Connections
Kaci Kulekowski

Duo ran out of the kitchen and past the den, pausing only to grab his coat. "Duo?!" Hilde asked, worried.

"No time to explain, I've got to hurry..." he replied, searching for his keys.

"Why? What happened?" Hilde handed him the key ring and he gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"It's Heero. He's in the hospital..."
***
"Tro~wa!" Catherine yelled out as her younger brother drove off in the truck. She sighed. No gooodbye or anything. Catherine was about to go back into the trailer when she noticed the smiling half-mask laying on the ground. She bent down to pick it up and looked up at the darkening sky. "Oh, Trowa..."
***
"Wufei! Hurry up!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming. No need to shout, woman." Sally sighed and started the truck.
***
"Yes, I understand, Colonel. I'll be there as soon as I can. Thanks. Yeah, bye." Quatre hung up. "Rasheed!"

"Yes, Master Quatre?"

"That was Colonel Une. You remember Une, don't you?" he asked. The Maganack leader nodded affirmative. "Well, she's at the hospital and--"

"Is she hurt, Master Quatre?" Abdul cut in.

"Yes, tell us, Master Quatre! Is she alright?" said the others.

Quatre sighed and raised his hands for silence. When it came, he tried again. "No, the colonel is not hurt. She just called to tell m-, us, that Heero might be though..."

The Maganacks began talking again, and Quatre couldn't quiet them down. He finally gave up and walked to the car while Rasheed held back the other Maganacks.
***
The girl gently pressed the back of her hand to his arm, then his shoulder, and the side of his face. She flipped her hand over, palm down, and brushed his messy brown hair away from his forehead. The boy's skin was feverish and it glistened with beads of sweat. His hair looked almost black and it clumped together in limp strands that was plastered to his head. His breathing was ragged, even with the help of the respirator. She silently followed the IV tube to his right arm with her emerald green eyes. The girl sighed and sat on the edge of the hospital bed, gripping his sweaty hand in hers.

After a few minutes, a nurse came in. She checked the machines crowded around the bed, and wrote onto her clipboard. As the nurse turned to go, she gave her a sad smile. The girl returned it with a small one of her own, then turned back to the boy. As she looked him over again, she noticed he wasn't wearing the green tank top he was before. Blushing, she gently pulled the sheet further up.

As she did that, though, her fingers slightly brushed against his collerbone. The girl noticed that he twitched. Brows furrowed, she did it again, a bit more firmly this time. The girl couldn't help but notice how his body stiffened and grew rigid.

If that's what happens when he's unconscious, what would have happened if he was awake? She shuddered at the thought. All of a sudden, something beeped. She whirled around, hoping it wasn't her fault. When she concluded that whatever it was, it wasn't going to do the boy any harm, she sat back down.

"Na-nani (What)?!" she whispered. His body was just as limp as it was when she had got him there. She sighed and relaxed. This was going to be a long night...
***
"You can't go in there yet, Duo!" Sally said as she grabbed the braided pilot's arm.

"Why not?!"

"Because only one person is allowed in there at a time! When she comes out, then you can go in." she explained.

"Relena?!" Duo asked worriedly. If that Peacecraft girl was in there, he'd never see Heero.

"No, it's um... here, let me find it..." Sally started looking for something in a stack of papers and clipboards sitting on the wooden desk Wufei was leaning against. Quatre and Trowa looked at each other questioningly. Not Relena? But, then, who? Their thoughts were interrupted by Colonel Une as she walked in.

"Kanashimii Tatakai. Fifteen. From around here, Tokyo, Japan, Earth. Anyone know her?"

The four boys looked at each other, then shook their heads. Sally looked at the paper Une had handed her before running back to her office. "According to this medical report, she was the one who brought Heero in." The pilots looked surprised.

"She's about the same height as Duo," Shinigami smirked, "Maybe a bit taller," Quatre chuckled as Duo's grin disappeared. "Emerald eyes, long black hair. I think she streaked it green..." Sally faded off as two nurses and a doctor rushed by and into room 314.

Quatre broke the silence. "Isn't that..."

"Yes," Sally replied softly. Before anyone could say anything else, she continued. "So, none of you know Kanashimii?"

They began to shake their heads when a voice from behind Trowa said, "What about me?" They all turned to see a girl closing Heero's hospital room behind her. She was a little taller than Duo with dark hair that reached past her waist and big green eyes filled with tears. She seemed so innocent...

