Part I
Blaque Kat
The 1st- Death And The Maiden
m m m m
[single "m" = new part in the story]
"Here's the plan: We take out the base and the new type of mobile suits with them, while we're doing that you get the alarms down, disenable the guards, and get those disks. We need them."
Trowa briefed the other four pilots, "Understand?"
They nodded in agreement but Duo snorted slightly.
"Yeah, I understand, but why do I have to go?"
"Because we have business elsewhere." Wufei put in, an edge was on his voice.
"Please! You get to kick ass in the cool battles and leave me stuck playing cat burglar?"
"Come on it's a routine mission." Quatre told him, "This should be easy."
"Routine my ass." He mumbled, he always had to be the pigeon!
Heero spoke this time, "Besides, you need to stay out of trouble."
"This is coming from you?"
"Just do it." He ordered in a cold monotone.
"Fine. But next time, you're going-I'll make sure of it."
The dark-haired boy brushed the idle threat, "Whatever."
m
The tall office building sleep just like the guards did.
They had pigged out on glazed doughnuts and black coffee then settled into a cozy slumber.
The cameras did their job for them by watching the building and the alarms would wake them so no need to worry was there. The humming of the computer monitors seemed to be the only thing making a sound-that and the guards' snoring. One sat at the computer terminal leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his bald head, the other one sat by the door head against the wall drooling. Duo held his laugher in, sleeping like babies, no need to waste his energy on getting in.
Quatre did have the goodies delivered to them an hour before hand but what ever was in them he did not care to know. Just to make sure they were out, he waved a hand in front of his face.
No response.
Duo punched him in the stomach.
Still no response.
"Wow, maybe if I stab them-" He said to himself about the switchblade but changed his mind,
"Naw, it can wait." He headed for the computer and cut all power out to the building expect Room 111, his destination, then disenable the backup generators so the alarms had no way of going off. Taking a cold cup of coffee, he doused the computer with the liquid hoping to ruin it beyond repair. The camera up above was broken in two and the tapped pulled apart.
Everything that was plugged up to anything was unplugged and cut. All communication was cut.
Now he was confident.
With the alarms and the guards out this would be cake.
Duo left the post and headed down the hallway, keycard in hand . . .
The oak doors for Duo and he stepped inside a luxuriously decorated corner office.
"Woo," He whistled, "I'll kill for something this nice."
His search wasn't too exhaustive, the locked drawer under the desk told him they were there.
"Just waiting on me to whisk you away huh?"
From his braid, he extracted a pin to pick the lock. It opened obediently producing a small metal case-inside were five floppies labeled "FYI-Gundam."
Haha, ran through his head as he held the case in his hand.
"Isn't it just like taking candy from a baby?" His mouth curled up into a smug smile.
"Is it love? I'll keep that in mind."
Some soft, feminine purr answered his question.
What! His mind raced, how did she get in here, what was she doing? Hell, who was she?
He moved for his gun-no time for questions, her breath was ticking the back of Duo's neck.
Her reflection flashed in the window, she was wearing a silly grin.
"Sorry love, I but need this more than you ever will."
Suddenly a needle was pulled out and slammed into his back, he fell into the table trying to fight back but to no avail, she had the upper hand here. He tried grabbing for the case, but the drug started to set in, his fingers closed around string and nothing more . . .
Duo Maxwell watched helplessly as she disappeared into the night in his sedated state.
She pried the case from his fingers, "Well aren't you sweet? I can use these."
Ten thousand dollars cash . . . a slice of the pie that was well worth savoring, well worth paying off her bounty and saving the only home she knew.
"Sleep tight cutie pie."
She did feel bad for the guy knocked out at her feet, his long braid tossed over his features.
Not bad ones, she added, placing the case in her pocket. Maybe he did need those disks . . .
Yeah, and maybe there's a cold day in Hell.
Pushing any other thoughts out of her mind she made her way to the bay windows, the girl clad in a dark jumpsuit leaped gracefully out of them from five-stories.
Damn, she loved her job.
"Cats always land on their feet!"
m
He couldn't shake her as he tried shaking off the drug.
Who was that chick with the power to catch his eye and off his guard?
Not only was she lovely enough to steal a man's heart she stole the remaining disks that the others needed, God my head hurt he thought as he came to form his own "slumber."
Potent. She was just like the drug.
Heero isn't gonna to like this. The walkie-talkie began to crackle. He had a feeling who this was.
