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Children of War

By,

Luna Dragon

~*^*^*~

With the visible sun going higher into the sky, Rei could still read Wufei's shocked expression. He had said nothing since they had left, except shouted and mumbling words in Chinese. Rei thought that he was too angry to realized which language to speak in, but Rei had a pretty good guess. With her eyes still looking at the Chinese man beside her, and not on the road in front, both passengers were jounced from their seats as the jeep ran over a large rock.

"Woman driver!" Wufei barked at her. "How many times must you be told to watch the road?! I did not survive an entire war to be a victim of your recklessness!"

Rei gave an inaudible growl as she narrowed her eyes on the road ahead. 'At least he's gotten over the shock and is speaking normally now,' She thought. Wufei was more irritable than usual now, but that was understandable. Rei had, after all, explained that friend's of hers were rebuilding his and his friends' Gundams. She was about to comment on how the ex-Gundam pilot's driving skills weren't any better when her cell phone crackled to life.

"This is Rei," she announced as Wufei sulked in his seat. He looked at Rei as her delicate features grew pail. "What?" Rei screamed as she slammed on the breaks.

Wufei, who was not wearing his seat belt, plunged face first into the dash board while the truck screeched to a halt mere inches behind them. The former was cursing all the women in the world and their collective intelligence while Rei's entire attention was turned to the voice on the cell phone.

"How? And why did you chose now to tell me?" She demanded. Rei held her breath as she waited, and Wufei was ready to snatch the phone from her if she didn't hurry. "Setsuna, we can't go all . . ." Her voice trailed off as the other voice, now identified as Setsuna, interrupted her. "I know. Yes, but . . . I understand."

Muttering still, Wufei pried himself off of the dash board and looked at Rei as she slammed on the accelerator, causing Wufei to slam back into the seat. Finally deciding the 'woman' had lost her mind, he strapped his seat belt on and glared at her. "Well?" He demanded angrily.

"Well what?" She was trying to avoid the question.

"Who the hell was that, woman? And what has you so worked up?"

The raven haired Shinto priestess didn't answer at first, and Wufei was about to pull an 'Omae o korosu' on her but she spoke slowly. "That was Setsuna. She . . . she had some interesting news to say the least. Apparently, there are five more Gundams, other than yours. They're all located at the L-1 Colony cluster."

When Rei looked over at Wufei again, his fists were clenched tightly and he was grinding his teeth together. Needless to say, as obvious as it was, Wufei was angry and frustrated beyond words. Under his breath he spat the worse curse he could think of:

"Injustice!"

~*^*^*~

Haruka paced around the long legs of the Gundam Wing Zero. That was three Gundams they had finished, with this one. Shenlong was the first. Heavyarms was finished soon afterwards, and now, Wing Zero was the third. That only left two more Gundams until they could put a stop to Professor Tomoe. That only left a few more hours tops. Her men had come back earlier than they were supposed to, the last time Michiru and herself had dismissed them. They had only had no more than three hours of sleep before regrouping in the lab -- before herself and Michiru even had a chance to arrive. It was no doubt that Mamoru had led the group -- if it wasn't for his constant support and strictness, the Gundams wouldn't be as far as they were now. Though Haruka hated to admit it, the group of men wouldn't listen to just her in charge, or Michiru. But, they did all work well.

She sighed as she watched the work around her. Deathscythe Hell had only his scythe left and he would be ready, which would only leave Sandrock and his ammunition and outside censers. 'Well, it's been a long time since these ideas came to be, and a while since these ideas were destroyed. But now, with Michiru, Mamoru, Setsuna, and Ami by my side, it looks like we've done it. Just a day or two tops and we've got Tomoe beat to the ground like a pulp. Hotaru . . . Michiru and I raised her since she was little, after her mother died. Now she has no idea who we are. If she finds out her true past, how will her reaction be to have to kill her own father?'

