A Murder of Crows
Title: A Murder of Crows
Part: 2/12
Author: KKChitown
Status: Final
Category: Fic
Rating: PG
Pairings: None, really
Warnings: Language, shouen ai, whatever your heart desires (maybe not)
Feedback: Desired
Disclaimer: Don't own them, so don't sue. If you want gum, just ask my mom.
A Murder of Crows: Part Two
:By KKChitown
Now that it is daylight, I could see the mansion more clearly.
Whoever lived here was obsessed with crows. The ends to the couch,
chairs and table were carved in the shape of crow heads. The
fireplace had several crows on vines carved on it also. It actually
is very beautiful, since I was guessing that all of the furniture was
made out of ebony. The fireplace I haven't got a clue. It was a
little weird, but I tried to just brush off the thoughts I was
having. Reflecting on what Duo was saying last night, maybe he saw
the designs and just didn't know what it was. Maybe it was bothering
him, but he didn't want me to be upset about it. Who knows. I
didn't want to bring it up, since it seems he forgot about it.
My room is the same way. The headboard had the body of a crow in the
design, the ends of the bed and my fireplace. Actually, the
fireplace was the best one. It had a boy, around my age carved in
it, his arm reached out with a crow resting on his wrist. The boy
was standing next to a tree, and it looks a lot like a tree that is a
couple of meters outside of the mansion. I can't even imagine the
time it took to do that. I try my best to be patient, but there is
no way, emphasis on the ` no' that I could be *that* patient.
What I like the most is the view from my window. First, the window
is as tall as the wall, save a few inches from the top and the
bottom. Outside, I can see a pond, I'd say ten meters from the
house. Secondly, any threat or anyone approaching the house, I could
see as long as it was daytime. At night it would be impossible, but
there isn't any lights, so the house couldn't be found. We are well
hidden, for the most part.
Thinking through all of this, I absently stared out the window,
twisting the ring that rested on the middle finger of my left hand.
It was a thick gold band, with a stone sitting in the middle of it,
about the size a tiny marble. The stone was a light aquamarine color,
so light it was almost a pale lime green. It was so large and
bright, often times I had to take it off while doing reconnaissance
work because anyone could see me. I've had this ring so long, I
don't remember where or who gave it to me.
"Trowa." It feels really good to say his name sometimes. I love the
way it rolls off my tongue. Trowa, the love of my life. Oh, I miss
him. I know he's alright, but I worry all the same. He could be
hurt and won't say anything. I just wish I knew how he
felt......about me. Sometimes I just want to throw myself at him and
tell him how I feel. Sometimes, I would be doing my homework at
school, and when I turn to check on him, he would tuck his head down
to whatever book he is reading. Was he looking at me? I can only
hope so. What I would give just to hold him even for a minute
and........what the hell is that?
I threw my body against the window. The warmth of my breath fogs it
up, so I hold it to be able to see clearly. Someone is skating on
the pond. Who would be way out here, skating? I can obviously tell
its not Duo or Wufei, and it couldn't in any way, shape or form be
Heero or Trowa. I squint to see better. It stopped. It is looking
at me. Just standing there looking at me.
"DON'T MOVE!"
I ran from the window, flinging my door wide open. As I'm running
down the stairs, I can hear it slamming against the wall. Uh oh, but
I'll worry about that later. I jumped the last three steps, landing
flatly on my feet. I quickly bounced back up, running past Duo and
Wufei. They were sitting on the couch playing chinese checkers. I
slid and crashed into the front door, flung that one open and ran
outside to see.........nobody.
"Huh?" was all I managed to say. Nobody was out there, not on the
ice, anywhere. Maybe I was hallucinating. I hope so, or I'm on the
verge of a psychotic breakdown. To be honest, I wasn't happy about
either choice, but if I had to choose, option one sounds good for now.
"Quatre, what in *the* hell are you doing?" Wufei and Duo looked at
me like I suggested that the world was flat or something, not that I
blame them.
"Uh, nothing. Just getting some fresh air." As you can see, lying
is not one of my talents.
"Cat, your lying is like Heero being talkative." Duo had a point
there.
"I'm not doing anything, just feeling a little bit tense all of a
sudden. That's all." They looked at each other, then me. Wufei just
sighed out loud and turned to walk back in the mansion. Duo followed
behind him, lingering a little bit just to do a once over on me to
make sure I hadn't hurt myself. Then he sighed and went back in with
Wufei, and I followed suit. Before closing the door, I looked out
one more time. Nobody was there. Nothing. I just shook my head to
clear it and closed the door. Leaning against it, I sighed and
looked at nothing in general. I know I saw someone. But no one is
out there. What is wrong with me?
