Specters: Chapters 3-5 (GW/Esca)

[Penybright]

Disclaimer: None of the character's are mine. I don't claim to own them in any way. (Other people do though!)

Specters

Chapter 3

By: Penybright

Relena stared at the door accusingly, as if it were the cause of all her problems. Agitated and extremely worried, she tried the door to see if it was unlocked. Surprisingly, it swung open with ease. Taking one more quick glance outside, Relena began to haul Heero's limp body into the cottage.

Startled blue eyes took in the sight of strangers in her home. What were they doing here? It was terribly rude to enter someone's home without permission.

"Who are you?" Relena heard a feminine voice growl. Her head snapped up, and she almost passed out on the spot.

"You're--- But how? I mean..." Relena stuttered helplessly. Standing before her, was a humanoid cat with angry blue eyes and strawberry pink shoulder-length hair.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in my home?"

Relena swallowed thickly before answering, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"My- my friend is injured. Please, could you..."

The cat-woman was at Heero's side in a flash.

"Why didn't you say so in the first place," she mumbled irritably under her breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't---"

"What kind of injury is this?" she asked, interrupting Relena. Her blue eyes were filled with confusion as she stared at Heero's back.

"They're gunshot wounds," Relena answered, dread forming in the pit of her stomach.

"I've never seen anything like it. How is it treated?"

"Oh god..." Relena whispered, taking a deep breath. "D- do you have tweezers?"

The cat-woman nodded.

"I'll go get them. You get him on the bed in that room over there," she said, pointing to a room on the left. Relena grimaced but complied.

About thirty minutes later, Relena was siting beside a freshly bandaged Heero. Her hands were covered in his dried blood. She fought the urge to vomit when she caught a glance of her hands. She never wanted to do anything like that ever again. Relena shuddered at the memory.

The cat-woman entered the room then, carrying a basin of water. Relena eagerly washed the blood from her hands, feeling considerably better once they were clean.

"You should get some rest," the cat soothed. "We'll talk in the morning."

Relena nodded tiredly, and allowed herself to be led to another room much like the one she had just left.

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Heero slowly opened heavy lids. A face swam into his blurry vision as the conscious world began to seep back to him.

"Relena?"

"Ah, is that the young lady's name? I never had a chance to ask."

"Who are you?" Heero asked, squinting as his vision began to clear. He couldn't be seeing right. The woman before him was half... cat?

"I'm Merle. You're not from around here, are you?"

"Where is here?"

"You, my boy, are on the planet know as Gaea in the back-counrty of the Kingdom of Fanelia."

Heero suddenly became very alert.

"Where's Relena?"

"She's in the next room, sleeping. Wait! What do you think you're doing?" Merle screeched as Heero began to get up.

"I'm fine."

"You are not fine!" Merle cried, near panic. She had never seen anyone recover so quickly from grievous wounds. Was he some sort of daemon or something?

"Y- you really shouldn't get up. I don't think---"

"Heero!"

Heero's attention quickly became focused on the figure in the doorway. A disheveled Relena was standing there, her arms crossed, and a grim expression on her face. He suddenly had the sinking suspicion that he wasn't going anywhere for a while.

"What, exactly, do you think you're doing?"

"Relena..."

"Don't 'Relena' me Heero Yuy. I'm the one who had to drag you here and dig the bullets out of your back. You are getting back in that bed, and staying there until I say otherwise!" Relena huffed, advancing into the room.

Heero took one look at Relena's eyes, and instantly decided to follow orders. In his experience, women were a force to reckon with, especially when you pissed them off. Unfortunately, he was stuck in the middle of god-knows-where, with two women who would be all to willing to make his life a living hell.

Merle giggled at the display between the two. It reminded her of a certain other couple she knew. Heero turned his gaze on Merle, glaring at her with pure venom. Relena almost could have sworn she saw his lip curl up in a snarl.

"Heero," she warned, "be nice to our hostess. We'd be out in the cold if not for her."

Relena managed to earn herself a glare as well. She just shrugged it off, stepping over to the bed and tucking the covers in around him.