"Duo, is the mission completed?"
He moaned while trying to pull himself to his feet managing to get into a sitting position.
"Mission complete?" The voice on the other end pressed.
Oh yeah, he had to explain himself, a nervous, shaken laugh escaped.
"Umm, well-see, that's a funny story . . ."
"Mission completed or not?" Silence. "Dammit Duo, what the hell happened?"
"I-well-" He swallowed.
"If you don't tell me now I promise you I'll snatch that braid off and strangle you with it-"
"Some chick stole them! I don't know who the hell she was!"
"What!" Wufei cut in, "You let some weak woman steal the disk! You idiot, we needed those!"
"Forget it for now Duo."Quatre said calmly, "Just report back to base and we'll figure this out."
He shut it off. "Somehow."
m
When Duo managed to get back to the Heero's dorm room, he gave them a rundown on what happed. The others weren't happy with the news but at least Heero didn't go through with his threats. "Don't you have any idea what she looks like?"
Heero demanded, this mission isn't gonna go to hell because of Duo's stupidity he told himself.
He was planted in a chair with an ice pack to his forehead as the other four boys stood around him police interpretation style.
"Well, she looks good." He replied sheepishly.
"That's not what he means-" Quatre warned the braid-brother, Heero was a loose cannon and humor would fueled his rage more. Quatre continued, "He means a physical description. How tall was she? Hair color? Eyes? What was she wearing? Can't you remember anything?"
Now what man in his right mind would forget a tall and dark lovely with ginger eyes and French manicured nails, long ebony strands done up in a ponytail that reminded him of his death scythe.
But a blinding headache came on out of nowhere preventing his train of thought.
"Agh! It was dark and I drugged up! How in the hell could I remember anything?"
"Drugged up?" The Arabian asked. Don't tell me he went for the doughnuts.
"Great, now that helps a lot. You can so pathetic sometimes, Duo, til it makes me sick."
The clown gave a sorry sigh, "So we're back to square one."
"That's the only we can be at thanks to somebody in this room."
"Yeah, I love you guys too, how was I suppose to know there's some good-looking thief was packing anesthetics? I'm no psychic-"
Heero snapped at the rest of group, "Just forget about it."
Well, that was that.
"He's right, let's sleep on it." Wufei ended this round of questioning. Before we all choke him.
Trowa, Wufei, Quatre were going to disappear to their respective places while Heero decided to take a l-o-n-g walk. Somehow, someway it did occur to Duo that he had something of hers.
Black necklace, black necklace, come on smart guy you popped her black necklace . . .
"Wait!"
"What is it now?" Heero rolled his eyes, the other three halted at the door.
"She-she-" He fumbled around in his pocket, "she had this! I popped the string."
A necklace containing an Egyptian black cat charm had the words Katrina Felicia Nyle etched into the back lied in the palm of his hand. Made of onyx and gold it dazzled the eye with its shine.
Quatre was the first to examine it, he took it out of Duo's hand and held it up gingerly.
"It must be her name on the back."
"Nyle, Nyle, Katrina Nyle." The boy in black sang under his breath.
"What should we do with it?" The blonde inquired. "It looks priceless."
Wufei grinned evilly, "Wrap it around Duo's neck-"
"Hey!" He protested. "I feel offered by that!"
Quatre rolled his eyes, "What is something intelligent and nonviolent that we should do with it?"
"Most likely she's looking for it so we should wait until she makes a move." Trowa may not have talked much, but when he did it was something useful. "Let her come to us."
The Chinese boy huffed, "Just like a woman to lose something that costly."
"We do nothing then," Heero took the necklace from Quatre and carefully placed it on his desk,
"We wait."
m
A group of girls congregated around a young lady with glasses and mousey hair in a local park.
"We hope you like our school Sandia, we're pleased to have you." Relena told the new girl.
"All of our classmates think that your so smart." A blonde girl with a lot of pep declared.
"Me? Smart? Oh come on, not me-" The girl was acting too modest for her own good.
"Yes you are. We want you to feel welcomed." The other blonde reassured her.
Well, I'm fitting in quite nicely, ain't I so popular?
"Oh everybody likes you already! You're so nice."A redhead put in.
"Really!" She exclaimed with faux surprise, she hated lying to them but they ate that story up!
"Wow, I feel-welcomed, thank you Relena. I just moved here and hope to make some friends. My parents are scientists and we move around so much I can never settle down in one place."
