By Eve
Author's Notes: Hi guys! *singing* Happy anniversary to me! Happy anniversary to me! Thank for my reviews, I love them all. Anyhow, this has to be the most important chapter of the series. A lot of juicy stuff is going to be revealed in this chapter. All I'm going to say is that you thought last chapter was a *kicker*, think again.
My inspiration for this chapter comes from watching way too much Cowboy Bebop and Weiss Kruetz. Couldn't help it, you know. Aya and Spike are just too *cute*.
I want to clarify some things before I start the chapter. Wufei's dead, I'm sorry to say but he's dead. That's definitely important because the way he *died* is crucial to the story. He's the first, but not the last. Another thing, I want to know how many people hate Micah. I think he's a bastard, but I'm curious to know what the rest of you think of him. That's it for now, so enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to its respective owners whose names I'm too lazy to type. Others belong to me, permission for use will be granted if asked.
Warning: This is kind of tiring. Look at the rating, if you can't handle the content of the story then don't read it. I won't be hurt.
**
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Chapter 12: Symphony in E Minor======================
"Inexperience, pride, and lack of understanding will be your downfall.
And after today gentlemen, nothing will be the same again."
Sally Po, Wanders: Ascension, Karma
Being back in the hospital should have been a natural thing for all of them. Dorothy's eyes wandered around the small waiting room, watching her comrades or rather what was left of them. She sighed. Being in the hospital was different when it was one of your own. Her eyes narrowed as Alexi and Micah entered the room, Micah staring nervously. Son of a bitch better start praying Merian gets out of this alive. She wouldn't be the first to stake a claim in killing the guy.
"Are you all right?"
She glanced up to see Quatre sitting down next to her. She gave him a small smile. "You know you don't have to pretend anymore. Is it really him?"
The look in his eyes was enough as Quatre leaned back into the plastic chair. It creaked loudly as he shifted towards her. His eyes closed. All of them were beginning to look older now. It was inevitable anyhow. I only wish it didn't have to come like this. She watched as Quatre ran a shaky hand through his ruffled blond hair. A soft sigh escaped her lips and he glanced at her, eyes knowing.
"There will be time for that later," he spoke softly, fingers intertwining. "I-"
"I understand. I just wish that there was something I could do. She's not going to be the same when she wakes up. She'll never be the same. She won't forgive herself."
"He wanted to protect her. He would have wanted her to get through this."
Dorothy shook her head. "The amount of drugs in her system not only will push her over the edge. She will be fully turned when she wakes up."
"If she wakes up…"
"She will wake up. Our bodies," Dorothy paused pointing to the three female pilots in the room. "Our bodies are immune to excessive amount of black market drugs. They were part of our so-called treatments when we were kids and depending on our initial purpose the maximum amounts would be distributed."
"Oh my god," Quatre breathed. "They-they tested children."
She shrugged. "The council had been under control by Micah's family. They'd been doing testing for years. They used him to get to Relena. I think a part of her knew his reasoning for getting involved with her that was the part that never really let him too close. But I also think that she loved him too. That's Re for ya, despite the fault she won't even harbor a feeling of indifference towards you. But now, Micah has no idea what's going to happen…"
"Is she coming back?"
"She always does. Relena always comes back."
**
She kneeled in front of the couch before her careful not to wake his sleeping form. Her lips curved into a tiny smile as she brushed his coffee-colored bangs out of his face. I'm home, I'm finally home. A mumble from the man in front of her brought her out of her silent revere. She had work to do, but first she needed to allow herself one moment of some feeling.
She jumped startled by the calloused hand that grabbed her wrist. Fortunately having some feeling also meant getting caught off guard. She unsuccessfully tried to pull away, but herself losing to the intensity of the blue eyes.
"You came back," he whispered softly.
She pushed herself up to sit beside him, eyes never leaving his own. She gently pulled her hand away from his grasp, tracing a ragged scar that went across his cheek. Double slash, she realized with astonishment and questioned him with her eyes.
"The Un-"
He silenced her with a finger. She closed her eyes and nodded. We'll have time later. Things need to be attended to, especially wit the situation now.
"I'm just glad you're back."
**
He hadn't let go of Hilde after he had seen Wufei's body. The mangled form of the man that he had respected more than anyone else. Wufei had been a man that was worth lying his life down for. And it had ended with his wife so goddamn doped up, she was in a coma. It's that fucker's fault, he thought with a growl. It's his goddamn fault that everyone's in this mess. We could have been… He felt Hilde squeeze his hand in reassurance and a small way of saying to calm down. Anger at this moment would help at all, but he could get Wufei's mangled body out of his head.
