Title: A Pull upon a Thread

Chapter: The United Dance

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this fanfiction.

Beta: Standingontherooftops, Amanda and Heartless-and-Suicidal

Pairings: 3x4 2xH mention of 6xN, 1xR and 5xS 5xoc

Warning: Lemon, lime, violence, use of strong language and adult themes. Chapter 9 is very dark.

Summary: Duo has been assigned a mission that is very dangerous and will put his loved ones at risk. Duo asks if Hilde will stay with Trowa and Quatre just to put his mind at ease. But when Duo doesn't come back from the mission Hilde and Quatre start to worry. Duo couldn't have disappeared at a worse time.

Authors Notes: thanks everyone for the messages, I really appreciate it.

Brussels – United Dance

19:30PM – 10th May A.C. 198

Heero parked the car outside of the City Dance Hall not too far away from the City Business sector. Not too long ago Wufei and he had reached Kazumi's family home, had they realised that the family had an outing to go to. Carefully they had used their spy skills to follow them and had ended up at the City Hall. Stopping at the end of the street they watched as their Rolls Royce parked up in front of the entrance. Heero watched as the driver stood out of the car and moved around to the back door to let the passengers out. There were four people who exited the car, two females around about his age and two males, one younger than the girls and then what looked like their father.

One of the girls was just as tall as the well-built father. She wore a strapless and feminine on the knee gown with a ruched bodice and enclosed boning in a soft rose colour. The asymmetric drape detail at the front added a graceful element to her figure. It helped to show off her long thin legs with strappy silver shoes on her feet. Her hair was left down framing her face with little curls bouncing on her shoulders.

The other girl had a much different style to the sister (Heero suspected). This girl wore a strapless, floor sweeping maxi with a ruched bodice and enclosed boning in a violet colour. The girl's hair was pulled back away from her face with two curls framing her face. Heero noticed her smile was false as she talked to the elder man. That was Kazumi, the one they were here to see.

"Well go on then," Heero said as he watched the four go into the hall. He didn't look at Wufei but he could feel his friend's eyes on him. Once the party with Kazumi had gone from his view he looked at Wufei to see him frowning, it caused Heero to frown. "What?"

"Why are you helping me?" Wufei asked. It wasn't like Wufei to question Heero's suggestions or help. There was something in Wufei's voice that Heero had never heard before. There was hesitance in Wufei's voice and face but also fear. What was the fear of? Was it rejection? Hardly… Was it fear of her? No chance… Even Quatre looked evil compared to her when she was around Wufei.

Heero shrugged, "why not? You evidently like her…" He said softly and turning to look at the building. "She's important to you, whether you love her or not. You may not admit it but you believe she can calm you and relax you." Heero looked at Wufei's confused face, "You're the only one who hasn't calmed after the war, because you went in to Preventers without taking time for yourself."

"Why are you telling me this?" Wufei asked frowning more than ever causing Heero to sigh.

"I told you before, it's alright to act on your emotions," Heero said softly and smiled at Wufei. Wufei did not move but he looked away from Heero. Wufei's frown disappeared and was replaced by a melancholy look on his face. "What is holding you back?" Heero asked quietly.

Again Wufei did not answer. Wufei opened the car door and got out, quietly shutting the door behind him. Had Heero touched a nerve? Wufei was a strange character to behold. You could never quite tell how he was going to react, and now was a brilliant example of that idea. Heero watched as Wufei walked around the car and towards the building. Had Heero gotten to him?

Wufei didn't want to talk to Heero right now. Heero was right, he needed to talk to Kazumi and explain to her something's he had wished he'd never have to speak again. There were things Kazumi needed to know and things he needed to explain. He just needed to get over there and talk to her. He had to forget everything, forget the danger and explain to her everything.

