Marika's Notes:

This is being written on a sucky computer I have named Betty. Betty the

behemoth. It's being written in DOS... yes you read that correctly. DOS! Yes,

DOS is still around. It's my punishment for being so arrogant as to think that

Henry Jr. was going to last forever. He didn't. Henry Jr. AKA my laptop died

earlier this week after having exhausted his allowance of screen stuff for his

LCD. In highly technical terms... he fell, he died.

 

I hope that this chapter is up to par. Enjoy

 

Disclaimer: Not mine.

 

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

Tainted Dream

Chatper 7ish

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

 

For lack of something better to do, he stared. Yup. That's right... he, the

great Chang Wufei simply stood where he had been for the last 3 minutes, since

he'd heard the cab outside, rooted in silent hopefulness. An agonizing three minutes. Very possibly the most agonizing of his entire life. And he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, the in that cab and now standing before him, stood his future. A future that rested in the hands of one small battle weary woman. The woman who held his heart so tightly in her grasp that she'd melded it with her hand so much so that he knew he would never get it back. The defiant, the impossibly proud, Chinese warrior was irrefutably in love and unable to deny it to himself or anyone else any longer. This was truly a sad moment.

 

"You came back." He bit his lower lip, a relic of a habit that had lasted him through childhood, one that only surface when he was even more high- strung than usual. "Why did you come back?"

 

Musha's eyes grew dim, her head lowering slightly as she dropped her bags and shut the door behind her. "I'm sorry."

 

"Sorry for what?" Wufei did not move, but remained rooted to where he was, more than a little shocked to hear those words come out of her mouth.

 

"You know what I'm talking about." A tired, thin voice emitted from her as she shuffled towards him.

 

The Musha he knew did not shuffle, nor did she rub her hands together in a gesture that most modern writers would call "wringing". But then, the Wufei she knew did not question that an apology was due someone, merely demanded it.

"No, it's my fault. I should not have struck you. It was cowardly and horrible of me."

 

"No. It's my fault." She reiterated, closing the distance between them. "I provoked you."

 

"Fine, it's your fault." Wufei conceded and had to suppress a grin; she had been caught off guard with that one.

 

Her eyes narrowed, peering at him suspiciously. "No, it is your fault, really, it is." A smile played at her lips, she'd caught on to the game.

 

Wufei took a step forward and brushed his fingers over the brush in a gentle gesture. "I love you, Musha." He held his breath after uttering the simple statement that would change everything for either better or worse. "I didn't expect to voice it quite like this, but then there are some things that even the strongest man can not hold inside."

 

Musha did not appear surprised by his statement, but merely pressed her bruised face into his palm. "I love you too, Fei-baka."

 

"No." He paused for a moment, letting his eyes slide shut and pondering the wonder that was her. Her touch, her caress... better than thousands of yards of the finest silk, all because it was her, because it was Musha. "You."

 

"You." She instantly replied, a teasing lilt creeping into her voice now. "It has always been you."

 

"No, it's always been you. I was deluding myself the last few years, thinking that this feeling would take care of itself or go away altogether. And I don't want it to do either. It's you, Musha." He bit his lower lip again and touched his free hand to her chin, guiding her face up to meet his eyes. "You."

 

There was a moment then, a bonafide, honest to goodness MOMENT. He could feel his entire future and past pulsing through him as he touched his lips to hers, feel their futures mingling together as did their breath. A kiss worth more than precious gems, a kiss consisting of more of her. And he craved more instantly.

 

Wufei forced himself to pull back from her, not pushing his boundaries, though he knew the true in her statement of love as well as he himself had been honest, there was a fragility to the moment. It was possible to break something so delicate that no amount of glue could fix it.

 

Musha's word was simple as Wufei rested his forehead against hers. "You."

 

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~



It was getting late. Tensei stared at her watch, willing the hands to move faster, the faster they moved, the faster she could leave this small booth and head home. The longer she waited, the more of a chance she'd run into HIM. Mark Peterson leaned closer to her and whispered conspiratorially to her. "I've been trying to nab Mr. Winner for the last 2 years. This company needs an injection of funds, I think that he would do well with a small company like ours playing out on his side, and you my dear, are the perfect bait."