As I ran all of the possible scenarios through my head, Wufei and Duo
were still looking at me from the couch. I finally snapped out of my
daze to glance back at them. Both of them were concerned, I could
tell. Finally, I just said.....a little tale. "I thought Trowa was
back."
Wufei just snorted and went back to the game, and Duo continued to
stare at me, unimpressed. I should have known that he wouldn't buy
it, even though he reluctantly turned back to his game. Shrugging, I
started making my way to the room. On my way up, I could feel Duo's
gaze on my back.
***
I cooked dinner, so that I wouldn't have to talk. It felt kind of
weird. We had to cook the rice in the fireplace, with a pot that we
usually take with us, or more accurately, when we stopped at a store
somewhere, Duo `liberated' it because all it was doing was sitting on
a rack. Anyway, I felt like a witch hovering over a pot, adding salt
or whatever. All I needed was a black witch hat and dress to match.
Heero and Trowa got back nearly twenty minutes ago. Duo and Wufei
wrapped them up in some extra blankets we had, because by the time
they had gotten back, the wind was really bad, plus having to walk
from where the car is `parked' is like walking through glass. The
wind and snow was cutting them up. Just looking at them made me
shiver. Poor Trowa.
After everyone had their bowl, I was on my way to my room when Duo
stopped me.
"Hey Quatre, aren't you eating?" It was obvious that I wasn't
eating. I eat as much as Duo does. Not quite but you can say that I
am a challenger and he is the champion. I never miss a meal.
"No thanks, I'm not hungry. Just holler when your done and I'll do
the dishes." I tried one of my `trust me' smiles that I use to give
my father when I would get caught wearing one of his expensive shoes
or ties when I was little. It didn't work.
"Hell no man, not with me. Let's go." He stormed off towards my
room, grabbing my arm and dragging me along. I felt like one of
those little kids that are being pulled along by their big brother
when they had done something wrong. My eight million steps equaled
his one. The harder I tried to pull my arm from his grip, the
tighter he held on. Finally, when we entered the room, Duo released
my arm. But the momentum from the fast walking had caused me to run
into the bed, instead of me just sitting down. When he closed the
door, I could see the hole from earlier when I had flung it open. I
winced. I know that no one lives in the house, but that still
doesn't mean that we destroy it without any regard. Duo looked at it
then back at me. He was shocked. Besides mobile suits, I've never
destroyed anything as far as he knew.
After the mesmerization of the hole, Duo took off his shoes and
plopped down on the bed. He crossed his legs indian style, and
leaned forward with his elbows digging into his knees. Folding his
hands, he rested his chin on his fingers. When he exhaled, he was
ready.
"Go."
I said it all in a rush. "I saw someone on the pond."
"What?" Both eyebrows shot up to his hairline, well, I guess his
hairline. Its hard to tell through his bangs. It wasn't anger in
his voice, I would say it was surprise, or maybe he didn't hear me.
So I repeated myself.
"I saw someone on the pond."
With this he sat up and unfolded his hands, but let them hang between
his thighs. He just looked at me like I'd claimed to be Santa
Claus. "You saw someone on the pond?"
"Yes."
"But no one was out there."
"I know that Duo."
"Then you couldn't have seen anyone."
"But I did."
"No you didn't"
"Look, I know what I saw DUO!" With every word my voice got louder.
I was starting to breath heavily. Looking at Duo, for once his face
was expressionless. Even his eyes didn't reveal anything. He just
looked like he was staring at a plain wall. Nothing. Not a sign. I
had to tare myself from his gaze, so I glanced at the floor,
nervously twisting the ring on my finger. I couldn't believe that I
just yelled at my best friend. Who am I to yell at him? Why is this
bothering me so much?
I didn't have more time to think on it. After hearing some scurrying
outside the door, it flung open. Wufei came in first, sword drawn,
followed by Heero then Trowa. All three of them looked to Duo first,
then to me. I would say that the look of confusion on their faces
was so cute indeed, but I was too upset to care. Then I looked at
the door. It was stuck in the hole again. Damn.
"Duo, what did you do?" Heero said this as flatly as always.
Sometimes I wonder about him.
