Quatre stood in the living room, next to the Bösendorfer. He had put his study books on the stool and looked with full expectation to Duo.
“When will I be able to play at this beautiful piece of work?” He stroked the piano. Duo put the cup of tea down and smiled. He had two piano’s- one for his students, a simple upright, and the Bösendorfer, where only he played on.
“That one isn’t for the students, unless you’re really, really, really good,” he exaggerated. The piano was his ‘baby’-- all his life, from his early memories of his life on the streets until now, he longed for a piano like this one, and God knew he had worked and slaved hard enough for it.
“Then I have to study more, I guess.” Quatre sat down on the couch. “I must say that after every lesson I’m more stimulated to practice. You have a wonderful way of inspiring your students.”
Duo sat down on the loveseat and felt his face flush. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re more enthusiastic for the piano, after all, you always claimed to prefer the violin.”
Quatre laughed, like a string of bells. “I haven’t touched it since I started here! Even my father is amazed. He says I’ve turned a whole new leaf. I never guessed that piano also could express so much emotion.”
“Is that why you’re playing music?” Duo made himself comfortable in the chair. He loved discussing music and Quatre had proven to have some quite interesting points of view.
“Not solely for expression emotions. It’s also entertainment for me, a sort of escape from the world. After studying so much text books and writing the umpteenth paper on whatever business proposal, there is nothing more satisfying than picking up an instrument and drifting away into another world.”
“That depends on which piece you choose,” Duo said.
“Exactly!” Quatre almost jumped up from the couch. “When I’m feeling chagrined, I choose another piece than when I feeling happy, or angry.”
“I know what you mean,” Duo smiled. “Did you know there are many pieces written for violin and piano? A powerful combination.”
“I have listened to a lot of piano music since I started here,” Quatre confessed. “It would be great if we could play something together!” His face fairly lit up at the thought alone. “But I have really started to like Chopin.”
“Ah, my favourite composer,” Duo exclaimed. He noticed that Quatre’s teacup was almost empty. Hilde still hadn’t arrived. He steered his thoughts away from her, hoping that she’d be alright and had a good excuse for not showing up. He expected the phone to ring any second.
“What’s your favourite Chopin piece?”
Quatre didn’t hesitate for a second. “The nocturne.”
They both jumped up because of a crashing sound coming out of the kitchen.
“Heero?” Duo rose quickly and he was near the kitchen when Heero came out, with pieces of porcelain in his hands.
“What happened?”
“I’m sorry, I was just doing dishes when the plate slipped out of my hand. I couldn’t catch it.”
“Be careful not to cut yourself,” Duo admonished. He let out a sigh of relief. “I thought something happened to you.”
“Only to the dishes,” Heero mumbled absent-minded, but he threw a look over Duo’s shoulder into the living room before he turned around and disappeared into the kitchen again.
Duo looked at his watch. It was time to start Quatre’s lesson. He spun around and bumped into Quatre, who stood right behind him.
“Something wrong?”
“No, just some broken dishes. Well, let’s get started with your class, shall we?”
“Let’s wait for Hilde, she could show up… maybe you can play it for me?”
“What?” Duo was taken by surprise. Quatre blinked at him; radiant blue eyes, with a deep warmth to them.
“Chopin’s nocturne,” Quatre answered, looking a bit shy. “On the Bösendorfer, please?”
“O... okay,” Duo said. He didn’t know why, but he walked on autopilot to the piano and took his seat. It didn’t surprise him that Quatre took the seat next to him. Duo always sat close to his students to watch their improvements, so why shouldn’t Quatre sit next to him to observe his teacher?
“The beauty of Chopin’s nocturne is its hidden force,” Quatre said. “It starts out so hesitant, like it’s searching for confidence and... approval, of some sorts. It stretches out to find its roots, its way into the surroundings, increasing stronger with every tone. Then there is another... current. Fast, fast, slow, like two heartbeats revolving around each other; the theme that repeats itself, asking for more. It’s still hesitant, but it becomes strong. Retreating, resurfacing. Demanding, yet giving in.”
“You have a very vivid imagination, Quatre, and a unique way of describing it.” Duo lifted the lid of the keys. “I love to hear anyone else’s interpretation of a piece. A piece can only be good as the one who’s playing it. The way you interpret a piece, that’s the way it’s going to sound. Strong, melancholic, distant, warm. Music is so universal and so individual at the same time, telling us, showing us, revealing to us, but yet still manages to...”
“...elude us,” Quatre finished and he was so close he could have whispered it into Duo’s ear.
Duo shifted a little. “It’s too difficult for you.”
