Disclaimer: Today, I learned how to get grease off of clothes, how to get the nickname "scary woman", and that I don't own Gundam Wing.

AN: *sigh* It's 4:00 pm and I'm worn out! I've been running around my school all day doing this, and that, and this, and that, and I can practically feeling my feet throbbing. Though, it was fun. Lucky for me, my teacher actually likes it when I get a little mouthy. I mean, she went "It never says me" when we were doing hand language to the song I'll Be Home for Christmas, and I went "Well, it didn't say it the first time, what makes you think It'll say it the second time?". My student teacher kind of looked at me, and nearly burst out laughing. What a day, what a day. And I got booted off the computer while typing this chapter so that me little brother could help his friend out in this game, "Rune-scape". And my clothes are floating in a tub of lukewarm water to get grease out of it… not the least bit of a normal day for me today. I mean, I've got no homework!

To Hououza: heh heh, I can't throw that far! Besides, you should've moved. How hard is it to see someone falling on you? And besides, with Duo, you got to admit, with what he's been through, and what he does to hide it, his mind's got to be a bit… unstable, right?
     Morrighan of Crimson and Sable: Heh, but they're just so fun to write!! I mean, you're a writer too, and you got to admit it, right?
     Lynn-Minmay: Err, *blush* that was exaggerated, right? *not so used to being in the spotlight; more of a behind-the-scenes person.*


Well, my usual rants, check, my review replies, check. Okay! So on with the story!! *pouts* Now I've got a bruise on my leg where I kicked the chair at some guy…

Black Hair and Gray Eyes

Chapter 24

  Aki watched as the woman all but floated over to the side table, and poured out some tea in a cup.

 "Would you like some as well?" Dark green, the whole place was practically dark green. Talk about a fetish. Aki shook her head no, and was surprised to see the woman sip her drink calmly. She was so sure that the woman had drugged it.

 "Why am I here?" It was blunt, demanding, and rude, but this wasn't the time to worry about etiquette. Besides, she was desperate to know. The woman placed the cup down slowly, and sat down on the seat at the table. She motioned for Aki to join her, but she kept her place be the door, ready to dart at any moment.

 "Akira, Akira Peacecraft. At least you were sensible enough to keep your real first name, but I wish you had been told your real last name…" She was looking into the air, thinking, but Aki fixed her gaze on the woman. The glare was cold and hard, but it held a question behind it. The woman's eyes met Aki's straight on, and laughed.

 "You really don't remember me, do you?" She paused, as if waiting for an answer of some sort, but she wasn't getting anything. "By the way, where is your sister, Arika?" Her hands clenched to keep herself from lashing out before she could get all the information from this… woman.

 Besides, no one but those she wanted to know knew about Arika. She was her favorite secret. "How do you know about her?"

 The woman ignored her question, though, and kept on talking. "I wonder, if it was because of those two who took you two away from me… Tell me, are they dead yet, or just hiding?" She tensed. Aki did not like where this was going. What was this woman implying? "You still don't understand, do you? Oh my, Akira, had I the chance to raise you, you would've understood this all. Actually, had I raised you, you wouldn't be in this predicament.

 "Akira, you foolish child…" She laughed. "I'm your real mother."

*~*~*~*~*

  The two men stopped in front of a door, finally, and one let go of the still slack Duo to open it. He pulled out a chain of keys and slipped it in. Duo watched his movements carefully, until he heard a quiet "click".

 Immediately, he wrenched he arm out of the others mans grip, slugging him as he did so. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the second guard start to reach for his gun, but Duo flung his arm backwards, knocking him out too. Checking around, he spied a camera not far away.

 "Damn, there'll be reinforcements any minute." The door behind him creaked open, and Duo whipped around. Inside the dark cell, a soft sobbing sound came. He stepped in quietly, relieved that he was about to see his wife again.

 "Hilde?" He could see a bit of movement in the corner, and opened the door wider to let more light in. A figure moved cautiously and slowly towards him.

 "Duo?"

 "Yeah babe, it's me." The sobbing that had died down to occasional sniffing burst out full fledged and Hilde threw herself into his arms and sobbed tirelessly. He held her tightly and stroked the length of her back. "It's okay, Hilde, it'll all be alright."

 "No, it's not okay…" She was still sobbing into him, muffling her own words, "Duo… I lost the baby." He stopped abruptly, making Hilde even stop to look at him. "Duo, what's wrong?"

 He didn't answer, but instead walked outside the room and took his gun out of the holster. "Duo?" He turned the gun to the unconscious man head, and unlocked the safety.

 "The God of Death just doesn't die."