"What are you thinking about, Haruka?" Michiru's soft voice reached her ears even over the loud uproar of workers.

"Just about our little Hotaru. She doesn't deserve all this. Hell, none of them do. Maybe it wasn't right to bring them into this. What if anything happens to Hotaru? To the pilots? Rei, Ami, Akiko, Kaiya? It'd be all our damn fault!" Angrily, she slammed her fist against Wing Zero's leg, bruising itself in the process.

"What if we died during the war? What if we died before it? What if we didn't participate in the war, or what if we die in the next one? Haruka, thinking the way you are right now isn't going to help. What's done is done and we can't change that. And it's too late to walk away from this, all that we've worked for would be a waste. No one will live a peaceful life. Not Hotaru, Heero, the pilots. Ami, Rei, the people of the colonies or the Earth! We're doing this for everyone important to us." Michiru reminded, her eyes filling with passion as she spoke to her lover.

Haruka sighed and leaned her head against her shoulder that rested on the Gundam's long leg. "Sacrifices have to be made, I guess." Haruka whispered. "But if anything happens to Hotaru. . ."

"I know." Michiru whispered, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Suddenly, there was a giant banging, along with the constant sound of a horn.

"Hey!" The loud voice called. "Anyone in there? C'mon! Open up!"

'They've finally made it.' Haruka thought as she signaled for an entrance maintainer to open the large steal doors that looked like wooden ones from the outside. Catching her signal, the guard pushed a button and the doors opened little by little. Impatient as he was, Duo rushed in as soon as he could fit through, Akiko right behind him.

"What?" Akiko shouted as soon as she and Duo caught site of the large mobile suits before them. "It's the Gundam-things!"

"Thing?" Duo whispered as soon as he found his voice. Managing to grin despite the awkwardness settling in his stomach, he turned to Akiko with a faked pained, yet serious expression. "I'm insulted! This 'thing' has a name."

"My mind isn't working right, and I think it's safe to say that I'm officially confused now." Akiko mumbled, staring at all the men who were just working as if they hadn't even arrived.

"Well, looks like you've beaten everyone to the punch. You're Duo, I presume? Akiko, as well?" Michiru said with a smile, walking up to the two very confused teens.

"He runs, he hides, he does everything but he never lies. Duo Maxwell at your service." He answered. "I get it one of you is Haruka?" Duo then guessed as Haruka walked up behind Michiru. "Uh, Setsuna sent us, and I think this is what she meant by our 'old friends that can help' bit."

~*^*^*~

Ami stopped the car in front of the building. Hotaru and Heero were right behind her in the back seats, and Quatre was sitting in the front. Nervously, he ran a hand through his hair. He still couldn't quite grasp the contrast of what was in front of them. The five Gundams? The five Gundams that were thought destroyed? Their five Gundams that were thought destroyed? He knew they were in there, Ami wouldn't lie about something like this, not after talking so gravely. "Shall we go?" He asked, looking to Hotaru and Heero, noticing a new look in her eyes. 'Does she . . . does she remember?' He thought suddenly, but before he could receive a chance to ask, another car pulled up, this time a Preventers one, and in it, a loud Chinese cursing male.

"Stuff it Wufei, we're here." Rei growled, and was evidently surprised to see the four confused teenagers in front of her. She blushed slightly. "Well, your Gundams await you inside."

Quatre looked at Ami, who just nodded, and the two walked off, followed by Hotaru and Heero, who, unknown to the others, were in an uncomfortable silence.

Rei sighed. "Well Wufei, are you going to come or not? Don't look at me like that, cursing in Chinese under your tongue is not going to get you anywhere." She said, jogging slightly to catch up with everyone else, who were standing near the opened doors.

"Damn incompetent woman," Wufei mumbled. When he reached the door, he shared the same expression as Quatre and Heero. Their faces slightly paler than usual, mouths opened, even if just a little bit, and wide eyes that reflected their respective Gundams. "N . . . Nataku. . . ." Wufei whispered almost hoarsely.