"Are you Kanashimii?" Sally asked.

"I prefer Kami, Major." the girl replied.

"Very well. And you can just call me Sally."

The girl nodded and was about to say something else when Duo came sauntering up to her. "You can call me anything you like, Kah-mee." he said in a low voice, drawing out her name.

She raised an eyebrow, looking him up and down. Then she turned back to Sally, saying "Baka kodomo (stupid child)." Sally laughed while Quatre and Trowa just smiled at Duo's hurt face.

"Now, Kami, I--" Wufei interrupted Sally.

"What are you doing out here, woman? Were you not with Heero?"

"Heero? Is that his name?" She smiled. "Finally. I finally know his name..." she said under her breath. Talking louder, she answered Wufei's question. "I was. That is, until the doctors came in. Said only immediate family could be in there."

Sally stepped forward. "Um, Kami, Could I see you in the office? The colonel and I would like to ask you a few questions." Kami took a deep breath and nodded. Sally excused themselves from the boys.
***
Kami sighed. She had told the major and the colonel all she knew about the boy they called Heero. She was now sitting in a hard-backed chair in the hallway, a few feet away from room 314. She saw him every morning on her way to work as a waitress, and every afternoon during her lunch break. Most Tuesday nights, they past each other on the street, both having their arms full of groceries. They had never spoken to each other until earlier that day; they barely even looked at each other. But that morning, it all changed.

She had walked to the restaurant like she usually did, saw him down the street. He had seemed a little paler, but Kami had dismissed it quickly, being known for her imagination. Kami had gotten changed in her waitressing uniform, and was about to start collecting the menus, when a fellow waiter, Sandy, told her she had the day off. She had checked the schedule, and sure enough, she didn't have to work that day. Kami put her street clothes back on, and left, heading to the outside mall down the road.

After picking up a few things, Kami began walking to her small apartment. She was so lost in her thoughts, the girl didn't notice where she was going. All of a sudden, she was overcome by a shadow. Kami looked up in time to catch the poor boy before he hit the ground. He mumbled something Kami thought was 'gomen ne', but she couldn't be sure, and besides, her hands hurt from the heat of his skin. Kami managed to get his arm around her shoulder and pick him up enough for her to stand. As she walked, the boy's feet dragged and his head drooped so low, his chin touched his chest. About halfway to the hospital, which was a few blocks away, Kami felt the boy's body go limp - he was unconcious. She somehow managed to get him to the emergency doors of the hospital, but just barely. And as tired as she was from the ordeal, Kami had sat next to him for almost an hour, making sure the mysterious boy was alright.

Kami was upset that the doctors wouldn't let her be in there anymore, but as long as the boy was stable, she wasn't going to complain. At least, not out loud. Foolish people, she thought, don't they know I'm probably the only one he's got? Kami glanced over to the braided boy whom she had scoffed at earlier. He seemed okay, trying to cheer everyone up with his crazy antics. It seemed she was the only person there in a foul mood.

As Kami was about to remark on Duo's position of standing on the chair saying "I'm the king of the world," a doctor came out into the hallway. Nearly everyone there rose from their seats. "Is anyone here," the doctor began, "akin to Mister Heero Yuy?"

The four boys and the major shook their heads sadly, but Kami did not. "Yuy? He, his name is Heero Yuy?" The doctor nodded and asked if they were related. Sally, confused, looked at Kami, who was staring at the doctor, but the girl did not answer. Instead, she ran into the boy's hospital room. Sally and the other pilots followed her in.

Kami had jumped onto the bed and was kneeling next to Heero, stroking his face. "Oniichan (Big brother)," she whispered, "Niichan, do you hear me? Niichan, please... please wake up... please Niichan..."

Duo looked at Sally, startled. The other pilots were surpised as well. Before anyone could say anything about it, though, Kami gave a gasp of delight. They crowded around to see Heero concious. He looked at Kami, trying to figure out who she was, but there was no recognition in his eyes.

"Niichan! I was worried..."

"...Imoto(little sister)?" Heero smiled a little. "Ara akambou imoto(My baby sister)..."

Kami wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "Shisou anata shinde iru(I thought you were dead)."

Heero patted her on the back and assured her. "Iie(No). Shinde iru janai. Chimei-teki na(I'm not dead. I'm deadly)..."

Kami gave a small smile and whispered, "Hai. Watashi ni(Yes. Me, too)."

