Author: Merula
Pairings: 1x2
Rating: R
Warnings: See the title? To have ghosts, someone has to be dead. That's how it works!
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing is not mine.
Based on a Japanese ghost story.
Ghost Story
"Yeah, they've rebuilt a lot of the neighborhood, but you know how it goes. The government promises the money -- and then it somehow never really materializes in time -- or people get caught up in all the red tape --"
I nodded, shifting a little to get more comfortable on the steps. "I bet it was hard for a lot of people."
My new neighbor shrugged, pushing his bangs off of his forehead. "Yes and no. We lost a lot of people in this neighborhood when the Big One hit -- we were close to the epicenter of the quake. It's hard to live here and not see the faces you remember. I think a lot of people moved on because it was too hard to live with the ghosts."
He must've noticed my shiver, because his smile widened. "Not that I've ever seen one on this street -- though I hear some parts of the city have more ghosts than people these days." He had to be teasing, I thought, pushing my braid off my shoulder. Though if there ever was a city that was haunted, this one was it.
"I'd bet." I took another swig from the bottle in my hand. "My company wanted to show that they were globally conscious, so they moved a few of us out here. They didn't mention how bad things still are -- and nothing about ghosts."
"You think it's bad now, you should've seen it right after."
Seeking to ease the slight anger I heard rising in his voice, I smiled. "I like it here. It was someplace I always wanted to move when I was a kid -- you know? I was just thinking -- well, like you said, that the government was helping and people were rebuilding. I hadn't thought that it wasn't happening. It's not in the news."
"Well, the celebrities have moved on, there's other causes that generate better press. You know how it goes." The anger in his voice was no longer directed at me. I was glad. It had taken me only a few hours in my new home to realize that the natives who had stayed after the quake were understandably still upset about a lot of things. Hell, I'd only been here a week and I was too. "I'm amazed your company picked here to open an office."
"Well, I think it had to do with one of the major stockholders being from here originally, but it's also the whole thing about keeping jobs in the country. This way they're not only helping locals get jobs, but helping rebuild communities and all that too."
"How very sweet of them." He rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, they're pretty proud of themselves, believe me."
He tilted his head to the side and looked at the sun. "I've got to get home. My sister is cooking dinner and she gets mad if I'm late. Plus she'll want to grill me on the new guy," he grinned. "You know how women are." He held out his hand. "Nice meeting you, Duo."
"Nice meeting you too, Trowa." I watched as he ambled down the walk and back across the street to his house. He was the second of my new neighbors that I had met -- though looking at the darkened houses, I wondered how many of them there were. The earthquake had been over two years ago -- and though it had devastated the city -- I had expected more progress than I had seen in my week here. Half the houses on my street were condemned -- and I knew my own had needed major work done on it before it was sold.
Though considering how badly the city had been damaged, it was remarkable anyone still lived here at all.
The sun slid behind the horizon in a shimmer of orange that made me linger on the steps. My porch light was on, the air was warm, with just a hint of a salt-tinged breeze. Much nicer than the cold evenings back home. I lingered on the porch, the twilight deepening into dark, just enjoying being outside. This was a pretty good place to live.
Except for the earthquakes. Though really, all the pressure released from the 'Big One' as the locals called it should make things pretty safe for a while -- or so my company had told me when they had asked me to relocate. No one really wanted to move here, so the deal they offered had been pretty sweet. For someone like me it had been nearly perfect.
My beer finally finished, I stood up and stretched, ready to go into the house. As I turned, a light caught my eye.
Someone was walking down the street, with a red filtered flashlight bobbing in their hand. Another neighbor? I paused, waiting for them to get closer.
"Hello!" I called, hand raised when the light hit the edge of my property. "Nice night for a walk."
The light paused at the end of my yard and I could just make out the outline of the person who stood behind it. "Hello," the stranger replied. "You must be the new guy?"
I moved down the walk, away from my light and was able to make out more details in the glow from the guy's flashlight. Nice build, messy hair -- a glint of a smile. There was a large dog seated on the sidewalk beside him, I could hear it panting. "I am. Duo Maxwell."
"Heero Yuy -- and this --" He gestured at the dog, "is Odin." The hand that clasped mine was warm and firm. "Nice to meet you. Did you just move in?"
"I've been here about a week."
"Ah," he said. "How do you like it so far?"
This, as I had learned in my dealings with the locals, was a loaded question. "It's a lot different than I expected."
He laughed. "Very diplomatic of you."
"I try. It's all part of the job."
"Ah, so you're one of the poor saps who got sent out here by a company trying to improve their image."
"Got it in one." The red light made it hard to make out his features in any detail, and I was getting very curious. Did he look as good as he sounded? "Want a beer? I have more in the fridge."
"Love one." He followed me up the steps, his dog following in his shadow, turning off his flashlight when we reached the porch. "How do you like this house?"
It took me a minute to answer, under the yellow glow of my porch light, Heero Yuy was tongue-tying. "Uh, I like it a lot. I had an apartment before -- it's nice to have all the space." Mentally smacking myself for sounding like an idiot, I opened the door. "Come on in. Beer's in the kitchen." I looked at the dog; it was a big friendly looking lab. "Odin can come too -- though I don't think he'd want a beer."
