Disclaimers: Gundam Wing is, of course, sole property to Bandai and Sunrise and all those talented people who actually get paid for all this. IÕm not getting any money out of this, so it would be ethically wrong for me to get sued. Honestly.
Well, thereÕs not much to say, you know? This chapter is beyond due, and for those of you who are still checking up with this story, I thank you for your incredible patience and understanding as I slowly get these chapters out. Life has been absolutely crazy with school, work, rehearsals, homework, and getting ready for college and all that. And I know thatÕs not a good excuse, but itÕs all IÕve got. I hope this chapter makes up for the long delay Ð IÕm sure it will make all you yaoi fans out there quite happy.
New MoonChapter Ten: Selfish Pursuits
As soon as Keru returned to the make shift camp in the ruins, she noticed there was something quite different. True, it had taken much longer than she thought it would to sniff out that town Ð but she found it. A small, peaceful, carefully hidden town in the depths of the woods in which few travelers ever came by; It was quite obvious to her that it was a good place to be if you didnÕt want to be found - exactly what they were looking for.
But as she stepped carefully over broken up stones and crumbling foundations, she began to sense a strange scent in the air. The place was still wet, and a light drizzle still sprinkled down from the sky, but considering the earlier downpour, it really wasnÕt all that bad. The scent of rain was nothing, however, to the other primal human smells that were rampant in the area. A small smirk spread across her features and she could only chuckle as she made her way into the broken down palace.
It was strangely quiet, but then again, perhaps that wasnÕt so strange, if her suspicions were correct. There was the sound of a fire off somewhere to her right, and she wandered in that direction, catching sight of the glowing embers quickly enough.
The room was pretty empty, minus Sana, who seemed rather perturbed about something or other. She was staring blankly into the crackling flames, the red light casting odd shadows on her face. Not seeming to notice the cat lady as she entered the room, Keru decided that her brief absence must have been eventful.
ÒWhere is everyone?Ó She asked, resting a hand on her hip as her tail flicked back and forth idly.
Sana blinked, sitting straight. ÒOh, youÕre back.Ó There was a pause before she continued, her mind obviously elsewhere. ÒThe othersÉ Well, Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei are all looking at some pictures I found about winged people and the Lua Stone. I donÕt know where Duo and Heero are, and quite frankly I donÕt want to knowÉÓ
Keru raised an eyebrow. ÒIndeed. And what about you?Ó
The dark-haired woman just stared at her for a moment, as though she were trying to discern what her intentions were. After a moment, she just shrugged, her eyes dropping back to the fire. ÒJust trying to figure some things out, I guess.Ó
ÒWhat sort of things?Ó Keru continued to question, dropping down onto a dry patch of stone in front of the dancing flames, enjoying the warmth they created.
She expected the other girl to snap at her, tell her to mind her own business, something like that. But instead, Sana just shut her eyes tightly and sighed in frustration.
ÒKeru, is there something you want?Ó Her voice was tired and for once the steely, determined girl looked a little lost.
Both eyebrows went up at her little discovery and Keru blinked once before deciding that it would probably be beneficial to her if she stayed civil for the moment. ÒNot really, no. LetÕs just say IÕm curious.Ó
Sana smiled a little then, and peeked one eye open at her in amusement. ÒYou know what they sayÉÓ
Keru just smirked.
ÒThat fucking hurts, Yuy!Ó Duo struggled against the weight of the other man, clenching his teeth as he felt the flesh on his neck being torn once again. The strange, trickling sensation of blood brought a few other memories flooding back and he tensed quite noticeably, though no longer fighting back.
Heero just smirked as he drank, sucking the sweet liquid into his mouth, savoring the metallic taste as he easily held the other against the wall, his strength overpowering the other. ÒStop being such a baby,Ó he finally muttered, his mouth still on the smooth skin of the other. He loved necks, though not surprisingly, being a vampire and all, and the sight of a long, soft, supple, curving neck drove him crazy. Duo was just finding this out the hard way.
