dd The next day was static with excitement throughout the base, most his commanding officers spent it in preparation for the battle to come and troops were on standby. With over looking procedures, touring OZ's MS housing facilities and then returning mid afternoon to a pile of paperwork the General was swamped. It was good to have such a constant distraction from the unnerving spy who had brought him to crumble the evening prior. Slipping back into his mask of indifference was frighteningly easy.
By the time Treize had finished overlooking, signing and registering the last of the papers his body was nearly dead weight. After removing and replacing the heavy lapel blue jacket, cravat, white shirt, knee cover boots and immaculate black pants he was dead weight and as soon as he was settled into the outrageously large bed he was gone.





****


Positioned in her hiding spot within his room she had watched him for the past three hours and when he finally let out the lights and turned in she lowered herself from the partial curtain covered window on to the floor. Though she could easily infer from his lethargic movements that he probably hadn't slept much the evening previous and the work load commissioned had to have added to his state she remained in her new position for another half hour to make sure he was well enough asleep.
If it wasn't for the caffeine pills she'd popped before setting out to the base in that day's somewhat lightened evening and three cups of coffee, hours before along with a 2L Jolt Cola™ she'd probably be in a similar state as the general of OZ.
Since she had returned home her brains', heart, and emotions were in a state of turmoil that left her unable to rest. However when she had finally made the decision to end everything regardless, it was nearly 6:00am. She'd have to set her plan in action that evening since after the battle in the next days to come Krushrenada would reposition himself to be in the middle of action or another base, since the one he was on would likely be taken by attack and destroyed.
All which led to where she was now, crouching in Treize Krushrenada's room fighting off the fatigue that came with the calm of the knowledge that the pain would soon end.

A stirring from the bed caused her to tense as he barely turned toward her in rest. Her calm suddenly deserted her in a rush as she caught sight of his sleep softened features. Not unlike the glimpse from beneath his mask that she had caught the evening prior.
The forked eyebrows sagged into a believable definition so different than the way they were always raised in sardonic mimicry or media seduction while in the presence of the universe. His lips were relaxed and only the milky skin of his human chest was visible, no ranking uniform and it suddenly clouded her judgment.
Once again she was hit hard with the fact he was human, a simple, emotionally capable human.

'And handsome one at that.'

The suddenness of that startling thought however hit harder than any other.
Anger flared through her more rampad than sympathy and though it was her mind's own traitoring she blamed it on him. 'THE BASTARD!'
It pushed her to committing the task at hand. Stepping stealthily toward the end of the bed she stepped on top, unsheathed her dagger and kneeled down to his side.





****


Near his feet, was where it started, and then the familiar weight slowly made it's way to his side.
Treize was only vaguely aware of that he was encased in blackness, the only reason he was even aware of anything was this new presence near him.
It seemed to settle and a warmth emitted from it. A low groan of his own registered barely in his ears as he shifted toward it. Then suddenly touch. A warm smooth but textured object was soothing what possibly could be his cheek. A slight stroking motion began till the textured object brushed against a stray ginger lock of his hair.

The movement shook him to his very core. Maria. The vision of his adoring wife flashed through his mind. No one offered such a act toward him after her death. Only her in his dreams and this touch was too physical.

Reality, awareness and full and immediate consciousness came to him. When his eyes flashed open they met immediate disappointment and cause for wariness. It wasn't sunny out with blue skies and his wife and 1 year old daughter, and
before he could identify who it was he had them flipped beneath him, pinned. An offending weapon, apparently a saber was discarded on the floor. It took him a moment to register the alien, black body hugging clad figure and when he did he reached above him for the small lamp on the bed's headrest. The light flooded the room and instead of the hoped for strands of fiery red hair he met blonde.
The spy.





****


She'd done it after settling into a position that would allow her to hit the heart directly and cleanly and now, she was kicking herself.

The simply fact was she simply could not commit it without some guilt, some self-hatred while he was so far away from being that other person, the evil General Krushrenada. At that moment he was innocent, while in the rest of dreamless sleep all people were.
Like an untouched newborn.
A blank sheet of paper with no memories, till that time when he'd wake and they'd be restored.

She had cursed herself then, suddenly with the knowledge that no matter how swift a death she could give him with her dagger it would still leave a burning imprint upon him to take him to the there after. Why! Why hadn't she smuggled her guns in when she moved.
Then there'd only be a clean and simple shot without torture.

So in a gesture to maybe minutely afterward weakly fight to level, to equal and erase the pain she'd pushed aside the warring emotions inside her and bled all the caring and tenderness she could into that small caress.
…Only to pain now.

