Disclaimer: Don't own Gundam Wing. Don't own Sailor Moon. I did in a past life, but I abused that right and tortured fanfiction authors so … what goes around comes around, huh? ^_~

Thanks for my lovely editors Usagi Asia Maxwell, Lady Artemis, DevilsDarling, and Autumn Hime … they taught me how to say "lovely". :sigh: Thanks to my lovely editors for SOME things. Lol.

Chapter 6: Sound Advice

Relena fiddled with her hair and glanced down at the notecards in her hands. There had been an ongoing, recent debate on the inefficiency of the law enforcement corporation and many toes had been stepped on. The debate organized as a series of speeches was monitored by all major broadcasting stations.

The entire audience and possibly every viewer in front of their TVs had paid rapt attention as Abkar Manson, the affluent President of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation defended the law department and as Head of Preventers Une tracked the efforts of the department through the last few decades, indicating the steep incline. The affirmative had had their turn and now the opposing spoke. Quatre Winner, leader of L4 and trusted spokesperson for the colonies went first, noting the recent stagnation of attempts to prevent crime to the point where Innocence, the criminal organization of New York, was more organized and deadly than the ESUN FBI, CIA, and Preventers.

A young intern cued her at five minutes before Quatre drew to an end, and she nodded back, hands slightly clammy from nervousness. No one would have expected that Relena Darlian, Vice Foreign Minister and supporter of absolute pacifism to be on the opposing side. No one would have expected Relena Darlian to also use the prime example of Innocence. But it was time to change the people's minds.

She stepped forward into the bright lights, scanning the crowd gathered and ignoring the various stations not so discreetly taping her every movement.

…………………

The cold winter air traveled in and out of her tired lungs as she sprinted down the streets of Calais, dodging wary and shocked pedestrians. Her breath became labored, but her mind remained strangely blank and calm. She knew it. She knew there was no escaping. Not like this, at least. Hiiro would be able to catch up to her in a matter of minutes. The Glock she had stuck in her jacket's pocket thumped against her side as she turned a corner and plowed onwards.

Her legs stopped straining, and she slowed down to a stop. What was she doing? There was no point in wasting energy and igniting anger like this. Unless Artemis just so happened to be strolling down the streets and had a private helicopter parked somewhere close by, only one thing could come as a result of this excursion – Hiiro would have a reason to take her to New York sooner.

A sound from behind her caused her to jerk and turn. Hiiro's gun was trained on her – the same gun that had caused the no longer bleeding wound on the side of his face and the hurriedly bandaged one on his left arm.

"You're coming back with me."

Her hands slowly raised up in a gesture of defeat. "Why don't you just end it now? You'll save us both a lot of trouble," she uttered softly, voice laced with brooding fury.

He didn't answer.

"Treize will forgive you. You can tell him I was trying to escape-"

"Come back with me," he cut through her words smoothly, unaffected by them.

She met his gaze unwaveringly, determination obviously flashing in lively blue eyes. "I won't give up."

"Hn."

She didn't bother to resist when his free hand grabbed her wrist and the other moved to holster the gun.

They gathered odd glances – the forlorn girl with downcast blue eyes and the man who wore a sleeveless shirt at the onset of winter, scarlet seeping through the makeshift bandage on his arm.

…………………

Trowa turned and glanced out at the street from the shadows of the dark alley. Wufei's voice, covered with static, came from the earpiece at his right ear. He cocked his head.

"Target sighted. Sector H 26. Walking in a northerly direction."

Thank goodness that wasn't far. He sighed and launched off from the ground onto the relatively low roof in front of him and headed in that direction.

…………………

The walk back to the private hotel was silent but not in a necessarily bad way. The silence wasn't angry or even tension-filled. It was simply … vacant.

She felt tears sting the corners of her eyes and pursed her lips angrily. This was all her fault. All her fault for falling in love with Duo and all her fault for ignoring Artemis' sensible advice.

"Are we going to eat soon?" The question was laughable and childish, light-hearted against the situation that was going on.

"I'll order room service. Take your pick." The door swung open, and she stepped in first.

…………………

"Took you long enough, Barton," was the irritated greeting the serious-looking, ebony-haired man shot him as he turned slightly, glancing at the new arrival who had slipped into the shadows behind him.

"Hn."

"He's about three seconds from this alleyway. I'll tail him, and you can head onwards."

An emerald eye flashed at him warningly. "Don't do anything rash."

Wufei snorted. "Same to you."

"Got it," he grunted shortly before flipping upwards onto the adjacent roof again and running silently onwards. Even with shades and a raven wig over his striking silver hair, Artemis was not a person who could be easily missed.

…………………

Artemis paused in his tracks and looked into a window displaying cheap trinkets. Sharp emerald eyes barely noticed the proud parade of baubles and instead scanned the faintly reflecting window, showing him a glimpse at the people behind him.

That man again!

A tall, brunette man with hair styled to one side strolled by behind him, barely glancing anywhere but forwards. He was definitely being followed.