ÒIÕm not being a baby,Ó the chestnut-haired man protested feebly, turning his head away, as if such a movement would somehow help him, though it only succeeded in exposing more of his neck. Perhaps that wasnÕt such a bad thing though, he thought darkly, his lips trembling as he tried to fight the burning sensation that the other man seemed to produce in him.
As though he sensed the inner turmoil Duo seemed to be putting himself through, Heero shifted his position a little, his tongue trailing under the assassinÕs chin, teasing. ÒYou know you like it, Maxwell. DonÕt fight it.Ó
His breath caught in his throat, and Duo stilled, suddenly very, very unsure of himself. Which was an emotion he wasnÕt used to feeling, and quite frankly, he didnÕt like it at all. Somehow he found the strength to push the other man back, just enough so that he could slip away and out of the room.
Heero let his tongue flicker out over his lips, picking up stray drops of blood as he watched the other boy quickly leave. He couldnÕt help but smirk Ð he knew a victory when he saw one, and he was quite sure that the other boy knew this as well. It was just a matter of time, and time was something he had plenty of.
He crossed his arms leisurely, a little swagger to his step as he started back towards the designated main room, where Quatre had set up the fire. A fleeting song entered his brain and he hummed it idly, thoroughly enjoying the sight of Duo, squirming and writhing under him. It was a memory well worth reliving.
Relena sighed as she sat on her bed, knees pulled up to her chest protectively. Her eyes wandered about the room in a mock-dance, usually making the familiar trek from the window and the outside world to her own prison and the woman who held the key. She still didnÕt know how or why she was here, who Noin really was, whom they were going to meet; she didnÕt know anything at all, really, and it bothered her. She was always one to keep up with the happenings of the palace; she enjoyed the political arena, enjoyed debating with Quatre and his father whenever the three of them could just relax together.
Quatre.
Her eyes dropped to the pale green comforter that covered the bed, her fingers stroking it lightly. She missed the blonde a great deal, though the knowledge that he was looking for her helped to soften her woes.
Noin, however, seemed increasingly anxious as the hours wore on, and for some reason Relena couldnÕt help but feel sorry for the woman. She didnÕt know why Ð yet another uncertainty to add to that growing list Ð but the feeling was there, nevertheless.
Shaking her head, forcing herself to focus on something she could be certain about, she pressed her forehead against her knees before asking gently, ÒHow much longer must we wait here?Ó
Noin suppressed a smile, and looked about to answer, but the door to the room suddenly opened and a tall, striking man entered.
Relena immediately saw the look that passed over NoinÕs features and wondered at the adoration before giving her full attention to the platinum blonde before her. He was older than she was, probably closer to NoinÕs own age, but there was something about his eyes that seemed to deny age entirely. They were cold, calculating eyes, eyes that had known and seen too much in their time. For a moment she felt mesmerized by the quiet blue, instantly knowing that some time before they had once glimmered with laughter. Some time before, they had been like stars.
ÒWell?Ó Noin asked, standing straight as she completely forgot the girlÕs earlier question.
ÒThe preparations have been made, but weÕre cutting it too close. ItÕs time to leave,Ó he said with authority, and Relena pushed herself to the side of the bed, her eyebrows raised in inquiry.
ÒPreparations?Ó
He looked at her then, and something flickered in his eyes Ð recognition. But the moment passed just as quickly as it had come, and Relena was bewildered once again.
ÒIÕm afraid that is not for you to know, Princess. Now take what we need; we need to be gone as soon as possible.Ó
Noin just nodded and ushered Relena forward, grabbing the cloaks they wore off the side table and draped it over her quickly. ÒCome, Miss Relena.Ó
Relena complied numbly, though her eyes didnÕt leave the manÕs face. She felt something, staring at him, and it sent a surge of electricity up her spine. And as he turned and walked back out the door, his cloak billowing behind him, she was suddenly reminded of wings. Soft, enchanting wings.
Quatre felt a great sigh of relief surge through his body as his little group ambled into the small town, the new scents reminding him of home, the way it should have been. He thought briefly of his father before he shook his head, deciding that those were thoughts better left for a time when he could allow him self some self-pity.
ÒLetÕs find a hotel and check in, so we can all get off our feet for awhile.Ó Trowa suggested, stepping up next to the blonde as he gestured towards a few inns.
