Hello again. I'm a little late this time, but it's no big thing. I'm so happy! My Sprin Break is next week! YAY!! Although, I had to swim a mile in class for my final today. Not as yay. Oh, oh! Spirited Away is such a freagin' awesome movie!! Am I aloud to be promoting movies? Ah well, what, are they going to sue me for making them more money? If you haven't seen the movie, you should. It is totally cool. Anyway, back to GW. I dun own it, so dun sue pease ^_^

Warnings: All right, there's lots more suicidal-y-ness from the poor Neko (but at least he's alive, right?). I still know nothing about medacine and probably have my recovery timeline screwed up big time, and you guys get a bit more history on the neko-chan.

**

Trowa came into Ternash's room expecting somber silence. Instead he saw Heero and WuFei still asleep on either side of the bed. It had been a pleasant surprise that morning to wake up and see the stoic pilot of Wing holding the smaller boy's hand. It had reaffirmed Trowa's suspicions that Heero was human after all. The room was still silent, but it was peaceful, not the silence of death he had been expecting. In fact, he was being watched. From the bed, deep emerald eyes stared up at Trowa. "I didn't expect you to be awake."

"Neither did I. Trowa, can you help? I can't move my arm."

The pilot came over and pressed gently on the neko's left shoulder. "You were shot several times. It's a miracle you've even lasted this long." Ternash winced, letting out a stiffled cry and Trowa continued. "No vital organs hit, except your lung. You lost a lot of blood, but it's beginning to look like you might actually recover. Do you want medicine?"

Ternash gritted his teeth and was silent for a moment. "No, I want to stay awake. Pain killers'll just knock me out again."

Trowa checked the rest of the injuries and was silent for a moment. "Ternash, I want to appologize. For how I acted when we first met. And, I really hope you do recover and that you'll stay with us once you do."

Ternash blinked up at him with huge eyes. "You want me to stay? Look, I understand you guys care about me and you feel guilty about what happened, but you can't really want me to stay. I'll become a liability."

Trowa smiled slightly, his visible eye twinkling. "Your presence would be a blessing. Everyone here likes you." He paused a moment and glanced at Heero's sleeping form. "Besides, it'll be good for all of us."

Ternash smiled at that, though he didn't entirely understand what Trowa meant by it. "Trowa? Can you . . . Would you help me up?"

Trowa nodded and gently raised Ternash into a sitting position. "You lost a lot of blood. You really need to take it easy, all right?"

Ternash nodded. "I just can't stand being in the same spot for so long."

"You'll be all right without me?" Ternash nodded again. "Then I'll go tell the others you're awake." Trowa turned and padded silently away.

Ternash stood, carefully, putting almost his full weight on the bedpost. He promised he would take it easy, and he would. He just didn't want to be in that bed anymore. A short walk wouldn't hurt. Just a few minutes.

Ten minutes later found Ternash leaning against the hall wall, panting heavily for breath. By now, his energy was completely wasted and the heavy pain killers had worn off entirely. He pushed himself off the wall and shuffled further down the hall. He wanted to get somewhere where he could rest, but the thought of going back to that prison of a bed made his skin crawl.

"Cat! What do you think you're doing?" Ternash turned to see Heero stalking towards him. The Japanese boy lifted the neko rather like a sack of potatoes and carried him back to his room."

"Heero, put me down. I'm fine, I just wanted to move around a bit." Ternash's protests made his exhaustion obvious and only strengthened Heero's resolve to put him back to rest. "Heero, please, don't."

The pilot enterd the room with his burden and lay Ternash on his bed. The cat was shaking slightly, trying not to cry in frustration. Heero filled a serynge with pain killer and stalked back to Ternash's side. "Hold still."

Ternash tried to pull his arm away but Heero caught it in his steel grip. "Heero, no, they'll knock me out again. Please!"

"You need the rest. Especially after that stunt you just pulled. Now hold still!" He depressed the plunger and removed the needle, waiting beside the neko until he dropped into sleep again. He put away the needle before stompping from the room.

WuFei lifted his head once the other pilot was gone, breaking his feigned sleep. He looked at Ternash and sighed. He had acted like they were forcing him into his execution chair just now. He thought a moment about the past few days. Well, what else could you call being forced into bed with nothing to do other than a slow death? He sighed again, fumbling with his crutches. He made his way out of the room and down stairs, determined to think of something to help Ternash.

***

Ternash reached out, carefully moving his peg that much closer to the goal. Quatre beamed at him, "Great move! I think this is really your game!"

WuFei reached out and moved his own peg, winning him the game. "Ne, Wu-chan! That's no fair! You and this game are the same nationality, it gives you an unfair advantadge!"

"Baka yarou! That has nothing to do with it!"

Duo glanced at Ternash, hoping to see a smile on his face from the little scene he was creating. Ternash leaned back into his pillows, face completely blank. "Good game."

Heero watched the neko and frowned. "Another game?"

"No, thank you. I'm tired, I think I should take a nap."

Heero frowned and began putting away the game board. He stood, a bit too quickly, and stalked out of the room. Ternash wiggled under the covers and closed his eyes as WuFei stood and hurried, as fast as he could, downstaris.