"He'll just be happy to stretch out -- lazy dog that he is."
Much to my surprise, Heero turned toward the kitchen without my prompting. "Did you know the person who lived here before?"
He nodded. "Yes. Very well. Did the relatives give you a good price?"
"My company found it for me -- I don't know what they paid, it was all part of the deal. Rent-free housing and all that."
He sat down at the table, Odin at his feet. "They're that desperate?"
"They've had some major bad publicity lately," I explained as I pulled two beers out of the fridge. "And I'm sure I don't have to tell you that they had trouble finding people to come work here."
Accepting the beer with a glimmer of a smile, he nodded again. "I can believe that. A lot of things have changed around here since the Big One. I sometimes wonder if the city will ever be the same."
"Or even here. Someone at the office said they were thinking about relocating the whole city."
He snorted. "I've heard that plan too -- and it's ridiculous. Where on this planet is really and truly safe? After the Big One a lot of people said the city had brought it on itself -- such a center of sin deserved to be wiped from the Earth. They blamed the people who lived here."
"That's just stupid," I pried open my beer and took a drink.
"I know, but people often look for a reason when something like this happens." His fingers tugged at the label on the bottle and under his bangs I caught a hint of pain. "You find yourself asking 'why?' a lot."
That look made me hurt for him. I wanted to reach out and touch him, soothe that pain away -- but I had just met the guy. Hell, for all I knew he was married with kids.
"I know people lost a lot of things they loved," I said inanely, and he reached down to rub the head of the dog beside him.
"Very true -- but those that are left are trying hard to rebuild." His smile flashed out again. "Trying to make things better than they were in some cases."
"I've seen that a lot already!" Relieved at the change in topic, I searched for something to keep it going. "Like that restaurant down the street from here? What's the name? The one with the weird sign?"
He smiled wider when he answered me, and I knew we had gotten away from the dangerous waters.
Several beers and topics later, Heero glanced at the clock. "I'd better go. Don't you have work in the morning?"
"Yeah," I looked at the clock too. Was it that late already? "Thanks for stopping by." He and Odin got to their feet and I followed them to the door. "Come by anytime," I told him as we stood on the porch.
"I wonder if you'd make that offer knowing how often you might find me on your doorstep." He switched his red-tinted flashlight on and gave me a heart-stopping smile.
"Anytime," I repeated, and meant it. "As long as it doesn't get you in trouble with any one at home."
His smile dimmed a little. "No one at home to get in trouble with," he said and started down the sidewalk. "Good night Duo, thanks again!"
"Good night Heero." I waved at him and turned to go back inside. Damn, I hadn't meant to bring him down there at the end. It would serve me right if he didn't come back at all.
But he did.
I admit, the next night I lingered on the porch after the sun went down, waiting to see that red flashlight come down the street. Even as I tried to tell myself that Heero wouldn't want to sit and talk again so soon, and that really, sitting out here on the steps looked a little desperate; I couldn't make myself go in.
When the red light appeared, I lifted my hand to wave, telling myself sternly that waving was all I was going to do, but Heero and Odin came up towards the house.
"Hey Duo," he said and sat down on the steps beside me. "Hope you weren't too tired at work today."
"Nah," I grinned at him and reached out to ruffle Odin's fur. "I don't need that much sleep anyway."
"I don't sleep much myself these days." His voice was very soft. Before I could think of an answer, he turned to meet my gaze, his lips curving into a smile. "So, who else of the neighbors have you met?"
"Uh -- well, the girl next door came over on the first day, when I was moving in. What was her name? Lisa?"
"Lena," he corrected. "The blonde one, right?"
"Right. I haven't seen her since."
"Ah, well she works for the mayor's office. She's really busy."
"Whew, thanks for telling me. I'll make sure not to complain about the mayor when she's around."
"Don't worry about it. She doesn't like him." He chuckled. "Who else?"
"The guy across the street? Trowa? He says he has a sister, but I haven't seen her."
"Cathy. She'll probably invite you over for dinner. She's nice too. Anyone else?"
"That's really it. I've seen the blond guy at the end of the street, and Lena mentioned a roommate, but I haven't really met any of them." Something suddenly occurred to me. "Where do you live?"
Heero tilted his head towards the left. "These days? Way down on the end of the street."
I had only gone down that way once. The street got twisty as it went up the hillside, and a lot of the houses hadn't been fixed yet. "You had to move? Was your house badly damaged?"
"I couldn't be there anymore," his voice dropped again and I cursed myself. Why couldn't I be more tactful?
"Want to come in for a beer? I think the game's started if you want to watch?" I half expected him to refuse, to walk back out into the darkness, but instead, he smiled at me.
"I'd love to watch. I've missed most of the season --"
"Then come on in." I stood up and opened the door for him.
He didn't stay long past the end of the game, citing the need for rest, but I enjoyed every moment of his company.
The next night I was waiting out on my porch again -- I told myself that it was because it was a nice evening, but judging from the way my heart sped up when I saw that red light appear I was kidding myself. Heero joined me on the steps when I waved to him -- I already had an extra beer ready. He just flashed that smile at me as he sat down.