*~*~*(I'm tough, but I'm not writing the gore)*~*~*

 "Where are they?" Wufei slammed the man back up against the wall, but this time had knocked the man out. A trail of blood ran down his nose, creeping onto his clothes. "Damn it!" He turned around angrily, now that he hadn't been able to get anything out of them. Sally glared at him.

 "Wufei, this isn't going to work if you keep knocking them unconscious." The Chinese man glared back at the woman who was currently pinning down another soldier underneath her. This one was conscious… "This one's mine." She pulled the man up and towards her protectively and pushed him against the wall. "Watch, like this."

 The holster was soon empty. The gun was up to the terrified man's temple, with her face dangerously close to his face. "Where is the prisoner from a few days back?" Wufei nearly smirked. The poor kid looked like he was about to wet himself.

 "Sally! Wufei! What the hell are you doing?" Relena looked at the both of them in shock. Sally turned around slightly and shrugged.

 "It's called persuasion."  She waved it away, although she looked disgusted, and continued as if she had never been persuaded.

 "We found out where Aki is. You two find Hilde and Duo. We'll get out of here as fast as we can. I don't care what Aki says, she's not going to stay with them, no matter what she wants to do here." Relena began to walk, but realized something that made her slow down. Here was about where Aki would add in a witty comment. She had lived so long with her, could she go back?

*~*~*~*~*

 "Liar!" Aki stepped back, and turned around, ready to run. Unfortunately, the door was locked, with three different locks. She didn't have a lock picker, and she would've never been able to open each one.

 "Akira, honey, you must know that you can't escape. You have to listen. Didn't you ask me why you were here?" Aki stopped, although she was still ready to bolt at the first chance. There was no way she was… her mother was a street whore… that couldn't be true.

 "Akira, you are here to help me break this… string of peace that your adoptive mother has created. I'm going to break everything she worked for, and pit every one against each other. I'm going to create an ultimate war, one impossible to calm." Aki shook her head at the woman before her.

 "Why? Why would you want another war? Haven't we fought enough?" Her fingers felt for the knife she had placed in the folds under her shirt, but knowing it was very likely she had firearms all over the room.

 "Akira… You just don't understand. Do you know what it's like not to have a purpose anymore? I am a fighter, a schemer, and a leader. I cannot do anything if this peace continues. I can't be whole." She slipped off the chair and grabbed Aki by the shoulders. "Don't you feel the same way, Akira? You are my daughter, and I know you, too, crave for the fantastic power, and the amazing exhilaration that comes from fighting? Don't you crave for the power to rip a person's life away? I know you've killed before today."

 Her voice and stare was hypnotizing, and if it had been anything else, the compelling urge to give in would've overtaken them. But Aki had seen too much to let it all happen again.

 "You are not my mother. I could never be your blood… my mother was helpless, innocent, and…"

 "Lies." The words was spoken with such deftness it made Aki want to vomit. The woman should not of had been allowed to live. "All lies to protect you from the truth. Probably made up by those two who had kidnapped you from me, it was them, wasn't it? This is truly your mother. I am truly your mother.

 Besides, why do you hate me so? I am aware of your friendship with that little Marimaia girl. Did she not do the same thing? Did she not ruin the peace? How am I much different from her?" Her hand had come up to cup Aki's chin, but she pulled away.

 "You disgusting, vile woman," All urges to take out the knife and plunge it into the woman's chest were beginning to take over, but she controlled herself. Aki seethed, "Marimaia was young, and being controlled. The one that was truly like you got their rightful punishment."

 "Disgusting? Vile? Hardly do, I am simply in love with the beautiful waltz that is war. But Akira, be reasonable. All I want from you, is the pleasure of ruling the new war-bidden world we shall create, beside you. Side by side, mother and daughter. Sounds formidable, right?"

 "Bitch…"

 The older of the two looked as if she were about to strike, but a knock came from the door. She looked up disdainfully and pushed Aki away. "I'll deal with you later." She turned to the door and pulled out a set of keys. "What is it?"

 "There are intruders. The husband of the prisoner has overpowered the guards, and four others have entered and are making their way here. Mistress Avalon, what do you want us to do?" The woman, Avalon, smiled evilly towards Aki.

 "Nothing. Let them come. I'll be waiting for them in the main room. And the child? I'm leaving her here." Aki's heart sank. Her parents had come in too, and they were going to be walking straight into a trap. And she was stuck in here.

 "Gods no…" Aki lunged for the door as it closed, but before she could make it, the unmistakable sound of the locks locking back together made her lose her footing, and she fell down to the ground. "I have to get out of here."

*~*~*~*~*

 Gah! Talk about a twist! But good, isn't it? Now things are going to be even more difficult! Now, with Aki's biological mother being the villain, and everyone running into the clichéd trap, things are going to get interesting! And just to let you know, I've only got two chapters and an epilogue to do now.