A/n: Konnichi wa, minna! How's life? Wow, it's been a long time since I uploaded. Ah well. Here's the next chapter of 'Living In the Spirit of the Ring'! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Trowa, Wufei or any other characters except Linnaeus, Hugo, and the plot (which includes the ring).
Warning: From here on out there is minor Wufei bashing. Not in the good happy sense, either. Wufei will show his truly unlikable chauvinist side now. I'm sorry if you don't like, but my friend is an immense Wufei lover and she had no problem with it.
3/6
"Hugo, do you have all contacts found on the 'link accounted for?"
"Yes, Miss. As you requested."
Midii gulped down the black liquid in front of her and asked somewhat nervously, "Results?"
"Information will be held until mental connection is breached."
Of course, Hugo. You know me better than I do.
*Miss. Two calls last week to the Gundam creators, known as 'Doctors'. One call to an unauthorized area. It says here 'X18-999', but I have no such name in my logs. Do you know of any such area?*
It is a codename, for sure. Maybe it's a money hole. Continue.
*Yes. Incoming calls erased.*
Really? Smart guy.
Midii tensed in her bunk. An image came into her mind. The edges of her darkened vision became a dark purple, with pink swirls in the middle. A dance of colors swirled through her mind as she pressed the heels of her hands against her closed eyelids.
Suddenly, the pink swirls of color became soft, floating cherry blossoms. They fell around her limited vision and landed on a dark, moonlit lake. Out of the lake came a black box. A very small box. It opened slowly, revealing a golden ring, surrounded by the pink and white flowers that fell from the sky.
The blonde jerked as she saw a shadow out of the corner of her dream. A long braid-like shadow brushed against the box and fell away gently. Speaking in only a whisper, a man's voice said, "Forever."
Waking quickly, Midii realized that she hadn't finished her conversation with Hugo.
Run a scan on the code name 'X18-999', Hugo. I need it tomorrow morning.
*Yes, Miss.*
~~***~~
"Good morning, Lieutenant." Midii stopped where she was in the hallway and saluted.
"At ease, officer." He watched as she slightly relaxed, holding her right wrist behind her back.
"I heard you had a meeting last night about me in Mister Dekim's office. Should I be concerned?" She sounded perfectly honest, no tone of sarcasm hidden beneath her voice.
"I'm sure it was nothing. It was just a check to see if you were…fit for this line of work. You being almost sixteen and all." His neck became quite itchy under Midii's sky blue gaze.
"I'm glad," she said, "because I was hoping it wasn't anything too serious."
"Do you know my name?" he asked, getting off the topic.
Midii studied his face, knowing something was familiar in the gray eyes and prominent cheekbones of the man in front of her. "Maybe…"
He leaned in close to her, placing his lips close to her ear. "You may know me as Linnaeus."
"Really?" she asked, her brows raised half in shock and half in wonder. "Is it really you?"
"In the flesh…well, synthetic, but close enough."
"I'm so happy to see you," she said, resisting the urge to hug him. The pressure put on her of being the only person on the base working for the cause released; tension in her belly flew away like wild butterflies and left her satisfied. She sobered quickly and glared at him. "Is this your 'day job' that you never told us about?"
"Yes, unfortunately. I came to help gather information with you."
"I thought this was my assignment."
"I'm sorry, little Midii," Linnaeus said in a hushed tone. "There are some things that adults can do faster than adolescents." He watched as she glared at him as he put on a fake smile. What he said was to protect her, and it wasn't absolutely true.
"I realize this. But I can get the information, and fast." Midii kept an eye on him, while the other looked up and down the empty corridor. "You know as well as I do that I can get this done. I only need a little time, and at the rate I'm getting all of it, surely I should find it soon, but it will be dangerous. Please, if you are going to help me, do not be seen with me."
"Can do little Midii. Good day to you."
Linnaeus brushed one hand down her arm. "And get some food while you're at it."
~~***~~
Hugo. Any new results?
*Yes. The 'X18-999' codename has been pinpointed to an area on Earth.*
Really? Midii thought to herself. Her index finger traced a line down the side of her cheek, up to her lower lip and across it. Where is the specific area, Hugo?
There was a slight pause. *Sanc Kingdom, Miss.*
Send all information related to this case to Linnaeus. He will take care of it. I knew this would be dangerous. They don't want me to get killed, fine. I'll let him take all the wounds. I better get some credit, though, damn it.
