The 8th Day ~ Version 2.0

A/N: There will be a death scene in here; namely the death of Noin so if you're a Noin fan in anyway, then skip the part but read the end of it because it is crucial. Dorothy shows up too and she stays around a bit longer than Noin. I am re-writing what I had originally when I first got into Gundam Wing so onegai be nice and all. If you want a good death scene however, I hope you get what you want here. Ja ne!! ^_~

Chapter 1
7:30 a.m.; Hong Kong, China

The first faint tendrils of sunlight creeped in through the slits of the blinds revealing the silent figure that sat in the chair reading the book in his hands. The faded yellowed pages with the vivid black characters fit in perfectly with the simple library and chairs as well as the reader. 'Duo should be bursting in here in about five seconds. It's always when I get a quiet moment to myself.'

A sharp knock sounded on the door. "Hey Wu-man; you in here?"

"Enter." he called in a slightly weary voice.

"Sorry to disturb you." he paused a puzzled look coming on his face. "Why are you sitting here in virtual darkness?"

"There is light from outside. I was reading but not anymore. What is it Duo?"

"Well actually-"

"I have to talk to you and Morgan first. Call her and when I'm done you can tell me."

Duo shrugged. "All right. Morgan!?"

"What?!"

"Get up here; Wu-man wants to talk to us!"

"Coming!"

"Can't you two ever be quiet; even if it is for once in your life?" Wufei growled as Morgan's footsteps came bounding up the stairs.

"Are we really that bad?" Duo grinned. "I think we can be pretty quiet."

"When you want to be I suppose." Wufei sat back down, subsiding into mutters.

"S'up Wuffie; what is it?" the redheaded girl was slightly breathless as she came in and shut the door.

"By now you two do know what Heero has done." he said quietly, stating a fact.

Morgan nodded her head. "I have to say it though, that took guts; going after your shipment of opium and taking it as his."

"You're telling me. I thought I was losing it when I heard. I mean come on, like Heero would try to start it all over again." Duo said in a voice that still held disbelief.

"As I thought. Who's in charge of shipping; I assume you took care of that problem?"

Duo nodded with a small smirk as he inspected his nails. "Lian was in charge of shipping."

Wufei gave a small smile; at least Duo had the foresight to take care of certain things and save him a headache. "And who's in charge now?"

"A guy named Andrew. I told him that if he doesn't want to swim with the fishes like his predecessor, then he better not mess up."

"Hey, did you use the gun I gave you? Did it work well?" Morgan asked turning to him with an eager smile.

"Like a dream Morgan. Had a smooth kickback too; mind if I keep the gun?"

"Nope." she crossed her arms with a smug expression. "I know my guns."

"And you two implemented the measures we discussed to make things harder for Heero?" Wufei asked breaking into the conversation.

"Yup. Some of the others weren't too thrilled but me and Morgan helped them see the folly of their ways." Duo said. "Don't worry Wu-man; the stuff you control is so under wraps and goes through so many channels that it's impossible for Heero to get through and out with anything."

"Don't worry Wuffie, it's all under control. Besides, if Duo screws up something, you know I'll take care of it."

"What does that mean?!" Duo demanded. "You think I can't do my job?!"

"Of course you can Du-kun." Morgan snickered. "Let's leave Wuffie to read in peace now."

"Yeah, fine, I don't need to tell him anymore, it being about Lian and all." Duo headed for the door. "Enjoy your reading Wu-man."

Morgan shook her head. "If you need anything, just give me a call all right? I know you don't want to talk to her unnecessarily. I'll lock the door for you."

"Thank you." he murmured, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.

The minutes ticked by slowly as he started to read again, mind turning over Heero's actions. 'And what will you do when you run out Heero; come after mine again? I know you don't have opium set up in Japan over there.' He gazed down at the characters as he stopped reading, that fateful night flashing in his mind. Their duel with swords, the dark stormy night, the slashes, the burning slashes. He snapped out of it to find his hand had crept unconsciously to his face where the faint scar was on his right cheek. 'But you wouldn't dare try to move in on my trade or take what is mine again; I will let it slide once Heero Yuy but not again. For the sake of what we once were I will let it slide.'

"Wufei, I have something for you."

His head snapped up hearing Dorothy's voice through the door followed by the rattle of the knob. "What is it?" he really didn't appreciate her pestering him like this.

"Don't you want to get it yourself?"

He shuddered, knowing what she really meant. "Slide it under the door and leave me be."

