The Heart Never Forgets by Kit Kat & Ashy
AUTHOR'S NOTE ( Ashy): Well, this fic was inspired by one of my dreams (too much cheese) weird, ne? I probably had an active mind that night. Anyway, it was a beautiful dream and I probably haven't recorded it as well as it really was...also, can we please say that we are not trying to bitchify Lady Une in this fic, character behavior is all significant to the plot- line.
DISCLAIMER: These Gundam Wing characters are NOT ours, they are © SOTSU AGENCY- SUNRISE - ANB. Yeah, and the song ain't ours either, it's from the LeAnn Rimes album Sittin on Top of the World . And this isn't a songfic btw.
WARNINGS: Hmm, not really for kiddies as there are some adult situations, though nothing terribly explicit. No lemon and in our opinion, no lime either but others may think differently.
Chapter 1
The heart never forgets
No the heart never forgets
You can find someone and live your life
Put an old memory out of your mind
But the heart never forgets...
Christmas Eve AC 200
The red-headed eleven-year-old gripped the door frame as she moved into the living room. Her adoptive mother was seated on the sofa, staring intently at some crumpled photos resting on her palms.
" Mother...have you just returned from the Preventer Headquarters?" the girl inquired. "Are some of your agents out on a mission right now? At Christmas?"
The woman silently turned and hastily stuffed the photos back into the box lying beside her.
" What were those?" the girl wanted to know. She walked unsteadily towards her senior. It had been a while since she had left the prison of her wheelchair but despite physiotherapy, her footsteps were still wavering.
" Nothing, nothing, Mariemaia," the women replied shortly. " Nothing you need to know of."
Mariemaia Kushrenada cast a knowing glance upon her adoptive mother. She knew who was in those photos. She knew by the expression on her face when she gazed at them. By the way she smiled vaguely, then the smile would dissolve to unshed tears. The photos were of her father. Mariemaia knew little of the man but she knew Lady Une had loved him deeply.
Mariemaia gazed at her reflection in one of the baubles on the Christmas tree. This time of year was always an uphill struggle for Une. The young girl wasn't entirely sure why. When the Preventers celebrated Christmas - with the exception of Wufei Chang - Une never wanted to join in the festivities. The only thing she would do was isolate herself.
" Mother, can we hold a party this year?" Mariemaia pleaded. " I think I deserve it. At school, I was made class president. The teachers have high hopes for me. I'm going to be big!"
" You always did want authority, didn't you, Mariemaia?" Une mumbled.
The girl's expression dropped. Mariemaia had thought that the past was dead and buried, just like her father. Why did Une always behave pleasantly then abruptly change at the worst possible moments? She'd been this way for weeks. This time, there was no evidence of her changing back...
**************************************************************************** *****************
Sally Po glanced around at who was uttering the moaning sound. It was a man - a young man. About twenty-five - her age. He was nursing a gunshot wound and writhing in agony. He was distinctly the enemy.
" Help....help....you woman....help....I'm gonna die....I've got children.....at home.....I can't die.....help."
Sally looked him in the eyes, pleading with her for mercy, reaching out to her. She hastily glanced around the darkened corridor for the sight of anyone else. The bomb threat issued by the Preventers had been successful. The enemy had retreated, though not without a fight.
She crushed her loyalties and knelt beside the stranger, supporting him on her shoulder and assessing his injuries. She knew from being a military doctor that these were fatal. He wouldn't survive, but she could not desert him in his final moments.
" Thank you..." he answered, "..for your kindness...I hope...my children have a ...good Christmas...every...child...needs a ...father..."
Sally's days as a doctor had strengthened her emotions against the horror of death but this time the sorrow was overwhelming. It was unbearable. She battled against her tears.
He slipped away a few moments later. Sally had barely time to regain her composure when footsteps hammered along the corridor and rounded the corner. It was another man. She squinted into the dim light for the Preventer symbol on the uniform. Her blood drained when she realised she was face to face with another of the enemy. He noticed immediately her Preventer badge.
" It's a shame you'll die a traitor," he sneered, cocking his gun. Sally sprang to her feet but before she had a chance to retaliate, he pulled the trigger and she crumpled to the ground.
