The 8th Day ~ Version 2.0

A/N: Things finally happen in this chapter! Like pretty much ending it!!! Yay for me!!!!! ^^

Chapter 7

7:47 a.m.; Hong Kong, China

With a weary yawn Morgan closed the bedroom door softly, not wanting to wake Duo. 'Now I have to worry about getting in all those bloody weapons that Wufei needs. Damn Heero...' She walked down to the end of the hall about to knock on a door when she suddenly stopped. 'She's not here anymore Morgan. God, I am so out of it today. I should have just stayed in bed with Duo.' She paused as she turned away, realizing that no one had been in the lab for the past day or so. Walking to the door, she rested her hand on the knob and turned it to enter.

"Shit this is not good." she muttered seeing the lab.

The carefully cultivated rows of cotaine were smashed on the floor, white crystal and shards of glass littering the floor. The tables had been upended and the rest of the equipment had been trashed around, demolishing the entire room completely. 'Who the fuck did this? I want answers damn it.' Angrily she slammed the door and whirled around, heading for the staircase. 'And I think I know who may have.' As if on cue, Amaterasu appeared at the bottom of the stairs, intending to come up.

"Stay there." Morgan called making the dark haired girl look up. "I want to have a few words with you."

Amaterasu didn't reply but simply walked into the living room and placidly took a seat. Morgan followed in after her pacing around; Duo had asked her to be nice to Amaterasu, seeing as how he did idolize her a bit, and Morgan would do her best to make him happy.

"Where were you last night?"

"That's the dumbest thing you've said yet onna. I was doing the job you assigned me; I was with Wufei in Japan. You weren't happy about him going into enemy territory now were you?"

Morgan repressed the snarl that rose with Amaterasu's smirk. "I owe Wufei plenty that I intend on paying back. I meant last night after you two returned from Japan."

"Wufei wanted to be left alone so I let him be."

"You left him alone; you didn't even tell him no? How foolish can-"

"I was right outside the door, so quit your henpecking would you?"

"Forgive me if I take my job seriously, little Miss 'I-Don't-Have-A- Care-In-The-World'. Some of us 'amateurs' would like to be considered professionals."

"So what exactly are you doing here?" Amaterasu asked in a mocking tone of voice. "The only real pro I see around here is Duo; you just tinker with your 'widdle' guns."

"Hell, I knew I should have blasted your guts out at the damn fucking club; why the hell did you accept Wufei's job offer. If it was me I would have left you there to God knows what fate."

"Funny...I have always made my own fate. To hell with your opinion, which is severely lacking if you ask me."

A slight tic started developing near Morgan's eye. 'Duo wants you to play nice with her; you will not rip her head off. You will not rip her head off.' "I can say the same for you." Morgan paused, her eyes narrowing. "You seem to be very different around Wufei for that matter."

"So those things you call eyes do work. Amazing, with your powers of deduction you could be the next Sherlock Holmes."

"Don't give me your crap. I'm not going to let you trample all over Wufei's feelings and act like some freak who's in denial."

"Watch your tongue onna. I would be more than glad to remove it for you. Though Duo may not like that from what I heard yesterday." she replied with a dangerous gleam in her eye.

"No one threatens me you bitch." Morgan growled launching herself at Amaterasu.

Amaterasu was ready for her grabbing her in her arms and spinning her around as they fell to the floor, punches, kicks and scratches raining down to their targets. 'Damn, she knows how to fight well.' The grudging thought crept into Morgan's mind as they were in the process of throttling each other. She could barely hear the footsteps thundering down the hall much less have it register in her brain. It was only when a pair of strong arms snaked around her waist and pulled her off of Amaterasu that she managed to push the hair out of her face and glare back at Duo.

"I'm not that happy with you babe." he said in a low tone of voice.

"And I am not to happy with you either."

Morgan looked up to see Wufei give Amaterasu a reproaching look. 'Ha.' She gave Amaterasu a smirk of triumph.

Amaterasu gave a growl in her throat before lunging at Morgan again, only stop when Wufei pulled her back to him and locked her in an iron hug. She bit her lip hard, trying to not laugh, seeing Amaterasu struggle fiercely against Wufei, nearly breaking free five times before she calmed down and relaxed her body.

