Paranoia Agent:
Seven:
Wonder Mart
10.21am:
I woke up with a killer hangover this morning and the funny taste of vomit at
the back of my throat – a painful reminder of what had happened the night
before. It’s needless to say that anything that happened afterwards was pretty
fuzzy and unclear. In fact, I can safely say that I was knocked out about 99.9
percent of the time which is pretty much why I woke up this morning wondering
how I had gotten back to my apartment.
My first instinct – and wishful thinking on my part – was that Duo had been the
one to bring me home. I held on to that faint hope even though I didn’t really
expect him to forgive me anytime soon for my attitude last night. However, all
thoughts of Duo being my rescuer flew out the window the moment I saw the small
note left beside a covered bowl of warm noodles on my desk.
Good morning, Heero sempai,
I hope you don’t mind me making some food for you to eat this morning. You
looked so tired last night that I’m sure you’ll be hungry when you wake up. So
here’s a little something for you. Please eat and I’ll check up on you to make
sure you’re all right.
Love, Kamui”
Kamui…Kamui?! Psycho Kamui had been in my apartment?! But how?! Why?!
You should have seen the way I bolted out of my bed then, completely ignoring
my blinding headache as I went through my desk, closet, underneath my bed, in
the bathroom, kitchen…even opening up cabinets and drawers, wondering if he had
taken anything from my place or worse, if he was still around! Of course the
note should have told me that he was no longer here, but I could now smell
him…in everything! He has this distinct scent that’s almost flowery and
for a moment I almost choked on it.
Shit!
That’s what I deserved for allowing myself to be so weak. I should have
realized that I had chugged down cup after cup of sake that night but as
usual, my stubbornness got in the way.
“Dude, are you sure you’re okay?”
I blink dumbly at Wufei, who’s stacking up a new set of toy guns on the top
shelf. I’m working on the new soccer gear that came in this morning, so
thankfully we’re in the same aisle and can talk uninterrupted. It’s fairly busy
for a Saturday morning, so we expect kids to come charging down this place in a
few minutes.
“That’s the fifth time you’ve sneezed in like two seconds,” he continues while
performing the delicate operation of stacking a box and trying to get the price
gun to work at the same time. “And besides, you look like shit.”
“Thanks,” I mumble and then sneeze again. To be honest, I really don’t feel too
good. Rushing out of the apartment (since I had woken up late) coupled with the
knowledge that I had consumed too much alcohol and that Kamui had invaded my
private space, is enough to make me feel quite listless or rather agitated. I noticed
the way my boss had looked at me as I came panting into work this morning but
he had thankfully said nothing. I guess he’s the under the assumption that if I
wish to work myself into the ground when I’m not feeling well, then it’s my
responsibility. Besides, I couldn’t stay home if I wanted to. I had left the
windows wide open to let out Kamui’s scent from my place and going back there
will only make me wonder just what and how long he had been there.
All night, you moron. He left you a meal that was still warm when you woke
up, didn’t he?
Goddamn it!
“There you go again,” Wufei says with a glare. “Dude, just get the day off and
go home…”
“No!” I interrupt quite vehemently, causing him to stare at me in surprise.
“Geez, don’t bite my head off. I was just suggesting…”
“Just keep your suggestions to yourself,” I snap irritably. Damn if everything
isn’t irritating to me now. Even this uniform….how am I sure that Kamui hadn’t
worn it? I feel like burning every item of clothing I have at this point.
I suffer another cold glare and snort of derision before turning towards the
large wire basket which needs to be filled. I can already hear a group of
children coming this way and I welcome the distraction. I just want something
to take my mind off my troubling thoughts and if it means dealing with a bunch
of insufferable little brats, then I’m all for it.
Lunchtime and Wufei mumbles something about meeting his girlfriend, Nia, for
lunch at a restaurant across the street. I shrug and dig into my cold sandwich,
not really needing the company. I’m fine being alone anyway. I need the time to
think.
It’s nice and warm outside and rather rare that I eat out here in the ‘Island’
– just a little something we employees call the patio that’s located at the back
of the store. It’s not a very scenic view, since we’re surrounded by more shops
and parking lots, but at least it’s a welcome reprieve from the stuffy back
room. Licking off some of the sauce that drips down my fingers, I sigh and then
almost yelp as someone slaps my back gently.
“What ya doing out here all by yourself, buddy?”
