Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or any of it's characters. This is a way to develop my writing skills.
Author's Note: As you might read, the song starts halfway through (more or less, I don't know *shrug*) because that's where the part gets tied up with the song. Got it? It's not the best of style… but it had to be done. I'm sorry to those who have been expecting this.
The Last One Left
Part III
Midii dreamt that night. The first in the longest time. It was a jumble of images at first, but she thought it was wrong. It should be organized.
So it sorted itself out.
The first scene was she in the forest, watching a boy. Five years ago, her subconscious whispered. And just like then, she was scared. He was only a boy, no older than she is, but she was scared. But unlike before, she felt something else. There was great anticipation. She wanted to run out into the open and tell the boy everything she has to. Everything she needs to.
A twig snapped under her foot as she followed him in the shadows. She jumped back, her breathing suddenly heavy and strained.
"Come out!" the boy shouted.
She came out, much to her relief, and introduced herself.
It became scattered images again. When she and the boy were talking, she felt… happy. When she gave him the cross, she felt guilty. She wanted to take it back, but she knew she couldn't.
Then she was in the midst of turmoil. Mobile suits all around, and everyone fighting. She knows she caused it all, but she couldn't take herself to admit it all then. She fled, taking food with her. It was what she really came there for. And although she caused it, no one bothered with her. She just suddenly heard a motorcycle revving up.
"Grab my hand, Midii!" she heard Nanashi say. Out of the madness she saw his face, and then his hand. She tried to grab it, but she felt nothing. She fell to the ground. An empty dry ground scorched of life. Her body was aching… She had no one, and she didn't know where to go.
She got up and she was standing just outside of the warehouse. She felt unsure, but it felt like she would be safe. Somehow she knew there was a gun pointed at her, but she was safe. But when the other person—perhaps, Nanashi? —said, "He's dead," she felt crushed. But then he said something… "You're at the wrong place, in the wrong time." Hope was somewhere inside. It felt like she has found something. But she had to tell him something. The feeling was gnawing on her.
"Nanashi, I'm sorry…" she whispered when he carried her after she fainted. "Trowa… I'm so sorry…"
Suddenly the motorcycle was there again. His face and his hand. She grabbed his hand. Images intertwined, just like a few years ago and a few days ago. Then everything stopped. In a whisper in the wind in her mind, she heard "Remember this… only you."
She woke up in the morning refreshed and much alive. She has never felt like this before. The anticipation of that coming afternoon dwelled on her and it made her happy. When Duo suggested the idea to Hilde, she immediately said yes and decided they would spend the afternoon there.
Duo practically skipped all the way to the circus. When they got there, he dragged both girls to places, looking and surveying things here and there. When it was time to go to the big tent for the show, Duo made sure they were there extra early so that they can get front seats. "All for you, Midii," he told her.
The show began and the spotlight was only on the center of the tent. Performers came and went, doing exciting stunts and their special talents. But when it was time for the lion and the clown, everything around Midii suddenly quieted as Trowa stepped into the ring. He waved, and she felt his eyes rest on her for a while. The show continued, and she watched him with awe. She resolved that she would talk to him after.
"We'll see you later," Duo waved as he and Hilde went away. She was behind the bit tent, waiting to get inside the "change room." She waved back at him and turned to see a brunette smiling at her. She was the knife-thrower of the show. Catherine, if she could remember right.
"Hello, Miss Catherine," Midii managed to say. "I want to speak to the clown, Trowa, if it's possible."
The other woman smiled then scrutinized her for a moment and asked, "You can call me only 'Catherine'. You would be…?"
"A fan of his," she answered immediately. Catherine smiled and led her inside.
"Oh, Trowa," she teased lightly when he came into view. "You have an admirer in here!" She stepped aside to present Midii.
Trowa turned to look at whom the other was talking about. He showed no emotion and said to her, "Thanks, Catherine."
Catherine smiled mischievously. She turned to leave, but turned back again. "I'll leave you two alone." She left.
The two were left alone. A stranger to each other, but it was the most interaction they've had with the kind. Midii looked down at her feet, suddenly feeling foolish for not knowing what to say.
"Why have you come here?" Trowa asked. She looked up at him and noticed his upper torso, the same one, if matured, she clung to a few years ago.
"I've… I've come to say…" Now what? What had she planned to say to him? She had a million just last night, but now they all seemed insignificant. What was the most important? "I've come to say I'm sorry."
Trowa was surprised. "For what?"
Suddenly feeling emotional, tears welled up in Midii's eyes. She looked down again. "For everything."
"What have you done to me?" he asked, walking to her. Midii looked up once again and a tear streamed down her cheek.