"Are you gonna stare at them all day or are you gonna come in?" A very overly cheerful Duo called from atop his Gundam, helping with the fixing.

Pulled out of their stupor, the three boys walked in. Three of the five Gundams were finished, standing to the far end of the giant room. Various workers were checking up on the details of Heavyarms, Wing Zero and Shenlong, while many more workers helped to finish rebuild Deathscythe Hell (along with Duo), and Sandrock.

Two people walked up to them, a woman with teal hair and what looked like a man with blonde hair. "I believe Rei and Ami have filled you in with most of the details?" The woman with teal hair asked.

"Well hello to you too." Rei mumbled with a smile as she looked at Haruka and Michiru. They only smiled.

"Oh -- yes." Quatre answered, prying his eyes away from Sandrock. Wufei and Heero nodded as well.

"Good, because I'm only going to explain the important details once. Underground, there are eight rooms, each identically alike in every possible aspect. A pair must go to each bedroom, unless your willing to sleep here or outside. You must share a room with your counterpart. Quatre and Ami to a room, Wufei and Rei to a room, Heero and Hotaru to a room, Duo and Akiko, and Trowa and Kaiya. And before you ask, it cannot be changed." During her last comment, she eyed Wufei darkly and Heero with a wary watch.

"You can do whatever is wished," Michiru continued. "There are twin beds, two in each bedroom, for each to sleep in, and there are bathrooms as well. There is a kitchen Underground as well, and it's big enough to hold all of you at once. Other than the kitchen, there is a training room or a lobby."

"Do whatever you want until tonight. There is a meeting room up here--" she pointed to a large room with a squared table and fourteen chairs that was located at the very end of the last wall-- "and we will hold a meeting at nine o'clock. Till then, you're free to go." Haruka said, tipped her oil stained hat and walked away before any questions could be asked.

Michiru sighed and turned to Hotaru before she could disappear along with the other five. "Do you think you could follow me Hotaru? There is a small matter I wish to discus with you."

"All right." The violet eyed girl agreed and followed.

~*^*^*~

Michiru led Hotaru to a smaller conference room that had only eight chairs surrounding an oval shaped table. Various paintings of the sea or ocean waves and windy, stormy days hung around the room. Haruka was already sitting in a chair with a glass of water at the end of the table when she arrived with Michiru.

"Where should I sit?" Hotaru asked after Michiru took a seat next to Haruka.

"It's a free country. You can sit wherever you want." Haruka answered with a smile and a shrug.

"Still haven't changed Haruka-papa, as I can see." Hotaru answered. Haruka, who had been drinking her water when she voiced that, spit it out in a shower of tiny droplets. Coughing, she turned to her step-daughter with wide eyes. Even Michiru had gone into a slight case of shock.

"You don't really have amnesia do you? It was a scheme!" Haruka said with a laugh. "I have a strange feeling of fondness for you knowing that I taught you these things-- Ow!" She suddenly yelped when Michiru slapped her over the head.

"Hotaru-honey?" She whispered lovingly.

The teenager nodded. "Actually Haruka, I did have amnesia. I had gotten it when Heero dosed me with some chloroform, and I retrieved my memory again when I jumped in front of Heero, taking a bullet in the chest."

Haruka and Michiru blinked a few times, trying to make sure they heard right. When Hotaru nodded to their silent question, Haruka was red with anger, and Hotaru thought that any minute steam would come out of her ears.

"He what?" Haruka yelled. "You--why?"

~*^*^*~

Outside of the meeting room, despite the noise of engines, the noise of constant shouts and talking, everyone turned their heads up toward the scream that they heard perfectly.

"He what?" Came the first yell, followed by: "You--why?"

The voice seemed to bounce off the soundproof exterior walls as its echo rang in their ears.