“Hey, Jeff,” I mumble in greeting, about as enthusiastic about seeing him as I
would welcome getting a root canal. “Are you on break now?” Dumb question since
it’s obvious he is. He’s carrying a bag of food and doing a good job of
spreading out its contents on the table. I don’t remember inviting him to sit
with me - not that he gives a damn what I think anyway.
Jeff is your typical fan boy gone wrong. I mean, seriously wrong. He’s never
one to shy away from his obsession with anime, role playing or video games. He
can rattle off stats (including ones you really don’t want to know) off the top
of his head before you’re even done asking the question. The funny thing is
that he doesn’t even look the part. Of course, you’d expect a guy like that to
have acne problems, a fat or portly stature or the ever popular nerdy glasses,
but Jeff is the opposite of all of that. He is attractive…if you look long
enough…and his shoulder length black hair is about the only unruly thing about
his persona. He has a loud voice which he claims is necessary when attending
conventions. It’s hard to make yourself heard over the din of thousands of
rabid fans, he explains. He’s even invited me to several and I’ve turned him
down each and every time. I really don’t think I’ll enjoy mingling with a crowd
of sweaty, hyperactive teens or adults lusting over two-dimensional characters.
But then I remember my love for Gundam Forever and I think I can keep my
opinions to myself.
“…latest model of the Gundam 008XC.”
“Huh?”
He looks at me as if I’m crazy. “I said, I have the latest model of the Gundam
008XC. I spent all of last night building it. Wanna see?”
“No.”
He looks hurt and I add quickly. “Not right now. Maybe later.”
“Will you come to my place? I can’t bring it to work you know.”
I sneeze again and curse softly.
“Hey…you look kinda pale…”
“I’m fine,” I say quickly, suddenly feeling the urge to get back inside. I
still have about twenty minutes, but I can’t sit out here a minute longer.
Besides, I feel like throwing up this sorry excuse for a sandwich I barely ate.
My appetite’s shot to hell.
“Well, take some Ibuprofen,” he says, as he stuffs his mouth with some French
fries. “My mom says it works for everything.”
“I’m not sick,” I reply quickly, but sneeze even harder than before and have to
hold on to the table to steady myself. I place a hand against my forehead and
wince at how hot I feel. I’m going to blame it on the sun. I’ve been sitting
out for too long anyway.
Unfortunately, Mr. Hart’s not buying my excuse.
“Go home, Yuy,” he commands firmly as he eyes me over the rim of his glasses.
“I can’t have you collapsing in front of my customers again.”
“It was just a temporary burst of dizziness, sir,” I plead almost desperately.
I can’t go back to my apartment. I don’t know where to go. “It will pass sir…”
“That’s the second time it’s happened, Yuy. For Chrissakes, it’s a customer who
had to rouse you to consciousness. You’re not looking after yourself and I dare
say you look like shit. Pardon my French.”
I sigh heavily and nod in resignation.
“You’ve put in enough hours as is,” he says in a gentler tone as if apologizing
for snapping at me. “So what? You’re gonna miss a couple of hours today, no big
deal.”
“I’m going to come in tomorrow…”
“You’re coming in when you get completely better, Yuy,” he says firmly. No
negotiations with that decision. “I can’t afford to lose one of my best
workers.”
I guess I should thank him for the compliment, but I can only nod slowly as I
feel another wave of dizziness wash over me. I can’t remember the last time I
was sick – at least this sick – but it’s been a while and it feels almost
foreign to me.
“Are you going home?” Wufei asks me quietly as I take off my black apron in the
locker room. He’s hovering at the doorway as if afraid to come closer to me.
Not that I blame him. I’ve been anything but friendly to anyone lately.
“Yeah,” I reply with a soft nod.
“Need a ride?”
I eye him warily. “You don’t get off till three.”
“Hart suggested it,” he says with a shrug and I silently curse and bless my
boss inwardly. “Besides, it looks like you need it.”
“I can walk…” I sway a bit and my argument becomes moot.
“Man,” Wufei mumbles as he moves towards me. I barely protest as he places an
arm around my shoulder. I lean heavily into him and groan in pure agony.
“Don’t take me home,” I whisper softly. I can tell my request has him puzzled,
but since I can’t see his face, I can only sense that he’s nodding in
understanding.
I’ll explain everything to you later, Wufei. I promise.
The Peacecraft Residence
2.15pm:
I guess you’re wondering just how in the world I got here, but it’s a simple
explanation really. Relena was on her way to the store and had met up with
Wufei and I outside. Seeing my condition she had simply taken over the reigns
and now here I am, lying on her bed while she’s talking about something that
makes no sense to me…at least at this time.
