Duo. Must get to Duo.

He pushed past the door, using the force of his run to open it and then proceeded running down the hallway.

"He's getting away!"

"Jack!"

"Shit! Go after him you fuckers!"

Heero closed his eyes tight and forced his body to move faster. He ached everywhere, but he had to move on. Had to get to Duo.

"He's over there!"

"Faster assholes! Don't let him get away!"

Heero yelped in fear and nearly fell as he ran down a sharp curve. Duo's locker should be right ahead. "Duo!" He called, panicked, looking over his shoulder. He could see The Gang was catching up with him, Jack's knife glistering in the light.

"Duo!!!!"

He turned back to face the front, and his eyes widened.

Duo wasn't there.

//"Will you be here?"

"If I can't find the key, yes. If I'll find it, meet me in the parking lot, okay?"//

Shit! The parking lot! Heero cursed over and over, but continued running. The parking lot was at least a few hundred meters away. He didn't think he could make it. His body was still weak from lack of nutriment and abuse. His muscles ached, his head was pounding and he could see black spots dance across his vision.

But he had to move on.

Had to get to Duo.

"AFTER HIM! GET HIM!!!"

* * *

"Miss Reed," Flora, the secretary, called in wonder. She was standing by the window, in Reed's office, looking down at the schoolyard.

"What is it, Flora?" Reed sighed, annoyed.

"Isn't that Heero down there?" She asked, pointing out the window.

"Heero? Let me see..." Reed got up form her desk and went over to the window. Her eyes winded as she spotted a slim figure bursting out of the building's doors and running across the large yard, towards the gate. "By God, it is him. I thought he was out of--" She stopped as she spotted a few more figures, running just a few meters behind Heero. She didn't miss one red headed teen, shouting and pointing at the Japanese student.

She growled. "Why I had had ENOUGH of their games! Those kids are nothing but trouble!" She muttered, walking back to her desk and picking up the phone.

"Miss Reed, surely you don't think that Heero is one of--"

"I tell you EXCATLY what I think, Flora." Reed said as she dialed. "I think it's about time I get all of these trouble makers out of my school!"

Flora paled and turned back to look out the window. Her worried eyes followed Heero as he ran towards the gate, sometimes stumbling down and falling, then hurrying to get up and keep running.

Jack and the Gang were closing in on him.

She turned back to look at her boss and sighed.

"Yes, Hello. Is this Morison University?"

* * *

Out in the parking lot, Duo leaned against a car and sighed. He looked down at his wristwatch and then up at the building not so far away. What was taking Heero so long? Maybe he should go and look for him?

"Duo!" A girl's voice suddenly called, and Duo looked up, startled.

"Oh, hi Nelly. What's up?" He asked politely, forcing on a smile.

Nelly, a tall and black-haired girl, smiled back at him. She was walking with three of her friends, and was now approaching Duo, smiling sweetly. "Oh, I'm fine! What about you? What are you doing here? Jack said you got expelled."

At the mentioning of Jack's name, Duo's eyes flared with anger. He forced a calm expression on as the girl came to stand by him, invading his personal space.

"Yeah, I am."

"We were worried about you..." The girl let out with a puppy-eye look, tracing her hand up and down Duo's shoulder. She blushed and smiled sweetly. "Well, I was worried about you."

Duo smiled politely, and pried her hand off of him. "That's sweet, Nell. But, um, I gotta be going somewhere..." He looked up at the school again and frowned.

"Oh! C'mon! I didn't see you since Jeremy's party!" She wailed, running a hand through her long and shiny hair. She battered her eyelashes and smiled at him. "Didn't you miss me?"

Duo rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sorry about that. How've you been doing?"

* * *

Twenty minutes out of town, in a dark and crowded office, a phone rang. A wrinkled and callous hand reached up to pick it up, and an annoyed sigh was heard.

"Yes?!"

Impatient fingers drummed on a messy desk as the figure listened to what was being said.

"Yes. Speaking."

The hand that was holding the handset clutched around it in a tight fist.

"He did what?!"

Behind a thick pair of glassed, sharp and stern eyes flashed with anger. The speaker's mouth formed into a thin line and his hold on the handset tightened.

"I'll be right there."

