16 years in the making! Yep, I started this story back in 2003 and have been re-working and improving it ever since. It's had several incarnations on here but this is now the very final, polished edit which has been fully re-written multiple times. Any and all feedback really appreciated :)

The story interacts with several of the main characters but mostly concentrates around Heero, Wufei, Duo, Quatre, Sally and Noin.

This is a post-war Gundam Wing story set six months after the war's end. While settling into their new civilian lives, the Gundam pilots and some of their wartime comrades come together for a week-long vacation at Quatre's Mansion, where Heero surprises everyone by revealing a harrowing secret from his dark and somewhat cruel past.
This new revelation quickly has an impact on his fellow pilots and comrades, ultimately uniting them in a quest to bring about reconciliation and healing...

.

.

The Boy from Sakuragoaka
Chapter One

Temperatures were high that day. The sun blazed with graceful intensity between a few wisps of cloud that sparsely peppered the sky.
Quatre was used to the heat, being Arabian and having spent half his young life in the desert, he thought nothing of the near ninety-degree heat. Sally, however, was finding it just a little too warm to be completely comfortable, but she wasn't complaining. She had been looking forward to this day for what felt like an eternity.
During the final months of the war, Quatre and Sally had become good friends, nothing seriously romantic, just a really solid friendship between two people trying their best to cope with the horrors of the war. They had discovered a distinctly high level of comfort in each other's company and found themselves regularly sharing their thoughts and worries other over a soothing cup of tea.
They had often talked about having a day out together once the war was over, and now, six months after the war's end, they had finally managed to book the time to do it.
For Sally, this was also to be the start of a short vacation. She had agreed to be Quatre's guest at the Winner mansion for a week after finally admitting she was feeling stressed and in need of a break from her hectic, high-pressure life as a civilian doctor.

They'd decided a trip to the coast seemed fitting for such a beautiful day, so armed with a picnic, a Rolls Royce and Quatre's faithful butler, James, they headed out from the mansion to a location known by very few people. Thirty minutes later, after winding their way along numerous scenic country lanes, they pulled up beside a wooden gate in what seemed like the middle of nowhere.

"I do believe this is the location Master Quatre," spoke James loyally, applying the handbrake.
Quatre leaned forward and scrutinised the gate through Sally's side window. "Yes, this is it, James. Oh, I remember it so well." He spoke quietly as thoughts of happier moments from his childhood ran through his mind.
Sally put her head close to his as she too peered curiously out of the windscreen at the field and woodland beyond the gate.
"You've been here before?"
Quatre nodded, "Many times when I was a boy," he replied, contemplating further into his memories. "My father used to bring my sisters and me, here whenever he had the chance. It's so beautiful here," he whispered. He visualised himself as a child, playing games like hide and seek, and tag with his sisters, play-wrestling with his father, running barefoot across nearby open meadows flying a kite and swimming in the secret lagoon and the nearby ocean.

"Well, are we going to have a look, or just stare at it through the window?" she grinned, eager to get out and explore.
"I'll fetch the hamper," spoke James, making eye contact via the rear-view mirror.
The blonde Arab nodded as he reached for his door handle. "Come on then Sal," he said, "let's go and see. I think you'll like it here."

They wandered to the rear of the car, where James was opening the trunk lid. Inside it sat a large, rectangular, wicker basket.
"Should I carry the basket for you Master?" asked the grey-suited man, respectfully.
"That won't be necessary thank you," Quatre replied, "I'll take it from here."
Quatre was about to reach for the basket when James put his hand out to stop him. "Then perhaps, if you'll forgive my presumptuousness, Master, I have taken the liberty.."
He reached in and opened the wicker basket to reveal two pre-packed rucksacks. He lifted one out and held it up for Quatre to slip his arms into.
Quatre beamed a big smile, chortling loudly."James," he beamed, "what would I do without you? Thank you."
After helping him adjust his straps for optimum comfort, James reached in and pulled out a second rucksack for Sally.
"And one for madam," he said holding it up for her to slip in her arms.
Sally smiled at him as she slipped it on.

"Thank you, James," replied Quatre gratefully, "we will likely be gone until early dusk," he looked at Sally for confirmation. She nodded in agreement.
"Can you pick us up from here then?"
"Of course, master, it would be my pleasure," was the humble reply.
"Great, thanks. In the meanwhile, take the afternoon off, you're welcome to use the car," suggested Quatre.
"That is most kind Master," came the respectful reply.
"No problem, just enjoy your afternoon, James, and we'll see you at dusk," he replied.
"Very good sir," replied James, "Likewise, it is my greatest wish for you to have a wonderful afternoon."