“…so I tell her that I simply can’t come to her birthday party since I’m
throwing one in a couple of weeks. You do know I’m throwing a pool party next
week, don’t you Heero?”
I open my mouth to reply, but she’s already continuing with her story. “I mean
just who does she think she is? Trying to compete with me in popularity?
Everyone knows my parties are legendary!”
I eye her while trying my best to hide a smile. She’s dressed in a pair of
rather skimpy denim shorts and a pink frilly blouse. Her short hair is slightly
damp from the shower she had taken when we came in earlier. Her leg is
currently propped upon a stool and the sharp smell of acetone fills my nostrils
as she begins the task of painting her toe nails in shocking pink.
“…probably make it a themed party again. What do you think, huh? We can all
dress up as people from the eighteenth century or something.”
“Ah…”
“Ooh, better yet we can dress as those guys from the French Renaissance! Lots
of puffy gowns and white wigs and makeup. I’ll probably have to stop at…”
I close my eyes and allow Relena’s excited but one-sided conversation to lull
me to sleep again. I have a feeling that she won’t even notice I’m out until
she’s asks me yet another rhetorical question.
4.35pm:
When I open my eyes slowly, it takes me almost a full minute to remember where
I am and to notice how much better I’m feeling. I’m all alone it seems because
the lingering smell of Relena’s nail polish still fills the air and she’s
obviously no longer talking. I lie on my back and stare blindly at the lace canopy
above me. It’s a large bed – large enough to house at least four more people
and although I would have gagged on any other day at having to sleep in this
pink and white atrocity, it’s like heaven to me at this point.
However, now that I’m alone, I am forced to remember all about the night before
and of course Kamui’s ‘mysterious’ antics. I had checked my keys and all of
them still seemed to be intact. Even my spare keys which I have hidden in a
special place were still in place, so there is no chance of Kamui sneaking into
my house when I’m not around. However, he now knows where I live which is quite
troubling to me. It’s obvious that he must have checked my wallet to find out
my address – given it to the taxi driver – and brought me home. I assume the
normal thing for anyone to do would be to thank him for helping me out in my
time of need, but to be honest; I could have done without his assistance.
I rub a hand against my forehead cursing softly. Why do I get the nagging
feeling that something else had happened while I was blanked out?
“Finally awake, are you?” Relena says as she enters the room with a tray. She
closes the door with her hip and smiles at me as the delicious smell of soup
and what looks like white rice and fish, fills my nostrils. “I told the cook to
make your specialty,” she explains as she places it upon a small round table
beside the window. “Do you want to eat outside or…?”
“In here’s fine,” I say with a small smile of gratitude. She watches me
carefully as I get off the bed. I feel a dull flash of irritation at how
intensely she’s staring at me and I fight the urge to tell her that I’m not
some old man. I can walk a few steps without killing myself.
When she seems satisfied that I won’t collapse to the floor or worse, she sits
across me and places her hands beneath her chin to watch me eat…which I can
tell you right now is quite disconcerting.
“Stop staring,” I mumble as I pick up the chopsticks and snap it in two.
“I can’t help it. You’re too beautiful for your own good, Heero Yuy. You have
such big, gorgeous blue eyes.”
I blush and try to scowl but she laughs and reaches out to tap my nose gently.
“I know. I know. I’ll shut up now.”
The food is delicious and for a moment my stomach churns in protest at the
invasion of a good nutritious meal but soon settles down after several bites.
“I was just thinking about the upcoming charity party the Press Club will be
throwing in a few days.”
I nod, remembering it’s one of the few things I have to attend to on Monday.
There are a lot of school events and activities coming up, so the next few
weeks are going to be hell for me.
“…and the girls and I decided that it would be fun if we had the boys model for
us….” She pauses for a moment and seems to think about what she’s going to say.
“…in drag.”
I choke on the spoonful of soup and cough helplessly. The sudden image of the
outfit Duo had sent to me during the summer holidays comes to mind and I lower
my face in a mixture of shame and dull excitement. Great. I just had to
remember that, didn’t I?
“It’s going to be great, Heero,” she explains quickly, perhaps thinking my
frown is in disapproval of her suggestion. “Just think! We’re going to
definitely get all the girls in school attending when we round up all the
pretty boys and…”
“…parade them like girls,” I finish with a light shake of my head. “Do you
honestly think they’ll do something like that?”
She smirks, a knowing one that sends shivers up my arms. “What?” I ask with a
raised brow.