Heero nodded, and pushed her away gently. She let go of his neck and sat back on her knees, still on the bed. Heero looked up and saw the other Gundam pilots and Sally. He sighed and glanced at Kami.

The girl was staring at him, concerned. Heero followed her eyes to his right arm. Ch'kusho, he thought, and plucked the IV needle out of his skin before it fell out. I must have jarred it when I hugged her. Kami sighed, seeing that he wasn't going to do anything about the little stream of blood flowing out, and took her hankerchief out of her back pocket. She leaned over and wiped up the blood, then rolled the black hankerchief up and tied it around Heero's elbow.

"You should take better care of yourself, Niichan." she said softly.

"Hn..." Heero flipped the sheet over, and was about to swing his legs over the opposite side of the bed Kami was kneeling on when the door creaked open.

Kami half leapt half fell off the bed, but landed on her feet, her left hand hovering near her back pocket. She relaxed and sat back down on the bed when the doctor stepped in.

"Let's try this again," he said, sighing. "Who here is related to Mister Yuy?"

Everyone looked at Kami, who looked at Heero. He gave a slight shrug, almost unnoticable. She sighed and got up to follow the doctor into the hallway. They left the door open, and stood in front of it, but from his position, Heero couldn't see the doctor. He swung his legs off the bed. Heero tried to stand up, but his legs wouldn't support him and his knees gave out. The floor came up at him, then stopped. But only because, he realized, Duo had caught him.

As the braided boy, with the help of Trowa, pulled him back up, Heero's vision clouded over suddenly and he faltered. "Heero?" came a soft voice from behind him.

He managed to stand and said quietly, "I'm fine, Quatre." The blonde boy looked almost relieved, but Duo was undaunted.

"No you're not." he said. Heero glared at him, but his knees went out again, and Trowa wrapped his arms tightly around his waist before he could fall again. The unibanged boy and the braided boy helped Heero sit on the edge of the bed, and then backed off slightly.

"I'm alright." he said after he catching a few breaths. "I just need, I..." He had started to get up again, but his breath was ripped out of his chest, and he staggered forward. Duo grabbed his shoulders and held them straight as the boy forced his ragged breathing back to normal. His eyesight was clouding over again, and he was feeling faint. Why is it so damn hot in here? he thought. He shivered, a tingling feeling running up his spine. Then a wave of nausea hit him and he doubled over, the surrounding blackness welcoming him in.

"Heero? Heero?! Heero!" came Duo's voice from some where above him.

"Shaddup."

"Heero, open your eyes." Sally? What the hell was she doing here? He opened his eyes anyways. Everyone was hovering over him. The hospital...

"Heero!" Duo said. "You okay, man? We thought, you know..." He trailed off as Heero pushed himself up. The four pilots and major watched him closely as he limped over to the small table next to the hospital bed and began unfolding his tank top, which had been sitting ontop it.

As he pulled the shirt on, Heero saw Kami still outside the door. She was watching him through the corner of her green eyes. Goddess, I hope she didn't see that... he thought as the green fabric crossed in between them. When he looked again, Kami was facing the doctor again, nodding slightly.

Heero turned to Duo, who was standing behind him, and said, in a sharp commanding tone, "Ikuzo(Let's go)."

He pivoted, slowly as not to bring back the nauseous feeling of the world spinning, and began to walk, carefully, paying no heed to the other's comments about getting some rest. Heero had gotten to the edge of the bed when Kami came back in.

She stood in the doorway, watching him, painfully, trying to stand upright. When she seemed to realize what he was doing, she barked out a word that sounded something like oku. He looked at her quisently, and she said, louder, "Ima oku(Lay down now)!"

For some reason, Duo wasn't surprised when Heero gave an inaudible sigh, made his way back to the side of the bed and got under the hospital-white sheets.

Kami walked over and told him, "We leave tonight. Be ready at the stroke of twelve," gently in Japanese. He nodded and fell back against the pillows, exhausted. She smiled, said, "Oyasimi nasai(Good night)," and turned to go. She paused, seeing the other five standing there, and sighed.

"I trust," Kami began softly, "that you understand the amount of faith I have in you now, being left alone with Niichan, is small, but suffient. If you do anything, anything, to upset him in any way, shape or form... You'd best make sure I hear nothing of it." With that, Kami left the room, closing the door behind her.

Duo was the first to break the silence that followed. "Wow, that's one helluva sister you got there, Yuy."

