DISCLAIMER: None of the Gundam Wing characters are mine, other than Kumi Yuy and Sette Devion.
Sam, thank you for the completion of another missions! I hope you like how I worked it in! *hugs* Love ya! SkyLark
Gundam Wing: The Second Chapter
Episode 36: Confessions
by SkyLark
helped and supported by: Snodin, Vampira, Sam, Beekay, Stormy, Akuma, Naz, GREETER 600, Ruby, Ryla my 1x2x1 family and everyone enjoying this fic
NARRATOR: Since the disclosure of Derek Anderson's identity as an OZ spy, careful measures were taken by the Preventers in knowing exactly who they were working with. There truly was no way that a background check of every soldier could be completed. Therefore, only the highest ranked officers were checked. Once they were cleared, they alone were permitted to receive information regarding the war. It would be the only way to avoid the risk of revealing crucial information to OZ.
In a war where so much was working against them, the Preventers and the Gundam pilots knew that they could afford to overlook anything, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. A few oversights could very well cost the victory in the war, which was already greatly favoring OZ at this point.
* * * * * *
A young woman clothed in her OZ uniform walked down the halls of another ship belonging to the organization. Her light, red hair fell just past her shoulders and was pulled in a ponytail. She wore a pair of thin, red-rimmed glasses over her brown eyes. With the files in her possession, placed carefully under her right arm, she made her way from the control room of the ship. Another OZ soldier ran to her from behind as he called, "Captain." The young woman turned to him and her brown eyes locked onto his green. "Yes?" she asked.
The young man took a closer look to the soldier and said with a hint of confusion in his voice, "I swear that we must have met before. You look like someone I know." The young woman smiled and replied, "We may have. I've been known to travel frequently throughout the organization." The young man then smiled back and nodded, "That explains it. We must have passed each other on different occasions. I hope that you enjoy your stay here before you are transferred to supervise another ship again."
The woman nodded back, "Thank you. It has been an enjoyable stay." The man saluted and said, "If there is anything that you should need, we're all more than happy to help." At this, he turned and left her to return to the control room and his post there. Lady Une chuckled deeply to herself and sneered, "What goes around comes around." Taking the files into her right hand, she made her way down to her room.
* * * * * *
Sally Poe was quickly making her way to the control room of Pulsar with a floppy disk, carefully held in her right hand. It was very early in the morning, the only time that she would be able to accomplish what she needed to do. The halls were barren as everyone slept and the eerie tap of her footsteps echoing was the only sound that could be heard. Quickening her pace, Water soon reached the control room.
Noin and Milliardo were the only ones in the room waiting for her when she arrived. Wind looked to the braided young woman and asked, "Did you get it?" Sally nodded and revealed the disk and informed them, "I got everything that was in the system." The two waiting Preventers wade way for their friend as she walked to one of the desks. They stood behind her as she sat as her computer and placed the dick inside.
"Did Lady Une reach the ship that we picked up?" Sally asked as she typed quickly to scan the reports. Noin nodded, "When last she reported back to us, she managed to get through just fine. We won't have any contact with her until she returns, when ever that may be." Milliardo stated, "The false identification files that she made weren't that hard to create, since Lady Une worked under OZ before. Thankfully, she managed to break through their system to make everything look as valid if anyone from OZ questions her." Noin chuckled deeply, "And I didn't recognize her with the way she colored her hair."
Sally simply nodded and went on to type into the report that she captured. Fire and Wind continued to watch behind her. Fire sighed deeply and lowered her head, "I still wish that we didn't have to do this." Her husband nodded, "So do I, but we have to know that she's not working with OZ."
Noin replied, "I know, but to steal her personal records without her knowing? I just never thought that we would have to sink to this." Sally stated, "Well, we checked Keiser and he's fine. Once we see that there isn't anything suspicious about her, we'll destroy the disk, the data will still be safe in the database I found it in and everything will be business as usual." She broke through the security of the program and sat back as she sighed, "That should do it."
Pressing one last button, the image and personal records of the person in question appeared. Sally read aloud as her friends read over her shoulder, "Sera Makato. Preventer of five years and specialist in communications through Space. Second-in-Command of Commander Wilcox and loyal soldier to the protection of peace for the Colonies and the Earth." Milliardo stood straight as Sally continued to scan down the report. He smiled, "Good. Everything is fine. Now we can just act like nothing-" Sally suddenly gasped with wide eyes, "Wait a second."
Wind and Fire leaned to read over Water's shoulders again as she whispered with shock all over her face and voice, "I-I don't believe it...This says here that Sera is the widow of Odin Lowe." Noin and Milliardo's own eyes opened wide as they heard and read this. Fire whispered in disbelief as she shook her head, "But...Odin Lowe looked after Heero before he was killed." Milliardo shook his head, "There must be some kind of mistake." Sally informed them, "It also says here that they had a son together...Five years before Odin's death...Odin Lowe Junior."
Noin paced back from the computer as she shook her head and whispered, "Than...that means..." Milliardo sighed deeply and lowered his head, "Odin Lowe really was Heero's father...And Sera's-" The sound of glass crashing on the floor a few feet behind them startled the Preventers as they spun quickly back. A cup of coffee lied shattered on the floor with the liquid spreading across the tiles as Sera Makato's feet. The people who she came to know as her friends looked to her in shock as they were frozen in their places just as she was.
Sera finally turned and quickly ran back through the doors of the control room. "Sera!" the Preventers shouted simultaneously as they ran after her. Makato was flying down the halls in attempt to reach the hanger closest to them. Wind, Fire and Water were right on her heels as they raced through the deserted halls.
Reaching the hanger, Sera ran as fast as she could to the first Taurus suit available. Milliardo managed to catch up and blocked her path before she could reach the suit. With his arms outstretched and panting, he said quietly, "Sera...We want to help." Sera had large tears in her eyes as she looked to Wind. She paced back a few steps only to have Noin and Sally waiting behind her.
Knowing that she wasn't going anywhere, Sera bit her lip as a small sob left her. Both of her hands instantly covered her face as she collapsed to her knees crying hysterically. As she sobbed, she whispered over and over, "I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry." The Preventers standing over her looked to one another sadly as they knew they were responsible for their friend's pain. Sera doubled over as she continued to sob and shake, never removing her hands from her face. Milliardo got to his knees before her and pulled her into an embrace as they remained on the floor. Noin and Sally kneeled behind their friend and rubbed her back for added support.
Sera finally lowered her hands from her tear-soaked face as her sobs calmed a bit. Looking back to her comrades, she said in a breathless whisper, "I never meant for anyone to know..." Noin felt tears in her own eyes as she whispered back, "I know, Sera...We didn't want to look through your personal records without your knowing. But after everything that happened with Derek-"
Makato nodded, "I know. You didn't have a choice and I understand...I should have realized that the truth would come out at some point." Milliardo continued to hold her as he said quietly, "Still, we were wrong to go behind your back. And we are sorry for that." Sera gave a small smile and dried her eyes, no longer sobbing, "It's alright."
The Preventers got to their feet and Sera cleaned her face again with her hands. She sighed and said quietly, "I guess that the least I owe is an explanation." Sally gasped and shook her head, "You don't have to tell us anything, Sera." Makato shook her head, "No. I need to talk about this...I've been running and hiding too long." Turning to Noin and Milliardo, she asked, "Can we talk in your quarters?" The pair nodded as Noin replied, "Of course."
A few moments later, the Preventers were in Milliardo and Noin's room as they sat together. Mirando was still sleeping in his crib as they spoke quietly amongst themselves. Sera sighed deeply as she sat up in the chair that she rested in.
Looking past her friend that sat around her, she began, "Odin was well known for his abilities as a soldier, even though he never meant to become famous in any way. Still, in a time when people of the Colonies knew that there would be trouble from the Earth, everyone in Space was looking for heroes that they could rely on for the war that was inevitable. Everyone knew it would only be a matter of time before something had to be done to change the way that the Earth viewed and mistreated the people of the Colonies.
"Doctor J came to respect the fact that my husband was as esteemed as he was for his piloting and fighting skills. When he learned that I was pregnant, he made it his mission in life to do whatever it took to have our child into his own possession." Taking a deep breath, she lowered her head and continued quietly, "The night that Heero was born, my sister-in-law, the wife of Odin's brother, had given birth to a girl of her own just an hour after I delivered. She was in the room just down the hall from mine in the hospital...Not moments after I found out about her baby, shots rang out from her room."
Sere paused before she could go on, trying not to become emotional. Sally knelt next to her and rubbed her back. "Doctor J and some of his assistants fled the hospital before Odin and anyone could stop them. By the time my husband returned to the maternity ward, he was crying and covered in blood." A sob left Makato as she whispered, "In his haste to take our son, Doctor J had killed his bother and his wife instead of us. He took their daughter and ran off with her...She didn't even have a name."