“Hehe, I’ve already gotten most of the boys we want to accept the offer
including someone quite special to you.”
I think my jaw must have dropped because she’s laughing so loud now, I’m sure
the maids or servants can hear her.
Duo?!
“Duo?!” I ask slightly breathless. Damn if my heartbeat isn’t racing like crazy
right now. “Duo’s going to be…he’s…when…how…?”
She purses her lips and gives another dramatic pause for effect, I’m sure.
“Hmmm, well I was going around all morning trying to get the guys to agree to
this and met him, by chance actually, in front of a bike shop. I think he was
picking up his or something. But anyway, he said he’d do it…”
“Just like that?” I almost demand and she eyes me with a raised brow.
“Yeah, just like that. No conditions or anything.”
“And how…” I swallow tightly and lower my head, eyeing the last few pieces of
fish on the plate. “Uuumm…how was he doing?” I hope that sounded as careless as
I wanted it to.
“Huh? Weren’t you with him yesterday?”
I remain silent and her sigh says it all.
“You guys fought again.”
I shrug and begin to pick at my food. “I think it’s over for good this time,” I
finally say when her stare gets too intense for me. “What?” I add defensively.
“We argued and I think it’s…I mean…it’s over, all right. Just leave it at
that.”
“Is that why you’re sick?” she asks quietly and I blink in confusion, almost
staring at her as if she had asked the most ridiculous question in the world.
“A part of you is hurting, right, Heero? Like a huge chunk of your heart has
been ripped off and…”
“Don’t talk to me like you’re my fucking shrink,” I mutter, hating to
acknowledge that she was right. Fighting with Duo always leaves me feeling
‘sick’.
“If you must know, I drank some sake last night at the restaurant and
it’s making me feel this way.” I haven’t even sneezed for sometime now. I
really think it was Kamui’s scent that made me do so in the first place. God, I
really hope my apartment smells better now.
“Well, Duo didn’t look like he was in mourning, if you catch my drift.”
That hurt but I mask it quickly with another shrug of supposed indifference. So
he’s that over me, is he? I’ll bet he was with Andre.
“Andre? Who’s that?”
I guess I must have spoken my thought out loud. “Duo’s friend,” I reply with
bitter emphasis on the ‘friend’ part. Relena nods.
“Well he wasn’t with anyone…at least I didn’t see anyone else around him…unless
you count the mechanic he was talking to…more like flirting actually.”
My fingers tighten around the chopsticks but I stubbornly maintain a passive
expression on my visage. I have to change the subject. I really don’t feel like
talking about him anymore. It will hurt too much.
“So when is this thing anyway? What day exactly?”
She looks baffled for a second but recovers quickly. “Well, we’ve set it for
this coming Friday. You know, end of the week, students get their allowances,
so they’re more willing to shed out the money. Of course we are selling advance
tickets and we’ve sold quite a few. This should be exciting!”
As it very well should be. The thought of seeing Duo in women’s clothing is
very, very tempting. It’s only fair, my mind screams. After all, he’s
seen me in that thing he made me wear…
“What are you blushing for?” she asks with another smirk and I reach out to
punch her playfully but she laughs and moves out of the way. “Thinking of how
cute Duo will look in a baby doll dress, huh? Kinky!”
“Relena! Geez, you’re even worse than he is,” I say quickly, but shift
restlessly on the chair as a certain part of my anatomy seems to agree with the
image. I try to tell myself that I don’t really give a damn whether Duo’s going
to be in the modeling show or not and barely hear Relena’s continued enthusiasm
as she mentions that Quarte’s going to be a part of it as well.
Suddenly a shrill and rather foreign sound (at least for a second) interrupts
our discussion and we stare at each other in confusion.
“Sounds like your cell phone,” Relena says. I wonder who could be calling me at
this time. Wufei? Although I’m sure he would have called Relena’s home number.
Maybe it’s Quatre or Trowa because I really doubt Duo will be calling me for
anything. I glance at the caller ID and almost choke in disbelief at the name
that’s blazoned on it.
‘Teruo Kamui’
“Well? Pick it up already,” Relena urges me with a light frown. “That ring
tone’s driving me nuts.”
Trying to will down the bile that’s rising to my throat, I am just about to
press the ‘talk’ button when it goes off on its own. Thank goodness. I hope he
doesn’t keep calling me over and over again or he’s really going to be crossing
the line with his ‘I love Heero sempai’ routine.
“Who was that?”
“No one important,” I begin to say only to falter as my voicemail comes on.
Shit.
