Chapter 1


Loneliness awakens in the darkness
An endless journey
Maybe we'd meet again one day
With Unforgettable wounds still hurting

The phone rang. Wufei stared at the ceiling. The neat strokes of paint were still clearly visible. The phone rang. He shut his eyes feeling the coarse linen bed sheets over his chest. The phone rang. As though emerging from a trance, he jerked his head slightly upon hearing it properly for the first time. Leaning over, he lifted the receiver and spoke in a gruff, croaky voice.
"Hello? ..."
"Good morning Stone" Sally's silky tones greeted at the other end.
"Onna..." Wufei grunted flopping back onto the bed still holding the receiver to his ear. "What do you want?" He looked at the display on his alarm clock. "...At 7am on a Saturday morning?" He added hoarsely to his disapproval of his preventer code name. Sally and her confounded humour!
"Well my supposed "morning off" is off to a good start, Thank you very much Mr Chang." She chuckled sarcastically on the other end. "Une wants to see you, she's got a high profile assignment for you, so be here before "
Wufei sleepily rubbed his face with his free hand. Today? But what was it about? He'd been up all night finishing off both his and Sally's share of the annual budget summary, not to mention completing the report on their last assignment.
"Alright, I'll be there"
Sally put the receiver down first; she knew from experience that the dialling tone was Wufei's usual parting word.

Let into top...searching...
Not because of tomorrow
but for living out the now
let into top...while searching...
My life...I
Only make sure of it...

The young man sat up in his modest bed. The room was small and minimalist. The only other objects bar the bed; nightstand and telephone were a lamp, the alarm clock and a wall scroll. He liked it that way though. It was simple, pure, and easy, unlike his life. As Wufei swung his legs over the side of the bed he put his head in his hands. The strict morning light striped his bare back through the slanted blinds. Sighing deeply, the twenty-two year old stood up and straightened out, then proceeded to wrap the bed cover over his bare form. The small flat consisted of a bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen. Everything was very clean and tidy and there was plenty of space for such small accommodation. Some might call it sterile or cold, but Wufei needed no comfort. Sally was averse to such unwelcoming surroundings and avoided visiting him as often as possible, inviting him to see her instead. Inviting? He didn't need that woman to invite him anywhere. Didn't she think he could do anything on his own? He was a man and didn't need that woman running around after him, criticising everything he did and correcting his every move.

Everyone sees dreams and talks of
A place to return to
I only want to continue walking
Only gazing at the darkness

Without a yawn, grunt or utterance, he stepped into the shower turning the taps and dropping his make-shift pyjamas as he did so. The cold water hit him like a jet but he didn't flinch or gulp breath. Simply smiling at the refreshing and invigorating sensation it gave him, he sighed. It was one of the few, but enjoyable moments, when he could put things to the side and simply revel in a primitive pleasure. As the water began to heat, he methodically worked out the kinks in hi neck and arms, humming melodiously as he did so. He couldn't help but ask himself what it could be that Une wanted him so desperately to do. Deciding that his efforts were in vain, Wufei pushed the droplets of water through his glossy hair with his slender fingers and relaxed. He'd need to be more focused later on whatever lay ahead of him.

Fighting
Stepping out for the answers
Shouting it out again in my heart

Wufei stepped off the elevator and onto the dark green industrial carpet of the corridor. The familiar scent of coffee hung in the air and even although it was a Saturday, the comforting buzz of typing and chatter droned on in the background. Pushing a few strands of stray raven hair behind his ear, Wufei made his way towards the small room at the end of the corridor he and Sally shared. Blinking heavily, he approached the door and the frosted glass panel with both his and Sally's name on it. He could see her diligently moving around inside. He resented having to come in on a Saturday, but by the same token preferred the purpose of work to dark brooding. His blonde partner raised her head and flashed him a smile as he entered the room. She was sorting through a filing cabinet. Taking his uniform jacket off, he placed himself neatly at his workstation and nodded her a stoic greeting which she was so used to.
"Sorry to get you up so early" She said as she turned back to her filing and busied herself.
"Don't apologise, I was awake" He said staring half interestedly as his computer went through the routine of booting up.
It was several minutes before Wufei finally started work, but then felt himself being watched. He glanced up and saw Sally leaning against the filing cabinet staring at him. Trying to ignore her childish behaviour, Wufei's eyes darted to and fro to his computer and to his partner, growing agitated as he did so. She was still gazing at him with the same frown. He glowered at her, swivelling slightly in his seat.
"Why are you looking at me that way?" he asked bluntly, still angered by her rude behaviour.
"Aren't you the least bit interested in what you've been called here for?" She queried resting a comfortable pose against the open drawer of the cabinet.
"Yes, but its only 8:45 and I'm not to report to Une till 9," He turned to face her fully "So I believe this is a good opportunity to catch up on my share of the paper work. Economic, eh Water?" He regarded coldly.
Sally raised an eyebrow amused by her partner's industrious attitude so early on a Saturday morning. He simply returned his attention to his monitor, giving her one last defiant glare. Defeated by "The Stone's" usual arrogant air, she shook her head and continued sorting through her work.