Noin covered he mouth as tears began to roll down her face. Milliardo watched and listed to Sera with grief all over his face. "When we brought Odin Junior home with us, we were greeted at gunpoint by Doctor J's and his men. He had my niece in his arms and threatened all of our lives unless we agreed to do as he ordered...He decided to use his mistake as an advantage so that he could have two children, instead of one to be his soldiers...His Perfect Soldiers."
Taking another deep breath, Sera looked up and said, "Odin was ordered to train our son for a time, the baby girl was to stay with the doctor all the while. We were to act like nothing happened...To never see each other again." Tears rolled from her eyes as she whispered, "Odin and I would never have agreed, but he had the lives of our son and our niece in his hands...We didn't have a choice...I was forced to leave just weeks later, and was too lost in grief to look back."
Milliardo handed Sera a glass of water as she struggled to speak again. The young woman accepted the offering and said quietly, "Thank you." After taking a sip, she continued, "Just over fifteen years later, at the end of the Eve Wars and before the Marimaya Incident, I heard a report on seven teenagers who flew the weapons known as Gundams. I learned of how they were responsible for the peace that finally came to exist from the Earth to the furthest reached of Space...Then I heard their names being read...Wufei Chang, Quatre Rabarba Winner, Sette Devion, Trowa Barton, Duo Maxwell...Kumi Yuy...Heero Yuy...And at that moment, after all those years, I knew what had become of my son and his cousin."
Sera explained, "I knew Doctor J to be a man who loved the words of the great Heero Yuy who had been assassinated many years prior to Odin's birth. Heero's sister, Kumi Yuy worked alongside him wherever he went and eventually carried on his flame after his death. It made sence that he would pass their names onto his two best soldiers."
Noin asked in awe, "How were you able to stay so strong, knowing that you couldn't be with your own son?" Sera replied, "In the beginning, I didn't have a choice out of fear that Odin might have been killed. When the war was over and Doctor J had been killed, and I saw what that monster forced him to become, I chose that it was best to remain out of his life."
Mirando began to stir as a few choked sobs left the baby. Noin instinctively got to her feet and reached his crib in a few seconds. Taking the child into her arm, she whispered, "Shhh." Mirando calmed and was soon content as he remained against his mother's chest. Fire walked her son over to Sera and gently rested the baby in her arms. Sera looked to the child with wide eyes before understanding what Noin was saying. She rested Mirando against her own chest, rubbing his back and closing her eyes. Fire said quietly, "No mother should be deprived of their child. For years, Heero lived not knowing you, or your sacrifice. How much longer will he have to live continue to live without knowing the truth?"
Sera looked to the content child in her arms and said sadly, "I wish that it was as easy as telling Heero the truth...But to know that I couldn't protect him from the life that he's faced...a Gundam pilot... It's no way for anyone to live, let along children like Heero, Kumi and their friends." Sally smiled sincerely and shrugged, "Actually, I think that Heero's happy living the life that he has."
Sera looked to Water with uncertainty in her expression. Milliardo nodded, "I agree with Sally. Nobody forced them to remain Gundam pilots. Quatre had the suits rebuilt and they all accepted them back on their own free will." Noin continued as she smiled warmly, "And Heero isn't alone. He never would have met Duo if they were never Gundam pilots. And the way that they have bonded makes all of them more family than friends." Sera tought aloud, "You all make a good point."
Looking back to Mirando, Sear frowned, "I just don't know if I could ever tell Heero the truth, no matter how badly it hurts not to." Milliardo said sincerely, "I can honestly say that you have to be the strongest person that I've ever met." Sally and Noin nodded their agreement. Makato gave a small smile and said quietly, "It's so nice to finally have found friends like you." Noin replied, "It's nice to have you with us, too. No matter what, we'll always be here for you." The others smiled and nodded at this. Sera felt her heart warm and she whispered, "Thank you...That means more than I could ever say." Mirando went on to sleep in Sera's arms.
* * * * * *
Back on the Earth, Trowa was working in the hanger alone, listening with headphones to some of the conversations that had taken place between the highest officials of the planet. All the while, he was scratching notes on pads of paper quickly. Occasionally, he would look to the monitors before him that revealed maps of every continent. Zooming in on the center of Asia, the tall pilot began typing in some coordinates that he translated in the conversations. Little by little, the image was narrowing in to lock on to a definite location.
As Trowa continued to work, Delapan entered from behind. The tall pilot sensed that someone was in the room with him as he turned in his seat. When he saw his sister, he smiled before returning to his work. Catherine returned the smile and sat beside her brother. Trowa paused the recording and removed the headphones as he asked, "Is everything alright?" The redhead smiled and shrugged, "Just thought that I might see how you were doing."
Knowing the other pilot better than that, Trowa smirked, "Alright. What is it that you want to know?" Delapan bit her lip and replied with a bright smile, "Well, I saw Kumi walking from your room bright and early today." Trowa blushed and instantly turned his head from Catherine as he looked back to the monitors. His sister cheered, "I knew it!" She moved closer to the tall pilot as said sincerely, "I'm sorry, Trowa. I didn't mean to embarrass you...It's just that I knew you had feelings for Kumi for a long time now." Trowa's typing stopped and he turned to look back to Delapan.
"It was that obvious?" he asked in a small voice. Delapan chuckled deeply, "You know that you could never hide anything from me for very long." After a brief pause, she smiled, "I just wanted to say that I'm happy for you." Trowa blinked once, taking in everything and smiled sincerely, "Thank you, Catherine."
The other pilot nodded and asked, "If I might ask, when did she tell you that she loves you?" Trowa's smile faded as he looked away and continued to type at the keyboard. His sister was surprised at this sudden change, but knew that there was a reason behind it as she remained quiet. As he worked, her brother finally answered, "She hasn't yet."
Delapan's eyes widened at this. Seeing that this was something that had the European pilot confused and even a bit upset, her heart broke. She finally shrugged with a voice that tried to assure Trowa as much as herself, "That doesn't mean that she doesn't love you, Trowa...You know that, right?"
The tall pilot simply continued to type. He felt Catherine rest a supportive hand on his shoulder. "I didn't mean to bring up this whole thing to upset you...I just thought-" Trowa stopped typing and lowered his head as he sighed deeply. He shook his head, "It's alright. I know that you meant well...I kind of needed to talk about this with someone other than the guys."
Looking up to Delapan, Trowa admitted painfully, "Since the night before she left for Quasar, Kumi's come to my room every night. There hasn't been a morning yet that I've woken up with her in my arms, the way she is when we fall asleep." Catherine's eyes widened again as she felt the pain that weighed heavily in this confession.
The redhead whispered in shock, "I-I'm sorry, Trowa...I know that it seems like she must not care, but you don't know that for certain." Again, she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince her brother. It was obvious that Trowa truly loved Kumi.
The tall pilot forced a smile and shrugged, "You're right." Turning back to the computer, he said, "I'm going to get back to this now...Thank you for listening" His sister nodded and rose from her seat and kissed Trowa's cheek for support before leaving the hanger. Unknown to either pilot, someone managed to catch their conversation as they listened from the shadows not far behind them. Kumi watched silently as he lover buried himself in work again. She lowered her head as a deep sigh left her.
* * * * * *
That night, at dinner, the Gundam pilots entered the dining room to have their first dinner together in months. As everyone entered from the living room, Sette, Quatre and Duo brought out the food that they prepared together. Everyone sat at the round table, filling every seat. The pilots couldn't help smiling to the faces around them. This was something that they had feared they would never get to enjoy.
Taking each other's hands, everyone lowered their heads and Zes prayed, "God, we thank you for being able to enjoy this, our first meal together in good health and in the presence of those close to us. Please look after all those who we defend and grant us the strength that we need to emerge victorious for them. In this we pray. Amen." Everyone replied, "Amen." Lifting their hands and turning back to the meal, everyone passed and shared everything that had been prepared.
Almost an hour later, the dishes were finished and everyone was relaxing in the living room with the fireplace burning. Everyone had a wine glass filled with some champagne that Wufei managed to find hidden in a small wine case of the cabin. Relena had a wine glass filled with soda. Duo was almost a hundred percent by now, over a week since his rescue from Quasar. He was as lively as ever, finally getting the nourishment and sleep that he needed with Kumi and Trowa's help.
Quatre sighed deeply in content as he was about to take a sip from the bubbling champagne. He paused before actually drinking anything and lowered the glass a bit from his mouth. Looking to the others, he smiled, "You know what would make this perfect?" Wufei smirked and nodded, "Yea. A toast."
