"Duo? Could you help me please?" Quatre called from struggling with the front door, he was hauling groceries at their latest safe house. Duo instantly appeared at the sight of food and helped the shorter blonde out. He popped an apple in his mouth before it hit the ground while taking on a couple of bags. Quatre smiled in relief as he followed the exuberant brunette through to the kitchen. Trowa was already there, making dinner while Heero had his laptop on the table, fully focused on the flickering screen. Wufei was no where to be seen. A scowl deepened on Heero's face as he glanced up at the new arrivals. He had argued with Quatre earlier about staying in the safe house, they couldn't afford being recognized but the other had argued that they needed more food or face starvation. Heero had just rolled his eyes and let the other do as he wished.

"Where's Wufei?" Quatre asked, knowing the other had been watching tv in the living room earlier but wasn't even there now.

"Dunno, disappeared a little after you left. He didn't say anything," Duo answered, pawing through the multiple sacks of food. Trowa gave him a withering look and started putting away the food as Quatre shrugged and sat down across from Heero. Soon it was dark and everyone was sitting down to dinner as Wufei walked in from the direction of his room. He took his place between Trowa and Duo tucked into his plate that had been laid out for him.

"What have you been doing this entire time?" Quatre spoke up, curiosity getting the better of him.

"I'm being moved to a private school next week," Wufei answered, glancing up at the other who nodded.

"Where?" Duo pushed, blinking over at the other.

"North America," he answered and shoved food into his mouth to avoid answering more questions. The rest let it go.

St. Crystabel Religious School for the Exceptional

Wufei reported to the principal's office and sat down, already in the required uniform and his shoulder bag filled with the usual paper, pencils, pens and so forth. He was to get his schedule after meeting with Lady Corrina Applegate. She had been a neutral this entire time and had kept a low profile through all of the school protests. She banned all activists and protestors from her campus early on and the school had been a blissful island in a land swarming with chaos. Wufei glanced at the secretary who was a plain mid twenties brunette with black wire rimmed oval glasses set low on her shapely nose. She was easily forgettable and that is what made Wufei respect her, she probably saw and heard more this way.

Lady Applegate walked into the front office, setting down coffee for the secretary as she passed into her office. She was a very attractive woman with pacific islander skin and wide, pretty green eyes. She had a petite frame but there was a sternness around her mouth that made her a formidable woman indeed. She also had long silk black hair pulled back into a simple white clip. Her clothes were formal, knee length simple black skirt, flesh colored nylons, low black pumps and a black jacket to complete the outfit. Her shirt underneath was also a complimentary deep blue to bring out her eyes. Wufei glanced at the clock, he was twenty minutes early. Sooner rather than later, the door Lady Applegate had disappeared into opened once again and she stood there looking down on him, smiling warmly.

"Chang Wufei I believe? It's a pleasure to meet you," she held out her hand to him, Wufei got up and shook her hand, it was a good confidant grip and then walked into her office. It looked very old world-ish with dark wood flooring, off white walls covered with carefully preserved oil paintings and ancient art posters that looked to be dated around the late 22nd century. She gestured for him to take a seat in front of her round black desk. He did so and she settled into her own black leather chair.

"I've taken the time to look over your school records and have talked with a couple of your professors from your last school, St. Cecilia's I believe? Each of them held glowing reviews in regards to you and you have also done exceptionally well in our placement tests yesterday afternoon. I am most grateful you've selected my school for your education," she said, Wufei nodded, knowing this was all just a formality.

"Also, I hope you know that you can trust that I am one among many resources for you. If ever you need anything, I will take time to accommodate you," she explained, Wufei nodded again.

"Thank you Lady Applegate, I won't hesitate," Wufei replied, she nodded, satisfied.

"Well then, Ms. Jent would be most welcome to direct you to the admissions office so you can pick up your schedule. I believe you've already been to your room?" She got up once again, Wufei followed.

"Yes, thank you," he turned as she moved to the door.

"One more thing, mass is optional. I know our website and other literature states that we are a religious institution but we are advocates to freedom of choice. Lastly, you may apply for a school pass to go off campus after a month. We value our privacy and isolation here, I trust that has already been made perfectly clear?" She gave him a small tilt of her head and a professional smile.