Amid her gasps, she saw her foe pick up his fallen comrade and exit, not even checking whether she was dead or not. Perhaps he was still wary of the bomb. Painfully, she shuffled to the wall and clasped her bleeding side, snatching at her breaths. The sight of the vacant walls was the last thing she remembered before she blacked out.
**************************************************************************** *****************
The Preventers dashed aboard their aircrafts. There were two crafts, one piloted by Noin and Zechs, carrying numerous other agents, and the other by Sally and Wufei, which carried only supplies. Wufei noticed the first craft prepare to take to the sky but panicked, noticing Sally had not returned from the building.
" Zechs! Zechs!" he called furiously through the com. " Do you read me? Don't take off yet - Preventer Water is not present."
" Roger," Zechs responded, removing his hands from the controls.
Wufei waited another five minutes, knowing they could not stick around too long or the enemy may attack the aircrafts.
" Wufei, do you read me?" Zechs called back. " Is Sally safe?"
" No. She has not emerged," the Chinese pilot replied. " We must wait..."
" We can't!" Zechs responded urgently. " It's taking a risk. Une said - "
" I don't care about Une!" Wufei hissed back. " Go on, leave this place. I'll stay behind and look for Sally!"
Wufei deserted his aircraft and bolted towards the side entrance of the base. He gripped his gun fiercely, though he knew the enemy troops had all been scattered.
He ran frantically down the corridors, calling Sally's name desperately. He found her by pure chance by stumbling over her quite literally.
" Ooouch," Sally murmured as she felt a foot jab her in the ribs. Her eyes tried to focus on who it was. Another enemy perhaps? Were they going to kill her this time?
She closed her eyes, bracing herself for what she thought would be dealt to her. Instead, she felt a pair of strong arms grip her tightly and whoever it was examine her injury with a horrified gasp. She knew the sound of his voice and his distinctive scent, one she couldn't describe to others. It was Wufei. He had come to rescue her... again..like he'd done so many times over the years."
" Sally! You stupid, foolish woman. Who did this!" he exclaimed. " Tell me. Tell me and I will kill them!"
Sally wasn't listening. She let her head drop against his chest, amused by her own thoughts. Maybe she was getting close to death and becoming sentimental about the special things in her life. There weren't many special things...the war....the deaths....but there was someone who could always amuse her with his odd little ways, the person who held her right now. Now at almost twenty-one years of age, he was a good few inches taller than her. Not quite how he was when they'd met though his outlook was much the same.
Wufei was close to tears. His mind was relaying the fateful scene from his past - such along time ago - yet only yesterday. The scene when he lost her...in the field of flowers. He might not have really loved her, but he had lost her nonetheless. He had been too weak then...he was too weak now...
" Sally," he uttered hoarsely, pressing his hand against the wound to hold in the blood. She winced at this. " Don't go. Please don't die..."
" Wufei...I'm...not...gonna die...I..p..p..promise," she replied. She wasn't. She wasn't going to be picked off that easily.
" Sally...you just can't leave me....if you do I will be very angry...because I need you."
His voice was shrill now, child-like in the silent hall. He clung onto her as if she was the last person in the world. In his world, this was true.
" Wufei, you're a strong man, you don't need anyone....not..not..even me..."
" I'm a weak person, you hear me - a WEAKLING...shall I tell you how I know? - because I have battled and tried...but every time I....I fall in love with you! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Sally closed her eyes as the blood-loss began to stupefy her. " Wufei...don't be ashamed of love...it's a strong thing...a very strong thing..."
He hadn't finished; " I decided never, NEVER to feel this way but you have made it very difficult not to!"
His tone was agitated. Sally couldn't decide in her lethargic state whether he was angry at her or at himself. She was losing the strength to speak. " Wufei...."
She could feel his warm breath on her face and his tears against her skin. And then his lips on hers. She lost her senses moments later.
She came to at the site of an aircraft standing alone. She was being carried through the rain which beat down against her face. "Wufei...." she murmured again.
Wondering whether he must be hurting her, he grasped her more gently. Sally's head was on his shoulder, her braids dangling down his back, matted and soggy. She almost smiled, remembering how he used to be. Right now, even when in perfect health, she couldn't lift him if she tried, yet he carried her as if she were a mere feather.
" Sally, you must make it," he reminded her, trampling through the wet foliage to the craft. " If you do not, I shall die a very ill-fated man."