"Now I want you two to explain yourselves." Duo asked in a quiet voice. "The last thing we need is dissention between us."

Wufei nodded in agreement. "There had better be a good reason behind you two fighting like children."

Morgan sunk her head. "She threatened me."

"And you were patronizing me." Amaterasu's head snapped back up rage blazing in her usually dead eyes. "I should have dropped you where you stood!"

"Oh look, you finally show some emotion for once; here I thought you were an ice queen."

Amaterasu made a move for her again, breaking free of Wufei this time. He had to tackle her to the floor and pin her down with his body to keep her from squirming free.

"Take Morgan out of here; I'll deal with Amaterasu." Wufei managed as she bucked beneath him in a last ditch effort to get free.

"Come on babe." Duo said as he walked her to the kitchen. "Now do you care to tell me what that was all about?"

"Let's just agree that I do not get along with her all right?" Morgan sighed as Duo finally released her.

"Did you try at least?"

"Yeah; I managed to keep a civil tongue about me believe it or not." she ran a hand through her hair. "It' not like she was helping much..."

"And you were?" Duo asked with a raised eyebrow. He laughed at the look on her face and pulled her close. "Look babe, we need to stick together and you and Amaterasu duking it out every few minutes isn't going to help us much all right?"

"I know you're right." she gave him a sheepish smile. "But she can fight well, I'll give her that much."

"See? What did I tell you; think half those stories about her are misguided now?"

"Hell no; not when I have a completely shredded inner cheek and this massive bruise here to prove it." she rubbed her shoulder gingerly. "I swear she should have knocked out a few of my teeth."

Duo smiled and pulled her in for a kiss. "See. And you thought she would be awful."

Morgan wrapped her arms around his neck. "And I see you made a mad dash out of the bedroom. You only have on boxers."

"Well...I could have let you two fight and claw each other's eyes out but I like you whole."

"Incorrigible." she muttered with a roll of her eyes. "Look, I'll let you get dressed; I have to go down to the warehouse and get ready. Lord knows Wufei won't want us in the way."

"Gotcha. I'll meet you down there later babe." Duo said giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and dashing back up the stairs.

Morgan watched as he disappeared before heading back to the hallway. "I'm going to the warehouse Wufei. I'll be back before you have to leave."

A sound of muffled response greeted her from the living room making her pause to look at the entrance before she decided against it and went out of the door. 'What does it matter; we're all going to die.'

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

10:39 a.m.; Tokyo, Japan

The dull gleam of metal greeted Heero's eyes as he looked over the collection of personal weapons before him. Slowly he reached forward and removed the katana from it's holder, unsheathing it with a ring of steel. With an abstract gaze he watched as the light bounced off of the keen edge, moving it around at various angles. 'Will the same thing happen again? He placed the katana back, the scar on his shoulder testament to what Wufei could also do with a blade. 'Or will it truly end this time around and what will happen afterwards?'

"Hee-kun...I thought you would be in here." Angela opened the door slowly, standing in the way. "You're leaving tonight aren't you?"

"Hai. And no coming along Angela." he looked back at her. "No arguments."

Angela sighed as she walked in and looked at the weapons on the wall. "And you think I would really listen? I know you don't want anything to happen to me but I can't let you walk off to your death like that. You just want me to wait here and hope you come back...I can't do that Heero."

Heero didn't reply for a few minutes looking at his hands as he flexed them slightly. "All the measures are still in place right?"

"Yes." Angela said sadly. "Everything will be taken care of." she paused. "It's at the same place as last time isn't it?"

"Hai." Heero turned lightly and looked back at her. "Fitting, ne?"

"You certainly have a bad sense of humour you know that?" Angela's voice quavered slightly before she got it back under control. "Is Amaterasu with him?"

Heero nodded his head before looking back at the wall. "Only she knew my one weakness and guarded against it."

Angela walked up to Heero and ran her hand along his left side before letting it rest on his hip. "So what do you plan to do now?"

Taking Angela's hand, Heero folded it in his. "Do what I must."

"Will you..." she paused, thinking over her words more carefully. "Is she still your friend? Can you actually go through with it?"

Heero paused, looking down at her hand; she had just voiced the one question he hadn't wanted to think of. But it was out there and he had to address it. "I don't know Angel...I don't know."