Nodding in agreement, the Prince looked back towards the others and waved them to hurry. ÒCome on, weÕre just inches from a warm bed. Hurry!Ó
Duo dragged himself after him, the reins of his horse hanging loosely in his hands as he forced himself to keep walking. He was more exhausted than heÕd care to admit Ð losing blood tended to do that to you. Careful to keep his boyish charm and good looks apparent, he grinned at the blonde. ÒRight behind you.Ó
Keru glanced at him, raising an eyebrow, before looking back to Heero. He met her eyes and only smirked in response, and that was all the information that she needed. Managing to keep her snickers silent, she directed her attention to the other girl who traveled quietly next to her.
Sana seemed a little tired herself, though that didnÕt seem to slow her at all. Their little chat back at the old palace had seemed to do the both of them quite a lot of good, but Keru was sure that whatever plagued the other girl was always at least lurking right behind her, if not the prominent thought that occupied her head.
The half-breed mused a bit at the irony in their sudden ÔfriendshipÕ, if it could even be called that. But being the only women, it seemed fitting enough. Fate could be quite strange indeed.
As the wet, ragged group trudged on through the small town, mostly silent if not for a few side remarks here and there about their surroundings, their goal, or their intolerably long hair, they were taken by surprise when a sudden cackle resounded quite near.
ÒNinja of Draconia! Young man, you are far from home!Ó
Wufei raised an eyebrow, turning towards the voice before all color was drained from his cheeks. ÒÉoh godsÉÓ
An old woman hobbled towards them, leaning heavily on her gnarly wooden staff as she grinned cheekily up at the dark-haired youth. ÒMy my, you have grown some, havenÕt you?Ó She asked, her scratchy voice odd but strangely familiar to all of them.
The ninja looked utterly exasperated, and the sight was quite amusing. ÒWhat are you doing here, you crazy old fortune-teller? HavenÕt you ruined enough lives already?Ó
His harsh words were surprising to the ears and Quatre looked completely shocked. ÒWufei, thatÕs not polite at all!Ó
The old woman only chuckled, winking at the blonde. ÒYouÕre a good boy, thank you, dearie. But donÕt worry about little old me. The young Draacon here will need it much more once he hears what I have to say.Ó
If at all possible, Wufei paled even more. ÒDonÕt do this.Ó
She just grinned. ÒDo what?Ó
ÒIf you werenÕt so old, IÕdÑÒ
ÒHave you found it yet?Ó She interrupted, peering at him from under her hood, a strange sparkle to her eyes.
The ninja sighed. ÒFound what yet?Ó
ÒWhat you were looking for, of course.Ó
Wufei closed his eyes, wishing that he had never ever set foot in this town. Had he known this nightmare from his past was trekking these very roadsÉ ÒIf youÕre referring to the goal of our party, the answer is no.Ó
She just shook her head. ÒNot your friendÕs goal. Your goal.Ó
ÒIÕm not looking for anything, then,Ó he muttered, rubbing his temples as he tried to ward off the headache that was sure to come. Stupid onna.
ÒOh but you are, young sir. You are indeed looking for something. DonÕt you remember?Ó
Wufei shook his head, suddenly very tired, and very wary. HeÕd never had a conversation with this old lady that didnÕt come out bad in some way. Managing to keep that cool, calm tone to his voice, he asked, ÒThen what is it?Ó
She smiled then, a thin, secretive smile, and the others all leaned forward instinctively, all of them wondering about the old lady and Wufei, and what kind of past was being played out in front of them.
ÒIt is not a matter of what, per say, but of whom.Ó
The onyx-haired youth was silent, his eyes narrowed. But something in them said that he understood her riddles, though the meaning behind them may not have been one he liked. After a long moment of silence, he said quietly, ÒThat is one prophecy that will not come true.Ó
ÒThere are some fates that cannot be changed, young one,Ó was her reply, her tone empty of the previous amusement that it held. She jabbed the earth sharply with her staff a few times, her eyes crinkled in scrutiny as she turned them away from Wufei, who was looking very unhappy at the moment, and towards those traveling with him. That same old glimmer came back as she eyed Duo, but nothing was said and her eyes moved again to Quatre.