The redhead signed. "That's sooo sad. . ."
The blonde continued, "But you get to travel and see so many exotic places and your parents must be so renowned as doctors."
"Aww, you don't have to flatter me! I've been here for only a week"
"Hey, why don't you come with us Sandia? We're going to the ice cream shop." Relena asked.
"We'll love to have you." A brunette told Sandia.
"Oh I would love to, but my parents wanted me to come straight home." She was met with dejected sighs and pleading, "But I promise I'll come tomorrow."
"Really Sandia! See you tomorrow and thanks!" The brunette spoke last, they grabbed their belongings and proceeded to leave, "Ok, we'll see you then. Bye Sandia."
Each of them waved to her. "Bye Sandia."
"Bye Relena, bye Kei, bye Carol and Janey!"
She waved to the disappearing girls before disappearing herself.
m
The spy stalked the alley for something precious . . .
Something more valuable than her own name. Something worth dying for.
It wasn't there.
"What happened to my damn necklace!" She shrieked.
The office building where she borrowed the computer disks was in ruins, after searching the place from top to bottom she finished it off.
Her lime green and black Ninja motorcycle stood there untouched, maybe the self-detonating bombs disgusted in her radio had something to do with it, yet the Baset charm was gone.
The tracker she recalled still worked so maybe some dumb kid would be smart enough to push it.
That necklace had value, it was her life.
Now though wasn't the time to worry about she told herself regretful. I'll find it, it isn't far.
"Sandia" took out her laptop from her satchel and began typing, she sat there in her new school uniform going over her mission and sending the other Blaques messages.
"Objective number is completed and now so is objective number two-fitting into a school environment. Objective number three will be completed very so . . . The getaway & delivery."
She scanned the lush scenery briefly, allowing the pallid quiet to set in.
"Erin never said it was a sin to indulge myself, think I'll be Sandia for a little while longer."
Her mission (since she choose to accept it) was to get the disk and pass them off to OZ, what was on them meant big money so she didn't ask questions, but it also meant staying there on Earth and finding out any info on the Gundam rebels for one month.
She recalled telling Stacie and Rachael, her sense of humor could be downright cruel:
"This should be like sex, you cry about it at first but then you get over it."
m
Heero ran a check on the name in the necklace, this appeared on the computer screen as he read out loud to himself:
Project: Tails
Operative: Blaque Kat
Current Alias: Sandia Nelson, local high school student on Earth
Major Objectives: 1) Steal and deliver the disks2) Relate any info on enemy Gundams
"Looking for something I see."
Duo announced himself in the room as Heero tapped away at the computer keys.
"What do you want?"
The computer didn't produce anything else of interest so he shut it down for the night.
Thre it e sat there in all its blinding splendor, he lightly picked the shiny piece of metal up.
Upon closer scrutiny a minuscule button on the side caught his attention:
The necklace had a tracker.
m
The indicator light on her watch began to blink madly.
Off. The. Chain.
"So there you are my lovely, someone has found you yet."
m
The spy's head rolled back.
Some punk left her with a sizable lump in the back of her head-great, her necklace had to end up in the criminal part of town-and her motorcycle had been unwillingly abandoned.
She began to groan: "My head . . . God, my aching head, I swear I'll make this the last time I get drunk. I SWEAR I'll never mix expensive Chardonnay and cheap brandy again."
Someone kicked the chair causing her to get her mind right, she wasn't passed out in her hotel room, she was in a place that held no familiarity. It felt cold, damp, and looked dark.
When her vison cleared, she saw a semi-automatic aimed right between her eyes.
"Good morning sweetheart, happy to see me again."
A "welcoming committee" was gathered around her, each had a weapon and each of looked ready to kill, her hands and ankles were tied to a chair. Well, isn't this lovely?
She bolted upright, it was the abandoned warehouse her bike was parked by.
"Where am I? What in fuck am I doing here?!?"
A dramatically long braid caught her eye.
It hit her like bricks: YOU! You're suppose to be lying in the gutter somewhere!
The spy bit her lip, if they even got a hint that she knew about that guy it'll be all over.
He saved her the trouble of breaking in, but now who was going to save her from death?
"First, you tell us who you are, then you tell us about the disks."
The guy with the messy brown hair had an ice laced in his voice. That, and a finger on the trigger.
"I'm an innocent school girl, what do I know?"
"You're lying, woman." Wufei pointed out, Heero put a bullet in one of the chair's leg.