“I have time to practise,” Quatre chuckled. “Holidays are coming up and I like to practice. I thought I’d always be playing the violin, but you showed me the beauty of the piano... Duo.”
Duo put his hands on the keys, ignoring Quatre’s last words. He put his feet on the pedals and started to play, the apartment filling itself with the tones of the piano, the Bösendorfer adding extra depth to the piece.
He wasn’t halfway the nocturne when the doorbell rang. Duo didn’t notice, he was so occupied by the piece that only after a pull from Quatre he snapped out of his concentration.
“What?”
“The doorbell, Duo,” he said, slightly amused. “I don’t hear anyone answering it.”
“Oh! Heero? Heero!” Duo rose from his stool and walked to the door. “Heero, where are you?”
“What is it?” He came out of the kitchen and removed the earpieces of the disc man he was wearing. “Someone at the door? I didn’t hear it…”
With Heero trailing behind him, Duo opened the door. His face fell when he saw the two detectives, only to light up in a mere second.
“Detectives Chang and Barton! You have a breakthrough!”
“Not exactly, Mr. Maxwell. May we come in?” Wufei eyed the confused looking piano teacher, and registered immediately another presence.
“Mr. Yuy? I ask of you not to leave the apartment until we are finished.” He wanted to enter, but Heero blocked the way.
“What is this all about? Why do you threaten me?”
“I sincerely apologise if it sounded like a threat, Mr. Yuy, I didn’t intend it that way. However, in the light of current events, I ask of you to please stay around until we are finished.”
The shiver down his spine was not unexpected. Heero’s eyes had gone from inquiring to examining-- and the detective felt suddenly naked under the intense gaze. He wondered for a brief moment how Trowa would feel under this meticulous observation.
“Come in,” Duo said, albeit hesitant. Heero moved about an inch and the two detectives had to squirm their way past him.
“Just a second.” Duo went before them into the living room. Wufei and Trowa followed him.
They both saw a blond young man standing before the grand piano, fiddling with text books.
“I’m sorry about the lesson, Quatre, we have to reschedule…”
“It’s alright. I’ll come back tomorrow, okay?”
“I’ll call you. Please understand that Hilde gets an extra lesson because she didn’t show up today, so it’ll be later…”
Wufei quirked an eyebrow. They didn’t talk that softly and the mention of the murdered girl surprised him. When Quatre clearly wanted to leave, Trowa stopped him.
“You’re a student of Mr. Maxwell?”
“Yes, why?” Quatre shot a nervous look between the both of them. “I’m going to be late for my business class.”
“I’d just like to ask you a few questions.” Trowa motioned to the kitchen. “Let’s go there.”
“What’s going on?” Heero barked. Wufei raised his hand.
“Sit down, Mr. Yuy, Mr. Maxwell. The case has become considerably complicated since our last visit.”
“Dorothy,” Duo said. “You have a breakthrough, don’t you? And why do you want to talk to my student?”
“Because apparently all of your students are in danger, Mr. Maxwell. Take a seat, before…”
“What happened? What do you mean, all of my students?” Duo didn’t notice that Heero came to stand behind him. “What’s going on?”
“I regret to inform you that another one of your students has been found dead.” Wufei spoke to Duo, but looked at Heero. He tried to meet the blazing eyes unfailingly, but had to avert his head.
“I’m very sorry, but Hilde Schbeiker has been murdered.”
The only sound was a soft click of the front door, followed by hardly audible footsteps. Trowa Barton entered the living room, note book clasped in his hand.
“Hil... Hilde...?” Duo was as pale as a ghost. “Impossible... what... what happened?” Heero hovered behind him and took his arm.
“I need to ask a few questions. Please, take a seat.” Wufei motioned to the loveseat.
“Hilde?” Duo repeated, slowly swaying on his feet. “God, what’s... what is happening? What’s going on?”
“Miss Catalonia and Miss Schbeiker were both your students, Mr. Maxwell. I’m sorry, but you have to come to the station with us for further questioning.”
“I...” Duo began, looking terrified, while Heero spat: “No!”
Trowa tried to calm the situation. “Please understand that we’re not arresting you.” He hesitated, as if he wanted to add the word ‘yet’, but he continued: “It’s better for the development of the case if you were to come with us to the station.”
“No!” Heero repeated, hands clamping Duo’s upper arms. “He stays here.”
“Hilde...” Duo whispered absent minded, as in trance. Sweat rolled over his forehead. He had seen so many deaths, so close by. He thought he had escaped death the exact moment he turned around and left the charred remains of a burning church behind him, thought he escaped death by every footstep he took in the opposite direction.
“Death has been waiting for me all along,” he whispered.