The phone was slammed shut.

* * *

"Duo!!!!" Heero screamed with all his might as he ran. He glanced over his shoulder and his deep-blue eyes widened in fear.

The Gang was getting closer. Jack was still holding the knife and it glistered in the sun as he ran.

Heero gulped and looked back, closing his eyes tight as he forced his body to move forward. He tripped over a small bump on the ground and fell, face down. He caught himself just before he hit the ground, sending two arms forward to stop his fall. He immediately pushed himself up and continued running.

"Faster! We almost have him!"

"DUUUUUUOOOOOO!!!!!!"

* * *

"... and then Sarah came and told me about you taking the blame for Heero, I thought that was really sweet. I mean, Jack would never have the guts to do it. I swear, he's such a wimp! But I guess kids love him because he's so damn cool. I heard he was in a Juvenile Penitentiary once. They said he actually STABED a teacher! Would you believe that?!"

Duo rolled his eyes again and looked anxiously at his wristwatch. Nelly kept chatting on and on in his head and he was getting quite sick of that. Why wouldn't the girls leave him alone? Why did they talk so damn much!? And where was Heero?

Duo sighed and looked back up at the girl.

"... so I told her not to worry, because I'm sure that he will answer right after I..."

* * *

"Miss Reed?" Flora called worriedly, turning back to face her employer.

"What now, Flora? I'm busy." The woman replied in annoyance. She was looking through her computer, searching the lists of student phone numbers.

"I... I think you should come and see this." She stammered.

"What is it?!" She snarled and walked back to the window. Her eyes narrowed in anger as she saw the large crowd of students, now gathered outside in the yard. They were all watching the chase that went on in the schoolyard. The teachers were nowhere in sight.

"God damn it! Lunchtime is in two hours! What the HELL are they doing outside?!" She raged, already stomping out the door.

* * *

Some miles out of town, in a packed parking lot, a car's door was opened. A man climbed into the car, and started the engine. The black Lincoln began to drive away.

* * *

"BACK TO CLASS - EVERYONE!" Reed shouted the minute she was out the door and in the large yard. "I don't want to see ONE student out here before twelve o' clock!"

"You're not, you're seeing sixty!" Some punk answered and everybody laughed.

Reed growled. "What the hell is going on here!?" She demanded, pushing through the crowd, shoving students aside as she did. Flora walked right behind her, looking around nervously.

"ARGH!!!!!" A painful shout echoed from within the center of the crowd just as Reed got to the front line. Her eyes widened as she saw one student, Kevin, leap up in the air and tackle Heero to the ground. The Japanese boy fell down with a cry of pain, Kevin on top of him, pinning him down to the ground.

"KEVIN OSCAR JUNIOR!" Reed screamed in anger. "YOU GET YOUR ASS OFF OF HIM NOW!!!"

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" The crowd of students cheered.

"KEVIN! I'M WARNING YOU!"

"Shut up ya old hag!" Jack suddenly shouted and took a step forward, towards the fallen boy.

Kevin hurried to jump off of Heero, and made room for his leader.

Heero coughed out dirt, and groaned in pain. He slowly turned around, now lying on his back. His glazed blue eyes looked up at Jack, shimmering with tears.

Jack just smirked as he approached the helpless teen, drawing the knife out of his pocket.

Reed's eyes widened.

Flora screamed.

* * *

"What was that?!" Duo suddenly called, stopping Nelly in mid-sentence. He looked over his shoulder, back at the school.

The girl blinked, confused. "What was what?"

Duo didn't bother to answer, his eyes narrowing as he examined the school, hidden behind a few bushes and cars. He saw a few heads looking out the windows of the classes and down at the yard. He followed their gazes and gasped.

A large crowd was standing in the middle of the yard, cheering:

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

Duo wasted no more time and began running.

"HEEEEERRRRRROOOOOO!!!!!!"

* * *

Students gasped in shock as they felt an incredible force push them aside, and some fell down to the ground, startled.

"GET OUTTA MY WAY! OUTTA MY WAY!!!!!" Duo roared as he made his way through the crowd, shoving people aside as he ran towards his love. But Duo saw none of that. His vision was red with anger; adrenaline rushed through his veins, his breath quick and uneven with fury.