"Relena," Heero growled, the anger evident in his voice. He couldn't believe this! She was actually smiling?! If his limbs didn't feel like jello, he would have bolted from the room long ago.

"Grow up, Heero," Relena chastised seriously. "It's not the end of the world, and I know you would have fallen on your face if you tried to walk anyway."

Heero opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off before he uttered a word.

"She's right, you know. I'm going to leave you two here while I go get breakfast ready. I'm sure you need some time alone," Merle said, winking at Relena. Relena's face lit up in a blush as Merle exited the room. Heero watched in fascination as her ears turned red as well. What had that cat-woman meant when she said... The implied meaning finally hit him, and his eyes widened in surprise.

"She thinks..."

"Well, what did you expect her to think, genius?" Relena grumbled. "We argue like a married couple."

Relena clapped a hand over her mouth in horror.

"I did not just say that! Oh my god..."

Heero wisely remained silent. He didn't want to get himself in any deeper. Things were already spinning out of control. With a heavy sigh, he focussed his attention on the ceiling above him. How had they ended up on another planet, and what kind of... species was their hostess? It all seemed so illogical, and Heero was a very logical person... most of the time. As soon as possible, their "hostess" would undergo an interrogation. He wanted answers.

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Disclaimer: I do not own the characters! I put them through to much emotional (and physical) pain form me to own them.

Specters

Chapter 4

By: Penybright

Merle was disappointed to find the couple silent and in their own little worlds when she returned. She was beginning to understand Heero's personality, and Relena' as well. Heero was withdrawn, afraid of letting anyone get close. He didn't want to be hurt again. The young woman was the opposite. She was kind and caring, all to often opening herself up to emotional hurts, but she made the same mistakes over and over again. The two were so much like Hitomi and Van. She almost wanted to cry at the similarity. Her latest memories of the King and Queen of Fanelia, were not happy ones. Ever since...

"Merle?"

Merle snapped out of the daze she hadn't even realized she was in.

"I'm sorry," she laughed at herself. "I seem to do that more often lately... Breakfast?"

She set down the tray laden with food, and advanced towards Heero. A soon as she started in Heero's direction, he leveled a fierce glare at her.

"Maybe you should help him sit up," Merle suggested to Relena.

Relena stood up to help Heero, but he had already begun to push himself up into a sitting position.

"Stubborn as ever," Relena muttered, going back to her seat.

"I can see he is going to be a fun patient," Merle agreed. Heero watched the two carefully. He knew this wasn't going to be good. If he only knew...

Heero soon discovered that fighting an army of mobile dolls was preferable to being injured and stuck in a house with two women. Two overprotective, stubborn women at that. Breakfast that first morning had been humiliating. Neither of them would allow Heero to feed himself. No amount of glares or growls got his way either.

"I'm not having you pulling out the fine stitching I did on your back," Merle had chastised the one afternoon. Relena seemed to find enjoyment in his unease. Heero vowed to never let a woman take care of him when he was ill ever again.

The weeks flew by quickly for Relena. Merle was all to happy to have the company of another woman to talk to. In the afternoons, Merle would explain to Relena about Gaea. It was like a history lesson everyday, and Relena found all of it fascinating.

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It had been about a month since Relena and Heero had found themselves on Gaea. While they enjoyed the rustic atmosphere around them, they both wanted to be home where they belonged. Relena often worried about what her absence had set in action. How were her brother and Noin? What had she missed, and who was filling her position?

Heero had been trying to figure out how they'd arrived on the mysterious planet. He spent many an evening questioning Merle. She didn't seem to know much, except that the power of a wish had brought them there. Heero argued the point that neither of them had wished themselves to Gaea. He knew Merle had more knowledge than she was letting on. He could tell by the slight glimmer of apprehension in her eyes. Two days later, an event occurred that forced Merle to reveal what she knew.

