Disclaimer: Yeah right, like I really own Gundam Wing. If I did own it, then I wouldn't be having so many money problems.

Warnings: Mild language, violence, and angst.

A.N: Don't kill me for taking so long with this fic; I felt that I had to finish Zero Soul first since it's the more popular of the two. For those of you who've waited almost forever for this fic, I hope that it meets up to your expectations. Once again, this is a 2+R fic, so if you don't like the couple, then leave now.
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My Ojousan
Chapter 3: Through the Night

By: veGie-kun


Before Relena could protest, Duo grabbed her right hand and made for the front door. Not even a third of the way there, his mind paused. The door was locked from both sides, and he'd have to search for the key if he wanted to get out. Without warning, Duo took off in the direction of the back room. He ran faster than Relena could keep up and soon she began to stumble. Duo took a look over his shoulder and saw that the girl was having a difficult time. Without much thought, he pulled her forward and scooped her into his arms while his mind kept repeating a single thought over and over again. //Not going to make it. Not going to make it. Not going to make it.... Dammit, I'm too good-looking to die, and Relena's still needed in this world. Geez, why does it always have to be me who gets into these types of situations? Heero's the suicidal freak; why can't he be the one to deal with death threats and bombings? Kuso! I don't have much time and the exit is too far away!//

The braided youth didn't know what he was doing, but as he moved further into the back area, something caught his eye: a window. Paying no heed to his own safety and making sure that the girl in his arms wouldn't take the brunt of the impact by hugging her closer to his form, he crashed through the window. Not a second more passed when the bomb went off; the force of the explosion sent the two reeling onto the ground. Duo's body was more than enough to shield Relena from the majority of glass, mortar, metal, and other debris that bombarded them. The blast was loud, and its sound was still ringing in both their ears as they slowly moved to get up. Being cautious of the materials that now surrounded them, Duo shifted into a crouching position to survey the extent of damage done. He looked on in horror at the remains that used to be his mechanic's shop; his pride and joy during the years of peace that followed Mariemaia's coup d'etat. //It's... it's all gone... that was my life... and... and now it's all up in smoke. Bad luck sure has a way of following me, ne?.... SHIMATTA!!!!//

"Duo..." Relena's scared but gentle voice pulled him from his anguish. He looked down into her face and saw genuine concern and sadness in those sea green depths. As his gaze remained locked onto her delicate face, he noticed her eyes shifting down his body. "You're hurt," she stated with distress, moving both her hands to cover the largest of his wounds adorning his left bicep; he'd apparently received it from one of the many flying projectiles.

The youth shivered when her hands clasped over his bleeding flesh through the cut in his leather jacket. As she pressed more firmly on the muscle he couldn't help but look on, confused by the sorrow shone in the young girl's eyes. He was about to say something when quiet tears started to flow down her soft, slightly dirt-smeared cheeks. Duo knew they weren't safe, just sitting there in plain view. Lifting his other arm, he rested it upon her shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. Her eyes reluctantly met his and the young man smiled reassuringly. "Relena," he paused, seeing her focus on him alone. "It's not safe here. We have to leave immediately."

"But, Duo," she protested, "you're hurt."

He gave off a laugh to try and lighten up the situation. "I'm not the only one," he stated, pointing out the various cuts and scrapes that littered her pale skin. "But we do ourselves no good sitting here like easy targets. C'mon, the sooner we get to a safe hiding place, the sooner we can tend to our injuries."

Relena nodded in agreement and Duo picked them both off the ground. Taking one last look behind him, Duo said goodbye to the place that held his hopes and dreams, and hastily led Relena to safer grounds.

*****

Fifteen minutes of wandering led the two to a nearby park dimly lit by street lamps. Duo gently tugged at her arm and bid her to follow him into an area out of plain view. The youth knew this place well; he often came here with Hilde or whenever he needed a place to just sit and think. Rounding a few trees and bushes, they reached a tree surrounded by what looked to be nothing more that a mass of shrubbery. As it turned out, there was a small clearing behind the organic walls. Reaching their destination, Duo stopped and slumped down onto the ground. They were safe. Well, for the time being anyway. The former pilot rested his back against the sturdy trunk as Relena moved to join him.

"You alright, Duo?" her sweet voice interrupted the silence.