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4:15 p.m.; Hong Kong, China

Wufei glanced up from his book to see Amaterasu looking out the window, over the treetops. The pensive look on her face didn't help much. "What is troubling her?' He turned back to his book, trying to concentrate; now he could feel her eyes upon him, wondering and unsure; it was starting to get to him. A lot of things about Amaterasu were. Like that little stretching habit she had; she stretched every ten minutes if she was sitting down. As well as- "What is the problem now Amaterasu?"

She whipped around at his words to see him looking at her with a patient expression. "What problem?"

He sighed. "You have been looking out that window and back at me for the past hour now. What is bothering you?"

She paused unsure of how to say it. "I...I have to go somewhere."

"Go where?" he asked closing his book and placing it on the side table. "Is it important?"

"Never mind actually; it's only important to me and we should be preparing for the night to come."

Wufei remained silent for a few minutes. "Where is it?"

"Where is it?" Amaterasu blinked at him rather dumbly as if she didn't believe what she was hearing. "N-Not very far from here actually."

"Then why didn't you ask before if that's what was bothering you?"

"I was going to ask." she held her head up. "I have other obligations besides you Wufei-sama."

"Interesting. Shall we leave now?" he chuckled at the surprised look on her face. "I am coming with you. If only to keep Morgan happy and prevent another fight that is not needed."

Amaterasu felt her face flush. "Then we shall go."

They walked out of the house, pausing for Amaterasu to look around and get her bearings before she started off into the trees.

"Are you sure you're going the right way?" Wufei asked as the followed a worn old trail he hadn't even realized was on his property.

Amaterasu flashed him an indignant look before she focused her attention back to the path. Wufei felt his lips curve into a smile as she bent down occasionally to pick wildflowers growing also the side, a small bouquet growing in her hand. 'The hardened woman picking flowers. Maybe she isn't all that tough as she would like to be.'

"We're here."

Wufei looked up at the sound of her voice to see a lonely windswept plain with two grave markers just ahead. He lingered back as she walked up and sat down, placing the flowers between the two graves.

"You can come Wufei. I don't mind."

He came and sat down slowly beside her, looking at the small bouquet on the ground before reading the inscriptions. "They were your parents?"

"Hai." she bowed her head. "They left me when I was young. I grew up with Heero all my life. Almost..."

He turned to see the faint indecision mixed on her face. "Do you want to go back?" he managed after a few minutes. "I shall let you if that's what you really want." he fell silent. 'If that's what she wants? You fool, what are you doing; you can't even tell her what you want to. And now you offer her the one chance she has to leave for good...' He unconsciously held his breath, awaiting her answer.

"Wufei-san, I-"

"Don't go." he blurted out suddenly, his entire face going red.

She turned and looked at him, the expression on her face softening with a nervous smile. "I...I don't really want to leave. I would much rather stay here in China."

Feeling something unnaturally soft brush against his hand, he looked down to see her hand against his, stroking the skin with a feather touch. "Are you sure that is what you want?" he drew his hand back, still unsure. "You still have loyalties back in Japan. If they are more important to you then I...I won't stop you."

"All my life, I never really got to make decisions for myself." she drew her legs up as her head tilted back to the sky. "You know that tattoo on my back?"

"Yes?"

"The dragon is my clan's embodiment, the Chinese aspect of me; the fire comes from my father, the descendant of the samurai. I still have his katana with me..." she closed her eyes. "For once in my life I feel like I have gotten something back. I don't want to relinquish it that easily."

Wufei made a small sound. "What shall you be doing then?"

"Kaasan-chan was right. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink." she looked over at Wufei with light of laughter in her eyes. "I shall stay. Is that what you feared; that I would leave?"

He gave a shrug before looking down at the waving grasses fixedly. "You are an excellent employee; it would be hard to replace you."

"Point noted." she rose slowly. "We should get back before Morgan starts to wonder what happened to us."

Wufei nodded as he rose also, dusting off the bits of grass. "Why did you want to come out here?"

"To think...clear my mind somewhat. I have always come here before an event like this...even before." she paused as the entered the forest. "It is ritual for me to not forget them. They died for me and I will always remember that."

Wufei shook his head, pushing his hands into his pockets. "I truly do not understand you."

"How so?" she asked falling in step beside him.

"You say one thing and do another. I see something else and yet I'm not sure if what I see is right."