~~***~~
Trowa shifted and turned over on the top bunk. Dreams flickered behind closed eyelids; visions that haunted the human soul. Enchanted slideshow of memories played in slow motion.
Sweat beaded above Trowa's upper lip and forehead. The sheets became unbearably hot and sweaty to the easy sleeper.
The vision was of past. First of himself standing in an open field: ocean waves lapping over jagged rocks, salty wind blowing against his face, tall sea-grass scratching his young legs.
The banged boy turned again in the seat-laden sheets. A silent cry formed on his lips, but was suppressed.
A young, beautiful Midii walked to his side, watching the rhythmic motions of the waves. Her long blonde hair moved slightly in the wind, was entangled in invisible fingers. Icy blue eyes opened, closed. They slowly opened as she turned her head to look at the boy beside her.
"Hello," her lips said as the words took flight in the wind.
The boy said nothing. He just continued to watch the waves. After the girl's gaze became distracting, his itchy hands stuffed into the safety of his jean pockets.
The girl gave up, but understood his silence. She walked to the edge of the field, where it suddenly dropped off into a sharp, rocky cliff. She sat, still facing the wind, enjoying the intimacy between her and the waves. Mist gently sprayed against her bare calves, getting her shoes and socks dampened. She sat, waiting.
The boy's emotions were blurred, swirling together until confusion clouded his mind. He decided to join the girl, to be polite. His legs swung over the cliff, and he found a seat next to the girl.
She did not turn to face him, however. Her eyes stayed glued to the calming sea.
Not completely sure of what he was doing, Trowa's hand found Midii's and squeezed gently. Warmth unexpectedly radiated through their hands, making the chill seem more bearable.
The sky suddenly changed from the monotonous gray to a dark purple when she looked into his emerald green eyes. She told him goodbye with her gaze, then was carried away by icy fingers of pure silver.
A single tear fell down the boy's cheek as he looked down to see what was lying where the girl once sat.
One beautiful, untouched cross.
~~***~~
The information was concealed. No one could find it, Midii told herself again as she walked into the cafeteria for breakfast. And as soon as she ate something, she reassured herself, she would feel better than she had in ages.
The line was so short that she walked up and ordered right away, filling her tray with a large bagel with cream cheese, a bowl of oatmeal, and a tall glass of apple juice. She passed through, giving the chef a warm smile, and took a seat.
Out of the corner of her eye, Midii saw Trowa. Her eyes fixed on him, then quickly went back to her food as she saw him look back at her, the intense emerald eyes piercing her soul. He stood, telling something to the Chinese man next to him, and walked to her table.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked politely, his voice barely over a whisper.
"Of course not." Midii kept herself from blushing at his gentleman-like manners. She slid down to make a seat for him on the old-fashioned picnic-style cafeteria table.
"You look rather…thin. Is it the food here?"
"No."
He stared into her blue eyes. He noticed dark circles under them from lack of sleep, and the weary look she gave him, despite her attempt to hide it.
"All right then," he said, getting up. "You just keep out of trouble, hear?"
She gave him a weak smile. "You don't have to worry about that any more."
As he left, she turned back to her desirable breakfast, not noticing dark onyx eyes watching her closely.
~~***~~
"You don't understand. You must have the wrong girl." Midii's eyes narrowed as she was pushed against the wall, her captor's hands pinning back her hands and immobilizing her legs by stepping on her military-issue loafers.
Hugo. Send all records and files of your existence and anything that might be useful into my mental log. Destroy the compact at my call.
*Yes, Miss.*
"No, it seems like you are the one that doesn't understand." His deep, manly voice said with a slight chuckle. He reached under her collar, yanking the tie that laid firm against her pressed shirt and grabbing the small, necklace hand-held that lay between her collarbones.
"This tiny device," he said, tugging at the chain, "is everything that you are using to conspire against OZ with. This is what will lead to its downfall."
"Are you so sure?" Midii asked, tilting her blonde head to the side. "I mean, you make a necklace sound like a bomb."
He pulled on the chain and it broke.
Now.
The small chip went up in smoke; the man's narrow onyx eyes glared at it.
Midii watched as four guards raced up to them, all obviously on this man's side by the look in their eyes. The last thing she remembered was the painful blow of a katana at the base of her neck and the man's evil, contemptuous laugh.
~~***~~
A/n: Ahah! Finally I have uploaded! Wonder who THIS could be… hmm… What is going to happen to Midii? Will Trowa find out? Most importantly…will he care? Please review and let me know your comments!
~~Rae chan