Unbreakable


Thursday, April 13, 1912: Noon


Aunt Francis had decided I should wear something different than what I was wearing that morning. I had to trade in a brown suit that fit me well and I was very fond of, for a dark blue ensamble. She said it suited me better, and it would make a better impression on the rest of the first-class passengers. I just thought it made me look like a pansy ... again.

"Now Quatre dear, we've been invited to have lunch with Treize Kushrenada and his wife, Lady Une. I do not want you to run out in the middle of lunch like you did dinner a few nights ago."

I nodded solemnly, putting my arms through the sleeves of the jacket, like it hurt to put it on. To be honest, it did a little. But the fact remained that I was just tired. Tired because of a restless night of strange dreams, but mostly just tired of waking up to these rules of social conduct; what to wear, say, do, act and be.

"Is the coat too tight Master Quatre?" Rashid asked, smoothing the jacket out at the shoulders.

"No Rashid, it's fine," I said, tugging at the front of my jacket.

My aunt rolled her eyes. "I have no idea why you converse with your servents," she said with a sigh.

I don't know why I said what I said next. I just had to say something. Keeping quiet was my silent torture that only I knew and I couln't take it any longer.

"Unlike you, I'm kind enough to make friends with people I actually like, instead of people who can get me places," I said.

Both my aunt and Rashid stared at me in astonishment. Even though I was surprised at myself, I didn't let it show. I'd kept quiet for too long. It was about time I told her what I thought.

"Why you insubordinate little..."

I turned to her and opened my mouth, hoping to get another few words across. But instead I saw her hand blur through the air and my cheeks stung. Without thought of it, my feet stumbled over each other and I fell backwards. Instinctively, my hand shot up to where she had slapped me. For a moment, the room was still and silent. I had no idea how to react.

"Madam!" Rashid shouted as he caught me, pulling my still stumbling self back up on my feet, "how dare you."

"Ha! I'd like to see you do something about it," she said, fanning herself again.

Rashid took a step foroward, but I grabbed his arm. "Rashid. Don't. It's not necessary."

"But, Master Quatre..."

"Just don't," I pleaded, trying to hold back the tears. Seeing this, Rashid only put a comforting hand on my shoulder and nodded.

My aunt rolled her eyes. "Can we go please?"


"Ah, Mr. Treize!" My aunt said, elegantly extending her arms.

"Mrs. Winner, how lovely to see you," Treize said, accepted the petite hug from the old woman. "I'm so glad you could make it to lunch."

"I can always make time for you, sir," she said with a large smile.

"Now, who is this young boy I see standing beside you?"

She turned to me and shot me a deadly look that made me wince, but only I could see it. With a smiling face, she brought me up to him. "This is my nephew, Quatre."

"Oh. Nice to meet you Quatre," Treize said with a slight nod of his head. He had the dignity not to shake my hand, lean over to meet my eyes and talk to me like a child, like practically everyone else had. I nodded as well. "Nice to meet you as well Treize."

"Oh, I hope you don't mind," Treize said, giving his attention back to Francis. "I invited the Dorlians to have lunch with us as well."

"Mind? Why not at all!" She said, with exstatic joy barely contained in her voice.

That's when I locked eyes with Relena, who was already seated at the table next to her father. I shifted uncomfortably where I stood. I didn't like that look she gave me. I wasn't able to pinpoint exactly what it was that unnerved me, but I knew I didn't like it. And she kept staring at me. I looked down to keep from embarassing myself if somebody caught me staring at the young politician's daughter.

"Please, please, have a seat," Treize asked, motioning to the table. After Treize and his wife were seated, there were two chairs left and Francis took the one by the Lady Une.

"Oh No."

I took my seat next to Relena and kept myself as still as possible, trying to look foroward, or at the other adults, anything to keep from looking at that crazy girl's eyes.

Nonetheless, Relena leaned over and whispered to me: "Quatre, it's good to see you again. I didn't see much of you yesterday."

I only nodded, trying not to look at her.

"My Quatre, is there something wrong with me?" she asked. "You've been so careful not to look at me."

After a moment, I looked up at her. She was still staring at me that way. She was scary. "Nothings...wrong." I then again turned away, looking down at my empty plate. I looked up to see Treize calling his personal servant to him.

"Wufei," Treize called. A young asian boy approached the table. He was dressed in black, his likewise black hair slicked back into a small ponytail.

"Yes?" Wufei exclaimed.

"Bring the menu's of everyone but our new guests back to the kitchen," Treize said, handing his menu to Wufei. Wufei bowed slightly, shutting his eyes and whispering something into Treize's ears quickly. I doubt anybody noticed this small exchange of words, but since I was trying to look at anything but Relena, I saw it. Wufei then went around taking the menu's from everyone, then dissapearing into the kitchen.

Treize folded his hands together and leaned over his plate. "So, Master Quatre?" he said.

"huh?" I said smally.

