The Perfect Soldier
Chapter 8: Sojourn at the Circus
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The heartbeat of L2 was well below the city streets. Deep in the center of the technical wonder that was both home and prison for thousands of people, another world had blossomed to life. But for many, this was no haven. Hundreds of men, women, and children flocked to this cavern of depravity every night, driven by the seductive siren-promise of sex and drugs. It was called The Heartbeat. But it was a shadow, slithering over the city, enveloping the weak, making the masses shiver with its coldness, its cruelty, and its mystery.
It was just after midnight and the growing crowd throbbed in unison with the heavy, seductive beat of the music. It was music to fuck to. And many couples had already taken up the music on its suggestion. In the blackest shadows along the concrete walls, hips were thrusting toward each other, groans escaping throats only to be consumed whole by the music. In other dark corners, syringes, pills, and pipes were used with abandon. Darkly clad figures slithered in and out of the shadows, making it almost impossible for a single, sober hunter to locate her quarry.
The music continued, relentless and thick in the body-heat-humid air. Carefully but efficiently, a single, equally black-clad figure prowled through the crowds and crowded shadows, slapping away the occasional hand that reached out to grope and entangle the hunter. But even those mild irritants did not cause the newcomer to pause. The sweeping gaze searched every face, every body.
It was a good hour after the hunter's search had begun when she saw a flash of black vinyl and glitter-streaked brown hair out of the corner of her eye. Instantly, her gaze snapped toward it. The target. She moved fluidly through the crowd, the utilitarian grace of her body transformed into something more erotic by the black leather that alternately revealed and concealed smooth flesh. The target filled her vision. The hunter followed, waiting for the chance to close in.
And then the crowd shifted with the fade-in of a new song, a harder song. A song to rape to. And the target was swallowed again.
The hunter clenched her teeth together to keep from swearing. Her skin was slick with perspiration and her eyes itched from the smoke. But the training refused to let her rush this operation. Methodically, she continued moving through the crowd. She reached the edge of the throng and was confronted by the deep shadows that lined the walls of the underground rave. The target had been headed in this direction. The hunter did not pause. She plunged into the shadows, ignoring the sweating, swearing couples to either side of her, and focused on the stairwell set into the cement.
The music followed her as she ascended, but slowly, other sounds could be heard from above. The sounds of human pain. The sounds of fists striking flesh. The hunter's steps came faster as she rushed to the surface. Where the staircase opened into a stoop, the hunter hesitated long enough to scan the dimly lit, refuse-littered alley. The only movement was of a man who had pinned a smaller figure to the urine-stained bricks. He raised his hand to slap her again but he never executed his attack. He crumpled to the grimy street, a simple, four inch blade in his throat.
The small figure huddled against the wall for a moment before loosing both balance and consciousness. With a small whimper, the battered child fell toward the stones. Strong arms reached out and plucked the tiny body from its fall. In the faded, acidic lamplight, the hunter examined her target. The glittered hair was streaked with blood. The black vinyl torn and twisted.
Without a single word, the hunter adjusted the youth in her arms and left the knife for the colony officials to find with the body.
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The circus was dark and quiet when Trowa lead the others through the gate. Although it was nearly dawn, he did not doubt that Kathy would greet them.
Kathy, his sister.
He realized now that the report Yokaze had left for him had been a mere formality. Long ago, he had accepted the fact that this young woman was his sister, his family, his home. In fact, he would have been surprised to learn that she wasn't. Now he wondered how he was going to tell her; she deserved to know. And, Trowa—Triton—admitted this with reluctance: he wanted to share it with her, to be a whole—a real—family with her. It was odd that he hungered so strongly for this when he'd never permitted himself to consider it before.
"Trowa!" The soft cry made the young acrobat turn quickly. He froze as Kathy rushed into his arms. She'd been lonely, he suddenly realized. A wave of remorse and guilt crested inside of him. "I missed you," she murmured, her voice muffled by his shirt. His green eyes examined the softness of her hair, the youth and strength in the curve of her face. Deep inside of him, something shifted in his chest and caused his heart to constrict.
"I missed you, too... Kathy." Sister. The hesitation was barely detectable in his low voice. He wanted to tell her, but he wasn't sure how, and this certainly wasn't the time. Not with the others here.
Kathy smiled and stepped back, turning her shining eyes onto Trowa. "It's good to see you. How was your vacation?"
Trowa hesitated for a moment. Technically speaking, it was still going, but it wasn't turning out to be a vacation in the true sense of the word, either. Maybe it qualified as a manhunt. This also was something to save for later. He said, "Fine."
Kathy was undaunted by the mediocre reply and it showed in her knowing smile. "Later you can tell me all about it." She turned her attention to everyone. She recognized a few faces. There was Duo and Quatre. She knew them the best. And also Wufei, she remembered the short time he'd spent here nearly a year and a half ago. And, of course, there was Heero. But he seemed... different now. There was a light in his dark eyes that she hadn't seen before. She greeted all of them and finally her gaze landed on the one face she didn't remember. She introduced herself.