The young man didn't utter a word as he assessed the damage wrought on his body. He was exhausted, and his legs were weak from the run. Glancing at his arms, he took in the dried blood staining his leather jacket. Taking a slight detour, Duo wondered at how much blood loss he'd suffered and if it was going to affect him in any way. Someone was out to get either him or Relena and, upon closer inspection, it was more likely Relena. Who would want to kill him anyway? He was an ordinary civilian now... who sometimes took on Preventer assignments, but that was beside the point. If whoever tried to kill them was after Relena, then Duo had to be in fit condition in order to ensure her safety as well as his own.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Shinigami doesn't go down that easily," he responded with light humor. "What about you, Relena?"

"I guess I'm okay, just a bit tired, that's all," she softly replied, wrapping her arms around her knees.

//She's scared.... ::Of course, she's scared, baka! Her life has just been threatened! What? You think that she'd be ecstatic about assassination attempts?:: I thought, that after all this time, she'd get used to it.... What am I saying? How could anyone get used to having attempts on their lives? Poor girl, it must be pretty unnerving to always have to look round every corner to see if it's safe.// Being cautious of his wounds and hers, Duo lifted his right arm and wrapped it around her thin frame. It was a gesture of comfort, understanding, and also a vow; he would protect her and make sure that harm never came her way.

Hearing her sniffle, Duo pulled her closer, offering his warmth and a bit of solace. //I'll protect you, Relena. It's a promise... and Shinigami always keeps his word.//

"What are we to do, Duo?" she queried with a sorrowful expression.

"I really don't know, but I'll think of something," he answered somewhat grimly. "What we really need to do is contact Lady Une and inform her of the situation. With some luck, she'll have some idea as to who's behind all this, and we could possibly stand a chance of repelling them. The only hard part about that is finding shelter till they come for us. As of now, the opposition thinks that we were both killed when that bomb went off. We've got some time before they realize that our charred remains aren't in there." The youth was silent as he began to ponder on what actions to take.

"I'm sorry, Duo," Relena's quiet, barely audible voice broke his train of thought.

He looked at her with a confused gaze, trying to decipher the meaning behind those words. "What do you have to be sorry for, Relena?"

"For dragging you into all this," was her solemn response.

"What are you talking about?" he was more confused than before.

"This was obviously an attempt on my life... and if I'd never run into you earlier this afternoon, then you wouldn't have been a part of this," Relena saw that he was about to protest and quickly cut him off, "Things like this always happen to me... and rather than ending my life... they always take the lives of those I care about."

"It's not your fault!" Duo blurted in anger. "You're not the one who's killing them!"

"Not directly," she admitted, "but those around me always seem to get hurt."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could this girl possibly think herself responsible for those lost lives? "Relena, those people knew what they were doing when they signed up for the job. In a way, by protecting you, they were protecting the peace they loved so much. No one wants this peaceful period to end, and they'll do anything, even give up their lives, to see that it is maintained."

"But must there be so much bloodshed?" she sobbed.

Duo didn't know how to answer so he hesitated, trying to find the best wording. "Everything," he breathed. "Everything has a price.... The actions we take always have a certain consequence, good and bad. Not everyone wants peace, but those who do, will pay anything to obtain it. If things never came with a price... then we'd never learn its true value... or how to appreciate and be grateful for it when we do obtain it."

"I'm just so tired of it all," Relena let out, burying her face into Duo's jacket.

That statement caused a strange constriction inside the youth's chest, and he moved to rest his chin upon her soft head of hair. Taking in the delicate scent of peach and cherry blossoms, Duo gave off an audible sigh. "Yeah, me too..."

For the next twenty minutes, the two sat in each other's embrace in silent contemplation. How did this happen to the both of them? As children, could they have possibly foreseen how their lives would turn out? When did things become too difficult to control? Why was it getting so out of hand? During the war, they'd been more than willing to sacrifice all they had to help the people acquire peace and regain their happiness. In the wake of all the fighting, no suffering was too great if it meant the people of both Earth and space were smiling again. Yet, once everyone had dropped their weapons and was left to enjoy the serene calm, they were still engaged in battles. Fate was a cruel thing; after fighting so hard for so long, they weren't even allowed to indulge in the quiet that they bloodied their hands for.

"'Jousan?"

"Hm?"

"We should find a place to stay for a while," he stated matter-of-factly, somewhat unlike his character. "You obviously can't go back to your hotel; the enemy's probably already got that place wired and under surveillance. My house is out of the question as well; they saw me with you so they, more than likely, have all the information they need on me. We can't stay with Trowa and Catherine. We'd only be putting them and the rest of the circus troupe in danger." The former pilot became silent as more ideas ran through his frantic mind. "There's always Hilde's place. Everyone in the neighborhood knows that she'll be away for another two weeks, and I'm guessing that your would-be assassins do as well."