 

"I still don't like this Mr. Peterson. It's wrong to try to tempt Mr. Winner with me. He won't fall for it, and in fact he'll probably end up walking right back out that door."

 

"Nonsense," Mr. Peterson replied, his face tingeing a lovely shade of pink. "He'll take one look at you and see how good you obviously are at your job, then take me up on the price I've asked and then leave us alone to do our business."

 

Tensei sighed. This was indeed going to be a long night. Mr. Peterson was a sweet man, if a little off in the head. He had a lot to learn before he could be able to handle Quatre in the business world that the Arabian was used to. She had to leave, and she had to leave now. She knew what Mr. Peterson was getting at. She was to be more than bait. She was to be Quatre's incentive for accepting the price that was offered with no negotiations for a lower bid. It wouldn't work. It would never work. 'If you're so convinced it won't work why are you sitting here in a skimpy red dress with Mr. Peterson waiting for HIM like you'd be waiting for a john if you were a hooker?' Tensei immediately squashed the little voice in her head that some referred to as that annoying conscience thing.

 

There was no denying that Quatre would as she'd thought before so many times in the last 5 minutes, take one look at her and walk out. Tensei rose from her seat and grabbed her shawl, a lovely shade of matching fire engine red to the dress. "I'm going home. I suggest you deal with Mr. Winner honestly and accept a fair offer. It's the only way you'll stay ahead in this game you insist on playing."

 

With those words she spun on heel, not an easy task in spikes and headed for the door. She was concentrating on not falling in the stilettos she wore, so hard that when she bumped into a solid wall of someone's chest that she would have fallen had it not been for the pair of strong arms the shot out to hold her upright.

 

Tensei raised her eyes to thank the person, but found her lips pursed immediately into a frown. It was HIM. Aqua eyes gazed at her impassively. "Tensei, you're… what are you doing here?"

 

"Me? What am I doing?" She scoffed at his tone of voice. "I'm leaving. I'm leaving now before I am humiliated and fired."

 

"Humiliated and fired? What are you talking about?" His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm not in the mood for games, and I'm about to have to meet a potential client."

 

Tensei jerked her arms free of his grasp. "Thank you for catching me Quatre. Mr. Peterson is waiting for you." Just looking at him made her angry. He stood there, almost a full head taller than her, in his suit, tailor-made of course. He stood there, so full of himself, so sure of himself, hiding behind that suit as though it were his armor. Damn him. Why did he have to love her? She didn't ask him to, and how could he stand there so oblivious to the entire thing. Obviously he had not realized she'd heard him. He was a jackass.

 

The frown smoothed out. "You're here with him? He's your boss?"

 

"Yes, yes." Tensei smoothed her hair back from her face; suddenly self- conscious as she realized that the shade she'd dyed her hair matched his exactly.

 

Quatre grasped her by the upped arm gently and smiled sweetly. "Well then, let's get the meeting underway shall we?"

 

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

 

She was tired of this bullshit. This entire thing was NOT going as she'd planned or hoped. He was supposed to be in the palm of her hand by now. Unfortunately those eyes of his, so wide and innocent, did nothing to betray how shrewd he really was. How on earth was she supposed to succeed in her mission if she could not gain the trust of someone so pathetic?

 

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

 

Trowa opened the door and stared at his visitor, stunned. "Kashoku, what are you doing here? It's late."

 

"It's hardly late, Trowa, it's barely 9." She pointed out as she brushed past him and into his apartment. "I came to work. You said I should keep my feelings out of this, and that's what I'm doing. We're going to work on the Odin Yui case until we make some…" She paused and smirked. "Headway."

 

"How did you get my address?" He closed the door behind her and reached for a clean shirt from the laundry basket.

 

"A friend in personnel owed me a favor. It's amazing what 20 bucks will buy these days. That and I brought Thai food. You're favorite." She held a plastic bag filled with great smelling food to his nose.

 

"Okay, I'm convinced." He could not keep the annoyance out of his voice. His time off was precious to him, and contrary to popular belief, he did have a life. Not much of one, but a life none-the-less. He pointed to the couch and headed into the kitchen. "What do you want to drink? I have water and…" He peered into the fridge. "Water."