Trowa smiled and nodded as he looked to Duo, "It would be nice if someone was up to that." Duo chuckled deeply and rose from the chair he was sitting in. "Well, I'm one to back down from a request," he replied them with a sneer as he walked to the middle of the room. Sette smiled and turned to her fiancee as she asked, "Why do I get the feeling this isn't your average toast?" Quatre chuckled and answered, "You'll see."
Duo cleared his throat loudly with his back to the fire and his gaze upon his friends as they inched up in their seats. Raising his glass, Duo smiled and the others lifted their own cups the same. Duo recited, "A toast to OZ, our infamous foe....Which threatens the peace wherever they go. You're a powerful force, that can't be denied. But we have grown, too, in numbers and size.
"We have Wufei who's valor is good as his soul. Quatre, the warrior with his Space Heart of gold. There's Zes, who's mission has always been peace. And Delapan who pilots with skilled grace and ease. Trowa, a soldier that won't be held down. There's Sette, who soon will regain her crown. We have Kumi who will fight to her dying breath. And myself, Shinigami, your dear god of death. Heero will return and with him, we'll be whole. We'll right your wrong, and avenge the lives that you stole. In conclusion, I will say this, dear OZ, to whom we raise our glass...We will be sure to win this war and we'll gladly shove it up your ass."
Instantly, everyone applauded and laughed loudly in elation. Even Kumi was impressed as she clapped and smirked to the braided pilot. Duo bowed and with a nod, he lifted his glass high along with them and took a long drink. Everyone did the same and they continued to laugh and cheer in appreciation of the toast.
* * * * * *
In the hanger late that night, Kumi was working at her laptop looking over her blueprints. Suddenly, the laptop beeped at an incoming message. The pilot saved her changes to the blueprints and clicked a few keys to accept the signal. Howard's image appeared on the screen and smiled to the silver-haired pilot, "Hey, Kumi. Good to see you." The 'Perfect Soldier' remained expressionless, but nodded, "Howard. How are you?" The old man replied, "I have something here that I knew you would want to see."
Howard wheeled a table with a glass case over to where it could be seen. In the glass case, there was a silver ball of metal the size of a volleyball. Kumi's eyes widened as she asked, "Is that..." Howard removed his sunglasses and smiled as he nodded, "Our own Flare Sphere. We managed to use the shell of one of OZ's that Trowa had found while he was on R58. I purposely made ours silver to distinguish them from the gold-toned ones that OZ has."
The 'Perfect Soldier' asked, "How quickly can they be made?" Howard answered, "We'll be producing these puppies as quickly as mobile suits. We already have tested these successfully. By tomorrow, we'll have well over a hundred armed and ready. OZ will never know what hit them." Kumi nodded with a sneer, Nice work, Howard. Thank you. I'll be sure to tell the others in the morning. They could use some good news for a change." The kind man smiled and nodded, "Sounds good. Take care, Kumi." The silver-haired pilot replied, "Same to you, Howard." At this, the screen went black.
Kumi walked from the hanger to find the house dark, empty and quiet, since it was nearly midnight now. Walking through the pitch living room without difficulty, she made her was to the large, wooden front porch of the safe house. Stepping out into the fresh air, she raised her arms over her head to stretch as she inhaled deeply with her eyes closed.
The silver-haired pilot stayed like that at the edge of the porch as she felt a gentle breeze against her. Letting a deep sigh escape her, she opened he eyes as her arms lowered to her side. Her blue spheres then noticed someone walking away from the cabin far ahead. Squinting, Kumi recognized the chestnut braid swinging behind them.
Running ahead silently, she made her way towards the American. Not making a sound as she ran, Kumi managed to catch up and followed a few feet behind Duo as he continued to walk on through the woods. Following Duo for almost fifteen minutes, she soon found what brought about his late stroll.
Duo reached a break in the woods and for miles, there was nothing but open fields. The skies were the clearest that they could be, every star and the half-moon over them in plain sight. None of the pilots managed to find this place other than their braided comrade. Kumi looked to the site with wide eyes, never expecting to find anything like it.
Duo reached a tall hill a few feet ahead of her and lowered himself to lie there on his back as he looked up to the skies. Kumi watched in silent curiosity for a moment before finally continuing on to join him. The American heard the soft footsteps coming from behind. Sitting up, he turned to see the silver-haired pilot making her way to him. He smiled warmly and patted the glass to his right before lying back down, resting his arms over his chest. Kumi sat and lied beside him as she looked to the stars, herself.
After a moment, the breezes were all that could be heard. Finally, Kumi asked, "What's the point of watching the stars anyway?" Duo's eyes widened for a moment, recalling the same question being asked by Heero a little more than five years prior to this night. He smiled and chuckled deeply, "What else are you going to do with them?"
Kumi turned to the American with confusion in her eyes. Thinking of the response, she chuckled deeply herself and shook her head, "I never thought about it like that." Duo smiled and closed his eyes, "Neither did Heero until he asked the same thing." Hearing her cousin's name, the 'Perfect Soldier' felt the twinge of pain tearing at her.
"We'll get him back," Duo said gently but with confidence. Kumi nodded and turned back to the stars, saying with just as much confidence, "Yea, we will." Absently, the two pilots found their comrade's hand and squeezed it tightly, as a silent vow to do whatever it took to bring Heero back safely. Content with that, Duo smiled and closed his eyes as he folded his arms behind his head again.
Just then, the braided pilot's eyes shot open and he sat up saying, "Since we're alone..." Kumi sat up and asked, "What is it?" Duo removed a folded piece of paper from a pocket on his black jeans. Unfolding the paper, he explained, "I promised Heero that I would show this to you...It was a gift me made for our fifth anniversary."
As she received the paper, the silver-haired pilot looked hesitant to read. Then Duo smiled, "I believe that you asked him what love really is...This is his answer." The girl's eyes widened for a moment and she quickly turned to the gift.
The paper had the background of an ocean shoreline at sunset. The message was handwritten and there wasn't any question that it belonged to the Wing pilot. At the top, he wrote, 'Love Is...' Kumi took a deep breath and read silently, hearing Heero's voice as if her cousin was reading it aloud, himself...
'Love is when someone becomes the most important person in you life and you know they always will be...At times when you're alone, you think of them just so that you can be together somehow...Love is when you wake up smiling because that special someone visited you in the dream you just had...The person you love never loses the ability to make your heart skip a few beats when they smile at you...It's when the world around you disappears every time they're in your arms...
'Trying to picture how you lived without them is impossible and the thought of ever having to live without them is unbearable...The one you love is the first thought you have when you wake up, and the last before you fall asleep...You laugh when they laugh and hurt when they're hurt...And the word 'forever' doesn't begin to say how long you want to be with them...Love is all these things and many more blended together. It is stronger, purer and more beautiful than anything to ever exist...And when that love is returned, the impossible becomes reality...And life is worth living.'
Kumi looked to the words for a moment silently, taking all of them in with her jaw a bit slack. She failed to realize that a stray tear rolled down her face until the braided pilot beside her dried it gently. Turning to Duo, she whispered after clearing her throat, "This is beautiful." She folded the paper and handed it back to the American.
Duo smiled warmly and placed it back in his pocket as he said, "Heero made two copies...This one to take with me wherever I go and another for Deathscythe. You know the funny thing is that the cockpit was in terrible shape after the V10's destruction. But, the other copy is still framed and in tact." The silver-haired pilot smirked at the irony and lied on her back again. Duo did the same.
After a pause for the pair to watch the stars in silence, the braided pilot heard his comrade say just over a whisper, "Thank you, Duo." The American turned to look at Kumi and asked, "What for?" The Japanese pilot turned her head in his direction and replied, "For loving Heero so much." Looking back to the stars, she stated, "He always wanted to know love like yours." Duo smiled warmly and turned his head back to the heavens, whispering, "I waited my whole life for Heero. It's easy to love him so much."
The braided pilot chuckled deeply as he closed his eyes, "You know, before I met him, if anyone told me that I would meet my soul mate and fall in love, I would have laughed my ass off." He sighed deeply and opened is eyes to the stars, "Finding love just seemed like those stars now, beautiful but unreachable." He paused then smiled as he said quietly, "But sometimes, just when you least expect...Miracles do happen." Kumi couldn't help but turn to Duo with a look of uncertainty. These word mean a lot as she absorbed them. A small but sincere smile crossed her lips as she looked to Duo. With that same smile, she looked to the stars again.
Over an hour later, the two pilots made their way back through the woods, talking about all kinds of things. Kumi surprised both of them by being as open about some of the things that she shared with Duo on the way to the safe house. It didn't feel uncomfortable now. As far as she was concerned, Duo was as much her family as Heero. There was no question in her mind about that any longer. Kumi was even more determined than ever to see that nothing happened to him. Duo was now her brother as much as Heero, whether they were wed on not.