"I am interested to know, what you think of this masterpeice of a boat."

I paused for a moment before coming up with a reply. "Well, it is very interesting that it holds so many passengers but... Oh, nevermind."

"Oh no, continue. We're on the boat, we might as well discuss her."

I nodded. "Well. You have noticed that there actually aren't that many life boats?"

The Dorlian man chuckled. "Why there's no need for it son. This ship is unsinkable."

I blushed. "Oh yeah, that's right," I said. "But then again, it's still made out of steel..."

"Oh, my nephew, what does a boy like yourself know about the science going into the making of an unsinkable ship," my aunt laughed, opening her menu.

I looked down at my lap for a moment to collect myself, then sat up straight again.

Treize only laughed, but not at me. "It's fine. He's a boy. Let him have his thoughts. At least he observed the mistake of having only enough lifeboats for half the people on the ship. That's impressive."

"Thank you," I said with a nod, opening up my menu to keep from having to talk to anyone anymore.

Wufei came back and took mine and my aunts orders, bringing them to the chef.

"You'd better actually eat this time, Quatre," my aunt said in a whispered aside, wearing a fake smile on her face. "People will think I'm starving you to death."

I sighed and placing my elbows on the table and my cheeks in my hands, I looked upwards at the ceiling. Suddenly, my thoughts turned towards my dreams the night before:


I stood alone in a dark space. My shadow was white, the only light in the vast darkness.

"Hello?" I screamed out, my voice echoing. "Is anyone there?"

I began wandering the blank space for an unmeasurable amount of time before I spotted something. A figure far in the distance, but still visable.

"Hello?"

My words echoed back, in what was not my own voice. Curiously, I began walking towards the figure. Then I began to run-walk. Then I was running at breakneck speed, my hear pounding through me as though I were something wild. The figure was closer and closer and I wanted to know so badly who it was, but I knew in my heart who it must be.

My running slowed to a walk as the figure began to move. It walked towards me, his feet clicking on the ground. Soon I was able to make out those deep eyes underneath those unruly brown bangs. I stopped altogether, letting him walk to me.

"Do you know who I really am?" Trowa asked.

"No," I responded.

"Do you know if I'm real?" Trowa asked.

"No," I responded.

"Then why am I in your dreams? Someone like you should forget someone like me."

"I can't bring myself to do that."

"You're too kind."

"Perhaps."

"No one understands the tears of kind people."

I gasped and stepped back as he repeated the words I had said that day...


My aunt nudged me, snapping me out of the trance I was in. Confused, I stared at her, but then I noticed there was a waiter standing above me with a plate of food. My plate of food.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, sitting properly in my chair and putting my hands in my lap, allowing the waiter to put the plate down in front of me.

Relena giggled beside me. I didn't like that either. She sounded like a child-like monster. I turned to her and she batted her eyes at me. Oh god. She was flirting. I turned to my food with a blush.

After everyone had finished their meals, Treize suggested we all take a stroll along the boat. The Dorlian family declined, having previous arrangements. Thank god. No more Relena.

The tour of the boat took forever. It was well into sunset before our stroll around the Titanic was ended. We'd talked to the captain and first mate and even the engineers and designers of the boat. They all had interesting things to say, but I was too busy trying to keep my mind off of Trowa and pay attention that I ended up not paying attention anyway. I shivered in the cold evening air. I was so chilly, but I didn't want to be a bother, so I kept it to myself, pulling my coat around me as tightly as I could.

It was time for us to depart to our individual cabins. Waiting for Francis to say goodbye to Treize, I leaned over the edge and stared down at third class deck. My mind wandered to two nights before, when my life was flashing before my eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting ready for if you jump. It'll help not to have excess weight on after I jump in after you."

I sighed and leaned over the railing. He was third class security, it made sense that I hadn't seen him since that night when I was on third class. But I still felt a longing, like he was right there, but I couldn't see him.

"What are you staring at?" Came an inquisitive voice.

I looked over my shoulder at Wufei. I hadn't noticed Wufei's had such a strong accent. It was nice, different.

"Nothing," I said, turning back around and looking over the edge.

"Well, Master Treize wanted me to tell you that if you are having any problems with your aunt, you're welcome to come to him for help."

The offer sounded strange and my ears perked up. I stood up straight and turned to the young chinese boy.

"She's not exactly known as one of the kindest people in the world," he commented.

"Wufei!" Treize called, having Lady Une's arm in his and already walking back to his room.

"Goodbye," Wufei said with a bow. "Don't forget Master Treize's offer." He then turned and quickly walked away, joining his Master and Mistress.

I stared at them for a while, wondering what made them want to so eagerly help me. Once they were out of eyesight, I turned again to the railing, looking out the back of the boat...