"Yes, quite clear," he answered. St. Crystabel was also notorious for it's secrecy and isolation which is why it attracted the richest families around the world among the more eccentric of the upper class. She nodded and opened the door for him.

"Wonderful, good day Mr. Chang," she gestured for him to leave which he did. Ms. Jent the secretary had an equally forgettable, neutral voice as she directed him to the admissions office. He thanked her and went on his way.

First Period

He walked into his first class, it was early literature. He settled into his seat and realized as the rest of the class filed in, he was going to be in for a very interesting time. The students all had the required uniform on which consisted of gray to black slacks, deep sapphire blue jackets with wide collars and silver buttons down the front with the school's emblem embossed on each. The blue, gray and white symbol stitched onto the right side, the jackets were fitted hang down to middle thigh and had a white design stitched around the wrist and flared up like a circling angel wing. The fitted shirts to go underneath were nothing special and the ties were gray with a silver clip with two small angel wings on each.

The females wore blue skirts of varying lengths and styles, the only requirement was that they were blue and they weren't shorter than where the fingertips held straight next to the thigh. The jackets were the same for the females also and the fitted shirts were much the same also. The ties were blue and the angel wing clip also there. It was interesting what the student body did to make their uniforms theirs if only slightly. The girls, obviously wore as many different types of blue skirts as they could get their hands on. The interest part was the patches pinned to jackets, skirts and pants. All of them could be taken off if one of the faculty demanded it but it was hard to tell all of them to remove the patches. They were unique, creative, funny, serious, they ranged from logos to personal philosophies to cute little animals. The one thing he never saw was a protest against or for anything.

Wufei found himself actually fitting in with these people, he usually found himself standing out among the private school crowds in the past. Here, it seemed like everyone stood out. Of course there were the occasional group who didn't wear patches or didn't follow any of the other passing fads that went through the school on sometimes a daily rampage. Wufei found himself being slowly put into this group but he didn't mind so long as everyone left him alone.

The one thing that kind of bugged him was that he wasn't 'allowed' to go anywhere. His application for the school pass had been in processing mode for the last month and whenever he checked on it, they either scrambled around to find it with out success or told him that it had been sent off for the right signatures and everything was under control. It was easy for him to sneak out, but the guards were religious in their watch and the place was like a fortress. High walls with electric barbwire along the top and even a couple of big dogs but they were trained to only bark, never bite.

Two Months After School Begins

"Wuffie!" Duo called out, bounding down the overcrowded hallway towards Wufei who was just coming out of his math class which was his last period of the day. He rolled his eyes as the bouncing brunette made a dancing, happy circle around him. He then noticed that they were drawing a lot of attention from the surrounding students.

"Calm down Maxwell," Wufei hissed, grabbing the other's arm. Duo was still in his usual black jeans and black jacket, he stuck out really bad among the sea of blue, gray and white. Occasionally people wore black fitted shirts with black slacks but they hid it with their jackets. They were usually the group that wore black makeup and dyed their hair different colors.

"Sorry, just haven't seen you in a couple of months," Duo grinned at the other as Wufei forcefully dragged Duo down the closest set of stairs.

"We're supposed to stay inconspicuous," Wufei growled as the others appeared out of the swarming student body. All of them were still in their regular clothing but had somehow blended in ten times better than Duo.

"We were just about to check in, get our uniforms and the like. We requested that you give us the grand tour," Quatre spoke up, Wufei glanced at the other before continuing on to his dorm.

"Sure, have they assigned you rooms yet?" He asked.

"Yes, everything is already set up," Heero murmured next to him, Wufei nodded.

"Good, this'll be easy then," Wufei looked around at the passing students, he really felt out of place with his four team mates surrounding him and for the first time since he was younger, it really bothered him. He hadn't realized how much he liked not being noticed all the time for one thing or another. Whether it was his exceptional brain or the way he looked or even some of the ideas he fervently pursued. It had felt good being anonymous but looking around at the others, how Trowa was taller than most of the people they passed, to the bouncing clown that made up Duo, they all stood out, even in this crowd.