When he got up to leave, several hours later, I asked him if he wanted to watch the next night's game with me.
"Love to," he said and my heart skipped a beat. Damn, I knew what I was doing, even if I wasn't quite ready to admit it at that point. At least I could wait for him inside the next night -- instead of out on my porch.
The game went by too fast, but during one of the commercial breaks there was an ad for a movie that the station was playing the next night -- and he hadn't seen it.
Another excuse to ask him to visit. I knew I had to be painfully transparent at this point, but maybe he just thought that I was lonely? I had just moved to the city after all -- looking for friends was a pretty legitimate excuse. Or so I told myself.
On the night after the movie night, I forced myself to stay on my sofa once dark fell. I hadn't invited Heero over, having run out of good opportunities. Plus it was raining -- there was no good reason for me to be out on my porch.
It was stupid to feel disappointed, I told myself. Besides, the man had been over here nearly every night -- surely he must be getting tired of my company?
That thought hurt more than I expected. I had thought I was just crushing on the guy -- and who wouldn't in my shoes? He was gorgeous and friendly -- and I was new in town and lonely.
The knock at my door startled me. I opened the door to find Heero and Odin on my doorstep, both more than slightly wet. "I'm sorry to bother you," he said with that smile of his. "But it wasn't raining quite this hard when I left -- do you have an umbrella I could borrow?"
Of course, I had to ask him in -- the poor guy was soaked -- he needed to dry off and get warm. I offered coffee and we ended up talking until the wee hours of the morning.
After that things seemed to settle into place -- if I wasn't on the porch, Heero would knock. Some nights I left the door open for him, other nights I kindled a fire in the backyard fire pit and we'd sit and talk and watch the stars.
Every night I thought about doing something -- anything to see if he was interested. I was -- the more time I spent in his company, the more I wanted him. But I didn't do anything. I just lusted silently.
One night, as we sat on my sofa, watching some stupid sitcom, Odin stretched out on the floor in front of us, things changed.
"Why is that woman's voice so soft?" I groaned, frowning at the actress on the screen. "I can barely hear her!"
"Turn up the volume," Heero suggested and leaned over me for the remote.
I couldn't help the flash of heat that went through me as his body brushed mine. His head turned slightly and I don't know what was written on my face, but his eyes widened.
Damn, I cursed inwardly, sure that he was going to storm out of my house. I was still searching for an apology, when he smiled that wonderful heart-stopping smile of his.
Warmth flooded me as his mouth touched mine, his lips coaxing mine apart, his hands pulling me close.
"Want me to stop?"
"Stop and I'll kill you."
He laughed as he tilted us backwards into the cushions. "Then I'd better not stop."
"Smart man." I slid my hands beneath his shirt, reveling in the feeling of his warm skin under my fingertips. His mouth found mine again and it wasn't long before our clothes seemed too hot and too confining. Getting rid of them without losing contact between us was hard, but we managed it.
"Much better," he murmured against my skin when the last bit of fabric dropped to the floor. "Now, I just need to --" his hand slid down my side, dipping in between my legs, and I thrust up into his touch. It was a delicious torture as he readied me and I was soon begging him to get on with it -- I couldn't wait any longer.
He was a little rough, unpolished as if it had been a long time since he'd done anything like this, but I didn't care. It had been a long time for me too. He felt so good -- so deep inside me, his hands tightly gripping my legs, each push sending me closer to the edge. We fell over together, and he tumbled down into the cushions beside me, holding me close. Weariness swept over me and I closed my eyes. A little sleep would be good.
I felt him stir beside me, sliding off the futon and talking softly to Odin.
"You aren't going?" I opened an eye with the last of my energy and found him smiling at me.
"I have to be someplace in the morning," he said and kissed me. "So do you. Rest Duo. I'll see you tomorrow night, I promise."
I wanted to get up, see him to the door, but I just couldn't move. "Holding you to that."
"I'll be here." Another kiss and he was gone. I curled up tighter among the cushions and fell asleep again.
The next day was a disaster, as if some cosmic force had decided that since I had such a good night that I needed to pay for it. I overslept, only just managing to get to work on time and every person I dealt with seemed to be angry about something.
The situation wasn't helped by the fact that in the back of my mind, all day, I worried. Had I pushed things too much? Was Heero having second thoughts? What was going to happen when I got home?
By the time I came home I was happy to just stretch out on the futon and turn on the TV. The cushions smelled faintly woodsy, of pine needles and grass and dirt -- Heero's scent. Would he be back tonight? I knew that I needed to get up, push myself to get out of my work clothes, take some aspirin, make myself dinner -- but I just didn't feel like it. It was good to just put my head down on the soft cushions and rest.
Someone knocked on the door. "Duo?"
Relief flooded me for a moment. "Heero! It's open!"
The door opened and he came in, flashlight in hand and Odin at his heels. "Rough day?" He asked and I groaned.
"You have no idea." He sat down beside me, pulling me into his arms. Gently, his fingers snuck under the back of my braid, caressing the nape of my neck.