Heero grunted from the bed, looking out the window. "She's always been abit over-protective," he trailed off, leaving the others confused.
***
The grandfather clock struck twelve, and the last of the lights were shut off, leaving the lithe figure in darkness. Quickly but quietly, Kami made her way to room 314.

The door creaked open and Kami stepped inside. She was going to have to move fast - she had already wasted to much precious time. The first night shift left at exactly twelve, and the second didn't come until half an hour later, but that thirty minutes was all she had.

The girl tiptoed to the bed, and shook the sleeping boy. "Niichan, wake up. It's time to go." Heero awoke quickly, and sat up slowly. "Shh... it's time to go. Do you have everything?" she asked. He nodded, and swung his legs over the bedside. He paused for a moment; his head had begun to pound, and Kami wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug. Then she helped him up and out of the room, carefully closing the door behind them.

"What about cameras?" Heero breathed in her ear as they slowly made their way down the hall. "Records? Guards? Duo?"

Kami looked around before answering in a whisper. "Cameras are cut, records deleted, and guards on coffee break. But I don't know about any duos." The darkness hid her small smile.

Heero stopped. Before he could say anything, though, Kami shook her head and told him "They all left around ten. Even Une. Maybe if you weren't busy snoring, you would have noticed." Once again, Heero was not able to see the playful smirk upon her lips.

"I," he said proudly, "do not snore. Nor was I asleep."

"Yeah, sure. Don na ni (Whatever). Do you really want me to believe that you were simply resting your eyes for almost seven hours?"

"..." Heero's lips, unlike Kami's, were drawn in a thin, tight line. All of a sudden, Kami's arm reached out, blocking his way.

He was about to remark on it when he heard her voice, close to his ear, say, "Chotto matte(Wait a moment)."

Then he realized that he had almost turned a corner without watching. Kuso, I'm slacking off. And all because of this stupid illness. I'm the Perfect Soldier, I'm not supposed to get sick... He gave a low growl as he realized no one had told him what he had.

Kami, who had been looking around the corner, turned to look at him. She smiled. "Flu." she said simply, as if reading his thoughts. Then she added, "And don't worry about it. You used to correct me all the time. Now it's my turn."

She glanced around once more and, grabbing his elbow, ran quickly down the corridor. After a few minutes, they stopped to let Heero catch a breath. As he stood up from his doubled over position, Kami grabbed his shoulders and forced him to stay down.

All of a sudden, a small beam of light ran across the wall behind them. They both let out a breath of relief as it disappeared, and stood up. Unfortunantly, the guard was still there.

When they had thought it safe, they had let down their guards, and now they were going to be caught. "Hey! Hold it right there!" the guard yelled and started towards them.

"Run!" Kami said and the two teens broke into a sprint.

"Stop right there! Hey, you two!" the guard ran after them, through out the halls. Heero and Kami could hear him on his radio, calling for back-up. All of a sudden, it was as if a gate had become unlocked and all of the angry bulls were coming out. The third floor of the hospital was flooded with security officers, a late-night doctor, and the night-shift cops.

Still, Kami and Heero were able to make it to the first floor. They had zig-zagged and circled, and even gone up to the fifth floor to confuse their followers, but now, they were safe. Finally, the two made it to the front lobby. The lights were off, but it seemed as if they were alone, so Kami allowed Heero to catch a breath.

Suddenly, there was a movement off to the side. Kami leapt forward, pushing Heero out the door, and the two ran as several shots rang out in the darkness.
***
A couple of blocks down, in a back alley, Kami slumped against the brick building as Heero squatted on the balls of his feet, facing her. After a few minutes, Kami sighed and lurched to her feet.

"There's a safehouse nearby," she said walking towards him, "It's only about three blocks east." Heero grunted in reply and also stood. Kami looked at him concerned and managed to feel his forehead before he pulled back. "We don't have to leave at this moment, Niichan," she said quietly.

"Yes, we do." He replied curtly and nodded off to the side. Kami's brows furrowed and she listened carefully. Sure enough, there was the sound of running feet and barking hounds in the direction Heero had pointed out.

"Kuso..." she said under her breath, grabbed his arm, and they began a brisk walk away from the pounding of feet against the sidewalk.

