Yay!!! I really like how this is coming out... but that's me. I know it could probably be improved but I need you to tell me what you think! So please tell me if you like my story I want to know if there's is something I need to add or what! I'll quit ranting now. Ohh, I'm just so happy right now... a story I really wanted to be updated was...I was so surprised I nearly choked on my hamburger! Lesson here, never eat and check for long awaited updates at the same time.
By the time they got to Earth the sun was setting in a magnificent burst of color. Heero and Duo stood entranced by the glory of the reds that danced with gold and sapphire that seemed to be alight with the fire of the falling sun. If they had learned anything it was to enjoy the beauty of the simple things like this. You never know how rare and different a sunset if each time if you don't watch. In the times of war these were something that got sorely overlooked most of the time, but then you see what you were missing and it becomes something so much more cherished. That beauty still could exist amongst all that had transpired it was a simple miracle that kept them going.
" Do you think anybody ever just sits anymore Heero? Just to think and enjoy this?" Duo sighed dramatically as he stood up and stretched. Heero was standing also, looking out to where the sun had been seconds before as if he could see past it all to their quarry. " YO!" Duo reeled back as Heeros' elbow shot out to his stomach.
" Come on we should get moving now." Heero turned away rubbing his ear slightly where Duo had so graciously broken him from his trance.
" Mission commenced."
They strode to where they had parked the rented car at the bottom of the hill. Stars shone over the two boys as they drove off toward the glitter of the city in the distance. Heero, who actually knew Chinese, was at the wheel of the tiny car. With driven intensity he kept his concentration on the city where Duo had told them they would find Wufei. For some reason Heero couldn't shake the feeling that he wouldn't be there when they finally got there. He shook himself mentally and floored the accelerator.
An hour later they reached the small apartment in the older part of the city. The building itself was twenty stories high and in great need of repair like most in this part of the city yet it held its own elegance that seemed like would suit their friend. Walking up to the desk they became wary of the local police officers that were talking to the desk clerk and waiting out side. They had just about reached their destination when someone stepped in their path.
" Excuse us..." Duo trailed off as he recognized the Preventers uniform the man had on. He could feel Heero tense next to him.
" Preventers Maxwell and Yuy?" Heero nodded warily. The man nodded to someone behind them and smiled wickedly at them. Before they could move hands reached out and pulled their arms behind them, cuffing strong metal cuffs to their wrists.
" Hey! What's going on!"
" You are under arrest for the murder of Quatre Raberba Winner. You have the right to remain silent...." The rest of the mans peach fell on deaf ears as the reality sunk into the two teens. Rosald Winner had found a use for them after all.
The bar was over crowded and the night too cold to venture out into. The two huddled figures sat close together on the hard bar stools, one leaning heavily on the other seemingly exhausted or drunk. Pained cerulean blue eyes looked steadily out into the waking world for the first time in almost a day. His partner held him firmly around the waist to keep him from slipping onto the crowded floor and being hurt worse. The protective hold and ice cold glares kept questions from being asked and anyone from approaching the pair.
" Wufei?" Wufei tore his gaze from the door and looked down at the friend he held close. He lifted a hand and readjusted his hair so the black dye covered some strands of gold that refused to stay hidden.
" Yes Quatre?"
" Who are we waiting for?"
" Perceptive aren't you. You'll see. Now rest." Quatre rolled his eyes as Wufei slipped into doctor mode and hushed him. The two sat like that for another five minutes, no questions nor answers about why the current location of a rather disputable tavern. Wufei listened to the conversations, only picking out a few words in the thick French accents. Quatre, though seemingly asleep to any who looked, was attentively searching the crowd behind them through the glass plating behind the counter. Some rather rowdy drunks were eyeing them suspiciously, when they weren't pushing each other around or sitting in a drunken stupor. He was beginning to get nervous with the way they were looking at them. Not that they normally couldn't handle themselves, but these weren't normal circumstances and if they were caught in a fight then he wouldn't be much help.
" Wuf.." He began but a hand on his slim shoulder silenced him. He felt Wufei tense next to him before slowly turning to look at the man who had his large hand gripping each of the boys shoulders tightly.
" 'Ello boyz." The man slurred in what would have been good English. " Whats bringz yuu out 'ere? An all alones." The man paused briefly to let out a rather disgusting belch in Wufeis ear. Wufei scowled and leaned away, trying with his free hand to dislodge the mans grip. The man merely grinned and opened his mouth to say something more when he was interrupted.
" Back off. I suggest you leave these gentle men and have a seat. Unless of course you would like to see the outside of the bar sooner." The man smiled with drunken nervousness and returned to his seat.
Quatre stayed turned in his seat. He felt like he was in a dream, that voice floating over the ages to touch his soul. Slowly he turned and opened eyes he didn't know he closed to look at their rescuer with wide eyes. Emerald eyes the color of the deepest forest or perhaps a field of clover smiled back at his with relief.
" Hello Trowa."
" Hi Quatre , Wufei." Trowa smiled reassuringly at them once more from behind the bar before moving on to fill orders from half drunk patrons. Wufei slipped the note Trowa had discreetly left behind off the counter and opened in with one hand, his other still steadying Quatre.
" We'll stay here until closing time, then meet him out back." He whispered lowly in Quatres ear.
" Perhaps we should move to a back booth." Quatre suggested as he eyed the drunk men in the mirror again then sent a fleeting glance to the door. Something was off here. He just had to figure out what.
" Alright." Wufei jumped out of his seat as Quatre slide off his without waiting and began to sway. Getting his grip back on the injured young man he gently led him to the furthest booth in the corner and helped him slide in.