The American was more than happy that his stoic friend was finding it easier to open to him. She told him some of her past with Matt and the times that she and Heero spent together before being separated. Kumi even went as far as to admit her personal struggle of feelings towards Trowa. The braided pilot, in turn, showed his support by sharing a lot of is past as well. He spoke about Solo ad the Maxwell Church Massacre. He told his comrade about his first trip to L2 for the Memorial Service with Heero and their first kiss that came a few nights later.
Duo had picked some beautiful flowers on the way to the cabin. Soon, they reached the hill where Dorothy's cross stood. The American took the flowers and planted them around the base of the memorial as he knelt before it. Kumi watched silently a few feet back. Once the offering had been set, he lowered his head in a silent prayer as he did every night after stargazing.
Placing a kiss on his fingertips, Duo lied his hand on the cross's center and he smiled sadly, "We miss you, Dorothy...But it's nice to know there's another angel on our side up there." He rose and walked back a few steps, still looking to the cross. Kumi was now beside him, looking to the cross as well. Duo made a sigh of the cross and turned back along with the silver-haired pilot as they walked back to the safe house.
They soon reached the front porch. Once they were on the top of the porch steps, Kumi stopped and sat on the top of the steps there. Looking to her partner, she said in monotone, "I'm just going to sit out here for a little while....I kind of like watching the stars." Duo smiled warmly and nodded, "Okay. Thanks for the company tonight. We should do this again." The other pilot simply nodded, "Thank you for listening." The braided pilot wave a wave and turned to walk inside.
As he reached the door, Duo paused as he gasped, "Oh yea." He quickly walked back to Kumi and sat beside her on the step. "I almost forgot. Not long before reaching the Earth for the Eve Wars, something happened that made finding love seem a little less impossible. Maybe it'll help you, too."
Kumi sat up straight, looking to Duo with great curiosity and asked quietly, "What was that?" Duo's smile grew a bit, and turned his gaze to the skies. He answered, "I got hooked on watching the stars like this. Then suddenly I realized...All those stars out there...There must be two that shine at an equal brightness."
Kumi's eyes instantly widened at these words, the same that came from her cousin the night they watched the stars before being separated at fifteen. She couldn't breathe as she looked to the braided pilot in disbelief. A small, sincere smile crossed her lips as she allowed all of this to sink in.
Duo kissed Kumi's temple, never realizing that she was still in shock or the reason behind it. He said gently as he rose, "Night, Kumi." Absently, she replied, "Night, Duo." Finally breathing again, the 'Perfect Soldier' looked back to the heavens as she heard her own cousin's voice tell her, "All those stars out there...There must to be two that burn at an equal brightness."
A small, stifled laugh game from the pilot as a wide smile spread across her face. "You were right all along, Heero," she whispered to the stars. Turning back to see the door that her cousin's lover entered, she smiled warmly, biting her lip as a stray tear rolled down her right cheek. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, allowing the drop to roll all the way down her face. Kumi turned back to the stars, taking in their beauty and silent wonder.
* * * * * *
Trowa was lying in his bead when his door opened. Kumi entered silently, wearing her night T-shirt and boxers again, and closed the door behind her. Her lover was sleeping peacefully on his left side, in only his sweatpants, facing the side of the bed that she normally slept in. The silver-haired pilot's heart melted as it always did when she found Trowa like this. Quietly, she slipped under the sheet and eased her way into the sleeping pilot's arms.
The tall pilot sighed deeply in content, knowing fully well that his lover had returned as she would every night. His eyes slowly opened and a sweet smile just for the other pilot crossed his lips. "Ohayo," he whispered. Kumi replied the same. She then frowned, recalling the pain that she knew she had put the tall pilot through. Concerned, her lover sat up a bit and caressed her cheek to get her to look at him. When their eyes locked, he asked gently, "What's wrong?" His response was a gentle kiss on his mouth that deepened before long.
When they broke for air, Kumi said quietly with an unfamiliar tone of almost pain in her voice, "I won't be here in the morning...I don't know when I will be here the next morning." She lowered his head as her eyes closed, "I'm sorry, Trowa...I just..." Her partner gently lifted her head by placing his finger under her chin. Kumi's eyes opened as she gazed sadly to him. Trowa smiled lovingly, "It's okay...I have you now. That's all that matters."
Kumi wasn't sure whether to cry or scream. She whispered, "I'm hurting you." Trowa frowned and admitted in a whisper, "You don't mean to...I should have known that before now. I'm the one who should apologize...You're still going through so much and I forgot how hard all of this must be for you on top of the war." Kumi growled quietly and closed her eyes, "This damn war...I'm so tired of fighting." Trowa's eyes widened. He never thought that he would hear these words from this lover. She continued, "I'm tired of not knowing what end is up with my emotions and how to sort them out."
Caressing Trowa's cheek, she whispered, "Most of all, I'm tired of not being able to tell you what's in my heart." Trowa took her hand, fighting the small tears that were building in his eyes. He planted small kisses in her palm and assured her, "Whatever happens, I'll always love you, Kumi. If you don't feel the same, I understand and I'll support you." Looking into he blue eyes sadly, he quietly pleaded, "Just stay with me tonight. I'll be happy just having you in my arms before I fall asleep. It won't hurt as bad in the morning."
The silver-haired pilot kissed Trowa full on the lips as a small whimper left her. Breaking the kiss, she sighed, "I don't deserve you, Trowa...You're too good a person." Her hands rested on her lover's chest, slowly making their way down. "Let me make up for the pain I've caused by making love tonight...and not by just having sex, as all the nights before," she asked with a hint of yearning in her voice. Trowa shivered inwardly at this. He whispered in a staggered breath, "I-I've never made love before." The silver-haired pilot whispered, "We'll learn together." There we no more words as the pilots kissed passionately and desperately.
* * * * * *
Trowa awoke alone again that morning. Again, the only thing covering him was the thin sheet of the bed from the waist down. He sat up, closed his eyed and rolled his neck slowly, stretching his arms over his head. A deep sigh deft him before he opened his eyes and lowered his hands to rest on the mattress.
Just then, his eyes caught something lying where Kumi had been sleeping. It was the letter from his lover that Sette had passed onto him. Taking this as a sign that the silver-haired pilot felt that it was time he read it, Trowa took the letter into his hand and slowly opened it.
After unfolding the letter, he recalled Kumi's voice and read silently as if he was reading the following note to her:
Trowa,
I have always found it difficult to verbally express what is in my heart. I understand that this must seem impersonal to say all of this in a letter, and for that I am truly sorry. But, this is the only way that I can begin to say what you deserve to hear.
Doctor J spent ten years of his life training and conditioning Heero and myself to lose any and all human emotions in order to become the Perfect Soldiers. While he was successful in burying these emotions and aspects deep within us, he was not able to kill them...During the Eve Wars, I fell in love for the first time in my life, though I never would have admitted it then.
It was with a pilot who risked his life to save a dear friend of his who had been lost to madness and grief. This pilot sacrificed himself without any regret or concern for himself, nearly being killed in the process. Now, seven years later, I've found myself falling in love with him again.
I would be lying if I said that I wasn't afraid...But it's only fair for you to know the truth. Thank you for everything. You're the first person who helped me realize that I'm not a machine. For that alone, I'll always be grateful. Ai shiteru, Trowa. I'll be home soon.
Love,
Kumi
Trowa stared at the letter for a moment, feeling his heart light for the first time in ages. A loving smile crossed his lips as he looked to the writing of his lover. Folding the paper and placing it back in the envelope, the tall pilot placed it in his jean pocket, to follow him wherever he would go.
* * * * * *
Later that morning, Duo, Kumi, Delapan, Quatre, Sette and Wufei were working on their suits and at the main system in the hanger when trowa joined them. The tall pilot walked to his lover as she typed at her laptop. The silver-haired pilot looked up to him when she sensed his presence. Trowa gently placed his hand over hers and squeezed it with a soft smile. Kumi returned the smile and squeeze before they went to work.
Sette suddenly poked her head from her seat in Mason's cockpit. "Has anybody seen Zes yet?" she called to her comrades. "I haven't seen her all morning." Delapan rose from her spot before the main computer and she offered, "I'll go up and get her." At this, she left the hanger.
Reaching the closed door of her friend's room, Catherine knocked and called gently, "Zes? Are you awake?" There was no response. The redhead's eyes widened as she was stricken with concern. She opened the door quickly to see Relena spread across the floor on her right side, back to the other pilot. Delapan shouted, "RELENA!" She picked her friend up from the waist and took several quick panicked breaths as she screamed, "SOMEBODY HELP US!!!" Relena continued to rest lifelessly in her friend's arms.