"We need to decide what we're all going to do."
Everyone looked up startled, at the fact Micah would even dare to talk even more though that neither Catherine, Dorothy, or Hilde for that matter would speak. He heard Hilde let out a tired sigh and remembered what she had said to him on their way back to Jerusalem. Things have gotten much worse, but I have to keep the perspective that I need to do whatever it takes to push myself out of this hell. For me, determination is my ultimate strength as well as my weakness. He tightened his grip on Hilde, breathing into her hair. Whatever it takes, huh?
"I don't think we can venture into that direction unless some light is shed into what the situation really is," a soft voice came from down the hall.
Duo's eyes widened. Heero stood with his back to the wall and arms crossed at the chest. His bangs covered his eyes, but a scar the shape of a cross could be seen on his right cheek. He wore all black going back to that whole 'Hunters of the Night' theme Duo used to tease him when they were still working for the Preventers. But it was who was standing next to his former partner that made him lose his breath.
Relena stood tall, stormy blue eyes fixed on the object of everyone's problem. The Angel of Death… Her long hair was tied by a green ribbon, cascading down her shoulder. She was in dark blue jeans with a black turtleneck, jacket draped over her arms. He shook his head. Heero and Relena were totally made for each other.
"Relena…"
She held up her hand, silencing him. This was a different Relena. Confident, poised, elegant, he knew that he was staring at the most dangerous Jitsatsu known. Duo could feel the sparks flying from her. She was ready to set Micah on fire.
"I think you know what I'm going to say."
Micah stepped forward. "What no greeting? Didn't our relationship mean something to you?"
It was like seeing two different time periods melt together. Relena's presence was cold, but at the same time sad. Micah was looking more and more like a lost boy.
"A long time ago, you and I could have had something. But it didn't happen so we're back to the start," Relena began softly. "Now you are nothing but a man with a dying cause. Your obsession has taken its manifestation too far."
Micah's eyes widened. "I don't understand. You're making no sense whatsoever."
"You do understand," Heero spoke up, pushing off the wall. He placed a hand on Relena's shoulder. Duo shook his head and tightened his grip on Hilde. He knew and understood when a man placed his claim on a woman.
Relena's eyes soften, but turned cold when she looked back at Micah. "Power corrupts us, remember? Your obsession has taken you too far. Isn't that why you've enlisted the help of Thomas Larson? Lies won't help you now."
The man backed up as Relena continued. "Larson was all too happy to help you. He found you a lost Alexi, while he also planted the idea in my head back when I was still in politics that I was only meant to carry an ideal. You made sure that I was willing to stray back. You made sure that we all would stray back to the Underground, but what you didn't expect was what or who for that matter would we bring back. Your assumptions were what led and is still leading you to defeat."
"How-"
"You're a dishonorable man." Everyone turned to the doorway to see Merian gripping the door. The hospital sheets were wrapped around her body, bandages falling loosely around her wounds, blood dripping down from where her IV needles had been. Her eyes were blazing with an amazing blaze of anger.
"You're a dishonorable man and a fool," Merian repeated, falling to her knees into Catherine's arms. Duo shivered as he watched the woman keep her gaze onto Micah. He was cornered.
"You won't die today, gaki. But your blood will be on my hands when we meet on the battle field."
All Micah could do was turn and leave. The final resurrections were complete. The fool would have never left the hospital alive. It was a unnerving experience when you had two of the most fearsome Jitsatsu pilots wanting your blood.
Welcome Silence.
Welcome Warrior.
Welcome Home.
**
Notes/References: There's going to be an interlude after this so I can explain some things that went on in this chapter. First off, Heero's newly acquired scar is a tribute to Rurouni Kenshin, my new love. ;;^^ He was off doing something, while the meeting in the last chapter was going on. Explained next chapter, so don't worry. I thought Heero would be hot with a scar anyway.
The villain situation will have to still remain a mystery for a little longer. It's a lot more complicated then you think… And *pouts* I didn't mean to turn Micah into such a bastard, but oh well.
More will be revealed about what Relena was actually doing and where she was. I promised that I'd tell since everyone was so concerned she wasn't coming back. Heero and Relena's relationship will be steppin' up a degree as well.
*crosses arms* Again Wufei's dead and he's going to stay dead. I'm sucker for happy endings, but *not* all stories require happy endings. Don't expect everyone to make it out alive…
Special Thanks: Thank you to Starlight-oneechan for beta reading. I tormented you long enough, eh?