PART FOUR:
Disclaimers: Since this story is set about three hundred years after the Gundam characters existed, there isn't much here I don't own. Except maybe any characters I use in flashbacks or the actual names of the characters, which pop up a few times. Some OOC, but no yaoi.
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The next day was cold and rainy. Via arrived at school soaking wet, but she was not alone in that matter. The crowds were filled with sopping people, teachers and students alike, and Via had a little trouble getting to the math room. By the time she reached her friends, she was almost dry. She greeted her friends enthusiastically.
"Hey, Via's here!" Billy shouted, glad to see his friend.
Chance, who stood shyly by the wall, greeted her with a smile and a slight wave. Via nodded her head in a silent reply. She wanted to talk to him about the disks, but a crowd of her friends blocked her path. It wasn't until history class that they had the chance to talk. For a change, Via did not sit in her usual seat, located next to Billy and Siri, but instead sat next to Chance, in the back of the room. He smiled at her solemnly, the angel smile she had come to love, but said nothing. Via was no longer worried about falling in love with Chance. She knew deep in her heart that it was too late for that anyway.
Ignoring Mr. Aristo's pleas for silence, they began to discuss the pilots. As they sat far in the back of the room, they could go undisturbed for the most part. Though Via found it difficult to ignore the glares Billy and Siri threw her way.
Chance laughed softly at her reference to the pilots as personal plagues, but was silenced by a quick look from Mr. Aristo, who, though he was striving to keep his class in order, was obviously glad the two were getting along. Via found herself wondering if he had placed the two of them together on purpose.
Billy threw a piece of paper her way, and she caught it, also catching a displeased look from Mr. Aristo. She smiled apologetically at him, and giggled wildly. Chance shook his head and waited for her to calm down. After a few minutes more, she opened the paper.
Two notes from Billy in two days? This must be a record of some sort, she thought. Then she saw what was written. Or, rather, drawn.
As young children, both Billy and Via had been fond of the classic story, Treasure Island. Billy had particularly liked the idea of the black spot, a pirate's death sentence, and the two friends had decided to make a sort of symbol of their own, in case they ever felt betrayed by the other. They had never used it, as it was only to be used in extreme situations, but the symbol was fresh in her memory.
It was this symbol, that of a bloody scythe, that Billy had given her. Chance looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow.
"A scythe?" he asked in a whisper. She nodded and looked over at Billy, who had an icy glare in his eyes. Via shivered and took out a fresh sheet of paper from her binder.
In a trembling hand, she drew a small question mark. Folding the paper, she threw it over to Billy when Mr. Aristo turned his back. Chance frowned at her, but said nothing. She caught the paper Billy threw back at her. Unfolding it nervously, she looked with timorous feelings.
"Is it some kind of sick joke, that you suddenly ignore your life long friends for a guy you just met? Or is it that you don't care to chat with us anymore? Via, you've been acting weird for the past three days! Make up your mind; are you going to be back to normal soon?"
"Look, I'm sorry. I've had things on my mind. If it makes you feel better, I'll start wise cracking and stuff again."
"It's not just that," this was Siri's handwriting now. "We're worried about you. Is something up with your uncle?"
"What would be up with my uncle?" There was a pause as Billy and Siri read the note, then exchanged glances. Via looked away, then returned her gaze to her friends in time to see them toss the note her way.
Chance grabbed the note in midair as Mr. Aristo was about to turn back to face the class. "Saving you from a detention," he told Via, handing it to her.
"Thanks." She unfolded the note, but Siri and Billy had not felt the need to reply. So she returned her conversation with Chance. "Want to come over to see more of the disks after school?"
Chance shrugged. "Might as well. Could be educational." He gave her a sideways glance. "What were your parents like?" He winced as he saw Via pull away. "Sorry, I didn't mean to trouble you all over again. But I really would like to know. Because I have a feeling that we've met before, and if I can get an idea of what your parents were like, I might find answers."