Duo blinked and laughed lightly from his place on Deathscythe Hell, taking a big bite out of his sandwich. Thinking now was the chance since he had everyone's attention, he asked, "Gopth Amfee shoada?" (translation: "Got any soda?")

~*^*^*~

Michiru had to literally hold Haruka back from running out and going to 'teach Heero a lesson.' "Haruka, we need him alive, remember? He pilots the Wing Zero, he's going to help stop this war."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to kill him." Haruka reasoned, shrugging Michiru off. Just when the teal eyed woman thought she had calmed down, Haruka roared with anger and tried to make a dash for the door. "I'll torture him and then brutally murder him! No one messes with my Hotaru!"

Before Haruka could make it out the door, Hotaru stood there, arms out in front of her. "As much as I love you Haruka-papa, you've always known that I've loved Odin. You were there before the war--you and Michiru-mama. Playing the flute and violin? And, I was the one who broke into the Preventers headquarters, which is why I got amnesia because of the chloroform. I was the one who jumped in front of the bulled and pushed Heero out of the way. Both were my choices."

Michiru frowned at Haruka. "See? You can't kill Heero, or hurt him. Not only do we need his assistance, but Hotaru needs him as well."

Hotaru blushed after Michiru's last statement, just as Haruka growled. "If he even looks at Hotaru the wrong way in front of me I'll -- I'll . . ."

"We know." Michiru interrupted with a roll of her eyes.

~*^*^*~

Rei stood in the training room, eyes closed, as she swung her katana around in swift movements. She jumped in the air, turning around and bringing her katana down and to the side. The air sounded in whines as the blade slashed at it with speed, strength and skill.

And from the doorway, Chang Wufei watched with a semi amused expression. "Can I help you, Wufei?" Rei asked as she dropped to her knee after a jump, her eyes still closed. Bowing her head, she put the katana down. It was no more than a minute before Rei put the katana back, the last shelf under her other two.

"I didn't know such a stubborn woman could be so skillful in the swordsmanship arts." He answered truthfully, a raised eyebrow present.

"You do not know very much about me, then." Rei answered as she turned to face him. 'But at least he used stubborn instead of weak, which is something I am not.'

"No I don't," he answered, picking himself off of the door frame and walking up to face her. "But how about I find out how strong you really are?"

"Are you suggesting a martial arts duel, or a sword match?"

"My katana against one of your own."

Rei smirked and walked over to her shelf once more. "The weapon of the Samurai combined with the tradition of the mythological dragon." She said absentmindedly, picking up a sword that had a dragon's head for the bunt side. "Ornately detailed ABS handle and ornamental cast metal guard. It's twenty four inch 420 J2 stainless steel blade is razor sharp and fully functional. Overall its thirty nine inches long and weighs no more or less than seven pounds. It has an antiqued, simulated ivory handle with a red and gold scabbard. The Oriental Dragon III Katana, invented and hand made by my grandfather."

Wufei nodded. He had to admit, even if it wasn't out loud, that she knew hew weaponry. He took out his own katana and studied it. "Its blade is high carbon steel with a hamon. Made by one of China's preeminent custom knife makers before they were banned to the colonies. The handle is made of wood covered with a tough ABS skin and then wrapped with red cotton. It weighs no less than three pounds and has a high gloss, black wooden scabbard. It's forty-one inches overall with a twenty-three and a half inch blade and is one and one sixteenth inches wide."

Wufei stepped out onto the thick pad and held his katana loosely in his hand as he scrutinized his opponent. Rei stood in one spot, one arm hung loosely at her side while the other held her own katana pointing at the ground.

"You sure you're up to this?" He asked her.

"Yes." She answered. "Why do you ask?"

"You're still weak." Wufei stated bluntly. "You haven't recovered from when you 'arrived' at the Peacecraft mansion."

Rei raised her katana and held it at ready. "If we waited till I was strong than we would have this fight in too long from now, and we both might not survive the upcoming war."