"Quatre said he saw someone on the pond today."
"What?"
Okay, here we go again. "I saw someone skating on the pond. Then
when he or she saw me watching, they stopped."
"That's when you ran outside to see who it was," Wufei finished the
sentence.
"Yes."
"What happened next?" When Trowa asked this, I forgot all about the
others in the room.
"Well, when I got outside, no one was there. Then Wufei and Duo
followed me out thinking something was wrong with me." Which is
true. I decided to leave the rest of it out.
"How long did it take you to get outside?"
"It didn't even take me ten seconds, Heero."
"And no one was there?"
"No one."
"That's not possible."
"I know what I saw!" All three of them stepped back. It's not like
me to raise my voice or scream at anybody unless we are in battle.
Of course, all of us turn into someone different when we step foot in
our gundams. But on personal time, I tended not to be louder than a
whisper. All I saw was the whites of Heero and Wufei's eyes, and
Trowa remained expressionless. As usual.
I turned around to face the wall. Slowly, I leaned forward until my
forehead touched it. This is upsetting. They are acting like I am
lying. I know it is not possible but I know I saw somebody. I can
accept the fact that I could be going crazy. We are in a war, that
can happen. I can accept the fact that I could have imagined
something, I'll admit it in a heartbeat. But something is tugging at
the bottom of my stomach, and is making me feel like a knot inside.
I started to get mad at myself for not listening to Duo last night.
He felt something was wrong, and now I know he was right. But what
are we going to do now?
Light footsteps stopped behind me, and a long slender hand was placed
on my shoulder. It was Trowa. I turned around so that I could face
him. He smiled, well...err smirked. That was a smile for him, but
anyway as he `smiled' he squeezed my shoulder. That little gesture
made all the difference. I immediately calmed down and faced the
rest of the group. Its not everyday that Trowa does something
physical like that, so I could as least cheer up a bit.
Heero stood as frigid as always, but at least Wufei put the sword
down to his side, and I was ready to kill Duo as he was giving me a
wide open mouthed smile and two thumbs up. My blush was flaming on
my cheeks. I can't believe he would embarrass me like that. Allah,
help me.
"Quatre." My name being called moved my attention from glaring at
Duo to Heero. His eyes were a little bit softer now, a look of a
weak smile on his lips.
"Quatre, forget about it. There is a storm coming over from Moscow,
and it should hit tomorrow afternoon. We should all wait until after
it is gone to go get the carriers, since you and Duo feel we should
all go."
I shot another glare at Duo. He just shrugged his shoulders
apologetically. That's all I need is more time to drool over Trowa,
especially in front of him. Duo is better at hiding his feelings
than I am.
"Fine." With that said, everyone started to leave for their own
rooms. I whimpered a little bit when Trowa let go of my shoulder and
followed Heero out of the room. I'm glad he didn't hear me, though.
It's bad enough I'm falling for him, let alone whimpering. After
everyone left, Duo yanked the door out of the wall and closed it. He
just stood there wiggling his eyebrows at me. That was it. I ran at
him, knocking him on the floor. He rolled on top of me, reaching up
on the bed and grabbing a pillow, he began beating me mercilessly
with it. I managed to push him off of me, then jumped on the bed to
grab the other pillow and the battle of the pillows was well
underway. I guess I'll let him win, since I yelled at him, but not
before I get my licks in first.
***
As I drew open the enormous black drapes that covered my window, I
received a hit to the back of my head from a pillow. It landed with
a soft thud on the floor. Duo is a very very very very VERY
unpleasant person in the morning. After a few grunts and groans in
the neanderthal language, he rolled over and went back to sleep.
After I took probably the coldest bath in the history of mankind, I
got dressed and felt that the day would start out better. For some
reason I was in a really good mood. Maybe from Trowa's concern for
me. But anyway I went downstairs to see Wufei practicing his martial
arts, Heero was on his laptop, Trowa was watching Wufei and Duo was
sipping on a lukewarm cup of coffee.
Nobody said anything when I can in the room, which is normal,
really. But when Duo looked up from his emptied coffee cup, he gave
me the I'm-the-devil type of grin. Oh no. I know that look. That grin
only means one thing........trouble.
"Quatre!" He bounded over to me in two steps, grabbing my arm and
yanked me out of the kitchen to the back of the mansion. Standing
outside, freezing to death I might add, he grinned at a rusty sled,
then at me, then at the sled again. With chattering teeth, I managed
to choke out, "W-w-what are y-you plaaannninngggg?"