"GET AWAY FORM HIM!! JAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!" He screamed, launching forward at the red headed boy, tackling him to the ground. He began punching him rapidly, ignoring all the shocked gasps from all around.

"You! Son! Of! A! Bitch!" He screamed with each punch, putting all his anger into his fists. "I'll kill you!!!!"

"I don't think so, Max!" Jack snarled and used his legs to push the raging Duo off of him. He kicked him in the gut and then jumped up to his feet.

Duo staggered back a little, the air knocked out of him.

"You're just as worse!" Jack suddenly called and launched in another attack.

"ARGH!" Duo choked out as Jack kicked him again.

"Duo..." A weak voice rasped from somewhere down.

Duo looked down from behind messy bangs, his face still contracted in pain. He saw Heero, still lying on the ground, his cloths covered with dust and dirt, blood running down his slender arms, neck and head. That only managed to increase his anger and he snapped his head up, glaring at Jack.

"Heero, get back." Was all he said before launching in another attack.

Heero coughed and groaned in pain. He forced his body to move, and pushed himself up, using both his arms as leverage. His eyes were still tearful and glazed with pain as he looked up at Duo. His cracked and bloody lips lifted up in a small smile. Duo had come to protect him.

"ARGH!"

"AEK!"

"Take that you asshole!"

"SHUT UP AND FIGHT!"

"ARGHHH!"

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

The fight between the two boys was getting more and more serious. The crowd cheered on, and the principal stared, helpless as both boys punched, kicked, pushed and hit each other over and over.

Heero watched worriedly as Duo was knocked down to the ground, calling out in pain. Still on the dusty soil, Heero dragged himself backwards, away form the fight. He stopped at the foot of the cheering crowd, his eyes not leaving the sight of his love.

"Jump him!"

"Punch him where it hurts!"

"To the left! Jack! To the left!"

The boys cheered and the some girl screamed:

"ARGHH!! DUO!!! He's got a knife!"

"Duo!!! Duo!!!"

"Duo..." Heero whispered hoarsely, wanting to support his rescuer as well.

"URGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" Jack hollered as he leaped forward, knife in hand, ready to jump on the fallen Duo.

Heero closed his eyes, unable to look.

Some girls screamed again.

But Duo avoided the blow by rolling to his side. Jack crashed by his side, face down. Duo jumped up at him, reaching for the knife.

Heero opened his eyes just in time to see Jack pull the knife away from Duo's grasp. They rolled on the ground, fighting over the knife, kicking and calling out in anger like wild animals. At the end, Jack had Duo pinned down on the ground, using his whole body to keep him still. Duo was holding Jack's hands, which were right over his head, trying to push them away of him.

The knife was still in Jack's hand.

"HEERO! RUN!!!" Duo screamed, tilting his head back, looking at Heero. "RUN!!! RUN NOW!!!!" He begged, groaning in the effort of keeping Jack's hands away from his neck.

"YOU RUN AND I'LL CATCH YOU ANYWAY - FAGOT!" Jack yelled, looking up at Heero with crazed eyes.

"RUUUUUUNNNN!!!!!"

Heero didn't know what to do. He looked down at Duo, then up at Jack and then down again. He didn't want to leave Duo. He didn't want Jack to get him either. Panicked and lost, Heero began to cry.

"HEERO! RUN! IT'LL BE OKAY - JUST RUN!!!!"

"Duo..." Heero cried, tears running down his pale and dirty cheeks. "Duo... I... I..." Slowly and unsteadily, he got up, his feet trembling. "I'M SORRY!" He burst, eyes shut tight. "I'M SORRY!!!!"

With that, he turned away and ran, pushing the students aside. He ran as fast as he could, heading for the gate. He could still hear the crowd cheering and the sounds of struggle, but he just closed his eyes and kept running. Panic was the only thing that was controlling him now.

* * *

"FUCK!" Jack cursed as he saw Heero run off. He glared down at Duo, still pinned down beneath him, and then slammed his head into the ground. "I'll take care of you later!" He spat and jumped off the hazed teen, running towards the gate. The crowd hurried to get out of his way.

Duo coughed out blood, and groaned in pain. He hurt all over, his breathing hard and his vision blurry. But he couldn't rest yet. He had to fight unconsciousness.