No sound came from outside until he heard a slight huff and an envelope came sliding underneath the door to rest halfway in the room. Rising from his seat he picked it up and seated himself. Black and white photos greeted him, Heero Yuy's face from different angles and in different places. 'Quatre, you better keep up the work you insisted upon doing over there.' He looked at the pictures more carefully, noticing someone always behind Heero. Even as he flipped through the pictures again rapidly, the stoic face was always there. 'Who is she? I've never seen...' He paused as a thought came to him. 'It can't be her; no one's ever seen her, much less knows of her.' But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that it must be true. 'So Heero, one of the best of your ranks next to Trowa. She's your trump card is she?' He placed the pictures back in their envelope all except for one. The girl looked amazing in this one, her hair loose and flowing past her shoulders like an ebony river, the eyes impassive as in all the shots yet there was something in this one that made his want to keep it out. 'What are you up to Heero?'

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

10:45 a.m.; Jakarta, Indonesia

"So this is the place." Heero removed his dark glasses to get a better view of the building from the shade. "Doesn't look like that type of building." he walked up and opened the door cool air greeting him, a soothing relief from the Indonesian heat. 'Now to see if Quatre was right and if he really is here.'

"Yes, can I help you with anything?" asked a short dark haired woman who came out from the back.

"Are you Lily Chevannes by any chance?" he asked flashing a smile; at least Quatre had given him the girl's name as well.

"How can I help you Mr..." she asked with a smile as she waited for him to supply a name.

"Okasa. I've heard you're looking for an investor." he said offering his hand. 'Kami I hate this damn part; takes too bloody long. I just want to confirm that he's here for myself.'

"We currently are searching for a permanent investor who would be willing to fund our research. Would you care to take a tour of our facilities?" Lily said gesturing to the long hallway down.

"I wouldn't mind." he said falling in step beside her. "Is it a small operation you run here?"

"Yes. We tend to focus at one thing at a time or I shall run one thing and my partner shall run another. We have a fairly good track record as far as no accidents go. But then again, I don't think an empty beaker falling counts does it?"

"No; would you happen to have anything I can see now?"

"Yes we do actually. We isolated a substance yesterday; you picked a good time to come Mr. Okasa. Right this way."

Heero followed her into an airy ventilated lab, seeing the crystals growing in Petri dishes. "What is this?"

"That's the substance in it's natural purified form Mr. Okasa. We managed to get it growing this morning pretty well; it has a phenomenal growth rate."

"Is this a drug? It looks like cocaine."

"Yes it is a drug Mr. Okasa; we are currently testing it and trying to see if we can find a way to distinguish it from that particular drug. The last thing you need is a mix up of some sort."

"Hm." he peered at the small fine crystals. "It has narcotic properties?"

"From what tests indicate yes. As to its potential we are not yet sure."

Heero looked up at her for a few moments meeting her calm collected gaze. 'She's lying; she knows.'

"So what do you call this drug of yours; not cocaine I hope." he asked trying to distract the girl from whatever she may have been thinking; she was giving him the same look.

"No, the last thing we need is parents coming after us in addition to the government. It's called cotaine Mr. Okasa."

"Hn. Do you have anything else I can view?"

"You really are in luck today Mr. Okasa; we're developing an anti-inflammatory drug for hospital use. If you would just follow me."

Heero went after her putting up with the in depth two hour tour of the building and its labs and safety features; if he really was an investor he would have been sold in it. But the cotaine had piqued his interest. 'Why did she lie about it? What could she have to hide about it?' As soon as he found himself back in the foyer bidding the girl farewell and she walked away, he pulled out his cell phone and dialled a number, going outside to his rented car.

"Hai?" came a soft barely heard voice.

"Amaterasu, I need you to fly over here to Indonesia. I know it's a bad time for you, it being the anniversary of-"

"Tonight?"

"Yes. I want you to steal something for me so listen very carefully."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

12:15 a.m., Jakarta, Indonesia

A shadowy figure crouched beside an electronic lock, wires travelling down from it to the small decryption machine in her hand. A few minutes later the red light flashed to green and the sound of a lock retracting greeted her ears. Rising, she unplugged the machine and placed it in her small bag before she pushed the door open and entered the dark building. She had already disabled the security systems so it was all easy sailing from here.