The girl flinched, that bullet was an inch from her ankle.
Trowa pressed calmly, "The disks madam-"
I'll play their game my way.
"Name's Sandia Nelson, I just moved here and what do I care about some dumb disks?"
"Ly-ing." Duo teased shaking the gun.
Another bullet went into the second leg, the table's leg, none of them apparently had bad aim.
Dammit! They were for real. Beats of sweat collected on her forehead, getting in her eyes.
"That's twice miss, the third time . . ."
"Ok, okay! I'll tell you! They're in the bottom of my purse, I hid them."
The platinum blonde was cut short, she didn't want to hear the third time would be for her skull.
"Why do you want them?" Quatre questioned.
"Because they're shiny and pretty." Was the sardonic reply she grinned wickedly.
The black ponytail dude moved for his gun.
"Lay off the smart comments woman, why do you want them?"
This is going nowhere, you've really fucked yourself Kitty Kat.
"Somebody's paying some buku bucks for the damn things and I need cash, it works out quite nicely for the two of us. Smart enough answer?" None of them were convinced. "I don't lie to a loaded gun and I'm not lying about the disks! I know that have something to do with you but-"
"What did you say?" Heero spat out, his aim was at her forehead now.
"I-I" She swallowed, "I said that they have something to do with you, I don't know what's on them. If you left me go, you'll get them and I'll be out of your hair."
The brown-haired motioned for the others to consult with him.
Katrina could only make out their smart remarks and curses, from the tone of their whispers she knew it was heated:
"We don't have time for this, why don't we just blow off that woman's head?"
"Cause we don't have the disks period."
"Guys, we don't have to kill her-she said that she'll surrender them."
"What if she's using this as a ploy?"
"Then we'll make sure she has no way of telling."
"And how-my Japanese friend-we will we do that?"
"We'll give her our own little mission."
Another exchange of words occurred before they turned back to her.
The guy with the weird do spoke, "Here's the deal, you haven't hear of or seen anything about us, you'll live to tell your employer what they want to hear-but they'll be our words. Got it?"
Defeat was written across her face, no amount of conning or charm or cunning would help.
She rolled her eyes, "It's gotten."
"Good." He added with a slight smirk.
Katrina sneered. "Then here's my deal-" She screamed to the top of her lungs.
"GET ME OUT OF THESE DAMN ROPES!"
"I don't know . . ." Duo remarked with a smug smile, "She looks kinda cozy."
She growled under her breath, "Can I smother him with that stupid braid please?"
They decided to cut her free then.
m
After another 'friendly conversation' with the boys, they allowed the spy to go.
She had her necklace back and 24-hour surveillance on her tail-the tracker was meant to work for her, not against-their promise to destroy her if she tried anything funny could be made good on
School dragged on today for Katrina.
Words couldn't describe how screwed she was and every little thing made her paranoid, to cover up her strange behavior she made up a story about nearly being killed by a runaway driver.
Of course he fan club flocked around causing her to feel somewhat better . . .
Heero decided to take a scroll in the neighborhood.
In other words, it was his way of checking up on the spy. The tracker told him she was in the school nearby . . . The same school Relena happened to be attending.
Wandering the campus turned up no sign of her, right now he wasn't sure who he wanted to find the most . . . As if her choice of hiding place hadn't to been any closer to Miss Darian, he could see the two girls idly chatting and flipping through a fashion magazine.
That little sly bitch, he thought. How and why she was getting close to Relena made him wonder.
Neither one of them noticed him walk up to them until he greeted them both.
"Good afternoon Relena, Sandia Nelson."
Relena nearly upset her drink while the alleged Sandia fixed him with a death stare.
Visible shock was there as they tried to collect themselves.
It can't be . . . ! She saw him, he one of those guys from the room.
Damn, and it had to be the with the ice eyes.
What in the hell is he doing here? She was forced to agree to do whatever they wanted to save her butt-the files people kept on Kitty Kat were Pandora boxes waiting to happen-but having a personal babysitter was taking it too far, she had been informed about her "new vacation spot."
Relena was the first speak, anything Sandia said would be foul language.
"Heero, I-we didn't see you coming." He's here, then she asked herself, why is he here?
"Really?" His tone was cool, in Kat's mind just like ice again, sending unwanted chills.
"Forgive me, it was rude of me not to announce my presence."
The blonde was drinking up his eyes, her brunette companion could've decked him.
