Jaid: Hiya! Look a new chapter! Yay! Aren't you all happy? Oh boy, I'm tired.

Jad: Aren't you supposed to be working on that essay?

Jaid: The rough draft isn't due till tomorrow.

Jad: Your grave.

Jaid: It's "your funeral".

Jad: Whatever.

Dedication: To J.B. Santiago and Winnie, who have been faithful reviewers of this fic. You guys are what keeps me going!

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Chapter Nine

Wu Fie quietly walked down the stairs and then exited the back door of the building. He walked the perimeter, but nothing was there. Trying to keep himself calm, he walked around the corner and collided with another body. The two fell down the ground, then struggled to get up.

Wu Fie jumped to his feet and assumed a fighting stance, belatedly realizing that his pistols had been kicked beyond his reach. The other figure stood up.

"Who are you?" Wu Fie demanded.

"That's none of your concern." The other man answered in a low voice, then lunged for Wu Fie.

* * *

"How much longer?" The man asked.

"Not long. We have one of them. We know the identities of two. Winner is the last one, and he is mostly likely dead. Soon we will be able to strike."

* * *

Wu Fie blocked the man's attack, then shoved his hand hard into the others nose. He felt it break beneath the pressure. Wu Fie then took the chance to hit him hard on the side of the neck. The man went down, unconscious. Wu Fie straightened, only to be grabbed from behind. He and his captor struggled, but the other man had his arms around Wu Fie's neck, and the Chinaman was beginning to black out. Desperately, he plunged an elbow in the man's lower ribs. Caught off guard, his grip loosened. Wu Fie pulled him over his back and threw him on the ground. Staggering back a little, Wu Fie struggled to regain his breath when CRACK! Wu Fie cried out in pain and fell, clutching his shoulder, near the collarbone. Heero Yuy came over and nudged him with his foot. Wu Fie was still conscious. He looked up and stared daggers at Heero.

"What is going on, Yuy?" he hissed.

"Boss wants you out of the way." Heero said in his usual monotone.

"So you're going to shoot me?" Wu Fie asked.

"I did." Heero said.

Wu Fie raised an eyebrow, although pain was still etched on his face.

"Didn't say I had to kill you." Heero commented. Looking at his two companions, he shook his head and sighed. "Idiots." He muttered, then looked back at Wu Fie. "Just stay low for a while. Try to go back East or something." Heero started to walk away.

"Wait!" Wu Fie called. Heero stopped but didn't turn.

"Why?" Wu Fie asked. Heero turned.

"You saved my life once." He said. "Consider the debt paid." With that, Heero walked away. Wu Fie shook his head, and laughed painfully. Looking up, he wondered if he had the energy to make it to the house, or if he should just shout until Mieran heard him.

* * *

Heero stalked the streets almost angrily. He had lied. Boss had told him to kill Wu Fie. For once in his life, Heero Yuy had disobeyed an order. Why? Wu Fie had asked. Why indeed? Heero wasn't sure, but he hadn't been able to bring himself to kill a man he had considered a friend. It bothered him, knowing that he had a weakness.

Heero was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't notice the young woman, trying to tie down a broken shutter, until he had walked into her, knocking her to the ground.

"Oh." He said, startled. "Sorry." He held out a hand. The young woman took it, and he helped her up, then almost jumped away in surprise.

"Relena."

"Heero."

There was an awkward pause; the only sound was the moaning of the wind.

"It's been a while." Relena said softly.

"Yeah." Heero muttered. "A while." Both were staring at the ground, nervously.

"Why didn't you come back?" Relena asked. "I waited and waited."

"I don't know." He said.

"You don't know?" Relena echoed in disbelief. "What kind of a reason is that, Yuy? Two years I waited. Two years, Heero! No word, no letters, no messages, no telegrams. What was I supposed to think? Tell me Heero!"

"I can't." he whispered.

"What the hell did you think you were doing?" Relena asked quietly.

"I don't have an answer, Lena." Heero said. "I never did."

"So you just decided to cut your losses." Relena said. There were tears in her eyes. "You could've at least left me a note." There was a pause while she wiped the tears off her cheeks. "I had to sell the wedding dress. And the ring. Do you know what it felt like? To sell two things that were to represent the happiest day in my life? Do you know what it felt like to fold up my mother's veil and put it away in the attic? You left me holding the bag. I had to explain to everybody that you were gone. I didn't know if you were dead or alive." Tears were coming in earnest now. Heero swallowed and looked away. He couldn't bear to see Relena cry, he never could.

"I'm sorry." He said. "That's all I can offer you. But I think we both made a huge mistake. I'm still not sure if we were meant for each other."

"So I was a mistake." Relena said. "Thanks, Heero. Thanks a lot." She turned away. Heero grabbed her arm.

"Wait." He said. Relena glared at him.