Merle and Relena were inside talking, as Heero roamed around the snow laden yard. He had taken to doing that a lot lately. He seemed to be growing more restless by the day, and although Heero had said nothing, Relena knew something was wrong. She noticed that he seemed to favor his back, and it shouldn't have been bothering him so much at that point.

Relena glanced out one of the few windows the small cottage had, her eyes widening in surprise.

"What's wrong?" Merle asked quickly, seeing Relena's anxious expression.

"Something's wrong with Heero," Relena blurted out as she quickly stood and made her way to the door. Merle followed close behind, not knowing what to expect.

Heero was leaning heavily against the fence surrounding the chicken shed. His knuckles were turning white from his desperate grip, a grimace of pain marring his face.

"Heero, what's wrong?" Relena asked, distraught, as she rushed to his side.

"My... back..." he managed to grit out before collapsing to his knees. Relena cautiously reached a hand out towards him. She jerked it back as Heero let loose a wild, doleful cry. She watched in shock, and Merle in horrified dread, as downy wings seemingly exploded from Heero's back.

"I-impossible!" Merle breathed. "No!" she cried as Heero let out a pained groan, his immaculate wings suddenly turning a sooty black.

Heero laid in the snow, feeling the cooling comfort of the icy snow against his cheek and body. His back was on fire, and his body felt uncomfortably hot. Pain clouded his mind as he lay unmoving.

Relena swallowed thickly, inching closer to Heero. He had yet to move or utter a sound. He flinched when she touched his shoulder. She gasped at how warm he felt, and then understood.

"Merle, help me get him inside. He's got a fever."

Merle approached warily. With amazing tenderness, she helped Relena get Heero up, careful of his limp wings.

"Merle... What-What happened to him? Why did you scream when his wings turned black?"

Relena was afraid of the answer, but she had to know the truth.

"On Gaea, their is an ancient race, a cursed race, called the Atlanteans or Draconinans. They are the descendants of the people of Atlantis, the creators of out world in a way. The trait that marks them apart from others, is their wings."

Merle stopped her explanation as they tried to make Heero comfortable on the bed, gently shifting and smoothing out his wings, as he twitched at every gentle caress.

"Atlanteans have glorious white wings that..." Merle paused, taking a deep breath. "When an Atlantean's time is near, they know because... because their wings... turn black."

"No!" Relena whispered in shock, as tears misted her eyes. Heero couldn't die!

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Disclaimer: Yup, I don't own the characters. Silly you if you thought otherwise.

Specters

Chapter 5

By: Penybright

Relena turned to face Merle with teary eyes.

"Can't you do anything to help him? Isn't there something we can do?"

Merle shook her head sadly.

"I'm afraid I don't know much about the condition."

"But, Heero can't die. He just can't!"

Relena was left to stare with dread at Heero's pained face as Merle left to get a bowl of water and a cloth. Her stomach twisted in knots as she watched him, her eyes scrunched in confusion. She didn't understand what was going on. How could Heero be one of the Draconians Merle spoke of? Heero was from Earth, not Gaea... wasn't he? It didn't make any sense. How could Heero possibly be from Gaea? It was impossible, but...

Relena shifted her gaze to the shimmering ebony wings that flopped off the bed at odd angels. Tentatively, she reached a hand forward, fingers outstretched. Softly, her fingers skimmed against one sable feather. Heero stirred, reacting to her touch. She snatched her hand away as he groaned and arched off the bed. A deep shudder wracked his body as his wing tips shimmered, turned a pristine white, and he collapsed back to the bed, his wings gone.

Merle walked into the room moments later, surprised to find Heero's wings gone.

"Where... What happened?" she queried as she set the basin of water by the bed.

"I... He... His wing tips turned white, and then they just... disappeared," Relena stuttered, still in shock.

"His wing tips turned white?" Merle said hopefully.

"Yes," Relena responded slowly, glancing uneasily at Heero's prone form. "Does this mean he's going to be okay?" she asked expectantly.

"I don't know," Merle uttered, staring at the source of their worry. "I've never heard of anything like this before. I'm no expert on the subject either... There might be someone who could help you..."