Scowling at his own disguised reflection, he mentally shook his head. This wasn't a good turn of events. He desperately needed to talk to her, but she was in absolutely no position for the world to know of her role in Innocence. He couldn't afford letting ESUN be made aware of anybody's relations to Innocence other than his and Usagi's.

Meeting her was no longer a valid option.

Sorry, he whispered to her as if she could hear, knowing he was wasting her valuable time.

The scowl vanished as he turned and pressed onwards, choosing a roundabout way back to Innocence. The people following him were going to be in for a LONG wild-goose chase.

…………………

After getting off of the phone with room service, Hiiro started rummaging through the cupboards, looking for spoon, forks, etc. She watched him silently from the couch, rubbing her horribly abused wrist absentmindedly. He finally stopped moving and whirled around to glare at her.

"What do you want?"

She blinked at the sudden change of moods, mentally smiling to herself. So Hiiro Yui has a weakness after all.

"Are you mad at me?" she questioned softly, eyes not wavering from his. A silent staring contest ensued. One that Hiiro lost after his eyes finally flicked sideways, and he let go of a frustrated, half-angry sigh.

"Yes and no."

"Yes and no?"

"I understand why you would want to leave, but I asked you to stay."

She laughed bitterly. "Asked me to stay, huh?" He didn't reply immediately, and she continued.

"Your definition of asking somebody to stay must be horribly warped if you think forced house arrest is within the confines of asking somebody to stay."

"Hn."

She crossed her arms over her chest grumpily. "Hn yourself." [1]

The doorbell rang.

…………………

"Barton, is it just me or have we been down this street already?" crackled into his ear.

"This is useless. He already knows we're following him."

Wufei remained silent.

"But that would mean this person with whom he's meeting is of utmost importance and that his identity is not one to be revealed to the public…"

"That's not much help. Innocence is known for the reliability and confidentiality they offer to the clients," Wufei mused quietly.

Silence ensued again as the two agents continued trailing the leisurely walking man.

"You sure this isn't just some type of stroll, Wufei?" Trowa offered sarcastically.

"Innocence sighted to your right."

"Damn it. He was just playing with us all along!"

…………………

Usagi eyed Hiiro quietly over her barely touched deli sandwich before taking another tentative bite and setting it down.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" she finally asked. He glanced up at her before looking aside.

"Within mission parameters."

"What?" she uttered dumbly, blinking.

"I'm not assigned to carry out punishment. It's my mission to get you there safely," he paused before adding in a low voice that sent shivers down her spine, "and I've never failed a mission."

Usagi shook her blonde head. "You miss the point. I understand that much but … in the beginning. With the dessert? And the … and the…" Kiss stuck at her throat and refused to budge. She sipped shakily at her water, trying to swallow it back down.

Silence reigned for so long that she thought he had decided to ignore the question.

"Don't concern yourself with things that will get you in trouble."

"Sound advice," she retorted coolly.

…………………

Hmm … it would appear that I'm stuck. The next major level/plot occurrence is too far into the story, and I have nothing to fill in the gap. :sigh: Anyhow, thanks for coping with my vindictive mood lately … and thanks for keeping up with this fic even after that lag in updates … Lol. I'm horrible, aren't I? Yeah, well, I love you too. ^_~ Yours, Angel.

Notes:

1. "Hn yourself" I think it's obvious where this came from, if you had read the fic before – Jemjol's Awaiting Good Fortune. I'm terribly sorry, but I ~really~ couldn't resist. ^^;;;

Ishtar: I'm flattered! Thanks for the review! ^^

Callisto: glomps Callie! You have ~such~ a way with words! I'm blushing. ^^ And Arty-chan ~is~ different, isn't he? ~sigh~ It works. Arrogant Hiiro … lol. I like. ^^ The lady is- Just kidding. ^___~ Would you believe me if I told you I haven't checked my mail in a while? ~blushes~ Editing can wait until next weekend, right? I'm terribly sorry!

Lady Espelle: Thank you! It's my favorite right now … but I think that's only because my favorite is always the one I'm working on. ^^

Lilaclight: Darien? Hmm … not sure he's going to contribute any more to the fic. Doubt it but … ideas come and go. ^^

Raye: Wow. Thank you for the compliment. It was cliffhanger? Lol. I don't think a lot of people noticed. -___-;;;

Evil Eyez: I'm going to be utterly evil through and through for the entire fic. It plays with your mind a lot … :D Here's the update. ^^

Kaiki: ~blinks~ I don't know who the lady is! ^____~ clamps mouth shut I can't really answer those questions without giving a bunch of the plot away … lol. ^^ It's pretty hard to believe Hiiro still loves her … lol … but I'm not sure the information that he loved her was very well established the first time around either. Lol. ^^ Sorry. I'm baiting you. ^_____^

Serena Yuy: Thanks for the compliments and review! ^^

Obsessed: Eh heh heh … is this making up for it? ^^