"Let me go." She demanded.

"Lena, please-"

"What?"

"I-I" he looked away and released her arm. "I don't know."

Relena continued to look at him. He looked at her.

"I'll always regret what I did." He said. "But at the time, there wasn't any other choice. I didn't want you to get hurt or killed and I still don't want that. I wanted to protect you."

"Heero." Relena said. "I never asked you to protect me. I asked you to love me. As a husband does a wife. I asked you to be my companion, my soul mate. Or rather you did." She sighed. "I guess I don't know either. I'm a spinster teacher and you're whatever you are."

"You're not that old." Heero said, his lips twitching a little.

"Sometimes it feels that way." She admitted. There was silence. Relena suddenly chuckled.

"What?" Heero asked.

"How did we get from me yelling at you, to us teasing?"

Heero shrugged and gave a slight smile. "Seems to be what we always do."

"Yeah." The two smiled at each other, then Relena took Heero's hand. "Please stay this time, Heero."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"I can't explain." He looked at her. "This might be the last time I see you."

"What?"

"I've got to go." He said. Heero held a finger to her lips to stop the torrent of questions that would be sure to burst forth. "If I can, I will be back. I forgot how much I missed you I guess."

"I did too." Relena breathed. Hesitantly, Heero leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

"I'll take care of a few things." He promised. "Then I'll be back."

"Okay." Relena said, then gave him a sharp glance. "You'd better this time."

"I will." He smiled again, and walked away. Relena watched him go, a soft smile playing on her lips.

* * *

"Trieze." Une softly called. It was the next morning, the day of Leia's funeral. She had never seen the banker look so drained, nor Mariemeia so subdued.

"Hello, Anne." Trieze answered. Mariemeia stayed close to him, clutching the edge of his coat. Anne gave her a gentle smile.

"Hello, Marie."

"Hello, Mo-, uh, Ms. Une." Mariemeia answered. Une looked towards the small graveyard.

"I'm sorry about Leia." She said. "She was a very sweet woman."

Trieze swallowed and nodded, not trusting his voice. Une's heart felt for him. She placed a hand on his arm.

"Just tell me if you need anything." She said, then walked away. Trieze watched her go, then turned to his daughter and picked her up.

"Let's go home, Princess."

* * *

"What are you doing?"

Quatre turned at the sound of the voice. Savannah stood there, hands on hips.

"I've got to go." He explained, buckling the belt that had his pistols. "I've got to get back. My friends will be worried."

"But you are still very weak." Savannah protested.

"I've been worse." He said. Picking up his hat, Quatre walked up to the girl. "Excuse me." He said. Savannah continued to block the doorway.

"Wait here." She said.

"What?"

"Wait here." Savannah repeated. "Just for a few moments. I'll be back." Quatre frowned, but the girl had already sprung away.

* * *

Trowa woke up dazedly. He thought he heard voices. He shook his head. Must've been dreaming. He glanced over at Dorothy, who was still asleep, hands and feet tied. Trowa felt a small twinge of regret that he had to keep her tied up, but there wasn't any other way. Shaking his head again, he sat up, then froze. It had been voices that he had heard.

"Damn." He breathed, getting out a pistol. He grimaced, looking at his lack of ammunition. Crawling to the edge of the small cave he and Dorothy had spent the night in, he looked out.

There were three of them. Trowa recognized Zechs and Duo, but the third man was a mystery. Duo pointed up towards the cave and Trowa ducked back down to avoid being seen. He was turn when something hard connected with his head and everything went black.

* * *

Rashid looked up as his daughter entered the room. Abdul, Auda, and Ahmed followed his gaze. Savannah stood, looking rather shamefaced, her bare toes digging in the dirt.

"Do you need something?" Rashid asked.

"I need to talk to you, Papa." Savannah said. The other three men exchanged glances, then got up and left. Rashid nodded, and Savannah sat on the ground next to him.

"What is it?" Rashid asked.

"It's the young man we found. Quatre." Savannah said. "He's going to leave." Rashid stiffened slightly. "I don't blame him." Savannah went on. "He wants to reassure his friends. But well, I mean, he can't go, can he?"

"It would be more difficult if he did." Rashid frowned. "Savannah, did he have the locket with him?"

Savannah frowned. "No, no jewelry." Her brown eyes widened. "Uh-oh. You don't think-"

"I don't know." Rashid stood. "But I think I need to have a talk with Winner."

* * *

Dorothy looked down at the unconscious Trowa, feeling grimly pleased with herself. She smirked at the ropes she had finally managed to cut with a semi-sharp stone, and then proceeded to untie her ankles. That done, she got the others' attentions.

"Hey!" she shouted. Duo grinned up at her.

"We're comin'!" He hollered. Dorothy grinned back. It occurred to her that this would probably be the one and only time she would ever be glad to here that baka's voice.