ÒMy dear, I see good things in your future.Ó Her voice was kind, holding no trace of the earlier dismay it held for Wufei. ÒThough IÕm afraid a relation of yours is not so lucky.Ó
The blonde stilled instantly, and he almost felt as though he were choking on nothing. ÒÉa relation?Ó He repeated, and his mind thought wildly of his father, and then Relena, kidnapped and all alone. There was nothing he hated more than to see those he cared about suffer needlessly, and especially after doing so muchÉ
The old woman averted her eyes again, and this time they fell on Sana, who just stared at her, her head turned away slightly as though she expected something she was already quite aware of. She wasnÕt prepared, however, for the bluntness that soon came.
ÒYou are a very selfish girl, arenÕt you?Ó The withered woman finally spoke, leaning heavily on her staff once again. ÒHurting those you love so you can be happy.Ó
Sana felt her blood freeze in her veins, though her own eyes remained defiant.
Still nailing her down with that hard gaze, the old woman took a few wobbly steps towards her. ÒYes, that stubborn streak of yours is truly a tragic flaw. You have been raised in the best of households, given the best of what money could buy, provided for in every sense of the word,Ó she continued, her voice grating, ÒAnd have been sought after by a number of well respected, prominent figures in your society.Ó
Her lovely cheeks were painted pink, her eyes burning in silent rage and humility as the old woman continued her tirade, and all Sana could do was grip her saddle a little tighter as her knuckles quickly turned white with pressure.
Quatre frowned, suddenly very put out with this woman, a trifle embarrassed himself, but mostly confused. He didnÕt understand what was going on, or why, but he felt the growing need to help the other girl. ÒMadam, please, this is uncalled for-Ò
The old woman simply ignored him (which infuriated a certain green-eyed man), and peered up at the raven-haired girl with the same cold gaze from before as she continued again, ÒEven so, youÕve dishonored your family and run away from home, betraying those who love you dearly and harming those who only wish to help you.Ó There was a silent pause then, and they sat in silence, unable to say or do anything as the woman kept her eerie stare on Sana. ÒWell now that youÕre here, my dear, are you happy?Ó
She stared at her for a moment, dark gray eyes still blazing, before averting her gaze away, suddenly quite lifeless. ÒNo.Ó
More silence. The tension was thick, and the mood uncomfortable, and no one wanted to be the first to move again.
Finally the old lady just gave a sharp nod. ÒI see.Ó Turning away then, she began back towards the direction in which she had first come, the wooden staff giving off a quiet but resounding sound as it thudded against the ground. It was the only sound made for what seemed like ages, until Sana abruptly turned her horse and started further into the town.
ÒWeÕre not going to get anything done by sulking around out here,Ó she muttered, and urged her horse forward, taking the lead.
Quatre followed, and slowly the others came up after him, though the dire mood the old woman had created still hung heavily about their shoulders.
It was much later, while Quatre was seated comfortably in the tavern part of their inn, sipping thoughtfully from his wine, when the occurrence was addressed.
ÒWho the hell is she?Ó Duo asked, chewing on the end of his braid. ÒI mean, seriously, who the fuck does that?Ó
Wufei just glanced at him before inspecting his dagger again, running a finger along the length of the blade. ÒObviously she does.Ó
Giving the assassin a calming look (knowing that definitely wasnÕt the sort of answer Duo was looking for), Trowa licked his lips once before speaking to Wufei. ÒHow do you know her?Ó
ÒShe is a wandering prophet of the Draacon people and is widely respected by all seven orders. Not once has she been wrong in predicting a fate.Ó
ÒSo,Ó Quatre concluded, remembering the conversation quite vividly as some of it did pertain to him and his, ÒWho is it youÕre supposed to be look for?Ó
The ninja gave him a very cool look then, as if judging whether or not any of them deserved to hear this. After a long moment he just gave a slight nod, setting his dagger on the table before him gently. ÒThe old woman seems to think that I am destined to take a wife, despite the fact that I am a ninja and I am not capable of such a thing.Ó
Duo couldnÕt help but snicker, and received due justice by a swift kick to his shin.