 

"I'll just have water!" Kashoku grinned at him, oblivious to the helplessness in Trowa's statement. Her plan was underway and working well. "Bring plates in with you."

 

Trowa made no reply to her request, but merely nodded into the silverware draw as he fished out two forks and knives. He padded back into the living room barefoot and plunked the items on the table with deliberate noise. Two glasses of water quickly followed. By this time, she'd spread out the files and food to cover his immaculate coffee table.

 

"So, have you found anything?" He asked pointed as he took a bite of his food.

 

Kashoku observed him closely; he truly was a beautiful man. "No." The way his jaw moved while he chewed, the way his tongue flicked out to capture sauce that had been left on his lips. Hell, even the way he patted his mouth with the paper napkins set her very skin aflame. "I thought that maybe if we put our heads together then we could come up with something."

 

"Of course. I take it you've read the files then?" He rested his fork on the edge of his plate and nudged the folders towards her.

 

"Yes, Trowa." She injected a hint of laughter into her voice. "I've read them all through several times. And I got nowhere on my own. But can we please talk about this after we eat? Thai food should not be tainted with business."

 

She was afraid for a moment that he had figured out her little ploy, his brows wrinkling together beneath his gravity defying bangs. "What would you rather talk about?" Came his hesitant reply.

 

"You know, whatever it is that friends talk about over dinner." She flashed him an innocent smile.

 

"I wouldn't know what you mean." He chewed another mouthful, staring at her thoughtfully.

 

"Surely you've had a girlfriend before, Trowa." She smiled genuinely now. He was falling into her plan right on schedule. By 10 she'd have him naked in bed.

 

He frowned once more, "I'm too busy for that. Work and everything."

 

"But there must be someone you're interested in. Someone at work maybe?"

 

One emerald eye narrowed suspiciously. "Why do you ask?"

 

Kashoku laughed her nervousness away. "Avoiding the question. It's obvious then. There is someone you have you're eye on. Just name her. I'll make sure you get her."

 

"It's not like that." He stammered, caught off guard. "I..d.don't think we should be talking about this."

 

She smiled her best seductive smile and leaned forward, napkin in hand. "You have a spot on your chin." She wiped at the panicked man's chin in a deliberately slow motion. "Let me get it for you."

 

Trowa pulled back from her and set his plate on the table. "Thank you for dinner, but I think it's time you left." He seemed to be grasping for his composure.

 

Of course, why hadn't she factored in the resistance she was bound to meet with this one? He was a live wire, one that had to be handled gently. Kashoku nodded slightly. "Walk me to the door?"

 

She licked her lips as he rose, grinning inwardly though she kept her face blank. One last step to go. She ignored his grimace of discomfort as he covered the distance to the door of his small home. She stopped behind him and allowed her smile to now reach her lips. "Trowa. One last thing before I go."

 

"What's that?" He turned to peer at her curiously.

 

Kashoku nudge him against the closed door, pressing in close so that she could feel the length of his body molded to hers. "Kiss me goodnight." Her command was soft, a calculated vulnerability in it. "Please? It's the least you could do after I bought dinner."

 

"Kashoku." He stated firmly, pushing her away gently. "I don't think.."

 

Instantly she had him by the collar, her lips fierce upon his. He opened his mouth, presumably to speak against her lips. To tell her how wrong he'd been no doubt, when she seized the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Trowa snorted for air and shoved her away harshly, his visible emerald eyes glinting angrily. "Kashoku, I tried to be nice about it. I'm gay. I think you should leave before you embarrass yourself anymore."

 

Kashoku remained rooted to where she was, stunned. "You're… what?"

 

"Gay!" His voice rose slightly, exasperatedly. "I like males. I'm in love with one. He's gay too. We have gay sex. Lots of it. Now, please Kashoku, be careful as you're driving home." He stepped aside and wrenched the door open, holding it for her to walk out dazedly.

 

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

 

Quatre glanced over to Tensei—Renee for tonight. Mr. Peterson droned on about overhead and the issue of compliance from employees. His anger rose even as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. There was now way in hell she could have thought she'd have gotten away with their little plan.

 

Quatre pasted on another sweet smile. "Mr. Peterson, I'll gladly accept your offer at the price you have asked. I'll have my people in next week to have a look around and see what changes if any need to be made to make the company more efficient and profitable. However I do have one condition for the purchase of your company."