"Hee... Heero..." He called weakly, struggling to get up.

He felt two hands help him up, but he was too dazed to acknowledge whom it was.

"Heero... where..?" He whispered, his voice strained.

"He's running down the street now. Everybody went to watch." A girl's voice answered him.

"Jack!" Duo called in fear, head jerking up.

"Duo, you're in no condition to..." The girl pleaded, wiping some blood off the teen's forehead.

"Outta my way!" He screamed and pushed the girl aside. Limping and bleeding, he made his way towards the gate.

Reed stayed behind, frozen with shock, her hand still covered with the blood she had wiped away.

* * *

Heero ran down the street, sobbing and panting at the same time. His eyes were wild like an animal, acting on her most basic instinct- survival. He had to run, to escape the danger. He didn't know where he was running, to whom, and what he would accomplish by running, but he knew that he had to. He had to run.

Voices came from behind him, but they made little sense. There were people shouting, some angrily, some worriedly, some more like cheering. He knew that there were a lot of people after him, but there was only one he feared.

The red headed devil.

He was after him, and he could sense the knife's blade even though he couldn't see it.

He ran faster.

* * *

On an empty highway, a black car cut the air like a sharp knife, heading towards the town's main entrance.

* * *

Once past the school gate, Duo could see the large crowd of students running down the street. Since it was a downhill road, he could see Jack at the bottom of the steep hill, his knife glistering in the sun. He was closing in on Heero.

Duo began to run down the hill, uncaring that his whole body ached, and his right foot was causing him great pain while he forced it not to limp.

He had to get to Heero. He just hoped that the boy would be able to make it until he got there.

* * *

Heero cried out as he stumbled into a crack in the road, falling down. He waved his hands up in the air, trying to stop his decent, but with little luck. His leg got twisted and he screamed again, hitting the hot asphalt head on.

Crying and panting, he forced himself up and limped forward, not having the strength to run anymore. He felt like he was about to pass out. His vision was blurry with tears and it was hard to breath and it hurt to move. Blood was making his bangs stick to his face, and his clothes were sticky as well, clinging to his body with blood and sweat.

But he couldn't give up. He had to get away. Get to safety...

The sound of his own blood rushing through his body, the dozens running feet, the shouts, the curses and the threats, were overwhelming. He felt like he was suffocating. And then there was another sound, like a distant humming. Coming closer. Closer...

Heero gasped and came into a quick halt.

Tires screeched and a black Lincoln suddenly appeared, driving up the hill. It spun around itself, as it came into a quick stop, merely two meters away from Heero.

Silence fell and nothing but Heero's panting could be heard. He stood there, body numb and feet rooted to the spot. Blood still spilled from numerous scratches and wounds, sliding down his pale arms. Tears continued running down his cheeks as he looked with dull and glazed eyes at the car in front of him.

The car's door opened and a set of expensive black shoes appeared from behind the door, as the driver's stepped out. The door slammed behind him and the man took a step forward, fixing his glasses as he glared down at the trembling figure in front of him.

Heero swallowed and bowed his head. "J--Jay..."

Just then, Jack, the Gang and the rest of the students arrived. They came into a halt, gaping at the sight in front of them. Jack, who was standing in front of everybody, hurried to hide the knife behind his back.

Jay examined the crowd with sharp and angry eyes, scanning each and every face. He stopped, focusing on one red headed boy, whose cloths were torn and dirty, face bruised and covered with dried blood. He was panting, and looking at Heero with angry black eyes. He shifted his gaze back to the Japanese boy, and his eyes narrowed in anger.

"What is the meaning of this?" He spat, voice quiet but still loud enough to be heard by the crowd.

Heero bowed his head even lower, closing his eyes sadly. He was rubbing his left wrist, brushing against the welts.

"Why is that I received a call to work today, interrupting a VERY important experiment, just so I can come here and find out how much TROUBLE YOU'VE CAUSED!?!?!?"

Heero whimpered and squeezed his eyes shut. His fist closed around his abused wrist as he continued rubbing it up and down.

"HOW MUCH MORE TROUBLE ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE ME, BOY?! Is it not enough that I have to put up with you at home, but I have to leave work for you too?!"

