What’s Really In The Dark Of Night

 

Chapter Three; Duo POV:

 

          “Ya know, Duo, I ought to mess with the Chinaman someday. He’d so lose it if I did that,” Morrigan, my spirit friend in Art class, muttered to me as I watched Trowa and Quatre walk into the room. I snickered slightly at that. I then felt a cold chill spread across my shoulders. I knew instantly that she was hugging me. The first time I had ever felt that, I had freaked out. Royally. Now, I kind of accepted it. Especially since she was such a touchy-feely non-person.

 

          “Hello again, Duo. Mind if I take the spot next to you?” Trowa asked, coming over. Once again, I was surprised by this man but simply smiled, refusing to show it.

 

          “Not at all. Its your life. As long as you really don’t mind insanity, then all is well.” Trowa laughed and glanced at me easel. His only visible eyebrow rose in surprise.

 

          “You enjoy keeping people on edge, don’t you,” he said, not really making it a question. I smirked and leaned close.

 

          “Shhhh… don’t give me away. I’ve worked hard on this image for years,” I whispered to him with a wink.

 

          “Of course, it helps that you really are a nut job, Duo,” Morrigan added. I had to struggle hard not to bust out laughing that that. This girl was almost as bad as Solo. Only since she was an art buff, she could be much, much worse than this.

 

          “Your secret is safe with me,” Trowa whispered back, a smile on his lips. I found myself liking this guy. He was pretty cool for a new student to Snob Academy.

 

          “Thanks.” He then looked at my painting once again. “So, is that really a head-less woman dancing with a man with no arms?” he asked. I had to laugh, looking at my own painting. Morrigan had told me of a scene like that. It was one that she had come up with while she was stuck here all alone. Honestly, I had rather loved the idea.

 

          “Yep. See, the man’s arms are holding her head in the background,” I pointed out. It possibly would have slipped his attention otherwise.

 

          “So I can tell.” Trowa then leaned in closer to get a better view. “Is it just me or does that man look an awful lot like Heero?” I flushed at Trowa’s words, realizing I had just been caught.

 

          “So it does. How surprising,” I murmured, trying to let it pass as coincidence and manage to hide my embarrassment at the same time. Morrigan was laughing at me from somewhere behind me.

 

          “Caught in the act of ogling the popular boy. You are soooo slipping, Duo,” she commented.

 

          “Trowa, come over here,” Wufei called out suddenly, saving me from having to explain anything else. Trowa blinked and nodded before looking back at me.

 

          “Talk with you later, Duo,” he said with a smile.

 

          “Later,” I replied. I then went back to finishing the painting.

 

          “So, you gonna ask Heero about his secret?” she asked. I lowered my head so no one could see my lips when I answered.

 

          “Yeah, I just don’t know how to do it. He’s way too busy for me to find out what’s going on.”

 

          “Oh come on, Duo. Since when have you let sanies run your life?” she asked hotly. I laughed quietly at her nickname for all humans who believed I was the crazy one. She was certainly a little odd herself.

 

          “Fine. I’ll find out what’s going on,” I mumbled, glancing toward Heero from out of the corner of my eye. Receiving a cold shove from her I made my way over to the stock shelves. They just happened to be right behind Heero, which made this easier to do without looking suspicious. “Hey, Heero, do you really want an answer to that question?” I asked, picking up more blue and black paint from the shelves. Heero turned slowly, casually acting as if he was looking for something.

 

          “What do you mean?” he asked softly.

 

          “I mean about what I heard to make me want to laugh. I’ll tell you anything you want to know, if you allow me a few concessions,” I said, knowing this was blackmail, plain and simple. Well, a form of it anyway. But what the hell, I was up for anything to find out what Heero knew.

 

          “What concessions?” Heero questioned, looking me dead in the eye suddenly. Ever get that feeling you could die from a single look? Well I had it in spades when he turned those cool blue eyes on me. My cheeks warmed at the intensity coming from them.

 

          “You walk beside me through the halls to the parking lot. There, you take a ride with me to a place of my choosing. Once there, I’ll tell you everything.” Heero blinked in surprise. I had obviously caught him off guard, which was rare. He seemed to stare at the paint in my hands as if it was the most interesting thing in the room, lost in his thoughts. Finally, he spoke, his voice cool, calm, and deadly serious.

 

          “All right. After classes, we’ll go where you wish.”

 

          “Takin’ him to the cemetery?” Morrigan asked. I gave an almost non-existent nod in answer.