Via swallowed. "After school. I'll tell you then." Chance nodded, and Via folded her arms on the desk and lay her head down. Painful memories were being resurrected. She felt a tap on her shoulder and jerked her head up.
It was Mr. Aristo. "Miss Via, is something wrong?" He looked concerned, but in the teacherly way that Via couldn't stand. "Please, listen to the lesson."
"Fine." Via gave Mr. Aristo a glare that even Heero Yuy may have found intimidating. Mr. Aristo only blinked.
Mr. Aristo turned back to the blackboard. "As I was saying..." And so he returned to the lecture. Via put her head back down on her desk, and noticed with a small smile that Chance was not taking notes. Was her bad influence rubbing off on him already?
After school, Via and Chance walked out together. Via slung her bag over her shoulder, and Chance laughed good-naturedly as half the contents spilled out. Via rolled her eyes as she bent to pick it all up, but stopped when an unfamiliar hand started to do it for her. She looked at Chance, who was staring at this stranger in a disbelief that clearly showed his shock and hurt in his heart. She looked again at the stranger.
He was tall, and stately, Via noticed right away. As well as about ten years older and incredibly handsome. His long black hair fell into his brown eyes, and he brushed it away with a flick of his hand. Then he turned to Chance, absently handing Via's books back to her. She slipped them into her bag, still staring.
The stranger wore a pair of black pants of a silky material, and a long black over shirt. He looked rich, or at least noble. Yet Chance was sneering at the man with contempt. Via realized that this was the first time she had truly seen Chance angry. He looked quite impressive, much like his famous piloting ancestor.
The stranger held his head high and spoke to Chance in an odd language that Via had never heard before. The syllables were quickly spoken and ran together with the grace of one who was born speaking a language such as this one. Chance replied in kind, though his words were not quite as fluid.
Via stood watching them in amazement. When Chance saw her baffled face, he smiled. "Via, this is my friend, Khans. Khans is a distant descendant of Wufei's."
Khans smirked and said something in the strange language. Chance smiled. "As he puts it, a very distant descendant."
Via was confused. "What dialect, in the name of Shinigami, are you speaking?!" she cried. Chance and Khans both smiled, though Chance's grin was much wider.
"In the name of Shinigami, Via?" Chance asked, still smiling. Via shrugged, so Chance continued. "It's an ancient language that very few speak now. It used to be called Airant. It is almost Khans' native tongue, as his grandparents taught him to speak it before they taught him any other language."
"Oh." Via scratched her head. "And I suppose it's a pleasure to meet you, Khans."
Khans gave her a wide smile. "Indeed. And it is one for you, as well," he said in slow English. His words were heavily accented, and it took Via quite some time to decipher them properly. She was fairly sure that she would be able to understand him without a problem before too long.
She looked at Chance, who was pursing his lips in distaste, then back at elegant Khans, then finally returned her gaze to her friend. Chance's blue eyes were flashing with what Via assumed was anger, and his fists were clenched hard enough to turn his knuckles white. Via couldn't help but wonder what had upset her friend. Surely it couldn't be Khans; the two of them seemed to get along well enough.
Chance cleared his throat when he saw Via looking at him. "Let's go. Via, you wanted to show me some of the disks?"
"Yes. Khans, you're welcome to come along, if you like. It seems like us Gundam progeny should stick together. For a little while, at least."
Khans hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. I will join you." His words were just as muddy as before, but Via found that, by separating the syllables just a bit and un-stressing his vowels, the words were nearly as clear and audible as her own.
Via led the way to her home, which wasn't all that far, only about twenty minutes, walking. It was a lovely walk, too, up until a point. The woods and the other scenic views made for wonderful sightseeing, and Khans seemed to be enjoying the exercise. Via decided that she would have to ask Chance what the deal was with Khans. But not now. Oh no, not now. At the moment, Via's only concerns were whether or not her uncle was home and what was making Chance act so much like his heroic ancestor.