Moving with speed and stealth she went from door to door until she found the lab that Heero had described to her. The rows of Petri dishes gleamed dully in the dark as she moved through them until she found a small prepared amount stored away in a glass cabinet. Picking the lock easily with her hairpin she slid it open and placed it back in her loose messy bun as she took a vial with a small amount. 'At the most...' She rolled it between her fingers. 'Three to four grams.'

Pocketing it in the protected flap inside the bag, she stole out searching for one more thing. She didn't find it until she pushed open the last door at the very end and froze for a split second. 'I thought Heero said there would only be the man.' She crept into the room slowly, seeing the two perfect opposites of light and dark asleep in each others arms, the bedsheets rumpled beyond belief and starting to come off the mattress. 'According to Quatre it's the guy with the long white hair.' Bending down he pushed his shoulder roughly, rousing him out of sleep. Sharp blue eyes opened to see her standing there, the hand moving beneath the bedsheets towards the pillow. Narrowing her eyes, she whipped out her gun and had it pressed towards his temple making him freeze.

"What do you want? We don't have any money here."

She gave a contemptible snort and removed the letter with one hand and tossed it at him. "Be there. Or else." she whispered softly before she walked out and left the building.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1:15 a.m.; Tokyo Japan

Heero sat in the chair looking at the anxious figure placidly. "Don't worry, she'll show; or were you hoping she wouldn't Noin?"

Her fingers twirled quickly. "Look Heero I have the money for you, I swear I have it; the money's as good as yours; it's in the bank and-"

"Not in my hand. Do this and we'll call off the debt." he replied curtly, cutting Noin off.

Silence filled the room as the minutes ticked by ever slowly. Noin kept glancing around as if an escape route would soon present itself. The door slid open silently, the black swathed figure striding in easily and quickly.

"Have you ever heard of cotaine Noin?" Heero asked rising from his seat.

"No, I can't say that I have. What is it?"

"A new drug you're going to be testing for me."

"Test a new drug for you? Are you out of your fucking-" the sound of a gun being cocked made her turn to see a barrel pointed right at her, the girl's face impassive and cold.

"It's your choice really. The drug or the gun."

"The drug." Noin said bitterly as she closed her eyes after she gritted her teeth. A small clatter made her look up to see a tiny vial. "That's it?" relief washed through her; she would be out of here by tonight; the amount in the vial was nothing.

Heero didn't say anything as Noin promptly knocked out a line and snorted it up in less than a minute and became immediately lost in the drug's effects. 'It must be one powerful drug as I thought it would be.' But then Noin twitched sharply, blood starting to trickle from her nose. It was soon followed by another twitch and another until Noin was on the floor convulsing violently. Suddenly it was all over as Noin gave a sharp gasp, clawing at her throat as if she couldn't breathe. Her entire body went still as she relaxed face first on the ground, a pool of blood starting to grow beneath her.

"Amaterasu, how many grams was that?"

"Most likely four and a half."

Heero went up to the vial and picked it up and sniffed it delicately. 'I can't smell a single thing.' He placed it down and looked at Amaterasu, a gleam in his eye. "We have a gold mine here."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2:00 a.m.; Hong Kong, China

Wufei sat in his seat absorbing all the information Dorothy had told him. "And what happened afterwards?"

"She started convulsing and suffered severe haemorrhaging in her blood vessels in her cranial region. She's good and dead now."

"How much of the drug did this?"

"Quatre told me three or four; he wasn't able to confirm it for sure." Dorothy gave him a critical look. "Why don't you just have Quatre steal it from Heero?"

"I have been over this with you; must you make me repeat myself?" he asked in an irritated tone of voice

"Wufei a war would break out anyways! For all we know it could be in a month's time. Just cut to the chase and-"

"No; if there is a war it will be because I have something Yuy wants; not the other way around!"

"That's always been your problem Wufei; you always had to have control." she gave him a contemptuous look. "It's your fault that what we had was ruined."

"Funny, I recall you being a virago all the damn time onna; you're a good one to talk. You would know all about that wouldn't you? Just shut up and get out onna."

Dorothy shot him a nasty look and stalked to the door. "Gladly! One day you'll meet you match; someone who has control over you in a form you least expect; we'll see how you like it then!" she retorted before leaving with a slam of the door.

Closing his eyes Wufei rubbed his temples. "I tolerate Morgan's bitchiness because it's only when someone messes up big time or nothing gets done."

"Wuffie?"

Looking up, he saw Morgan standing inside the doorway, holding an envelope. "I'll let you read this alone. Not that I blame you; I don't like Dorothy much either."