The virtuous simplicity of his previous expression was lost to an hardened one, and only his eyes betrayed the inevitable emotions clearly readable for her. Surprise, fear, anger but only mildly. The first truly being hope, which afterwards had quickly diminished to the most prominent emotion; disappointment.

In a simple movement of adjusting and tightening his wrist around her grip on the dagger her fingers became limp and he discarded it. And then after, there was only awareness. Nothing had to be said he knew why she'd come. So for a moment they only could remain in limbo as they gather their thoughts. Still keeping her effectively immobile all the while, while she could only guess that all he wore were a pair of silk boxers…
Cursing herself for letting her mind wander dangerously close toward attraction she was the first to speak.

Forcing sarcasm into her voice to effectively set her mind she questioned, "well?! Are you just remain there," and she nudged her head, the only body part she could. "As a heaping mass, burdening my breathing or will you get this show on the road and call for your ~Toy~ soldiers..? You may use the dagger too. Either way, hurry up."
Really if he was going to act she hoped it was soon. The whole of the situation had given her a jolt sure, but the layer of protection offered by her dosage of caffeine was wearing thin and her lethargy was becoming ever more apparent. The position she was in too, also did nothing to help her situation either. By the angles and areas of pressure and holds it was best to simply relax into it and it did little to help aid her.





****


Not until after she spoke did he realize his state of undress which most likely must of led her to some discomfort. Still she remained slack and kept her gaze schooled on his eyes, impassive as possible and not unlike a stare he'd occasionally received from the infamous Gundam pilot Heero Yuy during his time spent under capture.
Still her focus he found would wane, cloud and sometimes be closed off completely. He watched her as she was now continually blinking, struggling to keep her eyes open. She seemed quite soporific… Then as he'd guess their spar of weapons and words the evening before put as much a toll on her as on him; likely even more so in her case by the looks of it…

Treize had no idea what to do, he had her effectively bound with little strain on either of them, quite well sedated, unhostile and basically at his mercy. If he called for his men she could be executed within the moment, or with a good dosage of some more caffeine and truth syrup he could find out everything about her, contacts and if she was lying about being an independent.
Releasing his hold of her he watch her for a moment and then rose, with his mind only half made up he retrieved a silk robe from the closest. Turning back to her as he put in on and the tied the front he could see she hadn't moved and her eyes had closed. Praying she'd still be there when he returned he strode down the corridor to the large living room area.
The guard on the night watch only realizing his presence till after Trieze stepped off of the carpet onto the hard wood. The General watched in mild hidden amusement as the soldier scrambled to turn off the TV, rise and then salute at attention with much nervousness.
For the moment he didn't mind and only chided him lightly about it and then made his request. With a quick nod of acceptance and another solute the soldier rushed off.

Returning to his bedroom he released his held breath when he found her still in the same awkward position he'd left her in. As he approached and sat down on the bed he could hear her light snore already, see the even rise of her chest, and her lips, only slightly slack. As much as it was to his organizations' advantage the guilt was so much harder to put aside. The death of hundreds of thousands didn't seem as lowly as interrogating her, a spy, terrorist and assassin, while in such an frail state with the usage of potent-

A knock on his bedroom door however drew his thoughts back to the guard. Careful to rise though he knew it'd do little to rouse her he strode to the door. Mindful to keep the wondering guard ignorant he carefully opened it to retrieve the small tray holding the requested commodities and then again closed and locked the door.
Coming back to the bed he dragged closer one of the night stands and placed the tray on top. Settling back into the warmth of the comforter and sidling closer to her; the temptation to simply let her the bed or the rooms' couch for the length of her rest and then allow her to escape on her own was there. Oh, how Treize wanted too… Looking down at her he realized how different she looked, younger, her demons at piece for the moment without nightmares and her haunted eyes closed.

Still his own demons, the engraved knowledge of a battle seasoned warrior, and memories refused him to let her leave.

Removing the syringe from it's container, uncapping it and removing the air from inside Treize's mind wandered. She was a criminal of war, a first hand killer like himself.
Replacing the syringe he raised her right fore arm into view. Taking the rubber medical tie he wrapped it around the middle of her upper arm, letting the veins rise into view he reached for the syringe again.
To get the knowledge out of her now could prevent the attack of a possibly new rising rebel terrorist group which without, could wound OZ.
Pushing the tip of needle of the largest of the veins the truth syrup slowly entered her blood stream and nervous system where it'd take the most effect.
If he were to let her leave she could be his down fall, spreading her information to any or all of OZ's enemies. To issue her death would silence her demons and then in Hell-

"NO!" His hoarse yet whispered cry filled the entirety of the room but the guard hadn't heard it.
As quickly as he dared he removed the half empty syringe and with heavy muscles replaced it. ~NO! Damn you; not Hell, nor any more of those lies!~
His thoughts were chaos. Though indirect he sent them to his past, his teachings and his family, insistent to continue to have a strong presence in the military through a continual bloodline of ranking officials, soldiers.
Again the tenor of his voice rose, but only to that of a breath… "Damn you."

