Disclaimer: I do have some really cute pics of the guys on my computer, but other than that, I don't own anything about Gundam Wing. *Thinks really hard* Nope, nothing. Not even any bloody Gundam Wing Band-Aids. Heh, heh, heh, not physically bloody, don't worry.
Rating: G
Warnings: Nothing much. Rather pathetic if you ask me. There's a slight analysis of Wufei on Duo's part.
A/N: We meet the original Cassandra. If that makes sense to anyone, then shhhh, you'll ruin the plot. Truthfully, it would only enhance it, but whatever. Thank you Robin for reviewing again!! I was ecstatic again. I think my family's starting to get concerned about how happy I get. And for clarification purposes, I live in western Canada (Edmonton). And to my little Chibi, ever so glad that you enjoyed my little blurb last chapter. I thought it best if they didn't try to kidnap you. And since I doubt I'll post again before my birthday, Happy Birthday to me on the 5th of December!!! Ha ha!! Legal baby!! Be afraid, be very afraid. I know I am.

//blah// - thoughts
::blah:: - actions I'm too lazy to write out in whole sentences
*blah* - emphasis on words
blah - words written by characters
~=~=~=~= - POV or scene change
^^^^^^^^ - time pass

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Strife

Chapter 3 - Cassandra

"Well this morning was certainly awkward. Wouldn't you say?" It was lunchtime and Duo was attempting to walk, talk, and eat at the same time. Scary enough, it was working perfectly. The boys were at a small mall across the street from the high school.


Wufei gave him a withering look from the other side of Heero. "Maxwell, you have such a way with words. You know that right?" At the wide grin he received, Wufei sighed and continued walking along side Trowa and Heero. Fidgeting caught his eye as he was glancing at Trowa trying to find the reason for Trowa's odd behavior this morning. The fidgeting was from Quatre as he too was wondering about the earlier events of this morning. A strange feeling had radiated from both Trowa and Chiron earlier that morning and it was most unsettling.

Heero had by this time grown annoyed with the tension amongst the group. He spotted three couches arranged in a semi-circle in an isolated area of the mall. "We're going to sit over there and talk about this morning." His tone of voice made it clear that they had no say on the matter and was to do as told. It is rare when Heero takes the role as group leader, but when he does nobody dares object. He gets this indivertible look in his eye and no amount of arguing can persuade him.

Upon arriving, Trowa and Quatre sat themselves down together more out of habit than anything else; where as Heero was dragged down in to the centre couch by Duo leaving Wufei to take the last couch by himself. When the boys were seated and as comfortable as the ex-gundam pilots ever get, they turned to Heero.

"All right, I checked the files of Chiron Onassis and Kristine Lee. They're clean. Both have licenses and neither have part-time jobs. Chiron's from a wealthy family in Greece and Kristine is your typical second generation Canadian. There is nothing about them to show that they are in any way involved with our objective." Heero finished his research report and opened the floor for suggestions and analysis.

Wufei jumped at the opening and took the fore. "Did anyone get anything about why he called the girl Chibi?" He looked at his fellow companions as he asked his question.

"Oh!! I did." exclaimed Duo. "It's apparently a nickname he has with her. She doesn't tolerate anybody else calling her that. I saw someone earlier this morning call her Chibi and he was still limping at the beginning of lunch. It was the funniest thing I ever saw." Duo grinned outrageously as Quatre silently chuckled behind his hand.

The group turned to Trowa as he straightened a little more and began to add his opinion. "It's obvious that he dropped us the clue. Whether it was to lure us into a trap or to see if we can be trusted, I don't know. But I believe we can trust him." At the show of no objection, Trowa took a big leap and spoke what's been on his mind all morning. "I think I can get close to him without too much suspicion, so I'll try and find out what he knows." He kept a close rein in on his facial and body expressions as the others thought over the proposal. No emotion showed on his face while inside he was a nervous wreck. The only outward betrayal of his tension was a quick glance at Quatre as he checked to see if he would approve. It was obvious that Quatre would make the main decision. It was the simple fact that the masks the five wore were so layered that the pilots themselves probably had extreme troubles trying to distinguish how they felt by looking at them.

Meanwhile, Quatre was suffering for a bout of indecision. He sensed the inner turmoil in Trowa, yet also knew that this was the most logical way to go about it. But what seemed to ooze off of Trowa was the uncomprehending need to be with Chiron. This feeling seemed to have been growing stronger all morning throughout classes. Quatre just couldn't decide if it would be safe mentally and physically for Trowa to get into such a predicament. There could be any number of outcomes to this and Quatre didn't want to see Trowa getting hurt. Oddly enough, Quatre was thinking of Trowa as a little brother to be watched and cared for at all times and costs. That realization brought Quatre back to the subject at hand. Did the pros out weigh the cons? Could Trowa survive such heartbreak, as this obligation would eventually lead to once the mission was over? Could such an opportunity be passed up for the feelings of a crush? With that, Quatre made his decision and he hoped and prayed to every god and deity out there that he made the right choice. A curt nod from Quatre signed the approval of Trowa's idea and moved them on to other more important business.

"So has there been any progress on finding our illusive fiend?" asked Wufei. His tone though spoke of how fruitless his search was. Sour faces flashed across the others faces to more or lesser degrees. "Suggestions as to go about finding him?" The flash in his eyes immediately told Duo not to fool around with stupid ideas. Duo got the hint and leaned back into the couch and began admiring the fine contours of Heero's firm shoulders, steely arms that were folded neatly between his knees, the olive skin that could be seen underneath the loose-fitting tank-top, that absolutely tasty looking neck . . . Duo found himself licking his lips that seemed to have gone dry.