"For example?"

"You and Morgan...clearly you don't like her and want nothing more than to fight her, you're civil to Duo and when we're alone, you just...change."

"Anything else?"

"Why me and not some other person Amaterasu; why did you pick me? Why did you accept that night at the bar?"

"I don't know why Wufei-san, but I feel comfortable around you...I can be myself and drop the shell." she gave a loose shrug. "That night at the bar, I was intent on getting myself drunk and then you just walked up and started talking. To be honest, besides Heero, you're the first person I've ever really struck up dialogue with like that. I didn't feel threatened by you...though I certainly did threaten you..."

Wufei gave a wry smile. "Can I ask you one more thing Amaterasu?"

"Hai?"

"What's your name?"

"My name is Ai. Ikarigawa Ai Huo." she stopped just at the fringe. "Is that what you were looking for Wufei-san?"

"You don't have to call me Wufei-san. Just Wufei will do." hesitantly he reached up and touched her face. "Ai..."

She held his hand gently, stilling his unspoken words. "Whatever happens...I'm glad for everything that happened. I don't think I shall leave for awhile yet Wufei."

He pulled her closer suddenly, enveloping her in a hug, closing his eyes just from holding her in his arms. It felt so right... His heart thumped wildly as she hugged him back, looking up at him.

"If you wanted a hug, why didn't you just ask?"

He gave a mock scowl. "Such assumptions...I can ask whenever I like."

She gave him a tiny smirk. "I am sure you can Wufei."

"Don't try my patience Ai." he murmured as he bent his head and kissed her.

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

7:58 p.m. ,Japan

Heero stepped out of the car, the wind whipping his loose coat around him. With a brief motion to the driver, he watched as the car drove off away into the distance, the taillights glowing as it turned the sharp corner and disappearing into the sea of screening trees. Slowly, he walked towards the sound of crashing waves, stopping at the edge of the cliff as a thick mist rolled in. 'This is where it all began so many years ago.'

The ocean roiled in the face of the coming storm, lashing violently against the rocky breakers. "Perhaps it was our own naivety and youth. We didn't know what we were supposed to do."

He seated himself down on the lip of the cliff face, looking down into the chaos beneath him. 'This can end one of three ways. I would much prefer that it would all end tonight for good though.' Hearing a sound of a twig snapping he instinctively reached for his gun.

"I know you're there."

"You were supposed to be quiet." Trowa emerged from the cover of low bushes. "What could you not understand about that?"

"I'm not perfect you know Trowa." Hilde came out now, a slightly surly expression on her face. "You demand perfection and sorry to say it but I am far from that."

"Hilde, would you just shut up already? You've been bitching ever since we got here; it's amazing that Heero didn't hear us as soon as he got out of the car." Quatre replied as he jumped down from a tree. "Maybe if I made you permanently mute, you'd learn the value of silence. Now be quiet before you give away everyone else's positions."

Hilde didn't reply but her face burned bright red with humiliation.

"You came to me asking to be trained, Hilde so you have to learn to be more observant." Trowa walked up to Heero. "Is it almost time?"

He nodded his head slowly, looking down the road as headlights cut through the descending mist. "They're here."

The entire party watched as the lights came closer, drawing to a stop, a murky gloom descending as the lights went off. The sound of a car door opening and shutting reached their ears before the lights came back on, and retreated back down the road from where it came. Two indistinct figures materialized like wraiths before they solidified. Heero felt the muscle in his jaw stiffen as Wufei came into view with three other people behind him. Nothing was said as everyone sized up the other side, weighing their chances.

'A redhead who's heavily armed,' Heero maintained the blank expression on his face as he continued down the line. 'A guy with a braid with a concealed knife, and Amaterasu...with a katana.' He watched her for a few minutes before he spoke.

"Amaterasu no longer?"

She shook her head slowly. "No longer to certain ones."

Heero nodded his head in acknowledgement. "Very well then."

The wind picked up slight speed as it made their coats flap noisily. Almost with uneager anticipation, his hand strayed to his side where the hilt of a sword greeted his touch; should guns fail him, he would rely on a different sort of steel. Suddenly a gunshot rang out, making Hilde cry out in pain. The next thing he knew, the sounds of cries, gunshots and fighting were carried upon the wind as the mist swirled around and enveloped the battle that had started.