For the first time the weight of all his actions came to a braking point.

Ripping the rubber tie from her arm he threw it at the wall and then moved away from her. She seemed placid as he watched her through tearing eyes; The effects from which he paid no note to as he let his head hang and the tears fall.
He was sick of it. General of all Oz, Leader of armies of thousands, succeeding heir of the Khushrenada family since 17, and starting as a military cadet at 11. None of which he'd asked for but was always destined to due to a line of blood and through the orders of his father.
Orders and beliefs he'd adopted in youth and ignorance…

In his self disgust a tremor found him but it wasn't his own. Another followed to be more violent, his pain was forgotten as he lifted his head.
She was convulsing.
Taken back he found the spy wide awake, contorting overly and apparently having problems breathing.
The serum! Her body must have been allegoric to a compound in it. Returning to her side in shock he let his hand touch her brow. She was burning up and perspiring!
Contorting from the touch she focused on him suddenly and with much work tried to speak.

" Liiiqqquiidddd FFFFUU- FFF- fire!" Soon after the words passed her lips a wring of pain passed through her and her back arched high, her head went back and her lips opened in a silent scream.
Strangely terrified by the thought of her dying there with no help Trieze rose, "You need a doctor I'll send for one!" No! she mustn't die, even if she was his enemy it would be unjust.
When he was just about to pull the door off it hinges and call for the guard her trembling voice stopped him.

"Nu- Nnnno o, Ha- happpen' buu fure."

Returning to the bed he was relieved but still worried since she continued to writhe and agonize over the sheets to the point it was worsening and she was beginning to become tangled in them.

"So this shall pass, you will be okay?"
Immediately in answer her head rocked from side to side and his feelings pained.

"Nuuu-oohh… Thhhhenn llit-el , nnnuu-oww lu-lots."

The configuration of her speech was hard to make out. Treize had to concentrate to get past the continual gasps and miss formed vowel. After a few moments of deciphering he then had to wonder over the meaning of the baby sentence.
Coming in closer he took one hand in his one to soothe and hold onto while with the other he removed the tied holding his robe together and used it to wipe her brow.
"Do you mean your first encounter with the substance was only a small portion and even though you experienced this it passed?"
He could barely make out the small nod in answer through her shakes
Treize continued to minutely soothe her with small caresses to the forehead and hand. "It doesn't matter I'm calling for the doctor."

With his words her grip tightened and in one powerful convulsion she thrusted herself into his face. Surprised, he grabbed her shoulder to prevent he falling back and she held his gaze though she continued to move.

"Oonnn, muuu-mma-my dethh bbed-dd Dooontt! Iii Wu-iiill nn-ohhttt beee puullledd ffuu- fu from dethththth Tuu-" abruptly she stopped hanging her head in exhaustion from using her breath to speak. When he moved to touch her chin though she shot her back up. " Tuu be ssavved bu-butth afffttter ohhlly tu be scen-anced tooo detthth."
Treize understood every word and then when she had finished gave him the most heart wrench look of pleading.
"Mmuu-akkke itt mu-my dethh wissh," and with that her eyes rolled back in her head truly terrifying Treize with the though she'd just died. In a panic while her body still convulsed he'd laid her back down, checked her breathing and then resting his ear over her breast checked her heart beat. Both still thankfully remaining somewhat erratic but she had simply gone unconscious.
Though he longed to call for a team of doctors he was going to keep to her wish and instead rose and began a frantic search for anything he might be able to use to aid her condition.

Moving through his room and office he stopped at the site of his antique strategist board, specifically the small bowl holding those pieces he had not placed.
Dumping the contents on the floor he took the bowl and then raiding the liquor cabinet, removed his bottle of cognac and a brandy glass. Precariously he returned to the bedroom and settled the glass and brandy on the nightstand after removing the tray still holding the syringe as far away as possible. The woman thankfully hadn't seized in her movement but if he didn't stop her from soon she'd exhaust herself... Taking the bowl he strode into the adjoined bathroom and filled it with warm water and took it and a wash cloth back with him to also set on the stand.
Hopefully he could keep her down and possibly brake her fever, so her body could fight off and expel the serum better and afterwards have time to heal. Oh lord he wished there would be an afterwards. He especially did not want her death to be added to his guilt.