This little sly bastard. She glanced at her friend, the expression screamed CRUSH!
"Oh, have you meet . . ." Then she realized, "Wait a minute, you called her by name?"
"Yes, I did. I meet Sandia when in fencing class." More like you trying to cut me with your eyes.
Relena looked from the brunette boy to the brunette female.
"Is that true, Sandia? I never would've guess that the two of you know each other."
The look he shot said back me up on this lie.
A chuckle escaped her throat, Relena couldn't tell though it was a very unnerved chuckle.
"Yes I must confess I did meet-Heero, I believe, in fencing class yesterday. He's-actually quite good." Quite good at pissing me off, I should jump over this table and kick your sorry ass.
"Well, I must be off." Try a damn thing and I will be over you like white on rice.
"Good bye Relena."
"Good bye Heero." Relena's tone made her sound like a lovesick puppy.
"It was a pleasure seeing you again-Sandia." He just had to stress her alias.
She couldn't risk being found out of again, her school records were counterfeits and the cash need was too strong. The bounty wasn't going away any time soon . . .
"Oh no," Her pleasantry was faked, "the pleasure was all mine."
I will kill you. And bury your body.
In the distance, Heero let out the biggest laugher Relena had ever heard.
m
Duo decided to cure his boredom by seeing what more he could discover on Katrina Nyle.
Personal Info on Operative Blaque Cat
Family: Mother and father, deceased.
Resides at: No known residence
Reported Arrest: None
Mental Disorders and/or Disorders: None reported.
"Aren't you little Miss Popular?" Duo joked to himself.
Trowa walked into the room, the other three boys crafted a new plan regarding the spy.
"So what did you guys plan to do with school girl?"
"She's staying with you."
"WHAT?!?" He jumped up out of his seat.
"They figured she can send them on a wild goose chase but she can't be trusted alone."
"And they think I'm gonna put up with her? No way in hell!"
"They felt that it was your fault in the first place so now you have to babysit her."
"Heero though of this huh?"
"Actually it was Quatre.." Duo's eyes widen.
Trowa stopped at the door, "Better him than our friend."
m
"She'll slip."
"Yes, she will, all we need is the right moment."
Lady Une and her precious Treize were having a conversation about the spies they hired to work for them. "I don't see why we need them. I can very well-"
"No, Lady Une, I need you here." Her heart leaped at that little response. "The Gundams will find out who she's been really work for and then they'll take them out-all of them."
Good, get rid of all them, she thought happily, her mind was giddy.
"Then we can use our money for more suitable things."
"The Blaques are a bunch of notorious little brats your Excellency . . . "
More like whores if you ask me.
"These-rogues-can't be trusted, they've been giving both OZ and the Federation problems."
She recalled with a clear mind how the little flirts acted around His Excellency.
All her strength that day went into not snapping on them.
"I see your point. And we'll just let both of our enemies take out each other."
"That little bitch honestly thought we were going to save her?"
"Children, my fair Lady, are gullible like that. If the bounty killers or the general scum don't get her then the Gundams will."
"I see, you're right sir."
"Oh and Lady Une, will you draw me a bath. I'll like that very much."
Will I! But she had to play cool. "I'll see to that-sir."
m
Katrina sat there lost in thought in a window like a cat would, unmoving and quiet, the expression written on her fine feline features told anyone she was contemplating something deep.
"Hey, need any company?"
A voice shattered her thought. Dammit! Her mind screamed, not him.
"What do you want?" And why do I want you to stay?
"I'm bored." And why do I want you to let me stay?
"Well, do something.".
"This window looks inviting."
"Inviting enough for you to jump out."
"Just move over."
"Fine." She snarled, making room for the boy, he sat down with his back clearly turned to hers.
Neither one knew what to say to the other, they didn't know whether to say anything at all, maybe they really want to speak out of courtesy or boredom or simply cause it felt right.
"So . . . You're staying here?" Did he care if she was? Did he care if she was even living?
"Yeah I'm staying here-like it's on my own damn free will. Don't get cute." Too late for that.
"What? You don't trust me?"
She was implying that he actually wanted her here, even if something said yes. . .
"If I didn't trust you, I would've gutted you before." And that was no lie.
"And I'm breathing right now because . . ." Yeah, he wondered, she could kill easily so why not?
"Shut up."
She folded her arms over her chest concentrating on the rain and not on the young man with his back to her. Silence didn't satisfy him, "So what's up with the motorcycle?"