TBC
Sam, thank you for the completion of another missions! I hope you like how I worked it in! *hugs* Love ya! SkyLark
Gundam Wing: The Second Chapter
Episode 36: Confessions
by SkyLark
helped and supported by: Snodin, Vampira, Sam, Beekay, Stormy, Akuma, Naz, GREETER 600, Ruby, Ryla my 1x2x1 family and everyone enjoying this fic
NARRATOR: Since the disclosure of Derek Anderson's identity as an OZ spy, careful measures were taken by the Preventers in knowing exactly who they were working with. There truly was no way that a background check of every soldier could be completed. Therefore, only the highest ranked officers were checked. Once they were cleared, they alone were permitted to receive information regarding the war. It would be the only way to avoid the risk of revealing crucial information to OZ.
In a war where so much was working against them, the Preventers and the Gundam pilots knew that they could afford to overlook anything, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. A few oversights could very well cost the victory in the war, which was already greatly favoring OZ at this point.
* * * * * *
A young woman clothed in her OZ uniform walked down the halls of another ship belonging to the organization. Her light, red hair fell just past her shoulders and was pulled in a ponytail. She wore a pair of thin, red-rimmed glasses over her brown eyes. With the files in her possession, placed carefully under her right arm, she made her way from the control room of the ship. Another OZ soldier ran to her from behind as he called, "Captain." The young woman turned to him and her brown eyes locked onto his green. "Yes?" she asked.
The young man took a closer look to the soldier and said with a hint of confusion in his voice, "I swear that we must have met before. You look like someone I know." The young woman smiled and replied, "We may have. I've been known to travel frequently throughout the organization." The young man then smiled back and nodded, "That explains it. We must have passed each other on different occasions. I hope that you enjoy your stay here before you are transferred to supervise another ship again."
The woman nodded back, "Thank you. It has been an enjoyable stay." The man saluted and said, "If there is anything that you should need, we're all more than happy to help." At this, he turned and left her to return to the control room and his post there. Lady Une chuckled deeply to herself and sneered, "What goes around comes around." Taking the files into her right hand, she made her way down to her room.
* * * * * *
Sally Poe was quickly making her way to the control room of Pulsar with a floppy disk, carefully held in her right hand. It was very early in the morning, the only time that she would be able to accomplish what she needed to do. The halls were barren as everyone slept and the eerie tap of her footsteps echoing was the only sound that could be heard. Quickening her pace, Water soon reached the control room.
Noin and Milliardo were the only ones in the room waiting for her when she arrived. Wind looked to the braided young woman and asked, "Did you get it?" Sally nodded and revealed the disk and informed them, "I got everything that was in the system." The two waiting Preventers wade way for their friend as she walked to one of the desks. They stood behind her as she sat as her computer and placed the dick inside.
"Did Lady Une reach the ship that we picked up?" Sally asked as she typed quickly to scan the reports. Noin nodded, "When last she reported back to us, she managed to get through just fine. We won't have any contact with her until she returns, when ever that may be." Milliardo stated, "The false identification files that she made weren't that hard to create, since Lady Une worked under OZ before. Thankfully, she managed to break through their system to make everything look as valid if anyone from OZ questions her." Noin chuckled deeply, "And I didn't recognize her with the way she colored her hair."
Sally simply nodded and went on to type into the report that she captured. Fire and Wind continued to watch behind her. Fire sighed deeply and lowered her head, "I still wish that we didn't have to do this." Her husband nodded, "So do I, but we have to know that she's not working with OZ."
Noin replied, "I know, but to steal her personal records without her knowing? I just never thought that we would have to sink to this." Sally stated, "Well, we checked Keiser and he's fine. Once we see that there isn't anything suspicious about her, we'll destroy the disk, the data will still be safe in the database I found it in and everything will be business as usual." She broke through the security of the program and sat back as she sighed, "That should do it."
Pressing one last button, the image and personal records of the person in question appeared. Sally read aloud as her friends read over her shoulder, "Sera Makato. Preventer of five years and specialist in communications through Space. Second-in-Command of Commander Wilcox and loyal soldier to the protection of peace for the Colonies and the Earth." Milliardo stood straight as Sally continued to scan down the report. He smiled, "Good. Everything is fine. Now we can just act like nothing-" Sally suddenly gasped with wide eyes, "Wait a second."
Wind and Fire leaned to read over Water's shoulders again as she whispered with shock all over her face and voice, "I-I don't believe it...This says here that Sera is the widow of Odin Lowe." Noin and Milliardo's own eyes opened wide as they heard and read this. Fire whispered in disbelief as she shook her head, "But...Odin Lowe looked after Heero before he was killed." Milliardo shook his head, "There must be some kind of mistake." Sally informed them, "It also says here that they had a son together...Five years before Odin's death...Odin Lowe Junior."
Noin paced back from the computer as she shook her head and whispered, "Than...that means..." Milliardo sighed deeply and lowered his head, "Odin Lowe really was Heero's father...And Sera's-" The sound of glass crashing on the floor a few feet behind them startled the Preventers as they spun quickly back. A cup of coffee lied shattered on the floor with the liquid spreading across the tiles as Sera Makato's feet. The people who she came to know as her friends looked to her in shock as they were frozen in their places just as she was.
Sera finally turned and quickly ran back through the doors of the control room. "Sera!" the Preventers shouted simultaneously as they ran after her. Makato was flying down the halls in attempt to reach the hanger closest to them. Wind, Fire and Water were right on her heels as they raced through the deserted halls.
Reaching the hanger, Sera ran as fast as she could to the first Taurus suit available. Milliardo managed to catch up and blocked her path before she could reach the suit. With his arms outstretched and panting, he said quietly, "Sera...We want to help." Sera had large tears in her eyes as she looked to Wind. She paced back a few steps only to have Noin and Sally waiting behind her.
Knowing that she wasn't going anywhere, Sera bit her lip as a small sob left her. Both of her hands instantly covered her face as she collapsed to her knees crying hysterically. As she sobbed, she whispered over and over, "I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry." The Preventers standing over her looked to one another sadly as they knew they were responsible for their friend's pain. Sera doubled over as she continued to sob and shake, never removing her hands from her face. Milliardo got to his knees before her and pulled her into an embrace as they remained on the floor. Noin and Sally kneeled behind their friend and rubbed her back for added support.
Sera finally lowered her hands from her tear-soaked face as her sobs calmed a bit. Looking back to her comrades, she said in a breathless whisper, "I never meant for anyone to know..." Noin felt tears in her own eyes as she whispered back, "I know, Sera...We didn't want to look through your personal records without your knowing. But after everything that happened with Derek-"
Makato nodded, "I know. You didn't have a choice and I understand...I should have realized that the truth would come out at some point." Milliardo continued to hold her as he said quietly, "Still, we were wrong to go behind your back. And we are sorry for that." Sera gave a small smile and dried her eyes, no longer sobbing, "It's alright."
The Preventers got to their feet and Sera cleaned her face again with her hands. She sighed and said quietly, "I guess that the least I owe is an explanation." Sally gasped and shook her head, "You don't have to tell us anything, Sera." Makato shook her head, "No. I need to talk about this...I've been running and hiding too long." Turning to Noin and Milliardo, she asked, "Can we talk in your quarters?" The pair nodded as Noin replied, "Of course."
A few moments later, the Preventers were in Milliardo and Noin's room as they sat together. Mirando was still sleeping in his crib as they spoke quietly amongst themselves. Sera sighed deeply as she sat up in the chair that she rested in.
Looking past her friend that sat around her, she began, "Odin was well known for his abilities as a soldier, even though he never meant to become famous in any way. Still, in a time when people of the Colonies knew that there would be trouble from the Earth, everyone in Space was looking for heroes that they could rely on for the war that was inevitable. Everyone knew it would only be a matter of time before something had to be done to change the way that the Earth viewed and mistreated the people of the Colonies.
"Doctor J came to respect the fact that my husband was as esteemed as he was for his piloting and fighting skills. When he learned that I was pregnant, he made it his mission in life to do whatever it took to have our child into his own possession." Taking a deep breath, she lowered her head and continued quietly, "The night that Heero was born, my sister-in-law, the wife of Odin's brother, had given birth to a girl of her own just an hour after I delivered. She was in the room just down the hall from mine in the hospital...Not moments after I found out about her baby, shots rang out from her room."
Sere paused before she could go on, trying not to become emotional. Sally knelt next to her and rubbed her back. "Doctor J and some of his assistants fled the hospital before Odin and anyone could stop them. By the time my husband returned to the maternity ward, he was crying and covered in blood." A sob left Makato as she whispered, "In his haste to take our son, Doctor J had killed his bother and his wife instead of us. He took their daughter and ran off with her...She didn't even have a name."