"J-Jay... I--I'm..." Heero stammered, choking on his own tears. He looked up at the man, his tearful blue eyes pleading. "P--please... help..."

"Help? HELP!? All I've been doing for the last eight year is HELP! Medical bills, school bills, food, electricity... toys, books... clothes... You're more trouble than you're worth, boy! I wasted so many precious hours taking CARE of you! So much money! And this is what you give me in return?! Bad grades, bad attitude and making trouble at school?! School is for studying, or have you forgotten that?! Without a proper education, and knowledge, you're nothing! You were nothing to begin with, but I had hoped that maybe with some tutoring, you'd make something out of yourself! AND THIS IS WHAT I GET?!?!"

By now, Heero was crying so hard, he was hyperventilating. He was shaking his bowed head from side to side, his eyes closed and the tears falling down to the hot asphalt road. He was still rubbing his left wrist, his fist closed around it, his knuckles turning white for he was holding it so tightly, nearly drawing blood from the tender skin.

"... Summer schools and private teachers... but you're not nearly half as smart as you're FATHER was! You're useless! A failure! Nothing but a WASTE of resources for this planet!"

Heero fell down to his kneel with a whimper, sobbing and crying brokenly. He was now hugging himself, rubbing his upper arms, rocking back and forth as Jay continued shouting down at him.

The crowd of students stood frozen with shock, gawking at the sight.

Duo came running and panting, pushing his way towards Heero. He pushed a few students aside, nearly leaning all of his weight on them while he did, for his body was demanding rest. He put his hand on someone's shoulder, preparing to push him aside as well, but then he suddenly stopped. Now he could see Heero, on his knees, crying and shaking while Jay yelled at him. His hand was still resting on the guy's shoulder, as he kept staring at the sight, face pale.

"... I'm sick of this! I'm sick of you! I don't know how I endured you for the last few years, but this is where I draw the line!"

"URGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Heero suddenly screamed and all fell silent, gaping at the boy in bewilderment.

"Stop it! Stopitstopitstopitstopitstopit!!!!!!" He cried, wild and turbulent eyes glaring up at the doctor. "I didn't forget! I didn't forget! I didn't forget that night... at the party... you were fighting! You yelled at my dad! You yelled at him!!!!"

All eyes were now on Heero, wide and full of shock. The boy was making little sense, but the doctor was standing there, his face pale and dreadful.

"It was the money!" Heero continued shouting, slowly getting up. "It was always the money!!! Fighting and shouting so much! Why do you always shout?!" He began walking towards Jay, anger and accusation in his stormy blue eyes. "Why did you say it was my fault!? It wasn't! It wasn't my fault!!! You always say that it is, but it isn't! The accident wasn't my fault..."

He suddenly fell down to his knees, right in front of the stunned doctor. He looked up at him with his tearful cobalt blue eyes, lips trembling. "It wasn't my fault..." He whispered, voice hoarse from shouting. "It's yours."

SMACK!

Shocked gasps went through the crowd at the resounding slap.

Heero's head went flying to the side and he let out a weak whimper.

Jay withdrew his hand, glaring down at the boy. "You watch your mouth, brat."

Slowly, Heero turned back to look at him, hatred in his eyes. "You killed my parents."

SMACK!

"I said - WATCH YOUR MOUTH - BOY!"

"HEEEEEEERRRRROOOOO!!!!!!" A shout was heard and Duo burst from within the crowd, running towards the two. His violet eyes were full with hate and anger. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM AGAIN!!!!!!" He roared, running past Jack. He yanked the knife out of the boy's grasp.

"YOU USELESS BRAT! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!"

Another loud smack.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM YOU MOSTER!!!!"

Heero glared up at the man towering above him. "I DO know what I'm saying! You had another fight, with my dad! It was about the money again! I heard you! You were in the kitchen, and..."

SMACK!

"HEEEROOO!!!"

"... you were so anry at my dad! After you fought you went outside and..."

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

"I went after you! You told me to go back inside!"

"SHUT UP!"

SMACK!

"LEAVE! HIM! ALONE!"

"I SAW YOU!!!! I SAW YOU UNDER THE CAR!! I SAW WHAT YOU DID!!!!"