"I have a need for speed."
"Oh really?"
The way he said it made Kat blurt out her next words: "You really think I'm fast don't you? And I'm not talking about speed." He choked a reply, his bright red cheeks said too much, angry ginger brown eyes could be seen. "I-that's not what I said."
He wouldn't say aloud that her body gave that impression.
The conversation dropped.
Katrina was the one to speak, the tone had softened. "So why didn't you kill me?"
"We need the disks. You got the disks. End of story."
"And what's with the priest getup? Anything but righteous from what I see."
Brightening up again he answered, "This is what I do babe: I bring Death."
"Isn't Death suppose to be a silent figure?"
"Ha-ha." He answered on a sour note.
"Besides Death should be a necessary function, not some pleasure deal."
The tone was sharp, warning, and bitter.
Duo chose to keep his comments to himself.
"Okkkk-"
He challenged, "Since we're in the questioning mood, what's with the necklace. It's nothing but cheap metal-"
"Bastet is the Egyptian goddess who protects the lives of cats, cats are the protector of souls."
"So you figure your name's Kat and it'll protect you."
Her smile was smug, "Does a damn good job . . . And it's never been cheap"
He laughed, "That's crazy talk."
"Look priest boy, I need three things to believe in-myself, this necklace, and a weapon."
"Well then, I believe only in Death."
The rain continued to beat soft against the windowpane as the wind sang.
It lulled them as they sat there unknowing enjoying each other's company.
"Listen, being the gentleman I am you can take my bed for the night and I'll take the couch."
She flinched some when his voice cut into her thoughts again. He always had that timing . . .
"Keep it." She replied coolly. No way in hell, she vowed, I'll throw myself from this window before getting into some guy's bed.
"Refusing my offer? Boy, whatever happened to a little kindness." Duo actually did feel hurt.
"I like the window and the window likes me."
You just love to lie right through your teeth. "Aww, I know how to treat a lady."
She stared into his violet eyes with their violent tempests.
Wasn't she blowing the word "treat" way out of proportion and why was she questioning everything that she did now? Where in the hell was her mind going and why was she a bit concerned about him? "I'll sleep right here just fine."
"Fine."He huffed.
"Fine." She snorted.
m
And what were you saying before, I'll throw myself from this window before I . . .
"I'll jump tomorrow."
She was freezing, dozing off near a cracked window on a cold rainy night wasn't smart.
The only warm place was the bed.
His bed.
She managed to massage the cramps of her legs then she crossed the darken room, she had those cat eyes that were going at seeing things, like the sleeping young man tangled up in his sheets.
Katrina took at breath.
I hate my life, I hate my life . . .
She slipped off her heels and took down her ponytail.
Nothing more she scolded, comfort was what a cat liked but comfort and him weren't gonna mix.
Did he have to sleep with his shirt off? At least he's is wearing underwear . . .
Too close for comfort took on an added meaning as Kat took the spot farthest away from him.
Laying her head down she tried to fall back asleep.
But she couldn't. Something needed to be done.
Maybe it was the liquor still talking or her own foolishness but she kissed him on his cheek. "Good night, sweet prince." Was her sweet whisper.
m
The young man out of his priest's guise woke up next to an angel.
What! An angel? His eyes opened wide.
Another definable lump with a pretty face was in the bed, arm thrown around him.
Why is she wrapped up in his sheets?
Katrina Nyle was in his bed.
Wait a minute . . . I didn't . . . We didn't . . .
Springing up in the bed Duo scanned the room quickly. "There isn't a bottle of gin lying around so I'm not drunk." He inhaled, "I can't smell anything so I am not high. Hmmm, no other drugs."
The body began to stir.
That was something that made him smile, "No wonder my dreams were so interesting."
She peered at him then into the window with big sleepy eyes shifting between the sheets, he noticed that only her ponytail was down-whether to feel disappointed or not he didn't know.
"Good morning to you too." Katrina fixed him with a weird look like she was trying to figure out what she was doing here then she quickly removed her arm. "Sleep well? I know I did-"
Her tone was groggy but threatening, "I'm not in the mood."
Duo put his hands behind his head, "Interesting choice of words, but besides what happen to sleeping in the window? The window doesn't like you?"
"I was cold and the bed's warm. Big deal."
"Are all you Saturday nights like this?"
"Only when I'm drunk." Came out then it was followed by a long yawn, "What time is it?"