ÒOh,Ó Quatre gave a small nod, smiling slightly, though his mind was still very troubled. ÒI guess it seems a few of us heard some things we did not want to tonight.Ó
There was another quiet pause, and though none of them directly mentioned her, they each briefly thought of Sana and the verbal onslaught that she had received. The blonde sighed softly and closed his eyes, and hoped that she was all right, wherever she might be.
Sana refused to stay in their presence when she knew all they would think about when they looked at her was what that terrible woman had said. She didnÕt want their pity, she didnÕt need it, and she certainly didnÕt want to have to explain herself to them all. But whether or not that was just that same old stubborn streak in her speaking out, or instead, something akin to fear, she didnÕt really know. Quite frankly, she didnÕt want to know. The womanÕs words had filled her with doubt, and now they were all she could think about.
Rubbing her forehead gently, trying to relax herself everyway she knew how, the raven-haired girl continued to walk down the street, mindlessly wandering. She wasnÕt concerned about being lost; in fact she was sure that right now she needed to be missing, separated from the others for awhile. It would help her to clear up a few things in her life that desperately needed some tending to.
She hadnÕt taken many more steps before she got the acute sense of someone watching her. Glancing up, forgetting her own troubles for the moment, she noticed a rather broad-chested man gazing at her peculiarly, a piece of parchment in his hand. He seemed a little anxious, but then there was something else about him that made her waryÉ
ÒExcuse me, maÕam?Ó He started forward, his deep voice gentle, curious, if anything.
Raising an eyebrow, Sana managed a quiet, ÒYes?Ó
ÒThis may sound a bit, uh, strange, but IÕve got this paper here. Seems like somebody is searching for you. See?Ó He held it out so that she could get a good look at it, and as her eyes scanned the paper, all color drained from her face.
ÒÉgodsÉÓ Her hand gripped her cloak tightly, and suddenly she felt quite woozy. The paper held a fair depiction of herself on it, and the word missing scrawled across the top, with a sizable reward promised to whoever found her and brought her home safely. What caught her attention, however, was the name put on the paper.
Meiran, not Sana.
Which meant that her father either didnÕt know about these attempts, or didnÕt care. Which meant that it was entirely her motherÕs doing. Little did her father know, the name given to her at birth had not been Sana, like he had thought it was. It had been Meiran, as her mother had wanted it to be. Only she and Sana knew this, and neither spoke of it. So now, to see it printed across the dirty piece of parchment, the dark-haired girl suddenly became very anxious.
ÒWhere did you get this?Ó She asked breathlessly, her eyes wide as her mind went wild with the possibilities.
He just blinked at her, before gesturing down a smaller road. ÒSome lady was handing them out, down that way. I can take you to her, if you like.Ó
Sana nodded numbly, and she realized that she couldnÕt feel her legs. The only thing she could feel was her heart thumping against her chest with a mad intensity; she was sure if she didnÕt calm down it would break right through and keep on bouncing down the street.
Gesturing for her to follow, he started down the little dirt road towards his promised destination. This road was much less crowded than the last few she had encountered, if crowded could even be properly used for them. There was no one else outside here, it seemed, and as her racing heart calmed she began to realize how empty it really was. Slowly but surely she became aware of her situation, though even then she was taken off guard when a few more men appeared out of an alley way behind her.
She turned sharply, staring at them with clouded eyes that betrayed none of the fear she suddenly felt.
ÒSilly girl, didnÕt your mother even tell you not to speak with strangers?Ó Her guide asked then, smirking menacingly at her as he nodded for the others to fall in. They came towards her then, pulling cloth and rope from the insides of their cloaks.
Sana was fully prepared to scream, but then she caught sight of something that made her stop. Or rather, someone.
The men took that chance and gagged her, before quickly tying her hands and legs, binding her up to the point where she could not move without falling over. The ropes were tight and they burnt her skin, but even as her eyes watered, she kept herself from crying out. She wouldnÕt give them that.