//Ack, have to think unpleasant thoughts. Unpleasant thought. Unpleasant thoughts. Unpleasant thoughts. I don't think the others would be too pleased with me if they saw me aroused at the moment. Umm, quick, umm, Wufei!! There we go.// Duo shot Wufei with a quick one over. //Ok, I can do this. Hmm, start off slow; don't want to scare yourself now. Ok, pale olive skin, blackest brown eyes, hair pulled back so tight he could actually be an old man with one hell of a face lift. Hmm, wonder what he looks like with his hair down. Silky, straight hair framing a calm relaxed face. Huh, Wufei might actually look handsome if he didn't have a stick so far up his butt that even I feel straight. Poor guy. He's gonna have one hell of a time finding a woman that meets up to his standards. Oh, it's twelve, time to head back.//

In unison, the group rose and silently began retracing their steps back to school. //What on earth is that??// Trowa quickly began looking around. "Do any of you feel that?" The others gave him a quizzical look. "It's like a silent roar growing from within." Absently, Trowa moved his hand to his chest. The feeling grew to deafening proportions as Trowa focused on the strange occurrence. The others were slowly becoming more concerned with the turn of events surrounding Trowa.

Quatre was about to comment on Trowa's strange behavior when Trowa himself beat him. "It's gone." A look of confusion flickered passed his face, but before he could comment about it, he was interrupted.

"Good afternoon friends." Chiron popped out in front of them startling all of them from their reverie of Trowa. "Whoa!! Sorry about that, didn't mean to scare all of you. Trowa was staring at me the entire time I was coming over here after all." That seemed to snap everybody out of the daze. Looks of skepticism and disbelief were shot at Chiron as he systematically studied all of their faces. "You really didn't see me did you? Man, you guys must have been really deep in thought. Sorry I interrupted, but I was wondering if I could have a short chat with Trowa for a moment. Of course, if that's all right with all of you." A small grin crept across his face as the others tried to hide their surprise again.

//How is it that he brings out such responses from us whenever he's around?? It's like he can read us better than we can read each other.// Trowa quickly swept these thoughts out of the way as he realized Chiron was still waiting for a response. With a slight nod to the guys, Trowa motioned for Chiron to lead the way.

Once Trowa and Chiron were out of earshot, Duo, with a serious face, turned to Quatre. "Are you sure it's such a good idea for Trowa to get close to Chiron?? He's having an obvious effect on him."

"But can't you see? Trowa is having an effect on Chiron too." Quatre face softened to the feelings radiating from the two guys who had stopped a little ways away and were now talking. "I'm not sure, but I think there is a connection between the two of them. It's something stronger than brotherhood, friends or lovers. I don't know how to explain it, but it reminds me of something. Hmm, I'm sure it will come to me."

Heero and Wufei shared a secret look between themselves. They knew what was going on between Trowa and Chiron. Both had experienced the feeling themselves. Silently they decided to have a personal talk with Trowa later.

A couple of minutes later the two rejoined the group. Neither boy gave any hint that they were going to discuss what they had been talking about, so they turned towards the exit of the mall.

Stepping out into the cool September breeze, all six paused to take in the relaxing scenery before them. All having gathered themselves up turned as one body to the raggedy character that approached with a staggered shuffle from off to their back right.

She was a hunched over pile of rags to put it shortly. Patched and stained mismatch pieces of clothing hung from her lanky limbs. Her hair, which might have been a golden yellow colour at one time, was now a shady almond colour with a scrap of cloth resembling a hat covering the matted rat nest of hair. Smudges of unidentifiable substances covered her hands and face, the only skin visible. A distinct aroma seemed to follow the woman as she approached; it was like fungus and mildew. The person appeared to be mumbling to herself as she slowly made her way towards the group of wary boys.

She stopped a couple feet away from the group and ceased her mutterings. Raising her eyes, she locked gazes with Heero. There was recognition in her steady green-eyed gaze. The entire area around them seemed to be electrified as the woman slowly began to talk.

"Is this one for the people? Is this one for the Lord? You jumble them together, my conflict still remains." The woman paused to assess whether he was getting all of this or if Heero will just brush it all aside after. Seeing Heero's alert and conspicuous look, she continued. "Cause I see the trust in their eyes though the sky is falling. Compromise is calling." Puzzlement filled all of the boys' gazes as they stared at the young woman. Abruptly she turned around more agilely then it first appeared she should be able to. She began to mumble "What to do?" over and over to herself as she departed.

The boys just kind of stood there for a moment trying to grasp what had happened just then. "What the blazes was that? And don't even try to tell me that that is normal. And no, I did not pay her off to do that, so don't even think it." Duo had begun to move into rant phase of astonishment. Turning abruptly, Duo faced Chiron. "You're from around here. Is this a common occurrence? Or did you pay her off?"

"Relax friend, that was just Cassandra. She does that to everybody. Nobody listens to her though." He then turned to Trowa and asked, "Does he always so hasty when strange things happen? That is most peculiar." Trowa simply nodded and the group proceeded to go to class.

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Cob: I don't know about the rest of the world, but the crazy people in Edmonton are bloody scary!! And they all target me!!

Connor: Ha ha!! It's the funniest thing in the world! Nose stuck in a book and they all seem to flock to you.

Creed: Oh oh!! Like that drunk guy that was singing really really loudly: "One more drink and I'll pass out."

Carolyn: *snicker snicker* I think he was off key.