28-Oct-2000
We're nearing the end...I see the finish line and it
is Halloween! Thank you all who have been reading
this and responding. ::hugs everyone:: Thank you for
the wonderful support. (sorry for the crossposting.)
Author: Tigress Pern
Archived at: GW Addiction
Warnings: Alternate Universe, slight OOC
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, nor any lyrics of
songs used. They belong to their respective creators.
"They're doing what?" Meiran asked as the four sat at lunch. Trowa swallowed the bite of sandwich he'd been chewing.
"They're convinced I'm possessed." Trowa repeated. "So they've been trying all sorts of things to exorcise Duo."
"I thought Catherine didn't believe in ghosts." Wufei commented lifting one ebon eyebrow.
"She didn't. I guess my little outburst convinced her or Heero did." Meiran was trying hard not to laugh.
"So that's why you smell of garlic."
"Catherine's handy work. She got ghosts and vampires mixed up." Trowa said. Quatre was trying to hide his smile behind a turkey and lettuce sandwich, but it wasn't working.
"I don't think you have much to worry about from Catherine's remedies. She can't seem to get them right."
"I think Duo's getting a good laugh out of provoking her too." Trowa said grinning. "He keeps moving her car keys and turning the radio from one station to another. Last night he even learned out to program the VCR. Instead of 12:00 AM blinking all the time, it's now 1:23 PM."
"This I have to see." Meiran giggled. "How are you holding up against Heero?"
"He hasn't done anything yet. I think he's waiting until Halloween. Whatever he has planned, I hope it doesn't hurt Duo."
"Me too." Wufei said. "He seems like a real nice guy...well nice for being dead. I know we only know him through the ouija board, but still it feels like he's a friend."
"An odd friend, but a friend none the less." Quatre agreed. "Still, maybe it is time for him to move on."
"He hasn't finished his business with Hiroshi yet." Meiran argued. "He can't leave until then."
"Hiroshi Yuy is dead." Quatre reminded her.
"Well, maybe his grandson will do. Do you think if we tie up Heero and stick him in the room that Duo could finally find peace?"
"We'd have to gag him." Trowa joked. "Otherwise he'd be spewing out all sorts of quotes from his grandfather. You know, I never met the man, but I don't like him."
"Me neither." Meiran said. Wufei nodded in agreement.
"You can't make a judgement on a man from a singular incident." Quatre told them. "He practically raised Heero. His parents were always concerned about money, especially after they won on the stock market. Heero was their only child, but they hardly paid attention. After Hiroshi died, they tried to buy his happiness, but that wasn't what he needed. He's trying to pay a debt to his grandfather, we should be respectful of that fact, even if it goes against what we think is right." Everyone stared at Quatre with wide eyes.
"Quatre, how do you know that?" Trowa asked quietly. "Heero has never mentioned it." Quatre suddenly squirmed uncomfortably. Three pairs of very shocked eyes trapped him.
"I've run into him a few times down at the music store on 5th and Webber. It turns out he likes classical music too. We've talked about family and such. I wanted to know why his grandfather hated Duo, so I probed. At first he wouldn't say, then eventually he admitted that he really didn't know. I must admit he is very hard to get him to say more than a few lines." Quatre stared at his sandwich guiltily.
"It's okay, Quatre. I understand." Trowa said softly. "Thank you for bringing us back into perspective. You're right, we shouldn't judge a man on one act alone." Quatre sighed with relief.
"This still doesn't change the fact that Heero might send Duo to the other side before he's finished his business." Meiran reminded them all. "Trowa, I'll be there on Halloween. If nothing else, to see that Duo isn't sent before his time."
"Count me in too." Wufei stated firmly. "Besides, didn't you say we'd have a good chance of seeing him?" Trowa nodded. "I'd like to say that I've not only spoken with, but actually seen a real ghost."
"Maybe we can convince Heero to wait until Duo is ready to send him on his way?" Quatre said. "What if we introduced them?"
"I don't know." Trowa admitted. "But we could try." He glanced up at the clock. "Lunch is almost over and I have English. I'll see everyone at my house in two days."
"Right." They all chorused.