About twenty minutes later, the pair made their way up a driveway. It was slightly longer than most, and led up to a detached two-car garage. A small pathway led up to the front whitewashed door. The two reached the porch and a light flipped on. "I rigged it to do that," Kami whispered. Heero nodded. He was familair with the motion sensing light fixtures. He reached for the doorknob, but Kami tapped him on the shoulder.

Heero turned to see her smiling and holding out a key. He took it and turned back to the door. "Matte(Wait)."

"Nani? Naze desu ka(What? Why)?"

"I left the den light on, not the kitchen." Kami said. She opened the door carefully, and pulled out her gun. Using the barrel to flip the switch, Kami turned on the light. With the light, the two could now see that they were indeed not alone in the house.

"Duo?!" Heero asked.

The boy laying across the couch sat up. "Heero! Hey, about time you got here!" he said. Duo got up and leaned into the kitchen. "Hey guys," he called, "They're here!" The sound of dropping dishes, chairs scooting back, and voices met their ears and Duo smiled. He turned back to Kami and Heero, only to find the barrel of a handgun in his face.

"Nani woiu tennen koko(What the hell are you doing here)?!" Kami asked loudly. Heero dropped into a chair by the door and seemed to fall asleep.

"Hey! Hey, hey, hey!" Duo took a step back and put his hands in the air. "Listen,"

"No, I will not. Now, answer my question before I shoot you." Kami said. To make herself even clearer, she cocked the gun and once again aimed it between his eyes.

"Hey!" A sudden blur of motion flew by, and the gun disappeared from in front of Duo's face. He blinked and saw Kami wrestling on the floor with Wufei. The Chinese boy had knocked the gun away from Kami, and it was now sitting under the window, where Trowa calmly strode and picked it up.

As the unibanged teen examined it, Wufei and Kami still fought. Somehow, the ex-pilot of Altron had gotten his sword out, and looked like he would begin brandishing it any second. Fortunately for the girl, though, the gun was not the only weapon she had on her. Kami ducked as Wufei's sword whistled above her head, and when she stood back up, a threatening-looking dagger was in her hand.

Her arm was in front of her face, the palm towards Wufei, and she held the handle upside-down, so the blade of the knife was pressed against her forearm. Its handle was made of sturdy wood, probably oak, and painted glossy black. The blade itself, though, was double-edged; two peaks sharp, and two peaks dull.

Wufei scoffed. "You think you can beat me with a puny weapon like that, woman?" He leapt for her, and she took one step back. His sword hit the blade of her dagger. With a swift kick, Kami pushed him off her. He stumbled back a few steps, but wasn't harmed. She can't do any real damage, Wufei thought. She's too soft. That's because she's a woman! But I do not hold back my power on those weaker than I. It is her handicap, her problem. Not mine.

He was about to run her again when Quatre jumped in between them. "Get out off my way, Winner," Wufei growled.

"Yes. Get out of his way." Kami said with a bit of amusement in her voice. "I want to see how good he really is."

Wufei threw back his shoulders and prepared to shove Quatre away with that comment. How dare she! How dare she challenge my skills and intellect! "You shall pay for that, woman!"

"I think not..." Kami growled and the two ran at each other again, only to be stopped once again by the pacifist of the group.

"You shouldn't be fighting like this!" Quatre said. "We should all get along with each other. Wufei, please, try to hold your temper in the future. And Miss Kami," he turned to look at the girl who was staring elsewhere. "I know this seems odd, coming home to find us here, but you have to understand. You must! We must all get along, or else... Or else, none of us should survive."

"Yeah," Duo cut in. "That means no pointing guns in each other's faces."

Quatre smiled at him. "Yes, that's exactly what we mustn't do. As you said before, Miss Kami, the trust between us is small, but suffient. Hopefully, that trust will grow stronger, but for now, what we have will have to do."

Kami turned and glared at him. "I trust no one," she said simply. But she put her dagger back in her boot, and walked off, leading an unaware Heero upstairs by the arm.

Quatre sighed. Then he turned to Trowa, who, during all of that, was still standing next to the window, looking at Kami's gun. The eighteen year old looked up. "Specials," he said and held the gun out for them to look. Duo took it from him and flipped it around expertly in his own hands. "The serial number is filed off," Trowa continued, "but if you look close enough, there's a message on the bottom of the handle."

Duo twirled the gun and looked. "'To op em can to, for successes unknown to anyone else, dir jay'?"

"What?" Quatre asked.

