Pain's Lessons Linda Goto Normal Linda Goto 21 101 2001-10-31T02:18:00Z 2001-10-31T04:37:00Z 1 1812 10334 86 24 12122 10.2625 Clean 0 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";}

Pain's Lessons

By OmoideKeeper

Disclaimer:  I don't own GW, so please don't sue!  I have no money!  This fic is for entertainment purposes only!

            Trowa entered the room, surveying the ornate decorations but not really seeing anything.  Tonight was just another night, and he'd be claimed after this.  He felt like a wind-up doll, going for a spin around the room, checking everything, coming to a stop before the entrance.  _Hello.  I'm the 'Trowa' doll.  Say a word and watch me jump to your command,­_ he thought, angry with himself but unable to feel anything.

            He saw two guests approaching the entrance and moved to his new position.  "Good evening, Miss Peacecraft, Mr. Marquise.  Ma--Quatre should be arriving soon.  Please, make yourselves comfortable," his voice sounded hollow and dead to his eyes, but Relena didn't notice.  She looked up and down his skin-tight outfit with obvious interest.

            Zechs' face under the mask twisted into a disgusted expression.  He couldn't believe he was related to the insensitive bitch he was standing next to.  She could do with some shortening, by a head perhaps...it was an interesting thought he hoped to pursue.  He was about to apologize to the young man but realized too late Relena was already ushering him towards Quatre's bodyguards, forty men each wearing a bright red fez.

            Trowa silently cursed himself.  He'd almost slipped.  No one could know about the Master's strange habits, and that meant being careful.  Rashid, Quatre's head bodyguard shot him a look from across the room, warning him to guard himself.  While Rashid didn't really mind Trowa, any harm coming to Quatre was deadly to the offender.  That included Quatre's reputation.

            That porcelain reputation was in Trowa's hands for tonight, and he almost laughed at the irony.  He held his laughter in, knowing if it escaped it would only become hysterical, and that was something that couldn't be allowed.  After all, there was so much more than just the reputation to think of.  It would ruin the Master's fun, and that couldn't be allowed.  If anything happened to spoil his fun, it would only cause more pain.

            "You must be Miss Catelonia and Lady Une," Trowa spoke to the next pair entering the intricate doorframe.  "Please, make yourselves at home.  I'm sure Quatre will arrive soon.  May I introduce you to Miss Peacecraft and her bodyguard, Zechs Marquise?" Trowa's mind drifted further away, trying not to imagine what punishment awaited him after the party was over.  However, he utterly failed that task.

            "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Catalonia, Lady," Zechs murmured, silently thinking of ways to make Relena regret forcing him to come.  It was times like these he was grateful for the mask, so that no one would know he was related to the insensitive, pampered brat.

            The house was beautiful, Zechs had to admit that, but its ornate beauty seemed almost possessive.  Even though Quatre hadn't made an appearance, one could almost feel his touch on everything.  That included the dark haired boy who greeted everyone with that fake smile.

            That boy…there was something strange about him.  Something almost not human, as if all the life in him was being sucked out, little by little.  Zechs had a bad feeling the thing causing this was named Quatre Raberba Winner.

            "Chang WuFei, Sally Po, I presume?" Trowa asked, silently padding over to the newest pair to the hall.  "Welcome.  Please, feel free to roam around the hall and introduce yourselves to the others.  I apologize, we're still waiting for Quatre to make an appearance, as well as a few other guests."

            Quatre watched the scene unfolding from his hiding place behind a tapestry.  The secret passage around him barely fit his slender frame, and he smiled his secret smile.  All was going as planned.

            He hadn't known Trowa was such a good actor.  Trowa had barely said three words at once six months ago, even before they'd started dating.  Since that time, he'd only become quieter and more insecure.  It was a miracle he was able to play this part so well.

            Surely no one would catch onto this game that was being played.  Well, not 'no one,' but not many.  No one would truly understand the full aspects of the game.  Quatre was a genius at planning this type of silent warfare after all.

            He'd caused his parent's deaths, quickly inheriting all the money and holdings after discrediting all his sisters and locking them up in various insane asylums around the world.  He had to revel in his sheer genius at times, the way he'd found every person's weakness and was about to mercilessly exploit them.

            Perhaps a few more minutes before he made his grand entrance.  Just long enough for Heero and Duo to appear, and for Trowa to sweat a bit more.  Yes, just a bit more, just for a little fun.

            Outside, WuFei turned to Sally, his face barely containing his anger and frustration.  He was dressed in a suit that, while it looked very fashionable, was very, VERY uncomfortable.  "Onna, remind me again why we are WAITING for that kisama to show up?  We could go looking for the clues now and be done with this!"

            Sally took a deep breath before answering her partner.  "WuFei, I've told you before, DON'T CALL ME ONNA.  Now, as for why we have to wait, it's because we need to see what's going on before we do anything rash.  Is that understood?"

            "You do not order me around, Onna!"

            "Wu.  Fei.  Shut.  Up.  Now," Sally gritted her teeth as she answered WuFei.  She tried to remind herself why she'd agreed to take this mission and couldn't remember.  WuFei was so aggravating at times…no, he was always aggravating.  Always waiting to seek his personal justice, even though their orders were sometimes completely different.

            But they both knew why they were getting on each other's nerves.  They both knew this mission couldn't be failed.  They needed to get this done, and this was their one chance.  It didn't matter how they got it done, but if they failed, they'd never see another mission, and both didn't want to be known as screw-ups.