There he was. Staring straight at me. "Tro...!" I started without knowing it. Wide-eyed, I covered my mouth to keep myself from screaming out his name in full. For a moment, I'd forgotten how to breathe. I just stared down at him, staring up at me. Closing his eyes, Trowa bowed his head. Taking my hands away from my mouth, I clutched at my chest. He looked like some phantom ghost, haunting me, something wanted but untouchable. The golden sunset illuminating the deck made him glow at if he were something out of heaven.

A cold hand clamped down on my shoulder. Surprised, I turned around to see my aunt glaring down at me. "Time to go," she said.

"But, I..."

She clamped her sharp fingernails around my ear. I winced in pain before she began tugging me away. "Ah! That hurts!"

"That's the point," she said.

"What did I do?"

She let go of my ear. "Follow me," she demanded.

Frustrated, I held back my anger and did as she asked.


"Do you know that guy?" Duo asked, coming out of the underneath of the deck where he cold see the young blonde boy, but the blonde couldn't see him.

"Ah." Trowa said, confirming Duo's query.

"Hmmm," Duo said, stroking his chin as if he had a beard. "How do you know him? He's first class."

Trowa glared at Duo.

"Okay, fine," Duo said, holding his arms up defensively. "I won't ask." Duo took out a cigarette from his pocket and a lighter from inside his coat. "That old bag of bones didn't seem too kind to him," Duo commented after lighting up.

Trowa only turned his head, and with his deep green eyes, he stared out into the sunset. Duo stared at him, only guessing at what Trowa could be thinking.

"Well, while you're being the strong silent type, I'm going downstairs for a party," Duo said, turning, his braid tossing in the ocean wind behind him. "If I seem drunk when I come back, it's because I am!" Duo howled and clutched his stomach as he exited in laughter.

Paying no mind to Duo, Trowa put his hand on the railing on the back of the boat.

"Where were you going to, little one?" he asked the open air, almost as if expecting the wind to whisper something back to him. Being answered by only silence, he let his hand slowly fall off of the railing, and clutching his hands at his back, he began circling the deck again, his ever-watchful eye staring off into the sunset.


Leaning over the sink, I took a wet washcloth and dabbed the spot of blood where her nails had peirced the skin. I hissed as the soap got into the wound. "Just let it do it's job," I thought to myself as the wound really began to sting.

"Don't be such a baby," my aunt said, standing in the doorway.

I muttered something under my breath.

"Excuse me, what was that?" She said in anger.

"I said I'm not a baby!" I growled, wiping the back of my ear where I was still bleeding.

She 'hmphed' and walked into the bathroom. Her spindly hand reached out to grab her brush and I thought nothing of it. But before I could think about what was happening, her metal brush collided with my nose. I lost my footing and fell onto my back. I yelled out and clutching my nose, muttered obscenities I knew I wasn't suppose to say.

"You insolent little brat!" she screamed.

I managed to sit up and I backed into the corner between the door and the back wall, still clutching my face. I had no idea she could hit that hard.

"I've taken you in and this is how you thank me?" she continued.

I could feel the rage swelling up inside me like a boiling cauldron, and my eyes burned as they swelled up with tears.

"You bratty little sand-bag! You smell just like the camels you were raised with!"

I clenched my eyes shut, and pulled my knees up to my chest. "stop..." I whispered, but I knew she couldn't hear me. Where was Rashid?

"You are going to learn some manners!" she screamed. I heard her exit the room but I was too shocked to move. I wasn't sure this was really happening or if this was another nightmare. I just sat there, shaking, with my face buried in my arms as I heard her footsteps scurry from one room to another. I heard her footsteps come back into the room and there was a pause. I looked up and she had in her hand a poker from the fireplace. She pulled it back and swung down at me. I moved my head aside but it wasn't enough. I screamed out in pain as the heavy metal smashed into my shoulder. I collapsed, clutching my shoulder lightly. I touched it, but it hurt so bad I could only let my hand hover over it for a while.

"Let that be a lesson to you," she said before exiting.

I heard the sound of the poker being thrown onto the ground, then her footsteps hurrying from one place to another. Then the sound of the door opening and slamming shut. I curled up into protective ball. I didn't want any of my other nightmares coming to life. I let myself be reduced to a pitiful pool of sobs, my heart being torn out with every tear. I could hear my pitiful moans, echoing off of the tile on the walls and floor, which made me feel even more agony.

I don't think I'd ever felt so alone than when I did at that moment. I wanted somebody there with me, I wanted some comfort from this hell.

"Trowa."


"Trowa."

Trowa's one visible eye grew wide with surprise as his name rung through his ears. He quickly turned but found there was nobody there that could have called out to him. Especially the person he knew the voice belonged to. He could have sworn he'd heard Quatre's voice crying out to him. He clutched his chest. The momentary twinge in his chest had passed, but he still felt the after-effects of it. A moment ago, he felt like crying. Now there was this shaky feeling in his hands.

"What's happening to me?" he thought, staring down at his shaky hand in disbeleif.