The young woman, her dark hair and dark eyes making her look mysterious, said the only words that could amplify that, "Everyone calls me Taki. I'm a friend of Yokaze's."
The curiosity in Katherine's eyes was as plain as day. She tilted her head to one side, "Oh, of course, she mentioned that you might be coming by. But I'm afraid you've missed her. Today's her day off."
Hope blossomed suddenly side by side with irritation inside of Taki. If Heero had mentioned her, then perhaps she'd also left something behind for her as well. She cleared her throat. "I don't suppose He—Yokaze left anything for me, did she?"
Katherine shook her head. "No, she didn't leave anything for you, Taki." Katherine invited all of them into the main mess hall (which was also a tent) for a cup of coffee. Travel worn, they followed her. Taki's mind racing with the unexpected development. Usually, Heero left something for her, even if she didn't want to be found. She couldn't believe that the pattern had suddenly stopped now.
She was half listening to Quatre telling Kathy about the living arrangements he'd made for everyone. It was nearby, he said. A place downtown he'd managed to sub-let. Duo asked if there was a spa room and then blushed along with Quatre at the memory of their most recent experience in a spa.
Again, Taki was intrigued. The second thing she did when she found Heero was to ask her how the hell she'd pulled that one off.
And then it hit her. She wasn't sure what had caused the discovery, but suddenly, she knew the name that was scrawled across the note Heero had left behind. The stealth and twisted humor Heero possessed asserted itself now. Of course there wasn't anything for "Taki." The retired thief's hands fisted. Rage arched through her at the realization. However, in her mind, the steady chant of, "Tell me she didn't do this. Tell me she didn't do this" tumbled over and over.
"Excuse me, Quatre," she said, coming between him and Kathy. "Did Yokaze leave anything for a Zhih Luei?"
Everyone looked a Taki. Katherine was the only person who wasn't gazing at her oddly. Taki didn't know that the Zhih family had been legendary. She had no idea that their reputation as guardians of their colony had immortalized them. She was unaware that their sudden deaths just before the war had begun had scandalized the colonies. And she did not know that until their final day, the head of the Zhih family and his wife had offered a record-breaking reward for the safe return of their only child.
Around her, the gundam pilots held their breath. Katherine said, "I'm sorry, but Yokaze was very specific. I must ask you which clan you're from." The circus employee looked very uncomfortable. That was the only thing that allowed Taki the strength to block out her mounting rage and remain civil to Katherine.
"The Dragon Clan," she bit out.
Four pairs of eyes shifted to Wufei. Duo had to bite his tongue to keep from reiterating the obvious; Wufei wasn't the last of the Dragon Clan after all.
Katherine shifted her weight, fidgeting. Taki knew there was more and she tensed in anticipation. "Again, I'm really sorry about this, but... do you have the mark?"
Taki frowned. The mark? She was marked? What was Heero up to with this curve ball of a question? This was really left-field, even for Heero. "I don't know," she admitted. A desperation clawed at her. Unless she could answer Katherine's questions, she'd either have to resort to violence to get that note or she'd have to go without it. And Katherine didn't deserve her anger or violence. Yet Taki needed that note. She sighed.
For a long moment, the silence stretched. Taki was startled when she heard Wufei come up to her. She looked up into his hard, black eyes. Haltingly, he spoke, "Zhih Luei was the heir to the Dragon Clan and L5. She was marked with a small tattoo of a flying black dragon on the back of her neck, near the base of her skull."
"How do you know that, Wufei? If it were common knowledge, then anyone could have slapped a tattoo on a kid and collected the reward money years ago," Maxwell couldn't resist asking.
Wufei glowered at him. "No," he agreed, "it isn't common knowledge." Already, he was angry at Yokaze for forcing this issue. He would have preferred to collect more information before admitting the possibility. But he was absolutely not going to explain how he knew about the tattoo.
Quatre looked from Wufei to Taki. He said to the other pilot, "But you've seen it before, haven't you, Wufei?"
Wufei nodded.
Katherine said after a beat of silence. "Well, there are lights in the mess hall..."
Taki was getting tired for being gawked at. "Fine," she grumbled. "Let's just get this over with."
She trudged into the tent, feeling the necessity of attaining the note and the rage at Heero. What was this tattoo supposed to mean? So what if she and Wufei belonged to the same, nearly extinct, clan. Big deal. There was no L5 for her to claim as her inheritance, her parents were dead. Only she and Wufei had survived the explosion because they had not been on L5 at the time. Although she wasn't thrilled at the prospect of being connected to Wufei Chang in any way, Heero was obviously determined to see this through. And if that meant she had to acknowledge her very remote relationship with Wufei to get that damn note, well then so be it. Finding Heero was her top priority.
