The light surrounded him completely. He wasn't sure he what it was he was walking on. Was it possible to walk on light? He didn't know how far he would have to go but he reflected on the girl's parting words as he traveled.
"Your first task is to make amends for your mistake at New Edwards. You must ask forgiveness from the family members of Field Marshall Noventa. I want you to do this because it is the first step in being able to forgive yourself. You remember how much better you felt when I forgave you? I want you to be able to find happiness and you cannot do that without forgiving yourself for your mistakes. The other task is much harder. You must protect Relena Peacecraft. She is the key to peace and you have been chosen as her special guardian. Keep her safe and all will be well."
His first two tasks felt impossible. How was he going to find Noventa's family members? Did he have to go to each one or just his wife and immediate children? He would have to consider this task carefully before he attempted it. The second task would be difficult as well. Relena wasn't someone that he'd ever thought he would be expected to protect. He'd told her he would kill her the first time he met and several times after that. But he'd known even then that he wouldn't do it. He'd saved her during an Oz attack when it would have been convenient to let them kill her off. He wasn't sure why his task was to protect her. Many people were important, but he hadn't been ordered to protect them. Just her. Perhaps there was something about her that he didn't know yet. Guarding her would allow him to observe her and maybe one day he would understand. For now, he would follow the little girl's instructions and see what unfolded.
He could hear a voice ahead. He didn't recognize it, but he followed it. The light around him was receding, which he hoped was supposed to happen. He wasn't sure how, but he found himself on his back. His body felt heavy. He was definitely weaker than he was used to being. His mouth was dry and his tongue felt like he'd been sucking on sand.
It was dark after all that light. The voice was still talking. Something about the Alliance and Oz. Maybe it had to do with a mission he was supposed to complete. He forced his eyes open. It took a moment for them to focus, but in that moment he thought he saw…
"Relena?"
The woman turned towards him and his eyes focused, revealing a woman with short, curly auburn hair. Heero was disappointed. This wasn't Relena. What had he expected? She hadn't been there when he detonated. For all he knew, she didn't even know he'd done it.
She gave him a small smile. "Hey, you've woken up. Wait a minute and I'll go get Trowa."
"Trowa?" Who was Trowa? Was he supposed to know? He tried to sit up but found it to be excruciatingly painful. He grunted, trying to keep how much pain he was in to himself.
The woman reached out her hands to stop him. "You should take it easy!"
A door opened and closed somewhere nearby.
"Trowa! Your friend has woken up," the woman called.
Heero stared as a young man entered the room. He looked almost identical to the Cat, but without the ears and tail. Even the green eyes were the same. The boy, whom Heero assumed was Trowa, stared back evenly.
"Oh, you must be hungry. I'll go make some soup," the woman said as the growing silence between the two boys became more and more uncomfortable. She left them alone, which suited Heero just fine.
"Where am I?" Heero asked. He wanted to make sure he hadn't ended up in another alternate dimension.
"Along the route of a traveling circus," Trowa said as he took up the woman's vacated seat. "It's where I hide myself."
"Why'd you save me?" Heero asked. "I was supposed to die with honor." Regardless of the fact that he'd chosen to return to his body, Heero had been prepared to die. Had he died, it would have been honorable. Now there was a chance that his demise would come in the form of something less than heroic. He hadn't thought of that before. The more he was awake, the more Heero found himself second guessing his choice.
"You died a long time ago." That surprised Heero, though he didn't let Trowa know it. "One month has passed…" Trowa was still talking but Heero didn't hear any of it.
"A month has already gone by?" Was that really how long he'd been in Limbo, traversing the weird landscape and interacting with the weirdest characters he'd ever come across? It certainly hadn't felt that long.
Trowa crossed the room and leaned against the wall. "In Oz's eyes you're already dead. You're no longer restrained to the colonies. In my case it's not that simple."
"They found you, Trowa?" If they had found Trowa then that meant that Heero was putting him at risk because of his injuries. They would have to change locations as soon as possible.
"No. But there hasn't been one mission since that day." Trowa crossed his arms and looked down.
"I see." Heero wondered why the scientists had stopped the missions. He'd followed Dr. J's orders. Surely the other pilots could be expected to do the same.
"I'm not so sure what to do. What would happen if Oz used the colonies as a shield again?" Trowa moved to the window and looked out. "Or should I be following your example?"
Ah. So Trowa wasn't sure if the order was supposed to be followed by the rest of them as well. Heero could tell he was planning on detonating if that was what was expected. "In that case I've got one warning."
Trowa looked at Heero. "Hm?"
"It hurts like hell."
Trowa laughed. Heero wasn't entirely sure what was so funny. Blowing himself up did hurt like hell. He'd been warned by the little girl that coming back wouldn't be easy and she hadn't been kidding. The statement did break some of the tension in the room so Heero decided not to ask what Trowa found funny about it.
"I've got a big favor to ask you, Trowa. Could you tell me what was going on while I was lying here unconscious?"
"Sure thing."
As they talked, with Trowa answering Heero's questions as he thought of them, Heero felt a sense of camaraderie with the Heavyarms Pilot. Maybe this was what people referred to when they talked about being friends. Maybe it wasn't, but it was the closest Heero had ever come to the sensation.
The woman, who Trowa introduced as Catherine, brought in soup, which Heero ate, though he was certain his protein bars had more flavor. Still, it was sustenance and Heero needed to recuperate if he was going to complete the tasks given to him.
When they were alone again, Heero brought forth the idea of seeking out the members of Field Marshall Noventa's family. Trowa didn't understand why Heero was so set on seeking them out, but he agreed to help if he was around. Heero understood what Trowa meant. If he managed to survive his own detonation, Trowa would willingly assist Heero in his task. If not, well, it isn't like Heero would be able to count on a lifeless body to help with anything.
Heero kept the other task to himself. He wouldn't be able to explain why he was doing these tasks, not without sounding completely insane. But he had agreed to complete the tasks and he would do so.
A/N: Kudos to newby6320 for guessing it right! Just a short epilogue left...