"With the sled, we could go out and play on the ice, its thick
enough." Duo waited wide-eyed for my response. And you know what?
That sounded like a good idea to me.
"Alright." I darted inside of the mansion, grabbing my coat, and a
warm cup of tea, to head out to the ice. Surprisingly, Wufei and
Trowa were getting their coats on too. Duo was pulling on Heero's
arm, and what's even *more* amazing, Heero got up and went for his
coat!
I was so happy. We were all going out to have fun, like normal kids
our age do. I ran out back to grab the back end of the sled, and
Trowa grabbed the rope on the front end. He smiled at me again. I
could feel the blush coming back to my cheeks, but at least now I can
blame it on the weather.
Heero and Duo were running in front of us, throwing snowballs. Trowa
was pulling ahead of me, while Wufei was standing on the sled with a
stick, waving it around, I think pretending to be Napoleon. My heart
was beating a thousand times a minute. Finally, I believed I was
going to get Trowa to open up to me.
It was even better on the ice. Wufei, Trowa and I were sitting in
the sled, while Duo and Heero would push and pull trying to knock one
of us off. It was great. I've never really heard Heero laugh
outside of destroying an OZ base, and Trowa's laughter made my heart
sing.
I was the first to fall off, sliding across the ice toward one of the
corners. Not too much in the corner though. All I could do is sit
on my knees and laugh. When I finally opened my eyes, Heero and Duo
were still working on knocking the other two off. They stopped for a
moment so that Duo and Heero could change places. When our eyes met,
Trowa gave me a look that made me blush ALL over. It was not the
typical face he made, when he made them. It might have
been....lustful? I don't know, but whatever it was, I liked it. A
lot.
Then disaster struck. I had just enough time to take a deep breath
before I fell through the surface of the ice. Once in the water, it
was the worst type of pain I have ever known. It was like a thousand
knives were stabbing me all over my body. The pain was so intense
that I felt my lungs tighten into a little ball. They wouldn't
move. I could feel my heart beating to the point where I thought it
was going to beat its way out of my chest. All that could be heard
besides the roar of my heart beating in my ears, was muffled
screaming. Looking up, I could faintly see the hole I fell through,
and the bright blue sky above. Not a single cloud.
Suddenly, the pain stopped. Nothing. I know I'm not dead yet. But
something is pulling me down. I look towards my left arm to see...a
boy? There is someone down here. Impossible! He was pulling on my
arm. He floated up to me, so that I could see his face. To be
perfectly honest, he was beautiful. He had icy blue eyes, the kind
that sent shivers down you because they looked so cold. His hair was
short, about my length, but a light brown color. He might have been
tall, there is no way of telling, since my thinking process has
suddenly stopped. His hand was firmly clenched around my wrist. I
just stared at him. He had to be who I saw on the pond yesterday.
Had to be. Then, as if things couldn't get any stranger, he pulled
me close to him and gently kissed my lips. At first my eyes shot
wide open, looking dead into his. He just kept kissing me while
looking at me at the same time, except now a little harder. With
that, he brought both of his hands up, cupping the sides of my face.
After a minute or so, my eyes started to close, and I felt a peace
that could only mean that the end was coming. And it was beautiful.
But then my bliss was abruptly cut off when something grabbed my
right arm and pulled me up. His lips were quickly torn from mine and
he made a grab for my wrist but missed. The pain had returned and hit
me like a ton of bricks. I was hurting too much to even scream.
I could tell I was out of the water, because the light of the sun
caused my eyes to clamp shut. I could vaguely hear Trowa screaming
my name. I never thought I'd ever hear him scream. He was holding
me in his arms, shaking me. Then the pressure on me felt lighter. I
assume that he took my jacket off and put his on me. I could smell
the soap on his skin that would have gotten absorbed in his
turtleneck.
Out of curiosity or whatever I was thinking (or not thinking) at the
time, I carefully cracked one of my eyes open to look at him. His
face seemed calm but his eyes....he was scared. Very scared. He
must care after all. With that I let my head fall back over his arm,
and exhaled deeply. I was just happy to know that Trowa actually
cared about me, to the point where he almost showed his feelings.
Almost. That could only mean he cares. And I carried that thought
along with the sound of cawing with me into unconsciousness.
© 2000 by KKChitown. Please do not remove without permission.