"For betraying you when I had the chance to have your trust. For killing all your friends. For taking away the only family you had until then." She stopped talking, tears falling freely down. It turned into a sob. "For not telling you the truth. For not telling you…"
Then there was a crash outside and they heard horrible screams. Trowa looked at the tent opening and saw the back of a mobile suit. He grabbed Midii and led her outside through the other opening. The same motorcycle before was there.
"Get on and get out of here," he simply told her and ran off, pulling a polo over his body.
But Midii was not done and she will not let him go now. "But I haven't said what I wanted to say!"
He looked back. "I'm sure I'll see you again." He went off. She trusted his words and got on the bike, revving off into the fair grounds. A mobile suit stopped her and she found no way out.
"Stop right there," she heard over the com. "You're a wanted at Oz. Orders are the kill you." The suit's solar gun raised to her level. She thought she was going to die, but it was not her time yet. Another mobile suit blasted this one with bullets. She looked up to see a Gundam. 03, as Oz has numbered it.
"Hurry up, Midii!" She heard Trowa and she smiled despite the danger around her. She rode off, waiting for that time again when she'll see him again.
Trowa Barton left his mobile suit in another warehouse and walked around in the colony. He sincerely hoped that the whole troupe had escaped without any harm. He was at a trot in the sidewalk, his direction towards the fair grounds. Deep in thought, he planned where he would go next when he got stopped by the sound of ragged breathing from the alley he was passing. He backtracked and walked in, looking at possible places where one could hide and saw her sitting beside the cans, bleeding and pale.
There's no time for us
There's no place for us
What is this thing that builds our dreams yet slips away from us
"Midii?" Trowa called.
The blond girl looked up, one seeing the certain shine in her eyes as soon as she saw him. "Trowa…" She sounded happy yet pained.
He looked her over and saw the gunshot on her back, cleanly through from the front. "Who did this? Who shot you?"
Who wants to live forever
Who wants to live forever
"I was… I was a wanted at Oz. A soldier saw me." She tried to get up but she collapsed back into the ground, slumping back again.
He looked worried then, concerned more than with anyone. He tried to support her, but she told him no.
There's no chance for us
It's all decided for us
This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us
"I'm going to die any way. Sooner or later, I figured that." She smiled weakly. She was silent for a moment then said, "I just wanted to say something to you." Suddenly, she winced at the tear through her body, gasping for breath.
"Don't talk. I'll get you a doctor." He turned to leave.
"No!" She sounded forceful, so sure of it that Trowa knelt beside her. "Don't. I don't want you gone when I'm about to go."
This kind of talk was nonsense to him. He has come through many battles, always winning when he thought was losing. "Don't talk like that. You'll live."
Who wants to live forever
Who wants to live forever
Ooh
Who dares to love forever
Oh oo woh, when love must die
"No…" She smiled again, but this time it was bitter. She started to sob. "I just want to tell you…" She seemed to hesitate then, closing her eyes and tears squeezing out of her eyelids.
"What is it?" He wanted to hear whatever it was. It must be so important for her to endure everything she seemed to have come through.
"Remember when I told you… I couldn't tell the one I like that I like him?" She looked into his eyes, and he felt her need to be heard and to be held. He nodded, remembering one of the bitterest moments in his life, finding out about her real persona just when he was starting to like her.
But touch my tears with your lips
Touch my world with your fingertips
And we can have forever
And we can love forever
Forever is our today
"It was you." More tears fell down. "I liked you. I still do. You were the only family anyone came close to." She sniffed, wiping away the tears from her eyes with her sleeve. The way she said the following words, it was almost a whisper. "You were more than family. You were special in a way I could never describe, never could tell…"
"Shh…" He wiped away the next set of tears that came with his own hand. "Save your breath."
A feminine hand reached out to his cheek. "I love you." She hugged him, and Trowa didn't mind it. "I love you."
From somewhere within Trowa, the words came out. "Remember this… I love only you."
She sighed then. She sounded contented, happy. She broke off and leaned on the wall. In a voice almost inaudible, she said "Goodbye." Her eyes closed and she left the world with a smile.
Who wants to live forever
Who wants to live forever
Forever is our today
Trowa didn't know it, didn't feel it, didn't expect it so suddenly. She can't be gone now! Not when it just started! Not when he just found her again! Not now! No!
Tears flowed down his own cheeks and he sobbed. He hugged her for the last time, knowing he'll never feel something like this again.
"I love you."
Who waits forever anyway ?
Trowa continued to walk to the fair grounds, his thoughts only about Midii. During the short time they spent together, nothing too special, he desperately tried to search for a way to take her away from his mind. Until he heard her voice again.
I'll be right here.
Trowa knew she always will be.