"Tell me about it."
"Just spent the day dealing with angry people." His hand was working magic on my sore muscles and my headache was fading. "Nothing I really want to dwell on."
"Mmm," he hummed softly into my bangs. "Did you eat?"
"No. I was too tired."
"Then why don't you go get comfortable and I'll start dinner for you." He pushed me gently off the sofa and towards the stairs.
I didn't let go of his hand. "I know what would make me feel even better than that."
That smile of his seemed to banish my weariness. "And what would that be?" He followed me up the stairs to my bedroom, letting me pull him down beside me on the bed.
He went slowly, knowing that I was tired, soothing me more than anything else, cradling me close when we finished.
"Feeling better?" He asked me and I smiled for him.
"Much. How was your day? You said you had to be somewhere early?"
"Same as always," his voice was soft. "I always have to be someplace early. I'm sorry about that --"
"It's okay. You know, I don't think I've ever asked what you do for a living."
He chuckled. "You haven't -- and you haven't missed much. It's nothing I'd recommend." He kissed my cheek. "Before the quake I was a computer programmer."
That explained a lot. Many of the computer companies had moved away -- Heero was probably working some job that didn't use those talents -- maybe one that he might be a little ashamed of? A lot of people were in that situation.
"Did you like it?"
He shrugged. "I guess I did at the time. Though now I wonder why I spent so much time bent over the keyboard. Why I spent so much time ignoring anything that didn't have to do with my job. I missed out on so much."
There was that tone again -- the flash of hurt on his face. "Who did you lose, Heero?" I asked and then bit my tongue. "I'm sorry, you don't --"
Covering my lips with his fingers, he shook his head. "I didn't lose anyone. Acquaintances, sure, several of those. But friends? Lovers? I didn't have any. I spent too much time wrapped up in my job. Seems so stupid now. I wasted so much time."
Kissing his fingers, nearly dizzy with a strange relief, I smiled at him. "It's never too late to change."
"I hope not," he kissed me back fiercely. "I really hope not..."
He was gone when I woke up, tangled in the sheets. I was ready to swear at my alarm when I remembered that it was Saturday. I didn't work weekends, for which I was very grateful -- though apparently Heero did.
Pulling myself out of bed, I decided to take a shower and then go deal with my lawn. Then maybe the grocery store -- and laundry -- couldn't forget that.
I was halfway done with the yard when the girl next door appeared, leaning over the fence with a smile. "Hey stranger! How's it going?"
Smiling back, I searched my memory for her name as I turned off the weed whacker. "Pretty good, thanks. How are you doing?" Lena, that was it.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and grinned at me. "I'm glad it's Saturday! You've been here a couple weeks now, right?"
I nodded. "A little over two."
"Settling in pretty well?"
"So far. It's a nice place to live."
That was the right thing to say. She glowed at me. "I'm glad you like it. Have you met all the neighbors yet?"
"Not yet. I met Trowa a while ago -- though I haven't met his sister --"
Lena nodded. "They have to travel a bit for their work. I think they're out of town right now. Have you met Quatre? He lives down there --" she pointed to a house a few doors down.
"The blond guy? I've seen him around, that's about it."
She laughed. "Yeah, he works a lot. That's about it -- unless you count my roommate -- and he's usually asleep during the day -- he's a night watchman."
"I'll have to try and catch him sometime. I've met Heero too, but I guess he lives more that way," I gestured down the street where the road turned to go up the hill.
Lena was silent and I wondered if I had erred somehow -- but Heero had said he knew her... When I looked at her, I saw she'd gone very pale.
"Are you okay?" I reached out for her, alarmed. She looked like she was going to faint.
"Heero? Heero Yuy? You met him?"
"Sure, he walks his dog by the house at night. I've talked to him." I didn't want to go into details, since Lena looked ready to fall over. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Just a touch of the sun," she said weakly, her eyes intent on my face. "You've seen Heero? And Odin?"
"Sure -- why? Is something wrong?"
"No, no, it's nothing." Lena put one hand on her forehead and gave me a faint smile. "I'm really not feeling good all of a sudden. I think I'm going to go lie down."
"That sounds like a good idea." I watched her walk up to her door, swaying slightly as she walked. Why had she seemed so surprised that I had seen Heero?
She looked back at me once she reached the steps. "Evil walks at night," she said and went into the house.
What the hell did that mean?
Turning back to finish the yard, I tried to figure out Lena's reaction. Evil walks at night? Was she his ex-girlfriend or something? And why the hell had she been so surprised to hear about him?
Heero had said that he hadn't always lived down the street -- maybe one of these houses on this end of the street had been his? Maybe he was ashamed of his new place? Maybe he had one of the government-issued trailers? But those weren't something to be ashamed of -- a lot of people still had them.
I meant to bring it up to Heero when he showed up that night, but I didn't. I had a feeling that Lena's reaction would hurt him somehow, and I didn't want him hurt.
Silly, I know. I had really just met the guy, and sure I would easily admit to being in serious lust with him -- but there was more to it than that.