Wufei walked into the building and searched for Kazumi. He knew what she was wearing and he knew what she looked like; this should be easy… or so he thought. The hall was filled with women as colourful as the Sanc Palace gardens. It was easy to find the colour dress, but then it was finding the actual colour dress. Wufei sighed and walked around the perimeter of the room searching for that purple floor length dress. She wasn't on the dance floor, she wasn't by the tables and she wasn't by the bar. So where was she?

Wufei noticed a large glass door on the other side of the room that was open. Draped and framed by blood red curtains that danced in the small breeze. He noticed out of the corner of his eye something purple go out that door. Could that have been her? Quickly he maneuverer around the people in the room and then stopped just inside the glass doors. He took a breath and looked out. She wasn't there. Wufei blinked and took a few steps on to the top of the marble staircase that was outside. Where could she have gone? He had kept his eyes on this place and she had not returned inside. And she could not have possibly gone anywhere else because the staircases lead to an open field with very few places to hide. Wufei frowned, had he dreamt that? Was she not there? Or could it have been someone else he had seen?

Suddenly Wufei's body was encased in smooth, feminine arms. A head rested on his shoulder and warm breath danced on his neck. Her slim body melted against his as her dress danced behind her.

"I thought you were on a mission," she whispered sweetly. Kazumi, Wufei's brain registered. So he hadn't dreamt her or seen another girl. It was her. "Why are you following me?" Her arms where cold as she lowered them and gently brushed against Wufei's hand. Wufei didn't immediately turn to look at her. He took his time to let the perfume she was encased in soften in his nose. He turned and looked at her smiling face. She was amazing when she dressed so glamorously. "Well?" she asked softly folding her arms.

"I came to see you," Wufei said in his usual annoyed tone, but Kazumi could tell that he wasn't annoyed or frustrated. The music changed to a slow dance and Kazumi smiled softly. She reached out and held his hand, she smiles.

"Dance with me," she said softly and moved them away from the banisters. Wufei gulped as she led him.

Slowly they pulled each other close and started their twirling around the marble floor. Slowly the music flowed around them with no words being uttered from their mouths. Their eyes never met as the danced softly to the romantic song. A smile shone on her face as she was held in his arms. He just watched her as the curls framing her face blew in the wind. It was strange but Wufei felt calm around her, just like Heero said she would. He felt like he needed to stay with her, whether she cared for him or not. But still there is something missing, Wufei thought. But what was it?

Kazumi looked up at him as she felt his warm breath increase against her skin. Her eyes caught his for the first time since they had begun to dance. Kazumi noticed how dark Wufei's eyes looked and how mysterious and sad they looked. She had never noticed his eyes to be sad. Always looking away from his eyes when she wasn't being playful that she never really took in how amazingly beautiful his eyes could be. There was something missing from his eyes, an empty whole in there that needed to be filled. His skin was so smooth and gentle, unlike his personality at all. His whole body contrasted. He was a scholar with amazing physical strength and endurance. He was the perfect guy for her; he was smart and had the looks to match. Nothing of his repulsed her, nothing… As she looked over her face only one thing drew her attention every time. His lips… He had spoken soft words to her many times when they were alone, especially after she had caught him reading a poetry book. He had even spoken harsh words to her when she had been stupid or even when he saw soaked to the bone with the rain storm. Every single word he uttered to her whether harsh or sweet, rang in her ears and made her stomach do flips. He had her in his grasp, but did he know it.

One last time she glanced up into his eyes and saw the same emotions. The song was not over but their bodies had stopped moving. Her hands moved from his and slide their way up his chest and around his neck. His hands slide from her and landed on her waist. She pulled him close. Her eyes shut and their lips touched. His soft sweet lips where touching hers finally after all this time. She didn't care if Wufei did not want it and would push her away the next time he got the chance and never saw her again. She just wanted to remember this, being in his warm arms, his lips touching her, his scent intoxicating her sense.