"That's what it says." Duo replied and handed the blonde the gun. Quatre looked, and sure enough, on the bottom of the handle, was crudely scratched: '2 OP.M Can2, for successes unknown to anyone else, Dr J'.

"Doctor Jay? Isn't that..."

"Yeah. Damn it! I knew we should'a killed 'em when we had the chance!" Duo exclaimed as he punched the wall with his fist. His mouth dropped open and he began jumping up and down, holding his hand. "Ow, ow, ow."

"That's what you get for hitting steel-plated dry-wall." came a soft voice behind him. Duo turned to see Kami standing at the bottom of the staircase.

"Steel-plated?!" he asked in a higher voice than his own. Kami smirked and nodded. "Why..."

Kami sighed and shook her head. "Come on," She led him into the kitchen where she ran cold water on it and gave him an ice pack wrapped in a towel. Then she grabbed an armful of blankets and began spreading them around the house. There were three bedrooms, one already taken by Heero, and perhaps Kami as well, but the office held a bed also, and the couch in the den was fairly large.

"You can sleep where you like, but I expect you all either to be up and ready for breakfast at seven, or gone by the time I start it." she said. "My laptop and the other computers are plugged in and ready to go if you would want to play around with them.

"Just remember, all my files are coded, and protected by a series a passwords. If, for some obscure reason, you try to hack into them, the files will automatically be deleted, the computer will shut down, and this safehouse will self-destruct, all in about ten seconds. So, please, unless you would like to explain that one to the officials, don't go through my stuff."

Trowa raised an eyebrow at the amount of caution she took to protecting her files, but said nothing. "Oh, and, Maxwell," Kami called over her shoulder as she walked back up the stairs, "There's a TV in the den. Just make sure you turn it off before you fall asleep."

Shinigami grinned and claimed all rights to the office, then ran off. Kami shook her head and continued up the stairs, heading for the bedroom she always slept in when she was there.

Trowa, Quatre, and Wufei were discussing who slept where when Duo came running back in. "Hey guys, I--"

"Maxwell," Wufei cut in, "we are in the midst of a conversasion. You will speak when we are finished. And furthermore, we are right here; you needn't yell so loudly--"

"But Wufei," Duo interrupted, "the TV... "

"What's wrong, Duo?" Quatre asked.

The braided boy looked confused for a minute. "Who said something's wrong?"

"But," Trowa held up his hand, stopping Quatre before he could say any more.

"What is it, Duo?" he asked.

"The TV!" he exclaimed. "It's, it's colour! And it's a 32 inch! And it's got almost every channel, but I can't find any wires for illegal hookups, and I don't remember any satelitte dishes when we got here..."

The four looked at each other, the rambling boy, then each other again. They sighed and sweatdropped in unison.
***
Why was there so much light? It's like the desert sun... Quatre rolled over and almost fell off the couch. "Oops..." he mumbled. Now his predictament was even worse. One hand clutched the blanket, which was tightly wound around his legs, his head was three inches from the floor, and Quatre's other hand was on the rug.

That one hand was all that kept him from falling. But, unfortunately, his position made it almost impossible to get back up. "I should have just fallen," he said. "This is just great."

"If that's what you call great, I'd hate to see what you consider bad." came a voice from above him. Quatre tried to look up at the person, but couldn't. It didn't matter though, because after a few seconds, two strong arms wrapped themselves around his waist and hauled him up.

Trowa dumped the blond back onto the couch, and stood back, arms folded across his chest as he watched, with some amusement, him try to free himself from the quilt.

Somehow, Quatre managed to roll off the couch again, and hit the rug-covered floor with a thud, still tangled in the blanket. Trowa's face faltered for a moment as Quatre's eyes turned puppy-faced. Fortunately for Trowa, he managed to regain his emotionless mask and knelt down to help the poor boy.

When the two came down, Kami was standing at the stove, trying to cook eggs and keep Duo away from them at the same time.

"Maxwell! For the last time, sit down!" He sat. "On a chair!" Duo got up off the floor and sat on the chair closest to the stove. Kami continued cooking, but would sneak glares towards him every couple of minutes.

When Wufei appeared, Kami started bringing plates to the kitchen table. Duo, of course, was the last to get his. Breakfast that morning was full of silence; no one said anything, and the birds feeding in the yard were also strangely quiet.

When breakfast was over, Kami stood and began clearing the table. "Oh, no, no," Quatre said as he stood up, "Let us clear it. You cooked."