“Excuse me?” Wufei leaned forward, wondering if he’d heard the piano teacher right. Trowa tried to get the upper hand in the conversation.
“Please put on your coat, Mr. Maxwell. Mr. Yuy, if you would be so kind to come with us as well.”
Wufei was taken aback by the angry look in Heero’s eyes. It was a look of pure hatred, fired at him and boring right into him, with a force to shatter him into thousand pieces. Heero had his arms crossed over Duo’s chest, embracing him in what looked like to Wufei an almost painful position; yet it didn’t escape him that Duo had closed his hands over Heero’s arms.
“Can’t you see how upset you are making him? Leave, before he collapses!”
“I think I’m going to throw up,” Duo said in a soft tone, probably not intended to be overheard. He looked sickly white.
“This is an urgent matter,” Wufei snarled. “We can provide medical assistance at the police station if necessary for Mr. Maxwell’s... situation, but the possibility of fainting is not keeping us from going downtown.”
“You. Are. Not. Leaving. With. Him.” Heero’s stance became even more defensive. Trowa shot a questioning look at Wufei.
“Please sir, don’t make things more difficult. As I told you, he’s not under arrest. It’s for the benefit of the case if he’d come with us. Don’t make us call for back-up because you’re obstructing our work.”
“His best friend has been murdered and you come here to accuse him!” Heero moved Duo a little bit to the side so he had one hand free; Wufei last suspicions about Heero were confirmed. The detective was trained in martial arts, but he didn’t know if his skills were sufficient to subdue this soldier. Heero was strong, the rippling muscles were a dead give-away, but Wufei didn’t fear his physical strength. It was in his eyes; the fanatical glittering that told both detectives that Heero would fight to death to protect the one he was holding; Duo.
“In the interest of the memory of Hilde Schbeiker you’ll let him go with us to the station. This needs to be solved, Mr. Yuy, and you can’t deny that two of your partner’s students are dead. Who says it’s going to stay with the students-- and not that the teacher is becoming the next victim?”
“Never,” Heero gritted between his teeth. “They would have to come past \\me\\. Now leave! Duo needs attention.”
“Heero, no, no,” Duo tried to pry himself loose from Heero’s firm grip. “I want to go with them. I... I need to do this.”
“You can’t. You’re not leaving the house! Hilde is dead, I don’t want you to take any risk. You stay inside. It’s safer here.”
“No! Heero, let me go. I want to…” His hand went to his mouth and suddenly he broke free from Heero’s grip, running towards the bathroom. The door shut violently, followed by retched heaving noises. If Wufei had thought Heero had looked with pure hatred at him before, this look was a thousand times worse.
“Get out of here! Are you happy now? You’re making everything worse! Now get out, before I kick both of you out!”
“It’s not very wise of you to threaten two detectives in function,” Wufei said.
“I don’t give a damn.” Heero snarled. He straightened himself. “You can come up here with all the back-up you want. You can threaten me or try to arrest me. You’re not going anywhere with Duo.”
Wufei tried to contain his irritation. “We told you that he’s not under arrest, but we need to question him about this murder. It happens to be his second student who was found murdered. With all due respect Mr. Yuy, what if he’s going to be the next victim? You can’t protect him forever.”
“Yes I can. And now leave!” Heero took a step in their direction. Both Wufei and Trowa stepped back.
“Alright, alright. Before we go, we want a list of your students, right now.”
Heero snarled something inaudible and moved to the right to open a teak cabinet. Trowa stole a quick look at Wufei; the look on the detective’s face was indescribable. Irritation, anger, and frustration screwed up his Chinese features and were directed at Heero, rummaging through the cabinet and pulling out a yellow piece of paper.
“Here! Take this and leave.”
Wufei grabbed the piece of paper and pocketed it. Just as he wanted to say something, Duo reappeared in the living room, still looking ghostly white and swaying on his feet, but determined enough to say, though in a weak voice: “Are we going yet?”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Heero answered him. “You’re going straight to bed to get some rest. You’re completely upset. I’ll get your medication.”
With the single raising of Duo’s hands Heero was stopped dead in his tracks.
“We’re going with the detectives, right now. I want this sorted out and solved. Dorothy... and Hilde... deserve more than becoming a cold case. I want to help.”
“Are you sure you can handle this? You need some attention,” Heero objected. The look he directed at the detectives was murderous, yet at Duo it was this strange mixture of frustration, love and anxiety.
“We’re going,” Duo repeated and to the detective’s surprise Heero obeyed-- he went to fetch their coats, mouth drawn into a tight line and fierce blue eyes fuming anger and irritation, yet when he hung the coat around Duo’s shoulders the gesture spoke of love and careful attention.
Chapter 6 | Chapter 8 |