Wufei raised his sword, allowing the point to touch hers. He decided to go easy on her.

Rei made the first move, an easy swing just enough to get the dance going. Wufei easily blocked her moves, preparing for an easy victory. But then he realized she was merely studying his techniques.

'So she is a true swordswoman.' He thought.

Smoothly, Wufei went from defense to offense and studied her techniques. He soon found out that she hid her skills very well. He would have to revert to just attacking her. He lunged towards the left, feigned right and lunged back left. She parried the blow with graceful ease and took a step back, waiting for Wufei to attack again. The Chinese pilot stood facing her, waiting for her attack.

"Well?" He asked.

"I'm waiting." she replied.

'Now that's more like it.' Wufei thought to himself.

With a yell, he leapt forward and began his assault. He left no opening whatsoever and kept attacking fast and furious. Rei gritted her teeth and kept blocking the blows, but every hit sapped more of her strength. Wufei could feel her blocks getting weaker and eased back. Then he realized his mistake. Rei noticed how he lessened his attack and took the advantage. Wufei tried to retake his role on the offense, but just as he did so, Rei found a slight opening and held her sword to his neck. But Rei had won, having gotten the sword their a flat second and a half before he did.

Wufei stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowed. He, too, had his katana to the Shinto priestess's neck. Slowly, the two pulled back, bowing respectfully to each other before re-sheathing his katana. Rei followed suit.

'The only other who has beaten me was Treize Khushrenada.' Wufei thought with a smirk. 'So maybe this isn't such a weak woman after all.'

~*^*^*~

Kaiya wandered aimlessly through the corridors, feeling a bit of loneliness settle in the pit of her stomach. She had paid a visit to Akiko, and she wasn't surprised to figure out she had gotten herself hurt . . . again. But, she was a bit surprised to know what else happened to her while she was gone. . . .

//Flashback//

Kaiya stayed quiet and listened as Akiko told her all that she figured out. About their actual homes being destroyed, about breaking into the Prof's place, and about how she was shot. "I think I know how Duo feels," Akiko said with stifled laugh as she placed her hand on her abdomen. She shrugged, "The bum did manage to save me one way or another. But I've got our cover blown. Figures, huh?"

Kaiya smiled slightly. "I wasn't expecting any less."

"Gee thanks for your moral support." Akiko said.

"How'd Duo save you, by the way?"

Akiko had blushed then. "He surrendered, and then came to get me at my solitary confinement cell. . ." She smiled slightly. "And well . . ."

Kaiya's eyes slightly went wide as she laughed. "I never would have thought. My best friend in love with a Gundam pilot."

"And what about Trowa?"

That time it was Kaiya's turn to blush.

//End of Flashback.//

Soft song filtered through the door of the room that Trowa and Kaiya were supposed to occupy.

And it just so happened that she was wandering through those very halls. The music drifted into her ears. She walked down the hallway and stood in front of the door where the music was coming from. It was her room and Trowa's room. She felt her previous embarrassment melt away as she listened to the mournful music. Had he really been affected that deeply by something? There was such a sorrow in the notes that Kaiya found tears stinging the backs of her eyes. Quickly, she pulled out of the embrace of the music and regained her composure as she walked away.

'He has a mournful past . . . maybe if he lets me, I can help him look to the future instead of staying in the saddened history.' Kaiya thought.

******End of Chapter******

Hello everyone! This chapter's pretty long I think. Anyways, I just thought I'd make this announcement for no apparent reason:

I've gotten my first flame! EGADS! What am I to do? It's TWO flames!! Even though they are from the same person..... Anyways, it says that my Grammar is bad. Well too bad! I don't have spell check! I have to use a cheap computer and use words that I know.

::Shrugs:: Ow well. For some reason I am strangely proud of myself. I knew that somewhere not everyone was going to like my fics! Anyways, I accept flames blissfully! They cause no harm to me! MUWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Well, Ja ne!