* * *

Quatre sat on the cot, playing with his hat and wincing every time he moved his left arm. He placed a hand on his upper chest, where the bullet had gone instead of hitting his heart. He briefly wondered who had been his doctor.

The blanket was swept aside and a man entered. Quatre got to his feet as quickly as he could, being careful not to put too much weight on his wounded leg.

"Sir." He said respectfully. He recognized Rashid, of course, but knew it was better to feign ignorance.

Rashid nodded. "Winner. I hear you are anxious to leave us."

"You've been very kind." Quatre said. "But I feel I must get back to my friends."

"I understand." Rashid said, then hesitated. "There is something I must ask you, something which you might find peculiar."

"Yes?"

"I need to know…" Rashid suddenly seemed very uncomfortable. "I need to know if you have a gold locket."

Quatre opened his mouth to say no, when the memory of Hilde showing him her necklace came back. "Yes." He answered. "I gave it to my fiancée." Rashid seemed to relax.

"I see." He said, then smiled. "Would you mind an escort back home, Deputy?" he asked.

"I don't wish to trouble you-"

"No trouble at all."

Quatre had the feeling that he was going to have the escort whether he liked it or not, so he nodded yes. "Thank you." He said.

"We will be ready to leave in an hour." Rashid told him. "You should rest while you can; traveling with wounds can be tiring."

* * *

Dorothy rode behind Lucrezia, while Zechs dealt with the bound and unconscious Trowa. It took them two days to get back to town, and it took just as long for Quatre and his "escort" of Rashid and Abdul.

Lucrezia took Dorothy home, while Zechs took Trowa to jail. Duo headed for the ranch, first opportunity he got. Coincidentally, Quatre decided to go there first.

"Hilde!" Duo called reigning in his galloping horse and jumping off almost at the same time. Hilde ran out to greet him.

"What happened?" she asked. "Did you find…" her voice trailed off as three more riders appeared. Duo turned.

"Quatre!" Hilde shouted. Quatre dismounted and limped over to receive a hug from the girl.

"Oh, you had me worried!" she exclaimed.

"Sorry." Quatre apologized. "Oh, Duo. Nice to see you."

"Yeah." Duo said, a bit coldly.

"Come in, all of you and sit down." Hilde invited. Abdul opted to stay with the horse, while Rashid accompanied the others.

"Well," Hilde said. "I guess stories can wait. Quatre, are you all right? I mean, can you-"

"I'm fine, Hilde." Quatre assured her. "I am a little tired, but it's not serious." Quatre fumbled with his coat buttons. Rashid hadn't said much, but apparently he needed to see the locket for something.

"Uh, Hilde, remember that locket I gave you? The gold one?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Just a minute." Hilde said, exiting the room. She came back a few moments later with it in her hand. "Quatre, I need to tell you something."

"Oh?"

Hilde blushed. "I've decided to call off the engagement." She whispered. "I'm still in love with Duo."

Quatre smiled, and took the necklace. "It's okay Hilde." He said, then grinned. "I will avoid saying 'I told you so'." Hilde frowned and doffed the side of his head. Quatre laughed, then nodded at Duo. "You're a lucky man, Maxwell."

"Thanks." Duo said. Quatre pocketed the locket, then stood.

"I'm happy for the both of you, but I need to go."

"But you just got here!" Hilde protested.

"No, I need to get back to town. I'm feeling a bit drained." Quatre said. "Besides, Lu and Zechs don't know I'm okay yet."

The three men rode off, leaving Hilde and Duo on the porch. Duo put an arm around her shoulders.

"Well," she commented. "That was less painful than I expected."

* * *

"Here." Quatre said. "You needed this?" Rashid nodded, then looked at the locket closely before opening it. He looked at the pictures inside and a strange look passed over his face. He looked at Quatre.

"It is you." He breathed. Quatre blinked.

"Huh?"

"You are the one we have been searching for." Rashid said. "Come, I will explain later. Now, we need to find your friends."

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Jaid: A cliffhanger!

Naga: If you can call it one…

Jaid: I don't find that amusing. Anywayz, peeps, I need you guys to vote. I've been wondering about when I'm going to pull them out of this AU and put them back. Should I do it now, and let their AU characters take over, or should I just finish the story? Oh, and I was wondering how many people want Heero and Relena to get back together and if I should kill Mieran. Yeah I know, I've already killed Leia, but I think character death adds a lot of realism to a fic. Of course, if you all kill me if I do, then I won't. :-) It's up to you. PLEASE TELL ME!!!! It doesn't take much, just a couple lines in the review box! You can do it!

Naga: Just review and shut her up. Blondes!

Jaid: WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!

Naga: Just what I said. Blondes!

Jaid: Grrrr. (blinks) Hey, where'd Jad go?