KeruÕs lip curled up in a snarl as she watched the men bind and gag Sana before taking her off, back into the woods. She had been following the girl from the beginning, deciding that it probably wasnÕt smart to leave her to herself. Especially after that old lady let her tongue flop around like that. Nevertheless, she hadnÕt expected anything of this sort at all. Turning and quickly making her way back to the inn, Keru knew that this sudden turn of events would put quite a damper on things.
The old lady had said that she had only brought harm to those that tried to help herÉ how odd, how terribly and perfectly coincidental this sudden kidnapping was. And yet while she had the feeling that the woman couldnÕt have possibly been involved, she wouldnÕt put it past her. That did leave a blank list of suspects, and that was one trouble that they didnÕt need added to their list.
The good thing about it was that Keru knew SanaÕs scent. Seeing as she had been tracking her for a good part of the day, she was familiar enough with it to do it again, even after it might have had time to fade away. Which meant they had a very good chance of getting her back, and soon. But first things first, she thought, to tell Quatre and the others.
They looked up when she nearly charged through the front door, and immediately Quatre was up, concern wrought on his face. ÒWhat is it? WhatÕs wrong?Ó
Trowa stood up after him, though much more relaxed. If there was one thing she admired about him, it was that irritating ability to stay calm in any situation. ÒKeru?Ó
Running her tongue over her teeth, her tail swishing back and forth insistently, she whispered urgently, ÒSanaÕs been kidnapped.Ó
Now Wufei was up as well, eyebrows raised. ÒKidnapped?Ó
ÒBy who?Ó Trowa asked, and Keru proceeded to explain to them what she had seen, starting from the piece of parchment with the reward money. By the end of the story Quatre looked ready to tear his own hair out, and he sat down stiffly, burying his face in his hands for a moment as he tried to regain a little bit of control.
ÒDamn it.Ó
Nothing was said then, as Duo wandered up, waving a piece of paper in his hand in slight bewilderment. ÒI donÕt know whatÕs got your toes curling, but I just ran across a rather interesting ad. Perhaps youÕd like to see?Ó He spread the thing out on the table so that they all could get a good look at it.
It was the same missing persons paper that the man had goaded Sana with, and strangely enough, DuoÕs story about finding it was not unlike the one the man had told Sana. Was it that her mother was actually looking for her, then, in this very town?
ÒIt says Meiran,Ó Wufei finally muttered, his voice strangely choked.
ÒIt does, doesnÕt it?Ó Duo nodded, hands on his hips as he scanned the parchment. ÒMaybe Sana isnÕt her real name. We donÕt know much about her, after all. The old lady told us more than Sana did, really.Ó
Quatre gave him a slight look at that, but he remained silent because in actuality, it was the truth. As much as he respected and liked her, she hadnÕt told them anything at all involving her past and why she had come to his fatherÕs kingdom. Granted, people passed through there all the time, but there were little things that he began to think of now that didnÕt seem to make sense. For example, the fact that she knew Heero, and the fact that she was a Cillian. And now all this nonsense about running away from homeÉ he didnÕt really know what to think any more.
ÒFirst things first,Ó he finally said, running a hand through his blonde locks. ÒWe bring her back. Keru can take us and weÕll rescue her from those kidnappers and then get out of here as soon as we can. But thereÕs still a lot that has to be resolved, and if what Duo says is true, we might be able to locate her mother and get some of this information. Either way, weÕve got to prepare some provisions, as long as weÕre here, so I propose we split up.Ó
Duo nodded in agreement. ÒSounds good to me. Since we want this to go as quickly as possible, IÕll go with Keru and weÕll get Sana. You guys can stay here and get all that other crap together.Ó
ÒHeero will be coming with us,Ó Keru added, glancing towards the chestnut-haired man carefully. ÒHe has some experience in these situations.Ó
There was an awkward pause then, before Wufei voiced what they had all been thinking. ÒSeems to me weÕve all got a few things to explain.Ó
ÒOnce we get Sana back and we all sit down, IÕm sure it can all be dealt with properly. But until then,Ó Trowa glanced around at them, ÒIÕd say we have some work to do.Ó
To be continuedÉ