Kami looked at him and took the glass out of his hand. "'Tis my place." She walked over to the sink and dumped the dishes in. A little soap and some hot water went in, and Kami began rolling up her sleeves. When she pulled back her left sleeve, though, she paused, and stared at her wrist, as if almost in horror.

"Come to think of it," Kami tossed a dishrag at Quatre and pulled her sleeves back down to her wrists. She turned to Trowa. "Your truck is in the back." It wasn't a question - it was a statement.

Trowa nodded. "It's not running." Kami said. He nodded again. Kami sighed. "Then let's go fix it." She motioned to the back door. Trowa looked at her, then walked outside. Kami followed.

"It's behind the garage." the boy said. She nodded in reply. They stopped off in the garage to grab a tool box, and then went back behind it. Kami opened the hood to the engine and propped it up. She and Trowa looked at it, but couldn't find anything. Finally, Kami slid under the truck, and fiddled down there for a while.

While she was looking at the bottom of the truck, Quatre and Duo appeared. Wufei had stayed in the house to help Heero out. "Got it." Kami said and she slid out from under the truck. Quickly, she stood up and brushed herself off. Then she bent over the engine and explained the problem to Trowa, showing him the parts along the way.

Trowa began fiddling with the parts while Kami looked through the toolbox for a wrench. She found one (it was at the bottom ^^) and leaned over the engine again. "Here, let me get it. I'm taller." Trowa said.

"No. I got it." Something clanged, the sound echoing through the engine compartment. "Oops..." Kami stood straight, and hit her head on the hood of the truck. She backed up, holding her head, "Norou... I'm alright." She took back the wrench from Quatre, who had picked it up since she had dropped it, and once again began fiddling with the engine.

"Let me to do that, Kami-san." Trowa said.

"I can help!" Duo replied.

"No, I don't think that would be nec--" Kami fell forward, sprawled across the top of the engine. Quatre said her name, concerned, and placed his hand on her back. He gasped and pulled away. His hand was dripping with blood. And looking closely, so was Kami's side.

Kami stirred. She propped herself up on her elbows, and whispered, "I tried bandaging it last night... guess I didn't do it right..."
***
"Yes, yes, look," Duo said in the phone. "I need to speak with Major Sally Po. It's an emergency... Yes, I know... just... no! Listen, just get her on the phone." Duo sighed. Freakin' people just don't listen, he thought.

Sally's head popped up on the comlink. "Duo? What's wrong? Where are you?" After Duo explained the situation, Sally was staring at him wide-eyed.

"Are you sure about this? It's that bad?" she asked.

Duo nodded solemnly, well, as solemnly as Duo can get. "Trowa said it's real bad. He doesn't think he could do it without it getting infected. I dunno... I just don't know..." he sighed. Looking up at the comlink screen again, he said, shaking his head, "There's just somethin' about that girl... it doesn't feel right."

Sally gave a small smile. "I know what you mean. Listen, I'll leave as soon as I can. Just make sure everything's alright and taken care of before I get there. See you then."

"Yeah. And thanks."

"You're welcome, Duo." and Sally's face disappeared from the screen, replaced by a grey fuzzy background. Duo sighed again. Heero ain't gonna be too happy about this, he thought. But then again, is that guy ever happy?

Duo thought a moment, remembering how much Heero had seemed relaxed with her around. The braided boy's brow furrowed and for a minute, he sat there wondering, but eventually, he shook it off and went to the kitchen to find something to snack on.
***
"She should have been here by now!" Duo pounded his fist on the coffee table, causing tea to spill over the sides of the mugs.

"Calm down, Duo." Quatre said, grabbing a handful of napkins to clean it up. "I'm sure there's a reasonable excuse as to Sally's tardiness. And besides, both Heero and Trowa are with Miss Kami right now. Nothing's going to happen."

Duo began to state his disapproval, but the sound of sqealing tires drowned his words. The two looked at each other, and ran out the front door.

Outside, Wufei was upbraiding Sally on her driving habits, even though his were no better, and the latter was standing there taking it. Sally looked patient enough, but they all knew that time was something they did not have much of. Especially if what Lady Une had said was true...

"Follow me," Quatre said, and led Sally into the house. Wufei glared at him for being interrupted, but when the blond set his lips in a firm, straight line, he sighed and got the Preventers med kit out of the truck. Duo grinned openly and followed the three back into the house.