End of Part 1
AUTHOR'S NOTE ( Ashy): Well, this fic was inspired by one of my dreams (too much cheese) weird, ne? I probably had an active mind that night. Anyway, it was a beautiful dream and I probably haven't recorded it as well as it really was...also, can we please say that we are not trying to bitchify Lady Une in this fic, character behavior is all significant to the plot- line.
DISCLAIMER: These Gundam Wing characters are NOT ours, they are © SOTSU AGENCY- SUNRISE - ANB. Yeah, and the song ain't ours either, it's from the LeAnn Rimes album Sittin on Top of the World . And this isn't a songfic btw.
WARNINGS: Hmm, not really for kiddies as there are some adult situations, though nothing terribly explicit. No lemon and in our opinion, no lime either but others may think differently.
Chapter 1
The heart never forgets
No the heart never forgets
You can find someone and live your life
Put an old memory out of your mind
But the heart never forgets...
Christmas Eve AC 200
The red-headed eleven-year-old gripped the door frame as she moved into the living room. Her adoptive mother was seated on the sofa, staring intently at some crumpled photos resting on her palms.
" Mother...have you just returned from the Preventer Headquarters?" the girl inquired. "Are some of your agents out on a mission right now? At Christmas?"
The woman silently turned and hastily stuffed the photos back into the box lying beside her.
" What were those?" the girl wanted to know. She walked unsteadily towards her senior. It had been a while since she had left the prison of her wheelchair but despite physiotherapy, her footsteps were still wavering.
" Nothing, nothing, Mariemaia," the women replied shortly. " Nothing you need to know of."
Mariemaia Kushrenada cast a knowing glance upon her adoptive mother. She knew who was in those photos. She knew by the expression on her face when she gazed at them. By the way she smiled vaguely, then the smile would dissolve to unshed tears. The photos were of her father. Mariemaia knew little of the man but she knew Lady Une had loved him deeply.
Mariemaia gazed at her reflection in one of the baubles on the Christmas tree. This time of year was always an uphill struggle for Une. The young girl wasn't entirely sure why. When the Preventers celebrated Christmas - with the exception of Wufei Chang - Une never wanted to join in the festivities. The only thing she would do was isolate herself.
" Mother, can we hold a party this year?" Mariemaia pleaded. " I think I deserve it. At school, I was made class president. The teachers have high hopes for me. I'm going to be big!"
" You always did want authority, didn't you, Mariemaia?" Une mumbled.
The girl's expression dropped. Mariemaia had thought that the past was dead and buried, just like her father. Why did Une always behave pleasantly then abruptly change at the worst possible moments? She'd been this way for weeks. This time, there was no evidence of her changing back...
**************************************************************************** *****************
Sally Po glanced around at who was uttering the moaning sound. It was a man - a young man. About twenty-five - her age. He was nursing a gunshot wound and writhing in agony. He was distinctly the enemy.
" Help....help....you woman....help....I'm gonna die....I've got children.....at home.....I can't die.....help."
Sally looked him in the eyes, pleading with her for mercy, reaching out to her. She hastily glanced around the darkened corridor for the sight of anyone else. The bomb threat issued by the Preventers had been successful. The enemy had retreated, though not without a fight.
She crushed her loyalties and knelt beside the stranger, supporting him on her shoulder and assessing his injuries. She knew from being a military doctor that these were fatal. He wouldn't survive, but she could not desert him in his final moments.
" Thank you..." he answered, "..for your kindness...I hope...my children have a ...good Christmas...every...child...needs a ...father..."
Sally's days as a doctor had strengthened her emotions against the horror of death but this time the sorrow was overwhelming. It was unbearable. She battled against her tears.
He slipped away a few moments later. Sally had barely time to regain her composure when footsteps hammered along the corridor and rounded the corner. It was another man. She squinted into the dim light for the Preventer symbol on the uniform. Her blood drained when she realised she was face to face with another of the enemy. He noticed immediately her Preventer badge.
" It's a shame you'll die a traitor," he sneered, cocking his gun. Sally sprang to her feet but before she had a chance to retaliate, he pulled the trigger and she crumpled to the ground.