Before she could even think of anything else he moved away from her. Not much… only a few centimetres but it was enough for their ragged breath. She once again looked in to his eyes but he would not look at her. He didn't want her… Not in the way she wanted him… had she really repulsed him so much that they could not communicate. He released her hips and pulled her arms from around him neck. He squeezed her hand.

"I'm sorry…" He said and with that returned inside the building to leave the dance. Kazumi sighed and held herself as the wind blew her dress and coldly caressed her skin. She sighed as a small tear fell from her eyes. She had always had a feeling that he didn't like her but she never thought it would hurt this much. It was a cliché thought but it did suit her situation so very much. She sniffled and whipped the tear away. She jumped slightly as she felt material touch her shoulders. She jumped around letting the jacket that the person had put on her shoulders on the floor and turned to see the person who had done it.

"Heero…"

L2 – Colony XX86 – 1226

19:55PM – 8th May A.C. 198

"DAMN YOU!" Yelled the man outside of the boy's cell. "Can't you do anything right!" The man threw a punch at the guy in the face. The man fell to the floor and recoiled in fear. "GET OUT OF HERE!" Quickly the young man ran away from the man who had assaulted him.

The man left turned to the cell door and listened to the small whimpers and cries that he escaped from the room. The man smirked. At least something was going right now… He swiped his hand over the access panel and the door hissed open. His smirk widened as he watched the young man in the room being tortured by the two bulky men. The young man was in no state to be fighting these men. He was stood against the back wall of the cell, hands chained to the ceiling. His shirt was hanging off him in pieces of rags around his shoulder and tucked into his pants. The man smirked as he watched the young boy whimper and cry behind the gag as the whipped him and threw punches. It would appear that these men were aiming for areas of the boy's body which weren't already black and blue or covered in blood.

The man gestured to the two torturers to stop their work, and they did; after throwing one more punch. The boy was panting and gasping for breath. The boy never looked at him directly; he just stared at the floor leaving his long chest nut locks to fall forward over his shoulder. The man slowly walked to the side of the boy and lifted up his chin. The violet eyes that gazed up at him where dark and almost with drawn, just like the other agent. He needed a trigger to be put in to really trouble and there was one girl who would cause him that pain.

"Are you willing to repent your actions from the war?" The man asked slowly watching as the violet eyes began to focus on him and that determined, hopeless glare returned to the boy's eyes. Stupid, stubborn and pathetic… That was all this little anti-hero was. The boy struggled and tried to kick the man but could not because his feet were tied up. The man smirked and took a step back and nodded to the torturers.

Both men moved forward with crocodile clips and wires towards the boy. Fear flashed through the boys eyes and he tried and failed to struggle free. The boy cried as the crocodile clips pinched his skin. The boy whimpered as the torturers moved away to a small mobile box just behind the man. One of the torturers hit a switch on the box and suddenly the boy was thrashing in pain and fear. Little whimpers and muffled screams where the only thing he could do. He was weak and defenceless. The man ordered the electric to stop and he walked forward to the boy.

"Duo Maxwell! Do you repent?" The man asked again but nothing but little gasping pants came from the boy. The man shook his head in a mocking manner. "Well I suppose we will just have to get Hilde in here then." Duo's head snapped up and glared dangerously at the man. He could have given Heero a run for his money with that glare. The man smirked, "Since our last attempt to get her failed, maybe we should bring her here to witness your last days." The man smirked and stepped away indicating the torturers to start the electricity again. Duo screamed as the current went through his body.

Brussels Air Port – Brussels

20:20PM – 8th May A.C. 198

Hilde bit her lip as she watched helplessly as Quatre rushed through the airport with his bag swinging behind him. They had both rushed off the jet and had weaved in and out of areas in the airport to meet Sally on the other side of the arrival lounge. Quatre didn't even give her time to rest as they ran quickly across the room to where Sally was waiting for them.

"Hi Sally," Hilde said finally catching her breath.