Wufei watched her plant herself on a bench. Without preamble or even so much as a grumble, she pulled her hair away from her neck and waited. Chang didn't have to look at the faces of the others to know that he'd been given the honor of checking for the mark. Reluctantly, he stepped up behind her and unclenched his fists.
His hand shook as he reached for her.
Once upon a time, he was sure he'd possessed more control, but the claim that this... this... female was really the long dead Dragon Clan heir grated on him, relentlessly wearing away his ability to stay calm. He had never hoped that others might have survived; and he could not afford to start now. He had to know, without a doubt, that it was a lie. Before it was too late.
And it was, of course, a lie. And having that affirmed would be a mere formality. There would be no tattoo. There couldn't be. At least, that was what he'd convinced himself.
But he was unaware of the small bud of hope slowing gathering life inside of him. Which was just as well; he would have crushed it instantly if he had realized.
Taki shivered as the calloused tips of his fingers brushed against her nape. Her teeth ground together. Why had she agreed to this? Oh yes. So she could find Heero. So she could kill Heero. Kill Heero. Slowly kill Heero. Very slowly.
Despite his gruff manner and perpetual disapproving scowl, Wufei was surprisingly gentle as his fingertips slowly combed through her hair. His skin was warm—like sunlight. Taki tried to think of something else. Like killing Heero.
She knew the moment he saw it. He froze for a moment before leaning closer to her. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck. Dammit, she was going to torture Heero for putting her in this situation. Gooseflesh zipped up her arms as his breath tickled the backs of her ears.
Wufei was astonished. It was the mark. But it couldn't be. This ex-thief (although she seemed inclined to steal plenty of things from Wufei: his bike, his sleep, his peace of mind) could not be his long lost betrothed. Impossible. And yet here it was. The tiny tattoo, barely an inch in diameter, a black dragon circling in its flight, its two pairs of red eyes glaring with power. His breath rushed out of him as he stared. No. No, no, no, no. This could not be so. He was the only survivor. He was his only liability. What would he do with her? And then he inhaled, drawing her scent into his lungs. And a rather brazen suggestion crossed his mind.
He drew back suddenly, as if she had somehow burned him.
"Well? Is she Zhih Luei, or what?"
Wufei directed his glare at the interrupter. Maxwell. Reluctantly, he bit out, "Yes. The tattoo matches."
Taki was floored. "I have a tattoo? Does anybody have a mirror? I've got to see this. Wait a minute. How the hell did Heero know I had this tattoo? Yet another thing I have to squeeze out of her before I kill her. Thanks, Kathy," Taki said, interrupting herself as Trowa's sister handed her a hand mirror.
Katherine stood behind Taki, holding up a second mirror and keeping her hair out of the way so Taki could get a look at her unknown passenger. "Wow," she declared. "That is cool. Now I really am going to do something drastic to her. Not only did Heero know that I had a tattoo, but she never said how awesome it was."
"Heero? You mean Yokaze?" Katherine asked.
Taki put down her mirror and looked at Katherine. "Yeah. One and the same. Except I've always known her as Heero Yuy."
"Heero Yuy?" Kathy echoed, clearly confused. Her gaze darted to the present Heero Yuy and then flew back to Taki.
Taki sighed. "It's a really long story."
Wufei needed air. He needed to get out. To think. Unfortunately, he couldn't leave Taki, or Luei. So he compromised and instead of stalking off to a distant rooftop in the colony, he stepped just outside of the tent. Immediately, he felt a measure of calm objectivity settle over him. It was too much of a coincidence, this girl being friends with someone who is, supposedly, Heero's double. The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he felt about accepting this situation at face value.
The early morning quiet surrounded him. A light breeze tumbled out of the colony jets, stirring something on Wufei's hand. He glanced down and caught the single hair before the wind could pull it free. Gazing at it, he smiled. There was, of course, a simple solution to it all. All he had to do was check Taki's DNA against the DNA listed in Zhih Luei's file with the Missing Persons Agency. Simple.
Or so he believed.
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The note read:
"Someday you'll give up. Obviously it won't be today. I'm busy with something. See George and he'll explain. First, settle into the accommodations Quatre's arranged. Further instructions are waiting for you there."
It was signed simply, "Y." Taki wasn't sure if it stood for Yuy or Yokaze. She supposed it didn't really matter. Overall, the note was a big disappointment. She'd expected something grander after she'd had to go through all that mumbo jumbo just to get her hands on the damn thing. She sighed.
"What's it say?" Duo was trying to read it over her shoulder.
She rolled her eyes and handed it to Heero. He deserved to read it, to know what a complete pain in the ass his sister was. His cobalt eyes flicked over it as Taki adjusted her backpack over her shoulders.
"Quatre, what's the address of the building you sub-leased?" Heero asked quietly.
Quatre frowned, curious about the note, but recited it.
Heero nodded. "Then let's go."
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~End of Chapter 8~