"YOU SAW NOTHING!"

"ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!"

"DUO!" Some voices called as the teen launched forward, raising the knife in the air.

But Duo heard none of that. All he could think of was his rage; his frustration and the overwhelming need for revenge. To get even with all those who had hurt Heero.

// "Didn't I tell you to go to your room!? I told you to go to your room!"

"I was only trying to..."

"I don't need you cleaning it up now! You made enough mess already! Go! To! Your! Room!"

"But--- but I did my chores... can't I... please... just a little..."//

Images flashed in his mind, so fast, he could barely catch a glimpse of them. Memories of Heero getting hurt, being mocked, being pushed around and beaten. The sight of him crying, tearful blue eyes shimmering in the dark confinement of his room.

// "Hahaha! The game's over, Yuy, you can stop falling now!"//

Images of Jack, of The Gang, torturing Heero. Making fun of him, humiliating him.

// "I never thought a troublemaker like you would develop a conscience. It's odd... In all my time here I had never seen someone so overwhelmed with guilt. Not to mention worry over someone like Heero..."//

Reed and her God damned rules! Her cold and indifferent attitude! She saw them as numbers, not people. They were all the same to her: nothing but flat and unfeeling stereotypes!

// "Local bank manager and his wife killed in a tragic car accident, leaving behind an only child; Police officials suspect foul play."//

This whole fucking town, a town that didn't care... a town who had turned her back to Heero and his suffering, all for the price of glory.

// "Duo! Open this door at once! I'm not done talking to you!"//

Joanna. Joanna and her fucking demands. Her fucking lectures about everything he did. Her care, not for him, but for her daughter. Nothing else. He was not wanted.

No one wanted a troublemaker. That's all he ever was. To her, to Reed, Jack, everybody. Just a street kid. An unwanted nuisance.

Well, no more.

"Duo- NO!"

He raised the knife high above his head, ready to strike.

"AHHHHHHRGHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Time seemed to suddenly slow down, and everything was in slow motion. Heero watched, wide eyed, as Duo ran towards Jay, shouting out in anger. Suddenly, he tripped, his foot getting caught in the crack on the road.

Duo's eyes widened as he fell, dropping the knife.

The force of the impact caused the knife to fly high up in the air, turning round and round.

It landed right at Jay's feet.

And Duo hit the ground, his face kissing the burning asphalt.

Silence fell.

Heero, still sitted on the floor, stared in horror at Duo's fallen figure and then he heard some clattering by his side. He gasped in whirled around, meeting two angry eyes behind a heavy set of sunglasses.

Jay smirked, a mad gleam in his eyes. He turned the object he was holding and the sun reflected on the knife, blinding Heero.

"I had enough of you!" The man whispered furiously and raised the knife.

Heero closed his eyes.

The knife was swung up in the air.

Duo... Gomen ne, Duo. Gomen...

And the blade descended.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

Heero felt something hit him, a great weight that caused him to fall back down on the ground, hitting the back of his head on the hot asphalt.

And then there was this sound, something ripped and cracked. Like the ripping of flesh.

Some girls screamed in terror.

He heard someone gulp and whimper weakly, but he felt no pain.

He dared to open his eyes, and gasped.

Duo was lying sprawled on top of him, shielding him with his body. His head was facing him, his features hiding behind messy long bangs, sticky and wet with blood. He found himself looking into glazed violet eyes, which were looking at him as well.

The two kept looking at each other, surrounded by silence. There was this odd and forbidding feeling, but both boys just kept staring numbly at each other. Heero's blue eyes were filled with shock and tears still stained his beautiful face. Duo was just lying there, looking at him, his own amethyst eyes glazed over with darkness and pain.

"D-Duo?" Heero whispered, trying to push himself up a bit, but Duo was way too heavy. He reached up a trembling hand, pushing a few bangs out of Duo's eyes. "Duo?"

The braided boy just kept looking at him, and then, suddenly, he smiled. It was just this little smile, happy and content. Blood sipped out of his mouth, and Heero's eyes widened in fear.

"Duo!"

The violet eyes slowly closed, and Duo's body went completely limp.

"No! No! DUUUUUOOOOO!!!!!!"

Part 9.

Back.