Noin covered he mouth as tears began to roll down her face. Milliardo watched and listed to Sera with grief all over his face. "When we brought Odin Junior home with us, we were greeted at gunpoint by Doctor J's and his men. He had my niece in his arms and threatened all of our lives unless we agreed to do as he ordered...He decided to use his mistake as an advantage so that he could have two children, instead of one to be his soldiers...His Perfect Soldiers."
Taking another deep breath, Sera looked up and said, "Odin was ordered to train our son for a time, the baby girl was to stay with the doctor all the while. We were to act like nothing happened...To never see each other again." Tears rolled from her eyes as she whispered, "Odin and I would never have agreed, but he had the lives of our son and our niece in his hands...We didn't have a choice...I was forced to leave just weeks later, and was too lost in grief to look back."
Milliardo handed Sera a glass of water as she struggled to speak again. The young woman accepted the offering and said quietly, "Thank you." After taking a sip, she continued, "Just over fifteen years later, at the end of the Eve Wars and before the Marimaya Incident, I heard a report on seven teenagers who flew the weapons known as Gundams. I learned of how they were responsible for the peace that finally came to exist from the Earth to the furthest reached of Space...Then I heard their names being read...Wufei Chang, Quatre Rabarba Winner, Sette Devion, Trowa Barton, Duo Maxwell...Kumi Yuy...Heero Yuy...And at that moment, after all those years, I knew what had become of my son and his cousin."
Sera explained, "I knew Doctor J to be a man who loved the words of the great Heero Yuy who had been assassinated many years prior to Odin's birth. Heero's sister, Kumi Yuy worked alongside him wherever he went and eventually carried on his flame after his death. It made sence that he would pass their names onto his two best soldiers."
Noin asked in awe, "How were you able to stay so strong, knowing that you couldn't be with your own son?" Sera replied, "In the beginning, I didn't have a choice out of fear that Odin might have been killed. When the war was over and Doctor J had been killed, and I saw what that monster forced him to become, I chose that it was best to remain out of his life."
Mirando began to stir as a few choked sobs left the baby. Noin instinctively got to her feet and reached his crib in a few seconds. Taking the child into her arm, she whispered, "Shhh." Mirando calmed and was soon content as he remained against his mother's chest. Fire walked her son over to Sera and gently rested the baby in her arms. Sera looked to the child with wide eyes before understanding what Noin was saying. She rested Mirando against her own chest, rubbing his back and closing her eyes. Fire said quietly, "No mother should be deprived of their child. For years, Heero lived not knowing you, or your sacrifice. How much longer will he have to live continue to live without knowing the truth?"
Sera looked to the content child in her arms and said sadly, "I wish that it was as easy as telling Heero the truth...But to know that I couldn't protect him from the life that he's faced...a Gundam pilot... It's no way for anyone to live, let along children like Heero, Kumi and their friends." Sally smiled sincerely and shrugged, "Actually, I think that Heero's happy living the life that he has."
Sera looked to Water with uncertainty in her expression. Milliardo nodded, "I agree with Sally. Nobody forced them to remain Gundam pilots. Quatre had the suits rebuilt and they all accepted them back on their own free will." Noin continued as she smiled warmly, "And Heero isn't alone. He never would have met Duo if they were never Gundam pilots. And the way that they have bonded makes all of them more family than friends." Sera tought aloud, "You all make a good point."
Looking back to Mirando, Sear frowned, "I just don't know if I could ever tell Heero the truth, no matter how badly it hurts not to." Milliardo said sincerely, "I can honestly say that you have to be the strongest person that I've ever met." Sally and Noin nodded their agreement. Makato gave a small smile and said quietly, "It's so nice to finally have found friends like you." Noin replied, "It's nice to have you with us, too. No matter what, we'll always be here for you." The others smiled and nodded at this. Sera felt her heart warm and she whispered, "Thank you...That means more than I could ever say." Mirando went on to sleep in Sera's arms.
* * * * * *
Back on the Earth, Trowa was working in the hanger alone, listening with headphones to some of the conversations that had taken place between the highest officials of the planet. All the while, he was scratching notes on pads of paper quickly. Occasionally, he would look to the monitors before him that revealed maps of every continent. Zooming in on the center of Asia, the tall pilot began typing in some coordinates that he translated in the conversations. Little by little, the image was narrowing in to lock on to a definite location.
As Trowa continued to work, Delapan entered from behind. The tall pilot sensed that someone was in the room with him as he turned in his seat. When he saw his sister, he smiled before returning to his work. Catherine returned the smile and sat beside her brother. Trowa paused the recording and removed the headphones as he asked, "Is everything alright?" The redhead smiled and shrugged, "Just thought that I might see how you were doing."
Knowing the other pilot better than that, Trowa smirked, "Alright. What is it that you want to know?" Delapan bit her lip and replied with a bright smile, "Well, I saw Kumi walking from your room bright and early today." Trowa blushed and instantly turned his head from Catherine as he looked back to the monitors. His sister cheered, "I knew it!" She moved closer to the tall pilot as said sincerely, "I'm sorry, Trowa. I didn't mean to embarrass you...It's just that I knew you had feelings for Kumi for a long time now." Trowa's typing stopped and he turned to look back to Delapan.
"It was that obvious?" he asked in a small voice. Delapan chuckled deeply, "You know that you could never hide anything from me for very long." After a brief pause, she smiled, "I just wanted to say that I'm happy for you." Trowa blinked once, taking in everything and smiled sincerely, "Thank you, Catherine."
The other pilot nodded and asked, "If I might ask, when did she tell you that she loves you?" Trowa's smile faded as he looked away and continued to type at the keyboard. His sister was surprised at this sudden change, but knew that there was a reason behind it as she remained quiet. As he worked, her brother finally answered, "She hasn't yet."
Delapan's eyes widened at this. Seeing that this was something that had the European pilot confused and even a bit upset, her heart broke. She finally shrugged with a voice that tried to assure Trowa as much as herself, "That doesn't mean that she doesn't love you, Trowa...You know that, right?"
The tall pilot simply continued to type. He felt Catherine rest a supportive hand on his shoulder. "I didn't mean to bring up this whole thing to upset you...I just thought-" Trowa stopped typing and lowered his head as he sighed deeply. He shook his head, "It's alright. I know that you meant well...I kind of needed to talk about this with someone other than the guys."
Looking up to Delapan, Trowa admitted painfully, "Since the night before she left for Quasar, Kumi's come to my room every night. There hasn't been a morning yet that I've woken up with her in my arms, the way she is when we fall asleep." Catherine's eyes widened again as she felt the pain that weighed heavily in this confession.
The redhead whispered in shock, "I-I'm sorry, Trowa...I know that it seems like she must not care, but you don't know that for certain." Again, she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince her brother. It was obvious that Trowa truly loved Kumi.
The tall pilot forced a smile and shrugged, "You're right." Turning back to the computer, he said, "I'm going to get back to this now...Thank you for listening" His sister nodded and rose from her seat and kissed Trowa's cheek for support before leaving the hanger. Unknown to either pilot, someone managed to catch their conversation as they listened from the shadows not far behind them. Kumi watched silently as he lover buried himself in work again. She lowered her head as a deep sigh left her.
* * * * * *
That night, at dinner, the Gundam pilots entered the dining room to have their first dinner together in months. As everyone entered from the living room, Sette, Quatre and Duo brought out the food that they prepared together. Everyone sat at the round table, filling every seat. The pilots couldn't help smiling to the faces around them. This was something that they had feared they would never get to enjoy.
Taking each other's hands, everyone lowered their heads and Zes prayed, "God, we thank you for being able to enjoy this, our first meal together in good health and in the presence of those close to us. Please look after all those who we defend and grant us the strength that we need to emerge victorious for them. In this we pray. Amen." Everyone replied, "Amen." Lifting their hands and turning back to the meal, everyone passed and shared everything that had been prepared.
Almost an hour later, the dishes were finished and everyone was relaxing in the living room with the fireplace burning. Everyone had a wine glass filled with some champagne that Wufei managed to find hidden in a small wine case of the cabin. Relena had a wine glass filled with soda. Duo was almost a hundred percent by now, over a week since his rescue from Quasar. He was as lively as ever, finally getting the nourishment and sleep that he needed with Kumi and Trowa's help.
Quatre sighed deeply in content as he was about to take a sip from the bubbling champagne. He paused before actually drinking anything and lowered the glass a bit from his mouth. Looking to the others, he smiled, "You know what would make this perfect?" Wufei smirked and nodded, "Yea. A toast."