Let into top...more than a prayer
more than a futile wish
Slicing through the present
Let into top...rising...
Winning the strength every time
It's the only answer


"Une, what did you want to see me about?" Wufei asked sharply ignoring as she gestured towards the adjacent chair.
After a slight pause in which Une held her patience together and set her jaw, she opened her mouth to speak.
"I'm sorry to call you in on such short notice, especially on your weekend...please take a seat"
She shot him a look which warned him that he'd better do as she said, because she wasn't in the mood right now. He sat down. Une couldn't be bothered with his self-righteous crap at 9 am on her day off. Folding her hands neatly on the table, she looked down at a small case file and continued.
"This is a long-term assignment; it will keep you away for the better part of the year so make arrangements. You know the drill, and give Sally a box of Kleenex she might burst into tears at the though of you leaving"
He gritted his teeth at her patronism of both he and his partner, but gave a sharp nod to show he'd understood.
"Vice foreign minister Dorlain is conducting a sphere wide tour of all the government systems. She will have an armed security escort for all public and private events."
Wufei's face began to drain as he knew what she was leading up to and it sobered his private ambitions for purpose and excitement.
"However, she will need a highly trained and responsible personal bodyguard to accompany her at all times. I am assigning you this duty Stone" Une almost smirked, that would sort him out for a little while at least.
"Une you can't be serious!" He spat at her throwing his hands onto the table.
"Can't you handle this Mr Chang?" She challenged, dragging out the ammunition.
Wufei's visage tightened. "Of course I can, but I am not being paid to follow some air headed...female around shopping outlets or have her take a swing at me once a month every month!" He hissed, feeling himself becoming hot beneath the collar.
Une had had enough. She got up and marched around sticking her nose right in his face. Being only four years older than him, she no longer had the added height or strength on him she had previously had. "You will take this case or you will lose your job! You are the best we have to offer, Wufei, and Miss Relena deserves the best there is!" She began to circle him and used her last attack: intimidation. He had to do this. "From now on, you march when she says march, beg when she says beg, roll over when she says roll over" She could feel his eyes burning furiously on the back of her head and loved it. Swishing her hair as she sat down, Une couldn't help but let a smirk escape. "She doesn't go anywhere without you. If she goes shopping you carry her purse, when she eats you cook, when she washes you scrub her back!"
Wufei met her growl and nodded briskly, he wasn't going to win against such an obstinate woman. With that Une's mood brightened and she smiled sweetly. Picking up the file, which sat at her fingertips, she slid it across the desk towards him. "Brief yourself, you're dismissed"


Wufei slammed the door shut and made the glass rattle as he did whenever his mood was black. Sally jumped in her seat and wearing an alarmed expression on her face followed his every aggressive movement across the room to his chair.
"So..." Said Sally above Wufei's heavy raged breathing, "What did Une say?"
Wufei snapped a venomous glare at her innocent tone. "Why don't you tell me Onna?! You knew but didn't tell me!"
Sally smiled cheekily "Sorry Wufei but this priceless, really, we should have filmed it and given it to Duo for blackmail material"
"Stop laughing woman!" He said folding his arms across his chest and sulking at his screen.
Sally was forced to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter. She was treading on thin ice now; it was time to quit. Aware of her vain efforts, Wufei tensed and felt his temper beginning to flare again. Unable to sit through the humiliation any longer, he held together the last shreds of his patience and stood calmly.
"I'm going to train" He gritted quietly as Sally struggled to settle herself back to work, giggles evident as she waved her hand in compliance.
Frowning, he hastily left the room and made his way to the only sanctuary he had from Sally and Une's constant barrage of aggravation.

Let into top...more than a prayer
More than futile wishes...
Slicing through the present...
Let into top...rising
Winning the strength every time
This life bursts into flames