“Must be important then if you’re getting a voicemail,” Relena says with a
frown. “Is it Duo?”
“No…”
“Then listen to it. What if something happened to him and he was the only
contact on his emergency list of…”
“Okay, okay,” I cut in impatiently, knowing she’s going to go and on about it
until I give in. Pressing the button slowly, I place the phone against my ear,
gripping it tightly as I listen to that familiar voice.
<“Hello, Heero sempai. I’m at your place now. I just came by to see if
you were doing okay but I guess you’re not back from work. I’ll be here for
sometime to wait for you but if not, I’ll just leave this box of fresh
doughnuts out here. I just hope no one steals it. Okay, I’ll talk to you later.
Bye, Heero….chan.”>
I can almost hear him blush as he says the last word, but my blood’s running
cold. What is this guy doing? Just what does he think he’s trying to pull here?
And to think that I’ll have to see him in school on Monday morning and everyday
after that is beyond me!
“Heero? Are you okay?”
“Can you take me home, Relena?” I ask tightly as I close the phone with a firm
snap.
I think it’s about time I gave someone a piece of my mind. Someone has to put
that little brat in his place before it becomes too late.
My Apartment
7.15pm:
The drive home was a quiet one. Relena didn’t ask any questions although I
could tell she was dying to. I think my expression must have staved off the
need to do so. She knows me well enough by now to back off whenever I’m not in
the mood to talk much.
As we approach the familiar building, I’m almost out of the car before she
comes to a complete stop. I dash up the stairs two at a time – although I’m
still feeling slightly weak – but this is no time to dwell on that. Kamui could
very well be sitting out there like a lost puppy or rather stalker, waiting for
me.
But as I come to a screeching halt on my floor, I can see no sign of anyone.
There isn’t even a box of doughnuts by my door as he had said in his message. I
frown in consternation and look up and down the long corridor. No, there’s
definitely no sign of him.
“Geez, what’s all the panic for?” Relena asks as she finally arrives albeit
slightly out of breath. “Who are you looking for? Who was that on the phone,
Heero? What’s going on?”
I hold up my hand in a motion for her to keep her voice down. What if he’s in
the apartment already waiting for me? He doesn’t have a spare key but that
didn’t stop him from entering. If Duo can pick locks at the drop of a hat what
stops Kamui from doing the same thing?
I motion for her to follow me and with my heart pounding even harder; I try the
doorknob, fully expecting it to turn within my grasp. But to my relief, it’s
still shut and doesn’t budge with the pressure I apply to it.
“Is someone stalking you?” she whispers, moving closer to me and looking around
a bit fearfully. “Is that it? Oh god, Heero…you’ve got to call the police!”
“No…it’s cool,” I reassure her with a warm smile as I open the door with my
keys. I still can’t help worrying a bit as I push the door open. Perhaps a part
of me still thinks that he might be in here just lurking in the shadows. Christ!
The guy is beginning to make me paranoid.
“See?” I say, turning on all the lights. “No one’s here.”
“I dunno…” she’s saying as she peers into the other rooms. “Who’s this guy or
girl? Is it someone I know? Heero…”
“You’re worrying too much, Relena,” I say again, placing my hands on her
shoulders to kiss her softly on the lips. I think I surprised her with that and
even I’m a bit shocked I went that far. “Now, go on home, okay? I’ll see you in
school on Monday.”
She’s blushing faintly but nods all the same. “Okay…but…call me or any of the
guys…even Duo.”
I flinch but she’s determined. “Call him, Heero. I’m sure he’ll come if you do
so. Besides, you two knuckleheads need to talk and I mean really talk.
I’ll call you when I get home just to be sure you’re okay.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, watching her make her way down the stairs and back to her
convertible. I stand beside the door until her car disappears around the corner
before closing the door behind me to take a deep breath. Kamui’s smell is not
as strong now, thank goodness and I think I can breathe properly again.
“Call Duo, huh?” I say tightly, as I begin to unbutton my shirt. “He’s not in
mourning, is he? Why should he give a shit about me…?”
However, the light knock on my door has me wondering if Relena’s already back
again. Although that seems highly unlikely. Assuming it’s a neighbor coming to
borrow something, I open the door with a ready smile on my features, only to
fight back a cry of surprise at the boy standing outside.
It’s Kamui, holding a box of doughnuts and with a rather grim expression on his
fair features.
“Hello, Heero sempai,” he says in a rather cold voice that I’ve never heard
before. “Do you mind if I come in? I think you and I need to have a little
talk.”
~End Period Seven~