Trowa smiled and nodded as he looked to Duo, "It would be nice if someone was up to that." Duo chuckled deeply and rose from the chair he was sitting in. "Well, I'm one to back down from a request," he replied them with a sneer as he walked to the middle of the room. Sette smiled and turned to her fiancee as she asked, "Why do I get the feeling this isn't your average toast?" Quatre chuckled and answered, "You'll see."
Duo cleared his throat loudly with his back to the fire and his gaze upon his friends as they inched up in their seats. Raising his glass, Duo smiled and the others lifted their own cups the same. Duo recited, "A toast to OZ, our infamous foe....Which threatens the peace wherever they go. You're a powerful force, that can't be denied. But we have grown, too, in numbers and size.
"We have Wufei who's valor is good as his soul. Quatre, the warrior with his Space Heart of gold. There's Zes, who's mission has always been peace. And Delapan who pilots with skilled grace and ease. Trowa, a soldier that won't be held down. There's Sette, who soon will regain her crown. We have Kumi who will fight to her dying breath. And myself, Shinigami, your dear god of death. Heero will return and with him, we'll be whole. We'll right your wrong, and avenge the lives that you stole. In conclusion, I will say this, dear OZ, to whom we raise our glass...We will be sure to win this war and we'll gladly shove it up your ass."
Instantly, everyone applauded and laughed loudly in elation. Even Kumi was impressed as she clapped and smirked to the braided pilot. Duo bowed and with a nod, he lifted his glass high along with them and took a long drink. Everyone did the same and they continued to laugh and cheer in appreciation of the toast.
* * * * * *
In the hanger late that night, Kumi was working at her laptop looking over her blueprints. Suddenly, the laptop beeped at an incoming message. The pilot saved her changes to the blueprints and clicked a few keys to accept the signal. Howard's image appeared on the screen and smiled to the silver-haired pilot, "Hey, Kumi. Good to see you." The 'Perfect Soldier' remained expressionless, but nodded, "Howard. How are you?" The old man replied, "I have something here that I knew you would want to see."
Howard wheeled a table with a glass case over to where it could be seen. In the glass case, there was a silver ball of metal the size of a volleyball. Kumi's eyes widened as she asked, "Is that..." Howard removed his sunglasses and smiled as he nodded, "Our own Flare Sphere. We managed to use the shell of one of OZ's that Trowa had found while he was on R58. I purposely made ours silver to distinguish them from the gold-toned ones that OZ has."
The 'Perfect Soldier' asked, "How quickly can they be made?" Howard answered, "We'll be producing these puppies as quickly as mobile suits. We already have tested these successfully. By tomorrow, we'll have well over a hundred armed and ready. OZ will never know what hit them." Kumi nodded with a sneer, Nice work, Howard. Thank you. I'll be sure to tell the others in the morning. They could use some good news for a change." The kind man smiled and nodded, "Sounds good. Take care, Kumi." The silver-haired pilot replied, "Same to you, Howard." At this, the screen went black.
Kumi walked from the hanger to find the house dark, empty and quiet, since it was nearly midnight now. Walking through the pitch living room without difficulty, she made her was to the large, wooden front porch of the safe house. Stepping out into the fresh air, she raised her arms over her head to stretch as she inhaled deeply with her eyes closed.
The silver-haired pilot stayed like that at the edge of the porch as she felt a gentle breeze against her. Letting a deep sigh escape her, she opened he eyes as her arms lowered to her side. Her blue spheres then noticed someone walking away from the cabin far ahead. Squinting, Kumi recognized the chestnut braid swinging behind them.
Running ahead silently, she made her way towards the American. Not making a sound as she ran, Kumi managed to catch up and followed a few feet behind Duo as he continued to walk on through the woods. Following Duo for almost fifteen minutes, she soon found what brought about his late stroll.
Duo reached a break in the woods and for miles, there was nothing but open fields. The skies were the clearest that they could be, every star and the half-moon over them in plain sight. None of the pilots managed to find this place other than their braided comrade. Kumi looked to the site with wide eyes, never expecting to find anything like it.
Duo reached a tall hill a few feet ahead of her and lowered himself to lie there on his back as he looked up to the skies. Kumi watched in silent curiosity for a moment before finally continuing on to join him. The American heard the soft footsteps coming from behind. Sitting up, he turned to see the silver-haired pilot making her way to him. He smiled warmly and patted the glass to his right before lying back down, resting his arms over his chest. Kumi sat and lied beside him as she looked to the stars, herself.
After a moment, the breezes were all that could be heard. Finally, Kumi asked, "What's the point of watching the stars anyway?" Duo's eyes widened for a moment, recalling the same question being asked by Heero a little more than five years prior to this night. He smiled and chuckled deeply, "What else are you going to do with them?"
Kumi turned to the American with confusion in her eyes. Thinking of the response, she chuckled deeply herself and shook her head, "I never thought about it like that." Duo smiled and closed his eyes, "Neither did Heero until he asked the same thing." Hearing her cousin's name, the 'Perfect Soldier' felt the twinge of pain tearing at her.
"We'll get him back," Duo said gently but with confidence. Kumi nodded and turned back to the stars, saying with just as much confidence, "Yea, we will." Absently, the two pilots found their comrade's hand and squeezed it tightly, as a silent vow to do whatever it took to bring Heero back safely. Content with that, Duo smiled and closed his eyes as he folded his arms behind his head again.
Just then, the braided pilot's eyes shot open and he sat up saying, "Since we're alone..." Kumi sat up and asked, "What is it?" Duo removed a folded piece of paper from a pocket on his black jeans. Unfolding the paper, he explained, "I promised Heero that I would show this to you...It was a gift me made for our fifth anniversary."
As she received the paper, the silver-haired pilot looked hesitant to read. Then Duo smiled, "I believe that you asked him what love really is...This is his answer." The girl's eyes widened for a moment and she quickly turned to the gift.
The paper had the background of an ocean shoreline at sunset. The message was handwritten and there wasn't any question that it belonged to the Wing pilot. At the top, he wrote, 'Love Is...' Kumi took a deep breath and read silently, hearing Heero's voice as if her cousin was reading it aloud, himself...
'Love is when someone becomes the most important person in you life and you know they always will be...At times when you're alone, you think of them just so that you can be together somehow...Love is when you wake up smiling because that special someone visited you in the dream you just had...The person you love never loses the ability to make your heart skip a few beats when they smile at you...It's when the world around you disappears every time they're in your arms...
'Trying to picture how you lived without them is impossible and the thought of ever having to live without them is unbearable...The one you love is the first thought you have when you wake up, and the last before you fall asleep...You laugh when they laugh and hurt when they're hurt...And the word 'forever' doesn't begin to say how long you want to be with them...Love is all these things and many more blended together. It is stronger, purer and more beautiful than anything to ever exist...And when that love is returned, the impossible becomes reality...And life is worth living.'
Kumi looked to the words for a moment silently, taking all of them in with her jaw a bit slack. She failed to realize that a stray tear rolled down her face until the braided pilot beside her dried it gently. Turning to Duo, she whispered after clearing her throat, "This is beautiful." She folded the paper and handed it back to the American.
Duo smiled warmly and placed it back in his pocket as he said, "Heero made two copies...This one to take with me wherever I go and another for Deathscythe. You know the funny thing is that the cockpit was in terrible shape after the V10's destruction. But, the other copy is still framed and in tact." The silver-haired pilot smirked at the irony and lied on her back again. Duo did the same.
After a pause for the pair to watch the stars in silence, the braided pilot heard his comrade say just over a whisper, "Thank you, Duo." The American turned to look at Kumi and asked, "What for?" The Japanese pilot turned her head in his direction and replied, "For loving Heero so much." Looking back to the stars, she stated, "He always wanted to know love like yours." Duo smiled warmly and turned his head back to the heavens, whispering, "I waited my whole life for Heero. It's easy to love him so much."
The braided pilot chuckled deeply as he closed his eyes, "You know, before I met him, if anyone told me that I would meet my soul mate and fall in love, I would have laughed my ass off." He sighed deeply and opened is eyes to the stars, "Finding love just seemed like those stars now, beautiful but unreachable." He paused then smiled as he said quietly, "But sometimes, just when you least expect...Miracles do happen." Kumi couldn't help but turn to Duo with a look of uncertainty. These word mean a lot as she absorbed them. A small but sincere smile crossed her lips as she looked to Duo. With that same smile, she looked to the stars again.
Over an hour later, the two pilots made their way back through the woods, talking about all kinds of things. Kumi surprised both of them by being as open about some of the things that she shared with Duo on the way to the safe house. It didn't feel uncomfortable now. As far as she was concerned, Duo was as much her family as Heero. There was no question in her mind about that any longer. Kumi was even more determined than ever to see that nothing happened to him. Duo was now her brother as much as Heero, whether they were wed on not.