WuFei set his crutches aside, taking up a stance he knew well. Slowly, taking care not to hurt his leg, he began one of the forms he knew. Slow. Think about each move. Meditate. Find an answer. He punched, slowly, and paused. "That's not right . . ."

"You seem distracted."

WuFei turned to Heero's voice, wincing slightly as he put weight on his right foot. "I'm attempting to think of something that would cheer Ternash up. He's horribly depressed, and nothing we've been doing seems to help."

"So what do you suggest?"

WuFei sighed, taking up his form again. "He's mentioned his old dojo a few times, but I know he wasn't treated well there. I thought he might enjoy learning the art."

"That sounds plausible. A good idea, what's the problem?"

WuFei bit back a cry as he stepped wrong. "I would have to be the one to train him, and I can't handle it with my own injury. I'd need help." He looked at Heero again. "The others are all fighters, but none of them know the art, you know that. I can't do it alone, and there's no one to help." He sighed and went back to the form, trying to think of something else.

Heero blinked in wonder. He won't ask me to help. He thinks I'd refuse. Heero watched his fellow pilot for a moment. "It would be difficult to train him."

"I know."

"Especially since you and I know different styles." WuFei stopped, mid kick, and focused on Heero. "Suggest it tonight. I'll be working on Wing if he says yes." Heero turned his back and left.

***

Heero wrapped a hand tightly around Ternash's waist and chest, holding up nearly all of the cat's weight. His other arm floated in the air, waiting for it's use. WuFei demonstrated a move and Ternash would attempt it himself, with a lot of help from Heero, of course. The Japanese pilot repositioned the cat's hands and held him upight, acting just as cold as he always had.

"That was First Fist. What do you think?"

A definate smile played over the neko's lips. "It's good to know."

Heero shadowed the boy with his own small smile. Here they were, nearly a week into training, and Ternash had really started to look happy again. He agreed to stay with the boys and was starting to rival Duo in cheerfullness at times. Life was finally good again, or as good as it could be for wanted terrorists.

"Is that all for today?" Throughout the training, Heero had taken more and more of Ternash's weight into his arms. He had a perfect guage for how tired the other boy was. Right now, he was exhausted.

WuFei nodded, his leg throbbing a steady and painful beat. "Yes, I believe it's time for a break. We've been at it for a while, why don't you take him up to his bed."

Ternash nodded, turning to wrap his arm around Heero's neck. The Japanese pilot lifted the slight boy, no emotion showing on his face, and walked back into the house and up the stairs. "Heero?" The pilot looked down at the cat. "I'm really glad you're doing this."

Heero broke eye contact. "You say that every day."

"That's because it's true. Besides, you never answer my question."

"Why? Because it makes you feel better."

"You say that every day."

"That's because it's true."

***

Ternash stood quietly beside his parents, listening to them negotiate with the sensei. "We do not expect you to take him on as a student, of course. We are leaving and cannot take him with us."

"You will pay to have him be a border here?"

Ternash's mother nodded. "Yes. Double normal your fee and we expect half the work. Do you except?"

The sensei nodded and took the money. "At double pay, this is only enough for a few months. Will you be sending more?"

His father smiled slightly. "We are honor bound to see that the boy is taken care of. We leave that care to you. When the money is gone, you will not be able to find us."

"I understand. Let me see the boy." Ternash's parents stepped out of the way, revealing a very small, five year old neko. The sensei's eyes widened. "Oh my god!" In a lightning quick move, he punched the toddler, sending him flying back and into a wall.

Ternash lay bleeding, young mind trying to comprehend what had happened. He could hear the adults speaking more. "Double what you gave me, or I shall not take on that monster."

"Done. Feel free to have him pay any additional debt any way he can." Ternash groaned and closed his eyes, not looking forward to his next awakening.

Ternash carried the tray of food, careful not to spill a single bit. He came into his sensei's room and set the specially prepared meal on the floor. "Master?"

"What do you want,cat?"

"Please, sir. I wanted to know when I could learn to fight?" he bowed deeply, hoping he would not be punished for such a request.

His sensei paused, seeming to consider it. "Very well, come with me." He swept away to his waiting class of students. Upon entering, Ternash stopped just inside the doorway, waiting for instructions. "Class, attention! Bow!" Ternash hesitantly followed the movements.

Low whispers resounded about the 'freak'. The sound seemed to burn in Ternash's ears. "Students! Enough!" The room immediately quieted. "Today we shall be sparing. You all know Neko." The students began chuckling in understanding, a sickening sound. His sensei turned to the neko. "The best way to learn is through experience. Begin!" Ternash ran, but he knew he would never be fast enough to get away.

Ternash sat bolt upright in bed. He hated that dream! Looking around, he saw Heero asleep on a chair, arms crossed and face set in a slight frown. Ternash rubbed his eyes, wiping away the sweat and trying to forget. He had never asked his sensei for anything after that class had nearly beaten him to death. Ternash lay back with a flop, trying to get back to sleep.

From the chair, Heero cracked his eyes. Ternash had been talking in his sleep, something about his parents and training. The neko's breaths became regular again as he drifted into sleep once more. Heero reached out to brush away the neko's damp bangs. It must have been horrible.

***

Well, I'm not as satisfied as I could be. I might come back later and redo this whole chapter. But, oh well, this is what you get for now at least. Hope you like it. Doen't Ternash have such a sad past? Poor kitten . . .