At least for me there was. I don't know how he felt about it -- but Heero never missed a night. Every night I'd meet him on the porch, or he'd knock and I'd invite him in. He never stayed the night; he always left long before dawn, always promised to be back. I always hoped that I'd wake up one morning to find that he'd stayed -- and it always hurt to find myself alone. Except for the ache of those lonely mornings, things were going very well. Until one night, a week after I talked to Lena, when something strange happened.
I'd had a peaceful Saturday, done my errands, and was waiting for Heero on the front porch, beer in hand. As always, it was dark when he showed up -- I wondered sometimes what sort of hours he kept.
"Hey," he said, smiling as he joined me on the steps, Odin beside him.
"Hey," I grinned up at him. "It's good to see you."
"Are you sure?" His smile vanished. "I am here a lot. I always expect that you'll be out with friends or something --"
"When I know you're going to stop by? Hell no." Leaning over, I kissed him, hoping I hadn't revealed more than I meant to. "Come on in."
I pulled him up with me, but he stopped dead before the door, Odin whining behind him.
"What is it?"
He shivered. "I don't know. Something --" He looked up and his eyes widened. "What is that?"
I looked up too. Over my door was a small silvery circle. I had never seen it before.
"Huh, I don't know." I pulled one of the deck chairs over and reached up to touch the circle. Someone had nailed it right into the frame. Luckily, they hadn't done a great job so it was easy to pull off. I stepped off the chair and showed the thing to Heero. "Looks like some sort of saint's medallion. Wonder how it got there -- I don't remember it there before -- though I might have missed it."
"It wasn't there before," he said with a frown, following me into the house. "Someone put it there today. Did you have any visitors?"
"None I know of," I tossed the medallion on the hall table. "Weird. I wonder why it was there. Do you know what it's for?"
"Protection," Heero closed the door behind him. "Someone must think you need it."
"Everyone in this town needs it. Maybe it was one of the church groups that comes through sometimes? I'll have to ask one of the neighbors if they got one too."
"Do you see them often?"
"Not really. Saw Lena about a week ago. She wasn't feeling well though. We were talking about you and she got a bit sun-sick."
"Talking about me?" He sounded almost -- frightened. Damn it. I hadn't meant to let that slip -- I knew how he felt about his new circumstances -- I was right about him not willing to let others know how far down the ladder he'd slid.
"Just a little. Like I said, she wasn't feeling well enough to talk for long."
A moment later, I was pressed up against the wall, Heero's mouth on mine, fierce and demanding. I was lost.
"Out of time..." he murmured against my lips and before I could ask what that meant, he pulled me up the stairs and into my bedroom. Tumbling me down on the bed, he took me with a desperation I had never felt from him before. I didn't know what to do; how to soothe the pain I saw in his eyes -- I could only respond in kind, hoping that I could ease his fears.
When it was over, he didn't let me go. Instead he wrapped himself around me, holding me tight as if he was afraid someone was going to snatch me out of his arms.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, stroking the back of his neck, hoping he'd confide in me.
He sighed heavily. "Not really. What did Lena say about me?"
"She just sounded surprised that you were here -- that was it." I wasn't going to tell him about that evil crap she'd spouted. "Were you and her ever... you know...?"
"No."
Well, there went that theory. Unless he thought I was going to react badly and was lying.
"I've never been like this with anyone -- except you." He kissed my shoulder. "I love you."
My throat closed for a minute. "Love you too." He rolled over and pressed me back against the pillows, his mouth searching for mine.
He was gone when I woke up, and I had to squash the feeling of disappointment.
I took a shower and got dressed before going down to the kitchen to forage for some breakfast. As I was poking my bread into the toaster, the doorbell rang.
Half expecting Heero, I was surprised to find Trowa on the other side of the door. "Good morning!" He smiled warmly. "Cathy and I just got back in town and are cooking breakfast for a few of the neighbors. Would you like to come join us?"
A real breakfast sounded better than toast. "That'd be great. Just let me grab my shoes."
"We'll be waiting." He loped off down the walk and I went to find my shoes.
Once the footwear was found, I headed across the street. An unfamiliar girl opened the door of Trowa's house. "I'm Cathy," she said with a grin. "You have to be Duo. Come in."
"Thanks for inviting me over for breakfast," I told her as I followed her down the hallway. "I hope it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all," she grinned a little wider as she ushered me into the kitchen. Trowa was there, carefully watching a pan full of French toast. Lena and the blond man from the end of the street were at the table with another man I'd never seen before.
I hadn't really expected to see Heero, given Lena's earlier reaction, but I was still disappointed. Hadn't she told them that he was still here?
"This is Quatre," Cathy said, gesturing at the blond man. "And this is Lena's roommate Wufei."
"The night watchman," I said as I shook his hand.
"That's me." He smiled. "Though I notice your light is on pretty late some nights."
"Yeah," I said lamely. "I like to stay up late."
"Sit down," Quatre urged me, sliding his chair over a bit. "We're just waiting for Trowa to finish."
"You could help you know." Trowa lifted an eyebrow at him.
"Where would the fun be in that? It's more fun to watch you."
Wufei snorted and turned his back on them. "So, Duo, how do you like it here so far?" Ah, the loaded question again.