Trowas eyes followed them from the bar, happiness seeming to escape the barriers in his mask and glimmer in dark green depths. Or perhaps, as one bar patron thought as he watch the young one, that maybe the feelings were always there, you only had to look in his eyes. That's were this boy showed his emotion just as some showed theirs through their voice or through all their face.
Quatre leaned exhausted into the cushions of the booth. Wufei sat protectively by his side. Trowa paused by their booth as he was coming from a back room and placed some water down for them. Wufei looked offended at the innocent glass of water.
" What kind of service is this waiter!" Quatre could have been mistaken but he was sure he saw Trowa twitch.
" All your getting." A look passed between all three that the rest of the world missed, and Quatre was sure he heard light laughter coming from his friend as he walked away.
" Wufei?"
" Hum?"
" How did you know where Trowa was?"
" I've been looking for all of you for a long time Quatre....maybe we should use Alex in public. I found Trowa...Trinton now...when a friend of mine from my 'new life' came back from a trip to Paris. He mentioned he had met with a young man named Trinton at a bar who had some interesting views on the war. So by chance I found Trowa. He didn't remember at the time, but I took a chance and sent him something hoping it would trigger his memory like it had mine."
" You parted with your sword?" Wufeis mouth snapped shut and he looked over at his now very awake companion.
" You've been around Maxwell again." Quatres' eyes danced with amusement. " No, I found a poster of a local circus."
" Oooh, so you took public property."
" Nyyya." Wufei shook his head and let a smile slip into his eyes and play on his lips. " I think you need more sleep."
" Nope, I'm wide awake!" Quatre laughed as Wufei once again took on a doctor facade and scolded him. Things seemed lighter for them than it had been for the last few days yet Quatre couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Both their heads snapped to face the front of the room when the sound of arguing reached their light hearted banter.
Trowa watched as the manager tried to reason with the officer. They had barged in and demanded to see a Trowa Barton who was reported to be hiding here. He stayed discreetly back in the crowd, just beside the bar where he could hear but not be seen. He couldn't get out of here without drawing attention and he couldn't leave the others. Yet his curiosity was peaked as to why they were on a man hunt for him. Straining his ears above the noise he caught the tail end of an accusation that ended with " for the murder of Quatre Raberba Winner." His eyes glinted with anger and he scanned the crowd around him for who he knew would be there. Preventer uniforms mixed with local police dotted the curious crowd. He pushed back through the thick crowd to stand just in view of his two friends in the back booth. He caught Wufeis questioning eyes then Quatres and watched as they began to rise.
Knowing he couldn't waste any time he pushed to the front of the crowd urgently, just controlling his panic as the Preventers were getting closer to where the others were still trying to get out. His eyes grew wide as one officer began pushing through too his eyes on the retreating backs of the two black haired teens. Trowa jumped in front of the man and rammed into him. The man fell back wards and Trowa made a run for it. The crowd parted in surprise and let the young man through. He gritted his teeth and plunged through the horde of police in front of the door and out into the open of the cold night. He could hear the shouts and pounding of feet behind him as they gave chase. The night air blew cold around him as he dodged into allies and jumped walls. Then he came to a dead end. Trowa jumped up onto the wall that over looked the water far below. The shouts came louder, now begging him to step down. The men gathered at the bottom of the wall and reached up imploring hands to the boy above. Trowa smiled down at them and spread his arms wide as he leaned backwards, the splash echoed through the night.
The chase wasn't over and he knew it. Trowa pulled himself up onto the bank and shook the water from his skin as he began running again. The shouts on the other shore had died down after he jumped but he wasn't taking chances. He continued running for dear life as fast as his long legs could take him. He ran out into an intersection and froze. Somehow they had gotten in front of him. He turned to all his sides, but he was caught.
" Please Trowa! Just come with us!" Trowa turned around and looked sadly at Lady Une as she approached him. " Please Trowa, we'll work this out. I promise you. I will always trust you and the others."
Trowa let his breathing ease and slow he nodded.
" But I warn you Lady, he will pay for this and we will do it." Une nodded in understanding as she watched the burning in his eyes flare.
Quatres breath was coming in gasps as they ran. Wufei held onto him as they passed through street after street trying to escape the Preventers that seemed to be searching every where for a run away Trowa. He knew he wouldn't last much longer like this, but he couldn't slow down or they would be caught. Determination flashed like lightning in his eyes and he pulled hard on Wufeis hand, bringing them to a stop in a ally. Wufei spun to look at him in alarm.
" Go on..." He gasped for precious air to fill his lungs. " Go without me, I can't slow you down now so go!"
" No, We're staying together. I'm not leaving you out here on your own to save my own hide so forget it." Wufei moved forward to pick him up and carry him but Quatre pushed him away with his remaining strength.
" Go!" Foot steps diverted their attention. Wufei suddenly turned toward his partner and gave him a quick embrace.
" Be carful Quatre." Quatre eyes widened in realization, but Wufei was gone. He picked himself up off the wall and stumbled weakly toward the sounds of shouting and brief fighting.
" No...you were supposed to get away!" He stumbled to the edge of the ally and peered out, his face written with anguish. He watched helplessly as Wufei was shoved roughly into the back of a truck marked with the Preventers symbol. Quatre pushed out into the open as the truck pulled away, but it was too late. Tears ran silently down his pale cheeks as he hit his knees. Minutes passed as he caught his breath and a new light flared in his chest as he lifted his head to look after the long gone truck and his friend. Shaking his head defiantly he pushed himself back onto his unsteady feet and whispered a thank you to the wind before beginning his walk home.