The American was more than happy that his stoic friend was finding it easier to open to him. She told him some of her past with Matt and the times that she and Heero spent together before being separated. Kumi even went as far as to admit her personal struggle of feelings towards Trowa. The braided pilot, in turn, showed his support by sharing a lot of is past as well. He spoke about Solo ad the Maxwell Church Massacre. He told his comrade about his first trip to L2 for the Memorial Service with Heero and their first kiss that came a few nights later.
Duo had picked some beautiful flowers on the way to the cabin. Soon, they reached the hill where Dorothy's cross stood. The American took the flowers and planted them around the base of the memorial as he knelt before it. Kumi watched silently a few feet back. Once the offering had been set, he lowered his head in a silent prayer as he did every night after stargazing.
Placing a kiss on his fingertips, Duo lied his hand on the cross's center and he smiled sadly, "We miss you, Dorothy...But it's nice to know there's another angel on our side up there." He rose and walked back a few steps, still looking to the cross. Kumi was now beside him, looking to the cross as well. Duo made a sigh of the cross and turned back along with the silver-haired pilot as they walked back to the safe house.
They soon reached the front porch. Once they were on the top of the porch steps, Kumi stopped and sat on the top of the steps there. Looking to her partner, she said in monotone, "I'm just going to sit out here for a little while....I kind of like watching the stars." Duo smiled warmly and nodded, "Okay. Thanks for the company tonight. We should do this again." The other pilot simply nodded, "Thank you for listening." The braided pilot wave a wave and turned to walk inside.
As he reached the door, Duo paused as he gasped, "Oh yea." He quickly walked back to Kumi and sat beside her on the step. "I almost forgot. Not long before reaching the Earth for the Eve Wars, something happened that made finding love seem a little less impossible. Maybe it'll help you, too."
Kumi sat up straight, looking to Duo with great curiosity and asked quietly, "What was that?" Duo's smile grew a bit, and turned his gaze to the skies. He answered, "I got hooked on watching the stars like this. Then suddenly I realized...All those stars out there...There must be two that shine at an equal brightness."
Kumi's eyes instantly widened at these words, the same that came from her cousin the night they watched the stars before being separated at fifteen. She couldn't breathe as she looked to the braided pilot in disbelief. A small, sincere smile crossed her lips as she allowed all of this to sink in.
Duo kissed Kumi's temple, never realizing that she was still in shock or the reason behind it. He said gently as he rose, "Night, Kumi." Absently, she replied, "Night, Duo." Finally breathing again, the 'Perfect Soldier' looked back to the heavens as she heard her own cousin's voice tell her, "All those stars out there...There must to be two that burn at an equal brightness."
A small, stifled laugh game from the pilot as a wide smile spread across her face. "You were right all along, Heero," she whispered to the stars. Turning back to see the door that her cousin's lover entered, she smiled warmly, biting her lip as a stray tear rolled down her right cheek. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, allowing the drop to roll all the way down her face. Kumi turned back to the stars, taking in their beauty and silent wonder.
* * * * * *
Trowa was lying in his bead when his door opened. Kumi entered silently, wearing her night T-shirt and boxers again, and closed the door behind her. Her lover was sleeping peacefully on his left side, in only his sweatpants, facing the side of the bed that she normally slept in. The silver-haired pilot's heart melted as it always did when she found Trowa like this. Quietly, she slipped under the sheet and eased her way into the sleeping pilot's arms.
The tall pilot sighed deeply in content, knowing fully well that his lover had returned as she would every night. His eyes slowly opened and a sweet smile just for the other pilot crossed his lips. "Ohayo," he whispered. Kumi replied the same. She then frowned, recalling the pain that she knew she had put the tall pilot through. Concerned, her lover sat up a bit and caressed her cheek to get her to look at him. When their eyes locked, he asked gently, "What's wrong?" His response was a gentle kiss on his mouth that deepened before long.
When they broke for air, Kumi said quietly with an unfamiliar tone of almost pain in her voice, "I won't be here in the morning...I don't know when I will be here the next morning." She lowered his head as her eyes closed, "I'm sorry, Trowa...I just..." Her partner gently lifted her head by placing his finger under her chin. Kumi's eyes opened as she gazed sadly to him. Trowa smiled lovingly, "It's okay...I have you now. That's all that matters."
Kumi wasn't sure whether to cry or scream. She whispered, "I'm hurting you." Trowa frowned and admitted in a whisper, "You don't mean to...I should have known that before now. I'm the one who should apologize...You're still going through so much and I forgot how hard all of this must be for you on top of the war." Kumi growled quietly and closed her eyes, "This damn war...I'm so tired of fighting." Trowa's eyes widened. He never thought that he would hear these words from this lover. She continued, "I'm tired of not knowing what end is up with my emotions and how to sort them out."
Caressing Trowa's cheek, she whispered, "Most of all, I'm tired of not being able to tell you what's in my heart." Trowa took her hand, fighting the small tears that were building in his eyes. He planted small kisses in her palm and assured her, "Whatever happens, I'll always love you, Kumi. If you don't feel the same, I understand and I'll support you." Looking into he blue eyes sadly, he quietly pleaded, "Just stay with me tonight. I'll be happy just having you in my arms before I fall asleep. It won't hurt as bad in the morning."
The silver-haired pilot kissed Trowa full on the lips as a small whimper left her. Breaking the kiss, she sighed, "I don't deserve you, Trowa...You're too good a person." Her hands rested on her lover's chest, slowly making their way down. "Let me make up for the pain I've caused by making love tonight...and not by just having sex, as all the nights before," she asked with a hint of yearning in her voice. Trowa shivered inwardly at this. He whispered in a staggered breath, "I-I've never made love before." The silver-haired pilot whispered, "We'll learn together." There we no more words as the pilots kissed passionately and desperately.
* * * * * *
Trowa awoke alone again that morning. Again, the only thing covering him was the thin sheet of the bed from the waist down. He sat up, closed his eyed and rolled his neck slowly, stretching his arms over his head. A deep sigh deft him before he opened his eyes and lowered his hands to rest on the mattress.
Just then, his eyes caught something lying where Kumi had been sleeping. It was the letter from his lover that Sette had passed onto him. Taking this as a sign that the silver-haired pilot felt that it was time he read it, Trowa took the letter into his hand and slowly opened it.
After unfolding the letter, he recalled Kumi's voice and read silently as if he was reading the following note to her:
Trowa,
I have always found it difficult to verbally express what is in my heart. I understand that this must seem impersonal to say all of this in a letter, and for that I am truly sorry. But, this is the only way that I can begin to say what you deserve to hear.
Doctor J spent ten years of his life training and conditioning Heero and myself to lose any and all human emotions in order to become the Perfect Soldiers. While he was successful in burying these emotions and aspects deep within us, he was not able to kill them...During the Eve Wars, I fell in love for the first time in my life, though I never would have admitted it then.
It was with a pilot who risked his life to save a dear friend of his who had been lost to madness and grief. This pilot sacrificed himself without any regret or concern for himself, nearly being killed in the process. Now, seven years later, I've found myself falling in love with him again.
I would be lying if I said that I wasn't afraid...But it's only fair for you to know the truth. Thank you for everything. You're the first person who helped me realize that I'm not a machine. For that alone, I'll always be grateful. Ai shiteru, Trowa. I'll be home soon.
Love,
Kumi
Trowa stared at the letter for a moment, feeling his heart light for the first time in ages. A loving smile crossed his lips as he looked to the writing of his lover. Folding the paper and placing it back in the envelope, the tall pilot placed it in his jean pocket, to follow him wherever he would go.
* * * * * *
Later that morning, Duo, Kumi, Delapan, Quatre, Sette and Wufei were working on their suits and at the main system in the hanger when trowa joined them. The tall pilot walked to his lover as she typed at her laptop. The silver-haired pilot looked up to him when she sensed his presence. Trowa gently placed his hand over hers and squeezed it with a soft smile. Kumi returned the smile and squeeze before they went to work.
Sette suddenly poked her head from her seat in Mason's cockpit. "Has anybody seen Zes yet?" she called to her comrades. "I haven't seen her all morning." Delapan rose from her spot before the main computer and she offered, "I'll go up and get her." At this, she left the hanger.
Reaching the closed door of her friend's room, Catherine knocked and called gently, "Zes? Are you awake?" There was no response. The redhead's eyes widened as she was stricken with concern. She opened the door quickly to see Relena spread across the floor on her right side, back to the other pilot. Delapan shouted, "RELENA!" She picked her friend up from the waist and took several quick panicked breaths as she screamed, "SOMEBODY HELP US!!!" Relena continued to rest lifelessly in her friend's arms.
TBC