"I like it a lot -- though it's not what I expected."
He nodded, his dark eyes regarding me measuringly. "That's not surprising. Your company moved you out here?"
"Yeah, trying for the whole patriotic globally conscious thing."
"A lot of them do. The one I'm working for did the same sort of thing. Still, it's hard living in a place like this. We used to have street wide breakfasts -- we had to eat out on the lawns and organize it weeks in advance. Now it's just us."
Just them? But -
He caught my frown. "What is it?"
"We're the only ones here? No one lives up on the other end of the street? On the hill side?"
Quatre turned to me with a shake of his head as Cathy pulled a plate out from the cupboard. "No, not that we know about -- though I know a lot of those properties are up for sale. Did someone move in? Did you meet someone up there?"
"Just Heero --" I said and there was a loud crack as the plate slipped out of Cathy's hands and hit the floor. They all stared at me and I wondered what I had said. "What?"
"Heero? Heero Yuy?" Quatre leaned over the table. "You've seen him?"
Why did everyone sound so surprised?
"Of course -- I told Lena --" I turned to the white-faced girl beside me. "Last week, don't you remember? He said he was living up on the hill side --"
Wufei inhaled sharply. This was just getting ridiculous.
"What is it? Look, the guy is perfectly nice -- and he says nice things about you guys --"
"That's good to know." Quatre was gaining back a little of his color. "Lena -- did you tell him?"
She shook her head violently. "No... no... I couldn't..."
"Tell me what?" I demanded.
"Heero did live on this street." Quatre smiled faintly. "In your house actually. He was a good guy, even if he kept to himself a lot. Had a dog --"
"Odin," I said and Quatre nodded.
Heero had lived in my house? But -
"I don't understand. They told me the guy who owned my house had died in the earthquake --"
"He did."
"But -- I've --" Seen him. Touched him. Had sex with him. Fallen in love with him.
It had to be a mistake, it had to be...
Quatre put a gentle hand on mine. "Heero was out walking his dog when the first big quake hit. He always went out after dark -- he had this red flashlight that he used so he wouldn't blind anyone -- like I said, he was a considerate guy. He was on the street when it hit -- right next to the house next to mine -- a little old lady lived there. The house partially collapsed -- the police said afterwards that he must have heard her calling for help. He and Odin went in -- and then we had a few aftershocks -- and the rest of her house collapsed..."
"His family had him buried at the cemetery on the top of the hill," Wufei continued when Quatre ran out of words. "None of them came out for it, there wasn't a service..."
He was still talking, but I lost the sound of his voice. Heero was dead? Had been dead for two years?
Then... who... who was it that came to my house every night? What had I welcomed inside?
"Why didn't you tell him?" Wufei's voice was loud in my ear and I realized he was speaking to Lena.
"Like he'd believe me?" She snapped back. "I didn't know what to do... I tried to protect him."
Protect me? How? The realization hit and I turned to her. "You put that medallion over my door,"
"It should've kept him out. It should've kept him away from you."
"I didn't know what it was -- I took it down."
Quatre frowned. "Did Heero ask you to?"
"No. I just wanted to see what it was."
"Did it have any effect on him?"
"I don't think so." Though Heero had stopped on the porch. "Well, I mean he was the one who noticed it -- he didn't fade away or anything." Weren't ghosts supposed to? Heero didn't act like a ghost. He was solid. Warm. Real. I looked around at their faces -- all of them watching me carefully -- and then I realized what was really going on.
"This is a joke isn't it? Some sort of welcome to the neighborhood sort of thing?" I pushed myself away from the table. "Picking on the transplant? It's not very funny."
Damn, they nearly had me convinced that Heero was some sort of ghost. What the hell was wrong with me?
"Duo -- we're not joking --" Trowa held a hand out to me.
"Right. I've seen Heero. Talked with him. He's real -- he doesn't float through walls or any of that shit. He's alive. I don't know what sick game you guys are playing --"
"He's dead!" Lena burst out. "Are you trying to condemn your soul to hell?"
"What?"
"He's evil!" She snapped. "He's trying to steal your soul!"
"Spare me the B-movie crap," I got to my feet. "The guy watches the goddamn football games with me, and you're trying to tell me that he's planning on stealing my soul and dragging me to hell? Right."
Before any of them could move, I left the kitchen and headed to the front door. Slamming it behind me, I cursed under my breath. What the hell was wrong with those people? Jokes were one thing, but calling a former neighbor some sort of evil spirit? No wonder Heero had moved up to the other end of the street.
Once back in my own house, the door closed behind me, I discovered that I was shaking. What bullshit. Trying to convince me that Heero was a ghost? Ghosts were wisps of light that lurked in the dark. Heero was alive. Hadn't I felt his pulse beating in his throat under my lips; felt the rhythm of his heart against mine?
The only thing remotely ghost like about him was that he only appeared after dark -- and I had never seen him in the daylight.
But that would make him a vampire, not a ghost -- and though Heero had nibbled on me, he'd never broken the skin.
What the hell was I thinking like this for?