"Time enough." Her sour expression made him laugh, "Ok fine, it's nine o' clock."
"Nine?" She promptly laid back down and threw a sheet over her head, "Wake me up later."
"The others want to talk to you."
"Tell them I'm sleep."
"They mean right now."
"Then they them I'm dead."
m
In the middle of the afternoon, Duo slipped back into the dorm going unnoticed by his fellow classmates, the idea of a girl being in his room would raise a lot of brows.
Course the idea raised his too.
The sound of running water brought him up short.
Instinct told him to go to go for his gun but common sense told him that no thief would be using the bathroom. Then who's in there, I don't have any roommates and-hold it.
Duo wlaked toward the bathroom, it wasn't locked so walked right in.
The room looked hazy from the stream, clothes were scattered over the tile floor.
He pushed the shower curtain back, only to find . . .
"What in the hell!" A girl screamed, "Get out of here NOW!"
Immediately Duo felt himself being pelted by towels and dirty clothing.
He shut it back quickly, heart pounding in his chest, and ran out of the bathroom.
"She's using my shower!" A four-year-old would've marveled at his immature behavior.
The knob started to turn in the door, oh shoot he thought, it was the other four guys.
The god of Death being made a fool by some smart-mouth girl . . .
"Any other ideas," The voices could be heard.
'There is the possibility that we can trust her." That was Quatre, always so trusting.
"I'll rather trust cyanide." And that was Heero, always finding his bright sides.
"But we need OZ off our backs and she'll get them to do that."
Trowa was always a voice of reason.
"Screw dealing with this damn woman. We aren't weak." And what do you know, it was Wufei.
"Hey guys! So what ya doing?" Duo popped up out of nowhere, trying to look unruffled.
They gave him queer looks asking themselves was it the sedatives?
"We're suppose to be here stupid, remember?" Wufeil scolded.
Heero spoke, "To talk about the mission, the one you nearly messed up."
He laughed nervously, "Oh yeah . . . But everything's ok, nothing wrong here-"
A door slammed in the room, a very soapy and enraged woman stood there only in a towel.
Heero merely rolled his eyes, Quatre was beet red, Wufei looked annoyed, and Trowa was expressionless. They all turned away averting their eyes.
"If you don't mind, can I at least have my clothes back!" She snatched the jumpsuit she threw at him off of his head, stalking back to the bathroom.
She slammed the door hard leaving the braided brother flushed.
Heero couldn't resist a smart remark. "I see you're having fun."
"Shove it." The braided-boy threatened leaving the others to snickers.
m
Katrina and Duo were stuck together for the whole day, they had to leave early in the Monday morning to get to the office building on the side of town, this new building was an OZ-owned communication center, the spy had to supply a report detaining her mission's progress.
Heero took all of her money, the keys to Granny Apple, and her legit identification- his way of preventing her from doing anything funny- while under the close watch of her "babysitter."
"You had to steal the guy's clothes too?"
Duo ditched the priest garb for a expensive stale-colored Italian suit.
"Hey, this place is high security right? So I'm going high maintenance." He pulled out some black glasses,
"Like the shades?"
"I'll like them better when I have to shove it down your throat."
"Ooh, you're so cold to me, it's the green skirt isn't?" He then asked, "Couldn't find any 'business attire?'"
The slit in the side was slowing too much thigh and the low-cut top didn't leave much to the imagination . . . Maybe his . . . but not anyone else's.
"This is my business attire and it's my business."
"Please, don't blind me."
"It looks good, you know it." She taunted, Katrina was very aware of any she was wearing.
"It's looks like you're a cheap whore." He said under his breath.
She prompted smacked him in the back of his skull. "Cheap ho with fist. Shut up and move."
The base she was to report to was concealed within a large corporation complex so they had to look like the average employees-the ones who didn't work and always played.
They made their way to the empty file room then proceeded to hatch the files containing her latest mission, Katrina chose a couple random places to send the soldiers in search of the G Boys . . .
"I hear the mountains are nice."
Somebody was coming.
And they had to cut out quick.
The steps moved faster and faster, he knew all the guards had guns.
Think stupid, think!
"Duo!" She cries passionately and pulls him closer . . .
"Hey, what's going on in here." A rough male voice demanded.
"Can't a girl have a little fun in here without everybody tryin' to ruin it."
The coy, seductive smile she gave worked like a charm, an intoxicating charm at that.