Via let Khans fall pretty far behind her, then fell back so that her steps were in time with Chance's. She grabbed his arm and leaned towards him. "What's up with you?" she hissed in his ear. Chance shook his arm out of her grasp.
"Don't ask."
"I already did." The girl frowned. "Tell me what's going on. Something's bugging you. Is it Khans? I don't know why it would be. He seems perfectly nice to me, even if he is one of Wufei's ancestors. He's not as stiff and formal as Wufei either, and that's a plus on my list." Via thought a moment, then smiled. "In fact, that's a definite plus. He isn't so prejudiced, either. That's good. And he's not all that bad looking. Yet another point there." She quickly erased the dreamy look from her face. "I don't think he acts like Wufei at all."
Chance smiled at her. "You talk too much." Then he frowned. "That's the problem, though. That he's not like Wufei Chang. Wufei, from what I have heard, was at least loyal and had a sense of right and wrong. Khans, though... well, as you said, he doesn't act like Wufei at all." He lowered his voice. "I don't want you to-"
He was interrupted, though, by the loud roar of an engine. Via looked around, startled. The road to her home was hidden, and it was very rare that anyone passed by it. And, like her ancestor, she was quite good with machinery, and could usually tell what a motor was from just by hearing it hum. And, as soon as she realized what this one was, she paused. It was just a regular car, but it was the direction it was coming from that surprised her.
It was coming from her house.
Considering her uncle didn't own a car, and, even if he had, he never left the house, and the fact that the walkway up to her home was almost impenetrable, the idea of any car leaving from her home was nearly unthinkable. Via glanced over her shoulder at Khans, who was still surveying the scenic path, unaware that Via and Chance had stopped. Via felt her heart jump to her throat.
Chance pursed his lips. "I take it this is not good."
She nodded. "We should probably hide and to wait to see what happens."
"Fine by me," Chance replied softly, still listening for the approaching car. This wasn't good at all, and every move Chance made seemed to prove that he knew it. "Where should we go to hide?"
"The trees over there are a wonderful place to disguise one's presence," a voice piped up from behind them. Via and Chance jumped and whirled around to find Khans standing nearby. Via swore loquaciously.
"Don't do that! You about scared the life out of me!" Via raged, trying to hard to keep her voice lowered. She hated to be caught off guard like that!
"Very well." Khans paused. "The vehicle is approaching. Perhaps we should depart for the trees now?"
Chance nodded. "Good idea. Come on, Via." He took her arm in a firm grasp and began to pull her to the side of the road. She shook him off roughly and bolted to the bushes on her own. Khans and Chance were quick to follow.
Via squatted in the dust, only caring a little that her blue jeans were getting mussed with the ground's excessive wastes. Her shirt threatened to pull out of its place, tucked into her jeans. She pulled on the hem, almost habitually. Chance was beside her, his shorts, which Via considered insane to be wearing in this weather, also getting dusty. He didn't seem to mind, though.
Khans was nowhere to be found.
Via tugged on Chance's shirtsleeve and gestured around them. Chance smiled and pointed up, to the tree branches above them. Via smiled. Perhaps he was not so unlike Wufei after all. From what she knew, Wufei had always been perfectly at home in a tree.
The car slowly came into view. It had been driving very slowly, as the path to the house was not cleared of fallen tree branches and bushes; Via had not seen the point in clearing it, as no one bothered to drive down it. Via squinted so that she could see the driver of the car through the shaded windows. Curiously enough, Via thought she recognized him. But that was impossible, wasn't it....?
The car quickened its speed and pulled away, far out of view as it turned into the main highway. Via and Chance, exchanging glances, waited a bit longer before coming out of their spot in the bushes, trees and dust. Via could tell that Chance had recognized the driver just as well as she, and that he, too, did not believe it possible.
What, after all, would Mr. Aristo want with Via's uncle?
--to be continued--