Cursing under my breath, I sat down in front of my computer. One good way to put paid to all of this crap right now. I'd pull up the web page for the city and take a look at the virtual memorial for all the victims of the Big One. I'd look under Y, and once I proved to myself that Heero wasn't there, then I could figure out a way to enjoy the rest of my weekend. I'd even laugh about it with Heero tonight -- though who knew how he'd take those bastards' joke. Maybe I'd just keep it to myself.
The computer finished booting up and I pulled up my web browser. The page was easy to find, the list of names depressingly long. I skimmed quickly, wanting to get this nonsense over and done with.
Right at the end -- there it was.
Yuy, Heero
No, was my first thought. It has to be someone else. Lots of people have the same names.
Clicking on the name brought up a picture of a dark-haired man and a dog sitting on a very familiar looking porch. The dog was a large friendly-looking golden lab. The sun was shining, picking out the highlights in the guy's hair, illuminating the planes of his face.
The man was Heero.
It had to be a mistake. It had to be. They city had been in chaos those first few weeks. Mistakes had to have been made...
But the quake was two years ago -- they would've corrected a mistake by now.
This didn't make any sense.
Heero was dead? But...
I nearly jumped out of my chair when the doorbell rang.
Quatre stood on the other side, a small bag cradled in his hands. "Stop!" He said when I opened my mouth. "Look, I know you don't believe us. I wouldn't believe us, but --"
"I checked the web -- he's on there --" Came out of my mouth before I could think.
"The memorial page?" I nodded and he sighed. "Okay, well, at least that part is out of the way. To be honest, I don't think Heero would hurt anyone -- dead or alive. I really don't. He was a sweet guy. I don't know what the heck is wrong with Lena, she thought he was wonderful when he was... well, before..." Giving me a rueful smile, he continued: "I'm not doing this well, am I?"
"I'm not sure how anyone could do it right."
"Good point. Look," he pushed the bag into my hands, "if you don't want him coming back, hang these over your doors. But -- well, you might ask him what he's here for."
I must've looked confused.
"Ghosts are only supposed to be here because they have unfinished business. Maybe he wants you to help him with it."
I had to bite back on the first words that sprung to my lips -- that if he needed help, why hadn't he asked for it yet?
"I'll see -- maybe, if he comes back..."
He nodded. "Yeah, I was thinking that too -- that maybe you saw him only because you didn't know he was dead. I've been out tons of times after dark here, and I've never seen him." Patting my arm encouragingly, he took a step backwards. "Anyway, if you need help, come see us. We know it was a shock --"
I didn't really want that crowd around me at the moment.
"Thanks Quatre."
"You're welcome Duo. Good luck."
I watched him walk back across the street, noticing that Lena and her roommate were standing on their front lawn, watching my house. Great, I apparently had turned into the big entertainment for the neighborhood.
Closing my door, I opened the bag. Two of the little silver medals gleamed in the light. One for the front door -- one for the back. I sat back down at my computer and looked at the screen.
Heero and Odin looked back at me -- caught in the sunlight -- Heero was smiling at whoever was holding the camera.
I don't know how long I sat there, looking at that picture.
Before I could convince myself that I was going mad, I got to my feet and went looking for my hammer. I'd put one medal over the front door, one over the back. I wasn't quite sure what to do about the windows, but maybe they didn't count somehow? Then again, it wasn't like Heero was a conventional ghost...
Once I finished, I wasn't quite sure what to do. It was still early -
Mentally scolding myself, I started my usual weekend chores. Ghosts, evil spirits or whatever was haunting me wouldn't get me time off of work, or do my laundry, or go grocery shopping. It was a relief to do something normal, though every time I stepped outside my door, I felt eyes on me.
I was tempted to go to a hotel for the evening, but -- what if Heero had some sort of reasonable explanation? Amnesia? Misidentification? Evil twin brother? Something that would account for all of this is in a sane and logical manner?
Besides -- I wanted to see him again. I needed to see him. That usual ache inside of me that started up every morning I woke up alone had intensified into more. I didn't know why. Was it because part of me thought that I'd never see him again?
Making myself a simple dinner, I settled down on the couch. I wouldn't watch the sun go down, I told myself. I wouldn't wait on the porch. Heero would knock like he always did...
The sky grew dim, shadows formed in the corners of the room. I didn't get up to turn my lights on.
I heard his footstep on the porch, held myself still on the futon.
The footsteps moved away, I heard the crunch of gravel as he walked around to the back door.
Then back to the front. The footsteps stopped by the door.
"Duo," I heard his voice as clearly as if he sat beside me. "Duo, please let me in."
"It's open," I said, my voice strangled in my throat. "It's open," I repeated. "Come in." Did that count? Inviting him in?
Silence.
Maybe he had gone away?
"Duo," his voice was softer this time. "Oh Duo. You found out?"
Closing my eyes on the pain, I couldn't manage to find the words I needed.
"Duo?"
"Please tell me you're not. I know they said -- but you can't be. Tell me it's not true."
But it was. I knew it was.
"I can't. I wish I could."
"You don't -- you -- I've -- I can't see through you!"
"I know. I don't know why you can see Odin and me like you do. I can't explain it."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Would you have believed me?"