 

          “One thing thought, did she put you up to this?” Heero questioned, inclining his head toward me, only a little off to the side. Fear clogged my throat, making me worry. Did he know my biggest secret? Yet Morrigan’s words proceeded to shock me right from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.

 

          “He can see me Duo. He’s looking right at me.” I blinked. If she was right, then out trip to the cemetery would become a very interesting experience.

 

          “Morrigan only gave me a shove. I wanted to find out about your odd talent all on my own.” Heero seemed to look at Morrigan a little while longer before turning that serious blue gaze on me once more.

 

          “Then we’ll go. After school, I’m all yours,” he said. My heart skipped a beat at those words before my brain scolded it. He didn’t mean it -that- way!

 

          “You may think differently later,” I muttered, walking back to my aisle without a backward glance. I have to admit I was damn proud of myself for that.

 

          “You know, now that I look at it, that head looks a lot like someone really familiar to me,” Morrigan said to me after a little while of study. I swallowed deeply. Sometimes having living impaired friends who could take plenty of time to learn certain things about you could be hazardous.

 

          “Really? I can’t draw people I know. It’s only pure coincidence that they look like anyone.” Morrigan laughed softly.

 

          “Oh sure. Deny it all you want. You happen to be a wonderful artist and an exceptional person. I simple think you belittle yourself. A lot.” I sighed and glanced toward the clock. Only three minutes left. I checked to make certain I was finished before leaving my odd signature on the corner. It was a tiny scythe with the name Maxwell on the blade.

 

          “Morri, time for your signature,” I said softly. I felt an instant cold chill settle over my arm. I then watched my hand paint a tiny black rose under my scythe with a simple M.C. written in the center of it. Finally, I got my hand back, cold tingles still running down it. I pulled it close and rubbed it, trying to warm it up.

 

          “Sorry. I seem to forget how numbing my touch can be to others.”

 

          “It’s all right, Morri. Don’t worry about it. It’ll eventually warm back up.” The bell rang then and the teacher looked at all of us.

 

          “Clean up and you may go. Leave your art works where they are. Make certain your signature is on them.” I took my paint brushes to the sink and washed them out. I then picked up my black backpack and started for the door. Heero stood there, waiting for me. Well, it wouldn’t hurt to miss Library Science just this once. What a gentleman he was. No wonder the girls loved him so much. He was perfect, no doubt about that.

 

          “After you,” Heero said, making me wonder if he really trusted me at all. Possibly not, but then that was to be expected.

 

          “Heero, what are you doing?” Wufei questioned of his friend, giving me a dirty look. I smirked and couldn’t help toying with him, winking his way.

 

          “Chill out, Wuffles. Lunacy isn’t catching,” I told him. That remark earned me a scathing glare from Wufei, a laugh from Trowa and Morrigan, and a tiny grin from Quatre and Heero.

 

          “Watch it, Maxwell. Your kind isn’t welcome here.” I raised an eyebrow at this. I couldn’t help but catch Heero’s sudden tensing. Yet before he could do anything, I spoke.

 

          “’My kind’? I didn’t know people like me were a ‘kind’. I may be odd, Wufei Chang, but I’m one point away from being class valedictorian. That just goes to show you I may be nuts, but I’m not stupid,” I shot back at him. It was a well known fact that my brains were the one thing keeping me out of a funny farm. After all, it was hard to be insane and be a genius at the same time.

 

          “Enough. I have something to do with Maxwell, Wufei. I’ll catch you later on at the Wing Zero.” Wufei gave me one more dirty look before Quatre and him headed out. Quatre gave me a small wave while Trowa grinned.

 

          “Enjoy yourself,” he said before leaving the art room as well. That left just Heero, the teacher, and I. Well, and Morrigan, but I couldn’t tell where she was.

 

          “Let’s go,” Heero said, motioning me to move on ahead of him. I smiled and with a nod of farewell to Morrigan and our teacher, I left the room. The whispers began almost instantly, since Heero was keeping in step with me. I was certain his fan club were the one crying as we walked. After all, no one dared walk with their precious Heero Yuy, especially not someone like myself.

 

          “HEE-RO! Why are you walking with such a person?” Relena questioned as she came our way, casting a dark look my way. I merely smirked in return. Long ago I had learned that my smirk could un-nerve almost anyone. Especially when used for a reply to someone else’s dark glare.