Sally took the med kit from Wufei, and followed Quatre up the stairs silently. The other two pilots stayed on the first level. Preventer Water and the blonde Gundam pilot made their way to the front bedroom. Quatre knocked softly on the door twice, paused, then knocked four more times.

Trowa, a bit raggled and weary, opened the door, and nodded. Then he left towards the bathroom to take a hot shower. Quatre watched him go. He must be tired, staying up all night, he thought. He must also be famished. Quatre sighed and followed Sally in the room.

It was dark; the blinds were closed and the lights were off. But from the lamp in the hallway, they could just make out the silhouette of Heero's figure, sitting on the edge of the bed, facing away from them. He looked up, though, when Quatre placed his hand on his shoulder.

"She's still unconcious." Heero said in his usual monotous voice.

Sally nodded. Heero stood up as Quatre left the room, the blond claiming he had better go make sure Duo wasn't getting into any mischief, and closed the door behind him. Sally flipped on a light, and was stunned to see Heero standing there in a pair of black jeans and a dark blue teeshirt. She didn't think he had any clothes save the green tank, the black shorts and the blue jeans. He wasn't even wearing the yellow high topped sneakers. Instead, Heero wore black leather boots.

Heero cocked his head to the side, but shook it off, and went back to business. "She's been out for around twenty-three hours."

Sally let out a deep breath. Then she looked over at the bed. The blanket was pulled past the pillow, but she could see a slender hand sticking out above the hem. Gently, Sally pulled the cover off to see Kami laying on her side, her long black hair sprawled across the pillow. It almost looked as if she were sleeping, Sally thought.

Heero and Trowa had stripped off her turtleneck, showing the large bandage laying across her side. It was already soaked with blood, though most of it was dry. Heero sat calmly on a chair while Sally carefully lifted the gauze pad, half expecting the wound to break open and bleed. Fortunately, it didn't. After a few minutes, the Preventers officer sighed and stepped back. Kami had only stirred once.

"Gunshot. I'd say .35. Left side, barely missed her bottom rib, right above the hip bone. It went straight through." Heero nodded. He and Trowa had already determined that. The only reason she was there, in fact, was to make sure everything would be alright, since the wound was pretty deep. Sally's brow twitched and she placed the back of her hand to his forehead. He almost pulled back, as both his instincts and training told him to, but he didn't.

"Heero-kun, you're still hot. Daijoubou desu ka(Are you alright)?" she asked.

The boy glared at her in reply. "Hai(Yes)."

"Are you sure? It'll pass by more quickly if you rest."

"I'm sure. No, I'm staying here, Sally."

She sighed again, said, "Okay," and opened her medkit. While she was searching for the supplies she'd need, Heero leaned forward, putting his chin on his clapsed hands, his elbows on his knees.

I'm getting sloppy, Heero thought, If it weren't for this damn headache, I'd be fine...

Sally had begun cleaning and disinfecting the gunshot wound, which, Heero reckoned, was from the guard at the hospital. Without her deep blue turtleneck, both could see the multiple scars running across Kami's back and arms. Long, short; straight, zigzagged; thin, thick; every one was different, each one had their own story. A few even looked more like permanent bruises than cuts. One specific gash led Heero's eyes to Kami's left shoulder. There, was a small splotch of colour - a tatoo.

Looking more closely, Heero realized it was a dark green kanji, the green matching Kami's eyes, and the colour of his one tanktop. Hi, that's what it said, fire. Heero realized that she did keep her promise, even after so many years...

~~~10~years~ago~~~
Heat...Why was it so hot? The six year old boy crawled out of his bed, a simple, rickety cot, and threw on a shirt over his shorts. It was so hot in that stuffy room, you'd think he'd be used to it by now, but this, this was different. This was... scorching...

Tentatively, Heero reached out an arm towards the door. His hand closed around the knob, and he jumped back with a yelp, cradling the hand against his chest. The brass doorknob was like a lit coal, and had burned Heero's hand badly.

The boy walked across the room to the window, still holding his hand gingerly. Opening the window and leaning out of it, he realized it was just as warm outside as it was in. He looked down, and saw the flames jump out of the windows just a few stories below him...
***
[Chapter One Finished]
[Chapter Two Teaser - "Nani? I'm bu-" Heero stopped when he saw what she was looking at. He took the binoculars from her limp hand. "OZ..." he said in his monotonous voice.]
***
Special thanks to Chibi_Keeper for pointing out some mistakes in my Japanese grammar.