"Don't get me started."

"I won't; I'm not in the mood to debate with you on the strengths of women and the vices of men." she grinned at him before she became serious. "This was found in the mail. I finally got to check it all today. It just got here; it's express delivery. Think Quatre sent it over?"

"Maybe; pass me the envelope." he said taking out a letter opener. Taking the cool manila he opened it and turned it over, a piece of paper and a vial coming out. "It's from Quatre all right. He says there's one milligram in here."

"One milligram of what?"

"Cotaine. He says it's the drug that Heero has gotten a hold of. Why would he send so little of it?

"Why don't we find out? Bear with me here." Morgan said before she took off from the room.

Wufei turned the vial around in his hands waiting patiently for Morgan to come back. Soon enough voices came from the hall before Morgan burst in again, dragging Dorothy.

"What's the meaning of dragging me out of my bed you dumb redhead. I need my beauty sleep."

"Yeah right. Take this." she took the vial from Wufei and held it out to Dorothy.

"Who are you trying to fool? I'm not taking that, whatever it is."

"Dorothy...how could you disrespect Wufei in such a way; it's him who wants to see what the drug does not me. Are you defying him Dorothy? Are you a traitor?"

Wufei glanced over at Morgan hearing the true meaning in her low voice; she didn't look too kindly on traitors and defectors.

"Fine." Dorothy snatched the vial away from Morgan. "Happy Morgan?"

"Don't ask me; ask Wufei. I am sure he'll take this into consideration in regards to future events."

Dorothy glared at Morgan before snorting up the contents. She stumbled back a bit as the effects hit her almost instantaneously. The whole room started to swirl together, only the objects and other occupants remaining steady against the now kaleidoscopic sea.

"Well, I say we charge on forward......what say you old chap?"

"Excellent, excellent idea!! I say tally-ho!!"

Dorothy turned to the wall. "Are you talking of battle? You obviously need my help, you know nothing of tactics you fools."

Morgan snickered. "That must be one good drug; she's talking to the bookcase and the chair. Good thing I brought a camera; this is pure blackmail gold." she started snapping away.

"Morgan; you and Duo are going to find this person who made it. I want that drug."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

3:00 a.m.; Tokyo, Japan

Zechs looked up at the bright lights of the sushi bar before him before looking back down at the address written in that slanted hand. "It's the right one. Let's see if the guy is in here."

With a grim face he walked in looking for the proprietor. After finding the man and enquiring about a certain guest he found himself walking towards a table in the back.

"Zechs Merquise."

He stopped by the table now beside him. There sat a young man no older than twenty one. 'That can't possibly be him; he's so young.' He turned still unsure but he had to try. "Heero Yuy?"

A slender hand gestured to the seat on front of him. "I hope my messenger didn't disturb you."

"Oh, not at all if you don't count the fact that she simply broke in and could have killed me." he replied in a tight voice.

"Hn. I am willing to buy the drug from you; all exclusive rights." Heero said softly, barely heard over the noise in the late bar. 'He doesn't waste time.' Zechs paused. "What are you offering?"

"Two million."

"Yen?"

"American."

"Four."

"Three."

"Three point five.

"Two point five."

Zechs looked at the man before him. Every line on the youthful face was hard and unrelenting. 'This was a mistake; a bad mistake.'

"I see." Heero closed his eyes. "You may leave now. I can see that we are done."

Zechs rose stiffly. "I don't want to see you again."

Heero gave a faint smile. "Hai. Oh, and say hi to your friend for me won't you?"

Zechs felt his face pale before he turned and walked out. 'If he touches Lily I'll deal with him personally.' He whipped around, hearing Heero's voice for a split second. 'I must be hearing things; the bar is so crowded, it could have been anyone.' But as he stepped out and glanced back in the window he felt a chill creep over him, the hairs on the back of his neck rising up as he saw the dark haired girl and a blond talking to Heero at the table before heading into the back of the establishment. He hurried over to the waiting cab and had it head for the airport, knowing for sure that those were Heero's words echoing in his mind. 'Enjoy what little time you have Zechs Merquise. That girl and you will be dead before the day is done.'

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And there's Chapter 1. It's not much but I hope you like it so far. I should have the nsecong chapter up in a week opr two. I am writing Chapter 17 too boot. Are you happy Princess of the Darkside? You'll finally find out!! ^_^ Ja ne minna!! *waves like a chibi*