Chapter Eight



All five Gundams, plus Noin's advanced Taurus continued to stand opposite the Waks.

Duette and Relena had nowhere to hide.

"Noin! Where do we go? Oi! I don't want to get in the way of this battle!" Relena shouted.

"Um, uh.get as far away from here as you can! Both of you!" Noin answered quickly, then darted her eyes back to their foes.

"Our orders are to destroy the Gundams and anyone else in BAK's way." One of the pilots said, monotone.

In a matter of minutes all the Waks were lying in heaps in the bashed-up base. The pilots were in the same state.

"That was stupid." Duo said as he went over to investigate.

Kaoru raised an eyebrow, "Hmph, what was that supposed to mean?"

"Were we supposed to be scared, or challenged by that?" Kimi said, jokingly.

"Well, it wasn't as easy as a regular Taurus or something. We've got to figure this out." Quatre replied, more serious.

"Duo!! Wha was that all about?! You looked so cool when you're on a mission!" Duette cooed as she ran to him from her hiding place.

"Hehe, that was actually fun!" Duo replied.

Hibishi was not particularly fond of the fact those WAKS were so easily defeated. That was the weirdest part. If they are really that weak, then it shouldn't be hard to diminish BAK, right? But maybe that was just a leur so they would think BAK was weak and then the Gundams would be blown away by an extremely strong attack.

Hibishi decided to speak her thoughts,"Guys, we really have to watch our backs. This could be a trick."

Relena, not the least bit shaken by this sudden attack, walked calmly up to the group, "Wouldn't it be better if we were all together?"

As soon as she got the words out of her mouth, they all heard the all-too familiar roaring of a mobile suit lowering just outside the base. Everyone scrambled to the edge of the base to see who it was. To their relief, it was Yuki, Kimi, Trowa, Heero, and Wufei. They were finally back.

"Damn, I hope you all found something important enough to take so long." Duette commented.

Wufei didn't like that, "Shut up woman!! As a matter of fact, we found BAK's main base!"

"Jeez, Duette, it was for a good reason! And you can't even pilot a Gundam." Kimi said wearily.

"Oooi! Sorry, but who needs to pilot a Gundam when you have Duo?" Duette said as she jumped towards Duo and gave him a bear hug.

Duo nearly fell backwards.

He pushed her off, "Ok ok, now don't go start any cat fights!"

Kimi really did like Duo, but she knew it was something impossible. That's really why she wasn't her hyper self. At first she had high hopes, but the second she saw Duette, Kimi knew nothing could be achieved on her part.

"Wow, what luck!" Yoshi said, in a better mood. Not just for that reason either.

"Heero!" Relena couldn't hold it in any longer, as she ran to him.

Heero hugged her, and lightly kissed her lips, "This is really getting dangerous, I think you and Duette should find a place to stay while this goes on."

Yuki was really fed up with it all, "That's a good idea. We need a plan, and not just any normal plan. You said that a few WAKS attacked earlier?"

"Hmm, that's right. But they were barely a challenge, and one of the pilots seemed so sure of himself. I don't know." Duo turned to face Heero, Yuki, and Relena.

Quatre wasn't sure about anything anymore, "Yuki's right. We have to be careful. Look's like I'll be using the Zero system once again, ne?"

That made Kaoru spin around and face the group.

"Zero system?? Isn't that the program that made you." she didn't finish.

Heero was surprised they didn't know much about the Zero system, "Nani? Both Quatre and I have mastered it. I thought you knew everything."

"I know that, but.you mastered it right? So nothing should go wrong?" Kaoru questioned with weary eyes.

"Yeah yeah, don't worry." Quatre reassured with a soft expression.

"Trowa, how was it? I mean, did you get away without being followed or anything?" Yoshi gained the courage to ask.

Trowa's green eyes were fixated on Yoshi's violet ones, "We were fine. Now is the time to attack."

Yoshi blushed and turned to see what Hibishi thought of the situation so far. What she found was Hibishi arguing with Wufei. After looking in that direction, she sought Yuki and Kimi.

The only difference from any other argument with Wufei was that his voice wasn't any arrogant tone, but actually more concerned.

"But Wufei! If we don't just bust in there and blow them all up, this could get worse." Hibishi trailed off.

Hibishi wasn't her normal self, and even Yuki could of course see that.

"We have to watch ourselves..I don't want anyone dying in vain." Wufei just couldn't hold his feelings like he usually did.

Then Meiran crossed his mind. Small tears started to form in his eyes, but he blinked them away. No, he could handle all that, just like he had all these years. I can't betray Nataku.but.I really like Hibishi....I think I.love...

Hibishi stopped and looked at him with wonder. He was.what was wrong? Why wasn't Wufei saying anything? Wufei's fists were clenched, and it almost looked like he was trembling, his expression unstable.holding back old memories.

"Wufei? Are.you alright?" Hibishi's voice had a worried tone.

They locked in a gaze that was unbreakable.

"I'm..I'm fine." Wufei muttered, and then closed his eyes, letting the sad image of Meiran blowing up in Shenlong overtake him.

Hibishi then let herself notice how everyone was gone..probably to discuss the matter before going into battle.she guessed in one of the rooms inside the MS dome.

Wufei didn't know what to say.and then the next thing he knew, when he opened his eyes, he found Hibishi hugging him.

Wufei's eyes widened, and then he wrapped his arms around her. And then, he could feel the pain ease, and his heart calmed down.

It felt good to be hugged.

"Wufei, you act like no one's ever hugged you." Hibishi said as she held on to him.

Wufei let go and looked at Hibishi, "Well, it's not that.it's just that I lost someone, and.and when I met you."

"Gomen nasai, oh Wufei, I don't know what to say." Hibishi was shocked, but now it was all clear to her.

"Meiran was so beautiful, " Wufei explained, "she may not have acted like my wife, and I know I probably didn't act like her husband."

This made Hibishi rather wide eyed.

He continued, his persona gathered, "But, there really was something beneath it all. Even though we were supposed to be married, it was because of our culture. That's the way it was, and I really didn't have too much of a problem with it, I find myself knowing now. We often dualed, just for fun and training. Then our colony was attacked by OZ, and Meiran headed out to battle. As did I. When it was all over, we discovered that..she had died trying to protect the colony, and all its citizens."

"I-I am so sorry.gomen ne." Hibishi said, her heart crying.

Those tears that Wufei had held back all these years, couldn't be stopped now. They fell down his cheeks, and he quickly wiped them away.

"Don't be sorry, Hibishi. It's not your fault." Wufei didn't want to hear how she was sorry for something like that.

Wufei felt something that he hadn't felt since the faint time when Meiran was alive.

He brought his hand up to stroke her face, and then he knew he loved her when his lips met Hibishi's.