 

He paused and shifted his gaze to Tensei, his anger growing even more. "That condition being that the lovely Miss Renee be my companion for the evening, perhaps she could prove a balm to my ego." His words were sincere, even as Mr. Peterson's eyes widened.

 

The young Winner rose from his seat and extended his hand to Tensei, waiting for her to accept it. She did not move, merely stared at him, incredulous. He arched an eyebrow. "If Miss Renee does not wish to accompany me, then there will be no deal. I trust you made her abundantly aware of that possibility."

 

"Of course I did." Mr. Peterson nodded toward the door. "You go on with Mr. Winner, Renee. You can have the day off tomorrow." He grinned at her, fully satisfied.

 

Quatre was proud that he had cornered her. Cornering Tensei was not something he had ever seen himself as capable of doing. But then, it was proven as she accepted his hand, murder in her eyes at his actions. His integrity was shot forever in her eyes, at least that's what he figured.

 

He led her to the car and opened the door for her, waiting for her to slide inside. Tensei merely blinked in silent agony as he went around the car and slid into the driver's seat. She did not remain silent after his door was shut. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

 

Her scream startled him as he pulled from the parking space. "I'm fulfilling my end of the deal, Tensei. That's what I'm doing. Don't look at me like that. I have to stoop to new lows to get you to be around me. I don't know what put a bee in your bonnet, but I am keeping you with me until you listen to me." He paused to observe traffic for a moment before pulling into the street.

 

"I'm through listening to you, MR WINNER." Her voice was a low hiss promising bloodshed. "This is kidnapping."

 

"Call it what you want. I know you don't want your boss' company to go under do you? Then you'd lose another of those false identities you're so fond of." Quatre snapped right back at her. "You'll stay with me until morning, that's that. That's the deal, and if you back out, I'll drop the contract for the merger into my shredder with no guilt at all on my conscience."

 

Tensei glared at him, speechless for once. He continued, soothed by her silence. "I don't understand why you went along with him on this anyway. Is it a common practice for you to strut around half-clothed to be bargained off like a whore to the highest bidder? How many times have you done this in the last 2 years?" His voice grew harsher with each word, his frustration becoming obvious. "How many men have you slept with or given favors to, to get to where you are today? Hmm? How many, Tensei? Tell me why I bother hanging on to a whore?"

 

"SHUTUP!" She punched him as hard as she could in the jaw given the confined space. "JUST SHUTUP!"

 

Quatre swerved to the curb and put the car in park, glaring at her with righteous anger. "DO NOT HIT ME."

 

"Then stop calling me those awful things." Tensei wiped at her face angrily, then cringed as she realized that she was brushing away tears. Her voice was hoarse as she sought words. "You know they aren't true, Quatre."

 

He stared at her in silence. One slender hand reached out to wipe away tears as he was consumed with guilt. "I didn't mean it. I'm sorry." The first words he could find as he pulled her close, brushing his lips over her reddened cheek, kissing away the tears.

 

Tensei knew she should put an end to this prancing around the real issue once and for all, but by the very air she breathed, she could not push him away as she sought out his lips eagerly. The kiss was brutally harsh and gentle at the same time, years of anger, rage, and passion mingling with the hurt and frustration they had both fought over time rising up in that one moment. This completion was what they both had longed for, even as they fought against it, pushing it away.

 

Quatre was the one to pull away, his entire body trembling. He did not speak for a long moment but stared at her. When he finally found his voice, it too was shaking. "I… guess this is the part where you either slap me or tell me to leave you alone." One hand reached for his cell phone. "I'll call you a cab if we can skip step one.

 

Her hand shot out to wrestle the phone from him. "Don't. And you're wrong. This is the part where we drive out for ice cream and start talking for real. I think we both need to just… talk. It doesn't have to be about heavy stuff, Quatre. We need to learn to be friends again. Somewhere along the way we forgot that and started hating each other. And we need to figure that out before we go anywhere with this. In this instant, I think avoiding the obvious issue is the best course to take."

 

Quatre considered this for a moment. "I'd like to avoid the issue, so long as I'm doing it with you."

 

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~