"Who?!"

"If you can get an audience with him, the King of Fanelia may be able to help you."

"The King?"

Merle nodded, and Relena thought it over for a moment.

"As soon as Heero's well enough, we'll go," she said decisively. Merle sighed sadly.

"I can't say that I like you going on your own, but..."

"You won't be coming with us?"

"No. I don't want... No, I won't be coming with you. Besides, I can't leave my cottage unattended for too long."

Relena gave an absentminded nod as she pondered why Merle was so reluctant to go to Fanelia.

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As soon as Heero recovered from his fever, the three of them packed food and supplies. Merle was strangely quite and subdued as they went about their preparations. After the incident, Heero seemed more withdrawn as well. Relena often found him brooding around the cottage grounds. She'd tried to talk it out with him, but he was unresponsive. She was determined to corner him once they were alone, and get him to talk. She wasn't going to put up with his moodiness the entire way to Fanelia. After all, he had agreed to go, so something had to be troubling him. It wasn't often that Heero admitted needing help, let alone seeking out someone to help him. So, two weeks after his collapse, the pair departed for Fanelia.

Merle stood on the doorstep of her cottage, watching the duo disappear into the woods. She had given them clear directions, and could only hope that they didn't encounter any problems. The countryside was rather unpredictable, and there was the case of dragons... Merle knew Heero would protect Relena, but who was going to look after him? There was something about the young man; he seemed so familiar. With a heavy sigh, Merle turned back into her cottage. She'd probably never see them again, so it was best if she just forgot about them.

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Relena glanced at Heero's profile, sighing inwardly. He was brooding, again. And, he had yet to say a word to her. It had been almost three hours!

"Heero, I know---"

Relena was abruptly cut off as Heero clamped a hand over her mouth. He quickly pulled her back behind a large tree trunk, not saying a word. Relena's eyes widened as she watched a unit of armed soldiers pass where the two of them had just been. Once they had passed Relena turned to face Heero, quickly stumbling back and blushing furiously. When she had turned, her lips had skimmed lightly along Heero's neck.

"I- I'm sorry. I didn't..." she stammered in embarrassment.

Heero simply nodded and turned, starting to move forward one more. He was grateful that Relena didn't rush up to walk beside him. He didn't want her to see the faint tinge on pink marring his cheeks. He hadn't been expecting her to move, and... Unconsciously, Heero lifted his hand to his neck. He could still feel her warm breath...

'Stop it! Stop it!' he mentally berated himself. 'She's your friend, nothing more.'

'You'd like it if she were more, much more...' a smug voice whispered in his mind before going silent.

"I am not going to start arguing with myself," Heero muttered irritably.

"What was that?" Relena said in distraction. Heero grunted in response and chose not to answer. Relena seemed to be ignoring him for the moment anyway. Pushing his previous thoughts aside, Heero concentrated on where he was going. He didn't believe the troop that had passed by were friendly. He didn't want to chance a run in with them, especially since the light was beginning to wane.

As dusk approached, the silence in the surrounding woods began to grow heavier, seeming to press down on the two travelers.

"Heero, something doesn't feel right," Relena murmured, glancing uneasily through the rows of trees. Heero nodded, his sharp eyes scanning treetops and moss covered ground. He couldn't see anything, but that didn't mean there wasn't something out there.

"It's too quiet," Relena whispered, rubbing her arms in nervousness. Heero continued to scan the surrounding area, his sense of unease growing with each passing moment of oppressed silence. Wary, and not sure of what was happening, Heero tugged on Relena's hand in an indication for her to follow him. She caught the hint quickly, clinging to his hand as a source of reassurance. They moved forward cautiously, eyes straining for any sound of... something.

Heero stopped abruptly, causing Relena to bump into him. She choked back a muffled squeak when she realized it was only Heero. She had been paying attention more to their surroundings than where they were going. Her hand flew to her mouth, eyes growing wide as she stared ahead. A thick wall of mist barred their passage, a glowing pair of large serpentine eyes gleaming ferally through the heavy fog.