It wasn't unusual to find the workers shacked up together in compromising positions in the closets and backrooms so he didn't give these two much of a thought, but it did strike him that he never saw these two leave for the general lunch period."What's this? A private lunch-in, you serving yourself up some 'dessert' boy?"
"Yeah and it's called chocolate."
She bit her lips to keep from balling her fist, he acting was too good. The guard stepped inside, eyeing them-it never was the most pleasant feeling for her no matter how many times she had to put herself through this.
"What do you want with me?"
"Where's your ID?"
Duo felt confident.
"Right here." He pulled out a faux one that had a name and some forged info, the fake computer write-ups were currently apart of a complicate virus software program that would be completely downloaded into the entire system one hour from now. After giving it a long hard stare and calling it in, he gave it back.
"Alright, you're clear," Then he smirked, "But make this quick."
"I don't like quick honey . . . I like takin' things slow."
Katrina slowly kissed him again, this time she made sure it was long and drawn out enough to make it seem like they having that 'lunch-in,' her partner didn't know how to react still but he understood what she was doing . . . He pulled her closely wrapping his arms around her hips.
Well, maybe their acting was too good.
Or maybe this wasn't acting.
With a sick smile, he turned around without another word and left the two kiddies alone.
Another minute passed before they realized he had left the room finally to their relief allowing her to gently slipped out of his arms.
He had this look of shock, pleasure, and pain across his face.
"Katrina?"
It came out like a breath, that name rolled off of his tongue so nicely. And so did hers . . .
All she could only look into his eyes . . . Being trapped in his deep violet eyes sent chills and thrills. Their eyes were fixed for that one moment in time with something only they knew.
Her next words came out unnerved and shaken, she couldn't look his way.
"Come on, let's get out of here."
Cinderella, the fairy godmother told her, the spell is broken.
m
The rest of the ride was quiet, the roaring of her motorcycle's engine could be heard.
Her eyes were coming off one way and her words another.
So it wasn't just a kiss?
Well, she wasn't going to risk answering that and neither was he . . .
m
Katrina headed straight for his room.
Duo didn't stop her-maybe she was hoping he would-and he went his own way.
Their heads needed clearing.
"What's three hundred Gs to me anyway?"
The girl asked the walls, the carpet, the sky on the other side.
"I got money. I can manage. Why should I worry about paper?"
In his room
"Greedy bitch. I'm so selfless."
In the far corner of the room her backpack and overnight bag were slung, staring at it long enough prompted her to walk over to it and pull out her laptop.
"And I used to be so kind.
I'm risking their lives, obviously they're all trying to protect something-important."
The computer was booted it up for a long afternoon.
She spent the rest of the afternoon formatting those disks.
Rap music blasted from the radio, I Need A Ryde Or Die Chick was the name, sweet sounds of reality's cacophony from the Ruff Ryders played itself out.
A smooth song for a not-so-smooth day.
m
Just like he had suspected.
The letters on the screen flashed "OZ."
Heero was royally pissed.
Katrina wasn't just a spy, she was theirs, their bitch.
"Liar, liar . . ." He whispered as the door flew open.
"Hey Heero! We got OZ on the run and save our necks to live another day!"
"Duo, what do you-" It hit him, Duo was still the last to know. "Just the person I want to see."
What was it that made him not want to trust the boy sitting in front of him at the computer terminal. "Why?" He asked, suspicion growing.
"Let's just say 'curiosity killed the cat.'"
And then this ominous smile spread across his dark features.
m
The afternoon was longer for him.
He had been deceived.
A criminal record all over the states, trouble with the Feds, working for OZ . . .
She was working for them, that made her an enemy.
Duo took out his gun and headed straight for the roof top, she'll be standing there alone admiring the night skyline. Cats always watched the sun go down, they were always watching something.
They only knew so much about her because she was trying to protect herself from certain danger.
Well, he laughed, she was going to meet it.
OZ got clever this time.
They send in a pretty lady to charm them into trust.
Or was it just him?
Being charmed by her sweet smile-the spell she worked on others was working against him now.
Fallen for the criminal element . . . He could've kicked himself.
But you learn lessons to correct them.
m
The sound of the door opening made her ears prick, just like a true cat.
She turned to see who the person was with the heavy footsteps and quiet breathing.
She stared at him frozen in time, his finger coaxed the trigger.
"Duo?"
There she was staring at Death, Sweet Death, in his violet eyes, his name was well devised.
"Good night, Katrina Nyle."