But as he thought more on it in truth as he walked to his closest, removed four of his softest ties and turned around to see her Trieze had to admit he was becoming affectionate towards her.

Stepping beside the bed he tied two of the would be holds securely around the bottom and the top bed posts and then carefully positioned first her hand and tied it with some slack and then her leg and afterwards did the same with the other side. When it was it finished the majority of her writhing had seized and small minute movements would adjust the comforter he'd settled around her.
Treize then poured some of the brandy and while he warmed it by swirling the glass in the palm of his left hand his other was kept in constant contact with the damped washcloth and her brow.

For the rest of night he gave her small sips till she'd finished two glasses and then at 3:30am an hour after the convulsions had seized and he'd untied her, the fever broke. Khushrenada remained awake for another half hour even though her vitals were back to normal just to watch for any unusual occurrences and then on the opposite side of the bed fell into a much needed sleep.





****


She was a mess. But not physically though. No, since she'd woken up alone in the late afternoon of the day after that event 3 weeks ago well rested and she'd returned to sleeping regularly; well as regularly as a spy can. Her emotions however remained in a jumbled heap, even more tangled than before and now in her menstrual cycle her mood swings had become a virtual hurricane. Anger, betrayal of what could have been her only possible death wish. Attraction and thankfulness that he did care to call the doctor still mostly confusion.
Enemies, she kept reminding herself. Enemies.
Suddenly though the most controversial question hit her. ~Is he really?~
She was a spy. An independent in a galaxy of millions. And he, well he was only fighting for the cause of the war that he thought best.
"An egotistical cause he would only use to raise up OZ while leaving millions others to suffer!" She thought out loud to the quiet mid morning park of L1.

After Oz's first attack on the weakened alliance she'd traveled here. One of the more safer of the colonies. It was home to many OZ officials, people she wasn't to happy to share the room with but still… All the farther colonies would be too much a hassle. Earth was becoming more and more harder to slip into with out records, something she'd taken great lengths to get erased. L2 would have been easy for her to blend into but there were too many warring rebel groups looking for power that she'd be more safe in the company of the suburbanite families of enemies.
It had it's perks though, being behind enemy lines left her open to the wealth of knowledge that mainly was cut of from earth and the other colonies. Radio broadcasts and television news shows flowed in what knowledge they could of current battles and such to the worried relatives.
The latest bit of knowledge being what had caused her to flee the rented room she had in an apartment complex and find a park with the bench she now resided on.
Gundams 02 and 04 had fought backing up what forces the alliance and OZ had given them a beating with there rapid, continual supply of super weapons and manning power. It'd been considered a victory in there favor when the battle had ended the day before.
She didn't know how the idea to confront Khushrenada again had popped into her head but it had and the reasons as to why, battled within, each intertwined with a different emotion.
Denying herself she finally decided she was going to return and kill him either she wanted to or not. It would be for the good of the colonies yet still, her heart wrenched at the thought.





Author: Yo People!! I'M BACK!!! Hehe… Sorry for the Loooonnnngg wait for this chapter but I made sure it was longer than the others. It's not that I didn't have this chapter written but I simply- well actually I don't know WHY I didn't post it! I've had it way back in the dusty catacombs of my computer memory for nearly the year!

MOB: KILL THE GIRL NOW!!!!

Author: *ducts the thrown objects* Look I'm really sorry for not updating faster but-

MOB: boo… We don't care about you updating SOONER!! Were pissed about you actually updating. TREIZE KRUSHRENADA SUCKS!!!

Chibi Treize-sama: WAAA!!! *starts bawling*

A Loud audible *pop* is heard and then a Howl of anger. Nile suddenly grows in a large, red, monster like, girl with horns; looking much like a morbid red version of the incredible Hulk.

MOB: EEP!

Chibi Treize-sama: *in a cuttie-patuttie chibi voice* Ya Nile!

Author: OKAY! THAT'S IT! NOBODY TALKS ABOUT TREIZE-SAMA LIKE THAT
AROUNG *ME*!!

MOB: '… RUN! Run away!

And so the angry mob runs away leaving a very pissed off but cooling off, authoress to return to her pale pallor and innocent wide eyed old-self.

Author: One can go SO far.

The Now Normal Treize: Quiet right my dear. Quiet right.