Amid her gasps, she saw her foe pick up his fallen comrade and exit, not even checking whether she was dead or not. Perhaps he was still wary of the bomb. Painfully, she shuffled to the wall and clasped her bleeding side, snatching at her breaths. The sight of the vacant walls was the last thing she remembered before she blacked out.
**************************************************************************** *****************
The Preventers dashed aboard their aircrafts. There were two crafts, one piloted by Noin and Zechs, carrying numerous other agents, and the other by Sally and Wufei, which carried only supplies. Wufei noticed the first craft prepare to take to the sky but panicked, noticing Sally had not returned from the building.
" Zechs! Zechs!" he called furiously through the com. " Do you read me? Don't take off yet - Preventer Water is not present."
" Roger," Zechs responded, removing his hands from the controls.
Wufei waited another five minutes, knowing they could not stick around too long or the enemy may attack the aircrafts.
" Wufei, do you read me?" Zechs called back. " Is Sally safe?"
" No. She has not emerged," the Chinese pilot replied. " We must wait..."
" We can't!" Zechs responded urgently. " It's taking a risk. Une said - "
" I don't care about Une!" Wufei hissed back. " Go on, leave this place. I'll stay behind and look for Sally!"
Wufei deserted his aircraft and bolted towards the side entrance of the base. He gripped his gun fiercely, though he knew the enemy troops had all been scattered.
He ran frantically down the corridors, calling Sally's name desperately. He found her by pure chance by stumbling over her quite literally.
" Ooouch," Sally murmured as she felt a foot jab her in the ribs. Her eyes tried to focus on who it was. Another enemy perhaps? Were they going to kill her this time?
She closed her eyes, bracing herself for what she thought would be dealt to her. Instead, she felt a pair of strong arms grip her tightly and whoever it was examine her injury with a horrified gasp. She knew the sound of his voice and his distinctive scent, one she couldn't describe to others. It was Wufei. He had come to rescue her... again..like he'd done so many times over the years."
" Sally! You stupid, foolish woman. Who did this!" he exclaimed. " Tell me. Tell me and I will kill them!"
Sally wasn't listening. She let her head drop against his chest, amused by her own thoughts. Maybe she was getting close to death and becoming sentimental about the special things in her life. There weren't many special things...the war....the deaths....but there was someone who could always amuse her with his odd little ways, the person who held her right now. Now at almost twenty-one years of age, he was a good few inches taller than her. Not quite how he was when they'd met though his outlook was much the same.
Wufei was close to tears. His mind was relaying the fateful scene from his past - such along time ago - yet only yesterday. The scene when he lost her...in the field of flowers. He might not have really loved her, but he had lost her nonetheless. He had been too weak then...he was too weak now...
" Sally," he uttered hoarsely, pressing his hand against the wound to hold in the blood. She winced at this. " Don't go. Please don't die..."
" Wufei...I'm...not...gonna die...I..p..p..promise," she replied. She wasn't. She wasn't going to be picked off that easily.
" Sally...you just can't leave me....if you do I will be very angry...because I need you."
His voice was shrill now, child-like in the silent hall. He clung onto her as if she was the last person in the world. In his world, this was true.
" Wufei, you're a strong man, you don't need anyone....not..not..even me..."
" I'm a weak person, you hear me - a WEAKLING...shall I tell you how I know? - because I have battled and tried...but every time I....I fall in love with you! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Sally closed her eyes as the blood-loss began to stupefy her. " Wufei...don't be ashamed of love...it's a strong thing...a very strong thing..."
He hadn't finished; " I decided never, NEVER to feel this way but you have made it very difficult not to!"
His tone was agitated. Sally couldn't decide in her lethargic state whether he was angry at her or at himself. She was losing the strength to speak. " Wufei...."
She could feel his warm breath on her face and his tears against her skin. And then his lips on hers. She lost her senses moments later.
She came to at the site of an aircraft standing alone. She was being carried through the rain which beat down against her face. "Wufei...." she murmured again.
Wondering whether he must be hurting her, he grasped her more gently. Sally's head was on his shoulder, her braids dangling down his back, matted and soggy. She almost smiled, remembering how he used to be. Right now, even when in perfect health, she couldn't lift him if she tried, yet he carried her as if she were a mere feather.
" Sally, you must make it," he reminded her, trampling through the wet foliage to the craft. " If you do not, I shall die a very ill-fated man."
End of Part 1