"Hi," she smiled and then looked at Quatre, "You ok Quatre? You don't seem yourself…"

"What do you expect given the circumstances?" Quatre almost snapped at her but held himself back ever so slightly.

Sally turned to Hilde expecting a more elaborate answer. Even for Quatre this was strange when it came to him worrying. Almost as if he knew what most of the damage was anyway. Hilde shrugged and wanted to pull Sally aside to tell her about Quatre's change in attitude over the last few days. It had been the biggest challenge she had faced since letting Duo go with Trowa on a mission. The fact that Quatre almost demanded that they go to Earth but then to get the call about Trowa being hospital bound it was too strange.

"Please can we go?" Quatre asked almost like a child after a long day of shopping with his mother and now getting bored. Sally nodded and took them to the car, which she drove to Brussels Preventers Hospital.

United Dance – Brussels

20:45PM 8th May A.C. 198

Kazumi sat on the marble stairs outside of the ball room next to Heero. She was trying to take in what Heero had told her. About Wufei's life, getting married, watching his colony be destroyed and then to be left on his own with no one close enough around for comfort. No wonder he was on edge around her, he was afraid to lose her as well. But why he wasn't like that with Heero or his friends that Heero had mentioned. It was almost too much to take.

"I just can't believe it," she said softly causing Heero to look directly at her. Her eyes were down cast and her hands rubbed each other in an anxious way. She sighed as she continued to comprehend Wufei's life. She had thought he was a normal colony boy who came to Earth to work. Sure she knew he was from the Dragon Clan, but to think that he was married too. That was what threw her the most. Sure, tradition stated that it was a betrothal not a choice marriage but still a marriage all the same. "All of that and he's only 18…" That was worse, he was still a child. But Wufei seemed so amazing to her, so perfect and caring and yet he had gone through so much turmoil.

"He does care for you," Heero stated causing her to look at him. "You can tell when he talks about you." Heero kept his blank expression knowing that it was the best time so she could think what he was saying. "His past marriage doesn't affect what he feels for you." She sighed and placed her hands on her upper arms and rubbed. She was cold.

"I know," she said and pulled Heero's jacket from under her, where he had laid it for her, and placed it over her shoulders. She shivered as the cool night air circled the both of them. "Where will he have gone?" She asked softly looking over the grass area in front of them.

"Knowing him it will be back to the hotel we're staying in," Heero said still looking at her. "He enjoys walking even if it's this time of night." She smiled as she listened to him. She nodded seeing that he had easily reassured her without even hesitating.

Kazumi jumped as she felt something fibrate in Heero's jacket pocket. Heero quickly reached in and drew out his phone. He didn't leave her side to answer but he stood up forcing Kazumi to stretch her neck to look up at him.

"Agent Yuy," he said calmly. He listened to the other end. "Mission X was a fail… Rodger I'm on my way." Heero closed his phone and replaced it in his pants pocket. He looked down at her and she could have sworn she had seen a flash of fear in his eyes.

"What is it?" She asked softly as she stood up.

"I need to find Wufei," Heero began to turn to go back to his car when Kazumi grabbed his arm to stop him.

"What's happening Heero? She asked holding on to his arm tightly. Heero could see the determination shining in her eyes. She wasn't going to let him go. "Heero, why do you need Wufei? What is Mission X?" Heero sighed.

"I need to find him," He said softly. "Our friend is in hospital, seriously injured." Heero didn't say anymore, that was enough for her to loosen her grip on him. Her eyes flickered with worry, a look Heero had often seen in Quatre or Duo.

"Please let me come?" She asked him softly. Heero wanted to frown, why would she want to come? She didn't know any of their friends so why? Did she want to be a part of their friendship group? Heero sighed, she couldn't go much harm.

"Ok let's go," he said and walked towards his car with her following his steps.

Well there's March's addition my little Kawaii Readers. Hope you enjoyed it. Please comment it keeps me going xxxxx

Love ya