Guns, flesh and steel collided in the murkiness as the fight ensued between the rival sides. The storm descended in full force, the driving rain blurring the sight of struggling people. Heero hadn't realized that so many had shown up for this. 'Angela...' The thought was cut off by an instinctual motion to feint sharply to the right. When he looked back up, he saw Wufei with his sword drawn and touching the ground. His eyes met Wufei's and he drew his sword slowly, water running between his eyes. Wufei gave a smal smirk of challenge as he drew himself back to attack again. Heero's mouth tightened as he tensed himself to charge at Wufei, his feet moving to circle him. Wufei fell in step as he watched for an opening in Heero's movements. The wind drove the rain in viciously, stinging their exposed skin and still they continued circling each other, having removed themselves from the main bulk of the fighting, until they were beside the cliff edge. Suddenly, Heero went in for a upper swipe, going for Wufei's side. Countering, Wufei blocked it before he went in with a powerful thrust.

Steel clashed against steel as the y moved along the edge rapidly, meeting each other thrust for thrust and parry for parry. The fury of the storm was at its height now, thunder crashing around as lightning illuminated the assault payling out below for brief moments. It was blurred even more now as Wufei made a fatal error. Misjudging the distance, he went in for a killing blow to the chest. Seeing it in time, Heero countered with a vicious twist that sent Wufei's sword, spinning down over the edge and down into the foaming, frothing waters. He narrowed his eyes as he tightened his grip on the sword and turned the edge up more.

Wufei held his head up high, exposing his neck fully. "You won Yuy. Do it now and make it quick."

Heero paused for a minute, struggling to see; the rain was runing down into his eyes now. He blinked only to have it come back again. "Omae wo korosu." He raised the sword up and brought it down in a sweeping arc, going instead for Wufei's chest and bringing it back up backwards.

"Ai!"

Wiping the water from his eyes, he saw Wufei crouched down beside Amaterasu; she was hunched over as she clutched at her chest, thin trickles of blood running between her hands. "Amaterasu?"

She looked up at him before she rose to her feet and straightened her back. "Hai Heero-san?"

Heero could see Wufei standing behind her, with a none too pleased look on his face. "What are you doing?"

She winced slightly as she took a step forward and moved the wide slashes across her chest. " I have never asked of anything from you Heero." she paused looking down at the edges of her cut shirt. "I ask now. You have Angela. Let me have Wufei."

Heero didn't say anything as she swayed slightly, blood running down the front of her torso. The look in her eyes was resolute and unwavering. "And if I deny your request?"

A defiant light came to her eyes. "I will fight you." her bloody hand strayed to the hilt of her sword, closing around it. "Onegai [1], don't make me bathe the blade in more blood. Onegai Heero-san..."

Heero paused for a moment before he looked around. The ground was littered with dead and broken bodies, a few survivors watching the small drama unfold between their eyes. Quatre, Trowa, the redhead and the brunette that had come with Wufei. He watched as the blood pooled on the ground, being absorbed in with the water. 'Just like last time...death...'

Turning his gaze back to Amaterasu and Wufei, he sheathed his sword again and turned around. "Shinyuu [2], I grant your request."

Heero walked back down th road amid surprised stares before Quatre and Trowa walked after him quickly, not wanting to still be around when the surprise wore off.

"What was that for Heero? Why didn't you finish him off when you had the chance. You could have finished them both off." Quatre asked as they headed down the road.

Heero turned back to see Wufei holding Amaterasu in his arms as the redhead and the brunette hovered around them with slightly confused expression on their faces. With a small 'heh' he turned back and continued walking back down the road with Trowa following him with a knowing smirk and a bewildered Quatre. 'At least the day ended with something good.'

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

Notes
[1] Onegai - Japanese for 'please'
[2] Shinyuu - Japanese for 'friend'


Furor: And there's the seventh chapter all done.
Peridot: You sure took your time!
Princess: You know. Making us wait this long for stuff to read.
Furor: Yeah? Well, guess what?
Peridot: What?
Princess: Better not be saying what I think you'll be saying...
Furor: Well I'm going to say it: I'm writing a epilogue!! Bwhahahahahaha!!!!
*Peridot and Princess glare at her before they jump her and start beating her up*