 

          “Because Maxwell and I have something to discuss. Don’t bother me any more today, Relena.” Without another word Heero and I finally made it to the parking lot. I rolled my eyes as Relena’s annoying voice echoed in my ears, the words unknown. Walking over to my black and silver Harley Davidson, I glanced at Heero. His expressive eyes showed his surprise. Apparently he hadn’t expected this. That was all right. Very few knew how well off I was. With an uncle that worked from dawn till midnight, I never lacked for anything. I even had my own credit card. Yet because I was so odd, no one knew this about me. That was fine by me. It kept all the gold diggers away.

 

          “That this,” I said, holding out a black helmet to him while I tossed my bag into a modified trunk. I then swung a leg over the bike and pulled on my own helmet. I then pointed to a button on mine before pressing it. He copied me before getting on behind me. “Hang on, either to the bike or me. I don’t care which,” I said into the mic that was set up so that riders could talk to and hear each other.

 

          “You are a contradiction,” Heero answered, while bringing his legs up and holding onto the back of the bike. I started the Harley and backed-up before heading off.

 

          “Glad to know it,” I replied with a laugh. I don’t know if it was me or not, but I could have sworn I heard him laugh as well.

 

***

 

          Arriving at the cemetery with plenty of daylight left, I pulled toward the oldest part of the place. I don’t know when it happened, but his hands had eventually found their way to my waist. Not that I minded. Far from it in fact.

 

          “Here we are,” I said, brining my bike to a stop near the oldest stone in this place.  I switched off the motorcycle and pulled off my helmet, letting my braid fall down my back once again. He pulled his off as well and placed it on the handlebars. He had got off first, then I followed after setting the kickstand.

 

          “So talk,” Heero said. I laughed a little. Seems he wasn’t one to beat around the bush.

 

          “’Duh! I soooo couldn’t tell!’” I said. Catching Heero’s odd look, I elaborated for him. “That’s what Solo told me in the weight room that had me struggling not to laugh,” I told him. He tried not to, but a smile crossed his lips.

 

          “So, his name is Solo?” Heero asked. I nodded.

 

 

          “Yeah, that’s what he told me. Although sometimes I think its just a play off from my own name.” Heero looked at me for a long moment.

 

          “So why is it only we can see him?” I choked on my laughter and stepped away from my bike. I slowly started walking among the stones. One hand lightly trailed over them, almost in a loving caress.

 

          “I don’t see them. I hear them. They happen to be spirits, ghosts, the living impaired. Whatever you want to call them. Most prefer living impaired or spirits. Its more politically correct.” His face paled slightly suddenly.

 

          “I see dead people,” he muttered. I blinked and tried not to laugh. That old line from the movie ‘Sixth Sense’ was very appropriate at the moment.

 

          “That’s one way to say it,” I muttered. As his face paled even more, I became surprised.

 

          “No, Duo, I really see dead people. Three of them in fact. Coming out of the ground.” I paled for a moment myself. ‘Please, let it be anyone else but the ones I’m trying to avoid,’ I thought to myself. Feeling a light pull on my braid, followed by a soft giggle, I relaxed.

 

          “Geez Duo. You’re more jumpy than usual,” a sweet voice said. I smiled then, knowing instantly who they were.

 

          “Yeah, Sunny, my friend here saw your sister, cousin, and yourself popping out of the ground like daises and he made me a little nervous as well.”

 

          “Oh, well, its nice to see you have a friend. Put you two together and all us spirits could enjoy hanging around the both of you,” a rumbly voice said.

 

          “I suppose so, Willow. Only I doubt he’ll hang around me much after this,” I answered. I then smiled lightly. “Rain, how’s your grave? Sill as cold as ever?” Heero’s eyes seemed to look at each girl as I spoke.

 

          “Of course,” Rain’s feather light voice chirped.

 

          “Heero, may I introduce Sunny, Rain, and Willow. Sunny and Rain are sisters. Willow’s their cousin. There were all on some train when it crashed. All but their younger brother, Storm, died. Storm goes to our school and goes by his last name, Collins. Didn’t want his fellow students making fun of his first name.”

 

          “Storm had it tough enough just losing his family. He didn’t need the school against him because of his name as well,” Rain said, tears in her voice. I held open my arms and felt her hug me. I ignored the chills that ran through my body at her touch. I felt goose bumps raise on my cheek as cold lips caressed it.

 

          “Your cold,” Heero remarked as Rain’s touch moved away, telling me she had moved away as well. Heero move close then, caressing my cheek where Rain had kissed me. I felt chills run down my back, but they were from anything but the cold. His touch was warm and gentle.

 

          “That happens when a spirit touches you,” I said softly. If I wasn’t careful, I’d fall for him and fall hard. “I’ll visit with you three later. I need to take him back. Later,” I said, turning from him and slowly making my way back to my bike.