Title: "Scars"

Author: Demeter

Disclaimer: All rights and privileges to Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing are trademarks and property of Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties. All the characters belong to them, and all stories, relationships, ideas are fiction. They are not related to the original plot. The story, the relationships and original characters within the fic are copyright of the author Demeter.

Part Eight: Meeting with Fate for Tea

A mysterious woman who appears at the Sank castle, a woman who looks exactly like the missing Princess who disappeared seven years ago. Is there a connection? Or is it just fate playing another game?

~*~*~*~*~*~

Shade continued to swear as she piloted her mobile suit into the space station. Climbing out, she tossed her helmet to one of the mechanics, pushing herself into one of the hallways. Her unladylike words led several of her passing pilots to look at her in amusement; most chuckled and glanced at each other knowingly before continuing on their way. Others smirked, setting their noses in the air as the pilot most favored by the General stormed past them.

"Bad day?" Shade spun around and glared at Silk who was leaning against the wall, her face contorted in her attempts to not laugh. Shade only snorted before stalking to the infirmary. Silk's eyes changed subtly, from fun to a touch of curiosity. Following Shade, she entered the infirmary to see her ripping bandages from a roll, and wrapping them around her neck. Noting the quantity, she sighed and made a mental note to stock up on gauze before the week was over.

"What happened?"

"Some stupid soldier stopped me; he was fucking strong. Hemanaged to be fast enough to get his dirty claws around my throat. Scratched the flesh enough to leave scars!" Yanking the gauze away angrily, she stabbed a slender finger at her neck. "THIS is what happened."

Five angry finger marks were indeed imbedded in her skin and blood was seeping out of the thin cuts.  The skin was still red, imprinted on the milk-white skin. Shade wrapped the bandages around her throat again, and plopped onto an infirmary bed, throwing an arm over her eyes.

The clock ticked as Silk awaited further words.

"That man...he looked so...what's the word... familiar."

Silk stilled, before asking in an amused voice, "Oh, how so?"

"I can't quite say 'how', but I know he is."

" Why."

"There was something warm about him."

"..."

"He had blond hair, blue eyes, the bluest, clearest eyes I've ever seen. Angel eyes..."

"... Angel eyes?"

"A term I heard a long time ago. I don't even know where from now."

"..."

"Silk?" Shade sat up, eyes searching for her friend. But, the woman had disappeared. Shaking her head in exasperation, she swung her feet over the bed and walked back toward her room. Along the way, she kept thinking about the man with blue eyes and the baby-like face.

He seemed so innocent, so free... so unlike myself...

Shade sighed, before flopping onto her bed and falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Silk, as soon as she had left Shade's vicinity, lost the sunny smile which had been plastered onto her face, since Shade had said, "that person had looked familiar." Her eyes turned to steel and her stride became purposeful. Anyone who passed her in the hall scurried out of her way as her eyes told everyone that she was out for blood.

Banging into Shadow's room, she snarled a greeting. The older lady looked her up, her glasses glinting in the sudden brightness from the hall. As usual, her room was as dark as night, preferring the shadows rather then the glitter.

Hence her name.

Sitting languidly back, Shadow drawled, "Is something wrong sweetheart?"

"No, on the contrary, I have good news. "Little One" is starting to remember."

Shade stilled and then pulled her glasses off. Leaning on the table, her hands folded beneath her chin, she looked thoughtful. Keeping the same position, she strayed a hand toward the keyboard and tapped rapidly. Glancing at the screen, she sighed, and leaned back in her chair.

"Well?"

"It was not completely unexpected, you know. We sent her on that mission SO she would see the information on the computer; that's why I purposely went into the banks and scoured out all the important people's profiles.  She can't see those pictures just yet, and I had thought everything was protected. I suppose we did not count on one of the Gundam Pilots to be there. But, meeting one of them WAS sooner than I wanted her too."

"It was Quatre Raberba Winner."

"Ah. Correction, two Gundam Pilots, as where he is, the other is sure to be."

Silk lay sprawled on a seat, and she looked pensive. "Perhaps we should cancel some of her missions for now. She's been complaining of headaches; the blocking device we implanted maybe starting to wear down. I don't want her remembering anything until the right moment." Her eyes darkened, allowing her face to seem all the more dangerous.

Shadow replied sharply, "No, I don't want her out of the picture just yet. It would seem ridiculous to send a perfectly healthy pilot on sick leave, just because she's been complaining of headaches. The other pilots would revolt; you know we have made it our policy to treat everyone equally." Standing up, she moved to a side stand, and continued in a conversational tone, "Tea?"

"A cup, with a dab of milk, and a spoonful of sugar. She's not really just 'everyone'. They know, even if they don't say it, that we treat her slightly better than the others. And for now, that's to our best interests."

Bringing the tea over to the table, she gave Silk's saucer to her and settled back into her own chair, sipping the gently steaming tea. "You're right, of course, but, until the truth is revealed, I would think it best to not so openly favor Shade. I think the proper action right now is to jump into the second phase headlong. It has been seven years after all. Informants have told me that the Gundam Pilots are actually living in a relative peace, even with the war. With so many minor rebel factions appearing, so far, our "attacks" have been regarded as minor incidents and aren't considered a problem the Gundam Pilots would have to intervene in. I think our Gundams have been modified and tested enough to start the "Rebellion."

Silk snorted, "And what good will that do?"

Shadow smiled, sipped her tea, and then continued mildly, "Led none other then by the pilot, Shade."

Silk's eyes widened and then her lips curved into a grin. Nodding her head in agreement, they lifted both their cups of tea into the air and motioned clinking before draining the dregs.

~*~ Part Eight ~*~

~*~ FINIS ~*~