            Heero and Duo walked in, standing just a step away from each other.  They hadn't said a word since their confrontation in the car, and were still uncomfortable.  They hadn't had a fight like that in a while, and it brought back horrible memories for them both.  Neither would talk about their past experiences, but they both felt the barely controlled emotions of each other and wanted to heal them, even as they knew they couldn't.

            Trowa turned, noticing the newest arrivals, plastering the fake smile on his face.  Everything was going as the Master had ordered, and nothing could ruin it now.  "Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, thank you for coming.  I'm sure Quatre will be down to see everyone in a moment.  Please feel free to go around and speak with the other guests."

            Heero stiffened.  He saw what others had missed in Trowa's eyes, the deadly fear implanted in his brain, the falseness in everything he did.  He recognized the style of the outfit he was wearing, and inwardly shuddered.  _No, not this one!  Quatre, how could you?_ Heero thought as he looked at the other boy.

            Duo frowned inwardly.  So this was the one…but he seemed so different, so strange!  Not what he usually got…  "What's your name?" he asked with a smile, concealing his clashing inner feelings.  _Why this one?  It's not fair to do this now!_

            Trowa blinked.  "Oh, I'm sorry.  I'm Trowa."  _Why would someone ask that?  I'm not the important one…that's the Master…_

            Heero noticed Duo's tension and lightly touched his arm.  "Shall we introduce ourselves, Duo?" he murmured, keeping his voice tightly controlled.

            Duo started at Heero's touch, his mind far away.  "Oh…yeah…let's…introduce ourselves," he agreed, trying to find the missing piece of the puzzle forming in his brain.  He had a bad feeling he was going to find out before the night was over.

            Quatre looked up from the secret doorframe.  _Good, everyone's here.  Time for my grand entrance._  He turned and walked back the way he'd come, until he found himself in his bedroom.  Everything was prepared.

            "Oh, Ma--Quatre!" Trowa called as Quatre walked regally down the grand staircase.  Quatre frowned at him for his slip, and Trowa flinched.  Heero and Duo's inward frowns deepened.  "The guests are all here, Master," Trowa whispered for Quatre's ears alone.

            "Good," he replied without looking at Trowa.  He smiled a genuine smile looking at the crowd.  However, no one understood the full extent of his smile.  "I'm glad you all could make it to this gathering.  Before the evening goes any further, I'd like to make an announcement."

            Trowa's eyes widened.  He'd thought he had a few more hours of freedom before the announcement, but…as the Master wanted.  The announcement would be now.  he fell in just behind Quatre and a single step to the left.

            Heero glared at the floor, unwilling to look at Quatre.  He had a bad feeling about what was coming, but what could he do to stop it?  His own time had been hard enough, but this Trowa seemed to know what was going on and was doing nothing.  Could it be, Trowa actually loved Quatre enough to go through with a lifetime of agony?  Heero inwardly shivered at the memory of Duo's anger before and wondered once again what would happen if Duo turned out like Quatre.

            Duo closed his eyes.  He knew what was coming, but he couldn't do anything about it.  If no one else was going to do anything, could he stop it?  He didn't think so.  There was nothing more to do except listen to this announcement of Quatre's.  His part would come in later, and by that time it would be too late for Trowa.

            WuFei stiffened.  Was this what they'd been warned about?  He caught sally's eyes and she expressed the same feeling of surprise.  Was Quatre's announcement part of his plan?  Of course…it would provide the perfect distraction, the perfect plea of innocence.

            Zechs looked around through his mask, searching for a sign from someone, anyone.  Surely someone else heard the deadness in Trowa's voice.  It had to show to someone besides him.  He couldn't see anyone through his mask and for a moment regretted wearing the view constricting object.  He hadn't thought something like this would happen.

            "I gathered you all here tonight to announce that, as of today, Trowa Barton," he motioned to Trowa almost nonchalantly, "and I are set to be wed on the fifteenth of the next month."  He held up his hand which was adorned with a ring of gold, and placed a matching one on Trowa's finger.  Trowa inwardly shuddered as the weight settled on his finger, binding him to Quatre.

            Relena stared.  Surely there was something else.  She stared around the room in search of a target who could tell her what was going on, as well as was beautiful.  Her eyes fell on Heero Yuy, and moved towards her new prey, her thoughts dancing of how lovely he was.

            "Hello.  My name's Relena.  What's yours?" she asked Heero, extending her hand.

            "…I'm Heero Yuy," Heero responded, trying to fight back the urge to gag at the girl before him.  She seemed so…he couldn't find the words to describe it.

            "Relena, there you are," Zechs muttered, walking over to her.  He stopped in front of Heero, looking at him through the mask apologetically.  Something was wrong with this one too…but what?  His eyes transferred to Duo, and a chill ran through him.  He recognized this one.

            "Zechs Marquise, I assume?" Duo asked in a dark voice.

            Zechs merely nodded.  "And you would be?"

            Duo smirked.  "People call me Duo Maxwell."

            Heero looked back and forth from his koi to this 'Zechs Marquise' and tried to find what was going on.  He failed entirely.

            Zechs' face was deadly serious behind the mask as he brushed past Duo, whispering in his ear, "I know why you're here, and I *will* stop you."

            Duo whispered back, "You can try, Milliardo, but you'll fail.  Remember, I only complete what has already been started.  If someone stops it, nothing has to happen."

            Zechs didn't respond as he grabbed Relena's wrist and pulled her away from the scene, his face flaming behind his mask.