Quatre slipped his thumbs under his shoulder straps and turned to begin the walk. James watched loyally as Quatre and Sally opened the big old gate and walked through, eventually disappearing out of sight, past a bend in the woodland path, but not before giving James a wave.

They were both dressed for the part, in walking boots, long socks and knee-length safari shorts. Quatre's were sand coloured while Sally's were a military green, which also matched her military style green sleeveless top. Quatre's polo shirt was more brightly coloured with horizontal coloured stripes.
"You're kind to your staff, Quatre," Sally commented as they wandered their way along the enchanting green lane.
Quatre smiled, "I don't really think of James as staff," he replied, "he's more like family really, he's been with us since long before I was born."
"He's got a very dry sense of humour, I like that," she grinned, "and he likes you a lot Quatre, I can tell he's very loyal to you. Im not sure if you realise this, but he genuinely cares about you, and I mean a lot. I can see it in his eyes and in his body language when he interracts with you."

Quatre nodded knowingly, then looked down at the ground and sighed, looking a little saddened. "When my father was killed, James took it very badly, he was utterly devastated," he looked up to Sally who was listening carefully, "he was loyal to the core for my father, he admired and respected him so much. Quatre allowed his mind to conjure up images of the past, "since then, James and I became so much closer. I know he sees a lot of my Father in me, and that's one of the reasons he chose to remain at my side, so his loyalty to my family lives on. I'm forever feeling guilty for ordering him around and telling him what to do, but he insists he wants nothing to change, and that is how he loves his job, and his life to be."
Sally nodded, quietly empathising with the sadness she could sense in Quatre's voice. She knew it was still hard for him to talk about his father's death so decided not to push the subject any further.
She looked at their surroundings. They were walking along a narrow, winding woody path, now abundant with white blossom on either side. She inhaled the sweet scent that filled the air.
"This is such a beautiful place Quatre," she sighed, reaching her hand out to a tall blade of grass and pulling on it.
Quatre looked at her and smiled, suddenly perking up from his slightly sombre mood, "You haven't seen anything yet," he beamed enigmatically. He looked ahead of them on the track, "It's not far now," he said
"What's not far?" asked Sally.
A large, knowing grin appeared on Quatre's face. "You'll see, very soon."
Quatre was being a little enigmatic, not wanting to reveal too much about where they were going. Sally was intrigued, but she could also see he really wanted to surprise her. If it was one thing she'd come to learn about him, it was that he loved to surprise people. He seemed to take his greatest pleasure from seeing the look on people's faces when he did things they weren't expecting. He particularly loved to give gifts to the people close to him. Not necessarily expensive or lavish presents, but just small, simple, thoughtful gifts; the sort that meant more to a person at the time than anything.
She decided not to ask any more question about where they were going. She was happy just to go along with whatever Quatre was planning, and let him surprise her when the time was right.

The small track wound its way through more woodland until, in the distance, they began to hear the sound of running water. The closer they got to it, the more it sounded like a large waterfall.
Quatre was in his element. As they walked, he reminisced again about his previous visits when he was a boy.
"It's all how I remember it," he kept exclaiming excitedly to Sally, continually scanning his eyes all around, "it's like going back in time."
Sally smiled as Quatre continued to walk quietly a couple of paces ahead of her on the narrow track. She was witnessing that very special side of his personality she'd grown to adore and found so endearing; He was radiating a charming innocence, an almost child-like presence of wonder as he took in his surroundings.

As the sounds of the falling water got much closer, Quatre stopped and turned around, beaming Sally a huge grin.
"What?" she asked.
"We're here," he beamed.
He reached out and took Sally's hand. "You have to close your eyes now," he grinned, "and promise me you won't open them until I say."
Sally knew he had been waiting a long time to show her this and she happily complied without question.
He carefully led her further along the track. "Now promise you won't peek," he said, "it will spoil the surprise."
Sally could hear the smile in his voice. She was determined not to look.
"I promise Cat," she replied, her voice a little giggly and nervous at the prospect of tripping on the undergrowth crisscrossing the track.
A few moments later she knew they had reached a clearing because she'd suddenly felt the warmth and brightness of sunlight on her face. The sound of the cascading water also became a little louder.
"Are we out of the forest?" she asked.
"Sort of, yes and no," came the reply.
"What do you mean?"
"See for yourself," replied Quatre in a strangely subdued, almost whispered voice, "Open your eyes, Sal."