Sitting in the living room, Heero read. The hardback book was wrapped in a black paper cover with a picture of a starship on it and red lettering stating "Web of Stars". His eyes lazily ran over the page until one paragraph. After which they hungrily devoured each sentence. The book was getting really interesting. He licked his lips as he read on. Suddenly a light breeze entered the room, reducing the air temperature by at least ten degrees. It flitted about, wandering around each chair, pausing by the window, then over to where Heero sat on the couch. He knew it was the ghost. Every hair on his neck told him so. Just then the cover was pealed back off his book, as if someone were carefully peeking at the hardback underneath. Heero glared, but there was no one there. It defeated the purpose, so he tried Trowa's approach with dealing with the curious ghost.
"Do you mind?" The cover was released. "Thank you." The breeze twirled around him and he felt one side of the couch sink as if someone were sitting down near him. Goosebumps were running up and down his arms. Heero silently cursed. He wouldn't be that scared six year old on that Halloween night. No, he wouldn't. The ghost would not frightened or intimidate him.
"I will exorcise you from this house or we'll get a priest to. Either way, you can't stay. You've caused enough trouble."
Heero felt the temperature drop even further.
"You've possessed Trowa in some fashion, that he defends you and even turned against his sister." The air about him froze and Heero got the distinct impression that Duo was getting mad. It didn't matter; Heero was going to have his say now then he was going to get rid of him, once and for all.
"My grandfather said you weren't normal, that you were ill."
"ILL?" a voice practically shrieked. "Is that what he called it?" Heero's eyes grew wide. He hadn't expected the ghost to speak at least not coherently. Weren't ghosts just supposed to moan and wail? "That little cretin, how dare he! I'm dead and he is spreading rumors!" The ghost was on a tirade and Heero felt that it was best for his safety that he didn't interfere. Self-preservation being high on his list of things to achieve currently. "If I ever get my hands on his back stabbing, cowardly, spirit...."
"Anou..."
"I'll make him wish he was reborn someplace far away from me! Like Tibet!" Heero watched as several pillows flew off their chair and slam into the wall. "Imagine, saying I'm ill. I'm NOT!" The chair wobbled back and forth and raised off the ground. "All I did was buy him a few presents to show my appreciation for being my friend and he flips out!" The coffee table was now also floating about the floor.
"What's going on in here?" Trowa asked entering the room. He took one look about the room and then he realized he could hear Duo ranting on about something. "DUO!" All ranting ceased. "Put the furniture down and then calm down." All the furniture dropped to the floor at once and Heero bounded off the couch.
"That ghost is dangerous." Heero stated firmly looking Trowa in the eye. "It needs to go."
"Whoa, wait."
"No, I can't. Halloween night, he's being sent on his way. My grandfather's wish to end this will be done."
"Wait, please. I haven't gotten angry in a long time." Duo pleaded. "Don't send me away."
"You're dangerous." Heero snapped. "You always have been since I first met you."
"What? Wait, we've never...."Duo began. "That little boy...you were that little boy that Hiroshi grabbed that one Halloween!"
"What Halloween, when?" Trowa asked suddenly realizing that there was even more to this than he'd once thought.
"About ten years ago, I snuck in here to see what a real ghost looked like. Grandfather had claimed this place was haunted, but I hadn't believed him. I came face to face with the ghost. I'd never been more frightened in my life, then it approached me."
"My name is Duo." The ghost snapped.
"It tried to touch me and that is when Grandfather appeared, yelled at the ghost, made a sign in the air and grabbed me. I was carried out the door and back home. After which, I was told exactly what had transpired and why you were an bad spirit."
"I'm not a bad spirit." Duo protested. "And I wouldn't have hurt you. I was going to ask if you needed some help, but then Hiroshi showed up and... I never realized that you were that little boy. Over the years other kids have snuck in here on Halloween when the house isn't occupied. I've never hurt them, yet they go running away in terror at the sight of me. I assumed you were one of them." Heero crossed his arms.
"You tried to buy my grandfather's friendship with gifts."
"We were already friends and I bought them to be nice." Duo replied. "I have no idea what Hiroshi told you about me, but I can assure you that they are biased."
"Okay, hold on." Trowa interrupted. "Before this goes any farther, I think we need to lay all the cards on the table, as it were. I think there has been a mistake made here..."