"I didn't believe them, today, when they told me. I couldn't --"
"I'm so sorry, Duo. I should've -- but --" His voice faded and I got up from the sofa in a panic. Was he fading away now that I knew what he was?
"But --? Heero?" I put my hand on the front door, wondering what I'd see on the other side. I hadn't turned the porch light on -- would he glow in the dark? He hadn't before -
"But -- I was happy. I've been...lonely. I have Odin, but it's not the same. I thought it was judgment on me, you know? For the way I lived my life?"
Judgment? "What do you mean?"
"I told you Duo. I never had any close friends. I was wrapped up in my work; I didn't care much about anything outside of me. I was never really happy -- I never tried to be -- and I thought this was my punishment. Having to wander after I died -- to see from the outside all the things I should've been doing, should've appreciated --"
"But you died going into that house after that old lady --"
"Odin went into the house --" His voice dropped. "I just followed him in."
"Oh Heero -- even then --"
"It wasn't enough Duo. Not enough to make up for wasting my life."
"But -- maybe you're forgiven now? I mean -- I could see you --"
He laughed and it wasn't a happy sound. "I thought that at first -- but then I realized... how long would you have been happy with a lover you never saw in the daytime? How long before someone mentioned my death to you? How long before you knew the truth about me -- and I faded from your sight?"
There was a soft sound on the other side of the door that made my chest hurt. "And what worse punishment to have known what it was like with you -- to love you and be loved in return -- and to lose it?"
I wanted to open the door and pull him into my arms. I wanted to comfort him. I wanted to tell him that it didn't matter to me -
But fear held me still.
Searching for something to say, I wet my dry lips with my tongue and opened my mouth.
"Heero!"
My head snapped up. Who was that?
"Monster! I know you're there!"
Lena? What the hell?
"I saw you last night! I know why you're here! Undead monster! Preying on the living!"
"Lena," Heero's voice was soft. "I swear to you that I am not here to hurt anyone."
"Really? Why do you hide in the darkness then?"
I heard the soft click of Heero's flashlight.
"I'm not hiding."
"Liar!" Her voice was heavy with tears. "I know better than to trust you -- even... even if you look like Heero -- you aren't him! How dare you use his face! How dare you try to use my feelings against me!"
"Oh Lena," Heero's voice grew softer still. "I'm so sorry. I never knew."
That explained a lot.
"Lena," Wufei's voice echoed across the yard. "Please put the gun down. You might hit the house and Duo's inside."
Gun? Why does she have a gun?
"You see him, don't you Wufei?" She asked, her voice soft. "Heero's already dead -- can't you see? I'm just putting his spirit to rest... I prepared the bullets. They'll help him rest..."
"Lena, please -- There's no one on that porch -- I swear to you --"
"I have to do this --" There was a sharp metallic click and I flung open the door, throwing myself between the dark figure on my porch and the ones on my lawn.
"Duo!" I don't know who shouted my name, but there was a flash of light, followed by a heavy pain in my chest. I fell back onto my porch, the gleam of Heero's flashlight illuminating the darkening patch on my shirt...
Someone screamed.
"Duo!" Heero's voice rang in my ears. "What the hell were you thinking? I'm already dead!" He leaned over me, frowning. "I can't be hurt like that --"
"I forgot," I whispered and his fingers brushed my cheek.
"Duo!" Wufei's face filled my vision. Where did Heero go? Someone was shouting in the background -- it sounded like Trowa. Wufei was pressing hard on my chest. I wanted to tell him not to bother -- it didn't really hurt. Turning my head I saw Lena collapsed on my lawn, a look of horror on her face.
"It -- it wasn't her fault --" I looked up at Wufei. "Don't let her get in trouble...Tell them she thought I was an intruder -- anything --"
"Duo," Cathy appeared, her face streaked with tears. Where was Heero? "Stay with us."
It was getting hard to see her face; my vision seemed to be darkening around the edges.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of red -- Heero's flashlight. Down on the sidewalk, Odin beside him, he looked like he was getting ready to leave. His back was already turned away from me.
"Heero!" I called to him. Why was he leaving?
He looked back over his shoulder at me -- the expression on his face... such longing.
Then he turned away again, and I knew what he was doing.
He wasn't going to leave me behind. I wouldn't let him. Getting up was hard, but once I did, the pain faded. Running down the walk, I flung myself on Heero.
"Duo!" He tried to push me away. "No -- you can't do this --"
"It's not your choice. It's mine." I held him close to me. "I don't want you to be alone again."
~*~
Daily News Article
October 31, 2015
As many of you know, tonight is not just the night for little kids to go out and get candy! It's also a prime ghost spotting night! Lots of locals and tourists will be hitting the streets tonight hoping to catch some of our city's famous ghosts. Maybe you're planning on dining in the Blue Haven to see if the famous Grey Lady makes an appearance? Or maybe you're planning on going out to the boardwalk to see the group of boys that play tag in the dark surf? Or maybe you're going to go up to Hillside Avenue and have a chat with the two men who are supposed to walk their dog there? You'll know them by the red flashlight...
OWARI
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