"That's right." Heero agreed, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "The mistake is letting that ghost remain. Tonight is your last night you'll haunt this house. Tomorrow night I'm sending you to Hell personally." With that he stomped out of the room. Trowa looked after him; dumbstruck by the surge of emotion Heero had shown.
"Quatre was right, he is devoted to Hiroshi."
"Nani? What, could you repeat that?" Duo asked.
"I said that he is devoted to Hiroshi. Over the past couple weeks, Quatre has spent some time with Heero and told me that Hiroshi practically raised him. He was devastated when he died. I think this is his way of paying tribute to his late grandfather."
"What, by getting rid of me?"
"Yes. I think it is a mission that has gone unfinished and he aims to finish it."
"Great, lucky me." Duo growled. Trowa felt the air temperature rise as Duo vacated the room. One more day, he thought. And then maybe we can solve some of these problems.
It was nearly one in the morning and Trowa couldn't sleep. He was worried. Worried that Heero would succeed and he's lose Duo. Worried that he'd be alone again. He'd found a kindred spirit in Duo. Someone who'd been lost and floundering in a world they didn't understand. Yes, despite the fact that he was dead, Trowa considered Duo one of his closest friends.
Rolling onto his back, he wondered what would happen if Heero succeeded and Duo ended up in Hell. Was there even such a place? Trowa didn't know, nor did he want to imagine Duo there. He opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. If Duo was exorcised it would be another death in Trowa's mind. Like my parents. He'd be gone forever, no coming back. It'd be like my parents. I'll be alone. Catherine is my sister and I love her, but she can't be here all the time. Mother used to always have time to talk, same with father, but Catherine barely does. Duo is the only one I feel free to share everything with. Duo, a boy who died before his time and had had so much to live for. Why had he died? Duo never said a word about it, but whatever it was, it was embarrassing enough to keep him silent. What had made Hiroshi turn against Duo as he had? If Duo had only been...Had Hiroshi found out Duo's secret and that is why....Trowa prayed that Duo would be looked after while he was away tomorrow morning. That Heero wouldn't skip class to exorcise him. Trowa knew he'd never forgive himself if something happened while he was at school.
Laying one arm over his forehead, Trowa wished he knew more. Removing his arm, he turned and stared at the glowing red numbers on his clock. He had school in the morning and he needed his sleep. I need some music to take my mind off things, he thought. Sliding the covers back, he slipped out of bed and felt in the dark for power switch to his stereo. Turning the volume down so that only he could hear it, he pressed play. Climbing back in to bed, he lay back down. Letting himself get absorbed in the music, Trowa felt his body relax.
"No I would not sleep in this bed of lies
So toss me out and turn in
And there'll be no rest for these tired eyes
I'm marking it down to learning
I am," Trowa hummed along as the soft rhythm eased
his troubled mind.
"Don't think that I can take another empty moment
Don't think that I can fake another
Hallow smile
It's not enough just to be sorry.
Don't think that I could take
Another talk about it." As he drifted off to sleep,
he thought he heard a voice join in the chorus of the
song.
Rain poured down the window. Trowa sighed and wished the weather would clear up. He didn't want to be in class, he wanted to be home. He was excited and nervous at the same time. Tonight he was going to see Duo's human form. No ball of light, no wind, no pressure, tonight he'd have a body. Trowa wondered what Duo could do with that body. Was it solid or could objects pass through it? Once more Trowa's mind made that leap from G-rated to X-rated. He really needed to stop doing that; it wasn't like they could do anything. Duo was dead. Nothing Trowa did or thought could make a difference.
Tapping his pencil methodically on his desk, Trowa wished once more that the rain would stop and that he could go home. Three seats behind him, Quatre watched his friend anxiously. Quatre was beginning to suspect that more was at stake tonight than just one ghost. He didn't want to see Trowa spiral down into a pit of despair again, he'd do anything to avoid that. Quatre remembered the days and weeks after Trowa's parent's deaths and how he'd wander the halls in a daze. There was nothing behind those glazed green eyes except misery. Now he was more alive, more vibrant than he'd been last year, but how long would that last? What would happen when Duo finally moved on? What if the bond growing between them became as strong as the one between Trowa and his parents? Quatre tried not to think of what would happen. Yet he knew what the results would be and it ate away at him. He couldn't stand to see his friend like that again. Not that empty shell of what used to be.
End Chapter 8
Tigress Pern