"Are you sure, Duo? Wouldn't it look a little suspicious when they see the lights in the house turned on?" she mused with a quizzical expression.

"We don't have anywhere else to go 'Jousan," he reminded her.

".... Then I guess that's the only option left to us...."

*****

The former mechanic's shop continued to burn; dark smoke clouds ascended to the highest reaches of the colony. The entire community had awakened when the explosion ripped through the neighborhood. Although the blast was quite large, most of the area surrounding the shop had been saved from the debris and fire. The local authorities arrived with impeccable timing, blocking the area off to make sure those who would be foolish enough to get near didn't.

As the spectators looked on in fear and awe at the wreckage, they couldn't help but think about the cheerful young man that worked there. His bright, easy-going attitude and playful nature always managed to bring up their spirits. Whispers began when word that the Vice Foreign Minister had been with him was released. Questions of whether the two had died or survived, of why they were together, and of who was behind the terrorist attack, floated in the psyche of the colonists. Wasn't this supposed to be a time to rejoice and bask in the light of a new age where war no longer existed? What if their beloved Vice Foreign Minister did die in that explosion? Where would that leave everyone else? How were they going to manage without her?

"Alright, folks," a policeman asserted, "We'll take care of this. Go back to your homes and stay there until we make sure that the danger's gone."

The bystanders began to protest at the order; if there were a terrorist about, then they wouldn't be safe, no matter where they went. Trying their best to stabilize the onlookers, the police were unaware of the three approaching men. They wore wearing black suits with dark red ties and sunglasses; one of them, a man with messy brown hair who appeared to be in charge, pulled aside one of the officers. He leaned forward, close to the other man's ear and seemed to be asking questions of the officer who either nodded or answered back. After all his questions had been satisfied, the tall figure motioned to his followers, and they left the scene as silently as they had come.

Unnoticed by them all was a slender figure that blended rather well with the shadows. He'd been watching the entire interaction with quiet interest, paying no heed to the other activities going on around him. This matter concerned him a great deal, and he wasn't going to let any sort of information slip past his ever-vigilant ears and eyes. Once the group of men had left the general area, the dark shadow turned around and left as well; he'd obtained all he could from them.

*****

Walking through a dark alley in the middle of the night was not the safest thing to do, but at the moment, the two had no other choice. If they'd taken the main streets, the possibility of being spotted would've been guaranteed. Under normal circumstances, Relena would never even give a second thought about taking such dangerous paths, but she was in danger, and she had Duo with her. Taking a step forward, the young diplomat landed in a puddle of water and slipped. Closing her eyes and bracing herself for the impact, prepared to meet concrete, but strangely, she never felt it. Slowly opening her sea green pools, she saw caring and worried eyes peering at her. Blinking twice, Relena realized that Duo had caught her; in his strong arms, her mind wasn't able to comprehend much else.

"Ano... sorry about that, Duo," she apologized and hastily recovered.

"I don't blame you for nearly stumbling," he replied, "I, myself, have a hard time keeping my footing in this kind of setting." Giving her a grin, Duo took hold of Relena's hand and again led her into the darkness.

"How much further is Hilde's home?" Relena asked as they rounded another corner.

"'Bout another block or so. It's kinda hard to tell since we're using the alleys," the youth replied over his shoulder. After taking about three more steps, he suddenly halted and signaled for Relena to stay quiet with a finger to his lips. Pressing himself close to the wall of a building, he motioned for her to follow suit. They waited, holding their breaths and searching the perimeter for any signs of life other than themselves.

*Meow*

Their eyes darted to the left as a brown and white cat jumped out of the shadows. Its strange yellow eyes glowed as a car drove by and then it turned around and scampered off into the night. Once it was gone, Relena let out a heavy sigh; gasping for the air she'd been denied for the past minute. She averted her gaze from the ground to Duo who was cautiously peeking around the building.

"It's all clear, Relena," he exclaimed offering her his hand.

Taking in one last deep breath, the young girl straightened up and took his hand, both disappearing into the darkness once more.

*****

At the circus, Trowa and Catherine were making their way back into the trailer they shared. They'd just finish their last performance for the night, and their bodies ached for rest. "Gosh, Trowa, I'm so tired," the young woman sighed. Looking back, she saw her brother nod in agreement. A warm smile touched her lips at his quiet and predictable response. //I guess he'll never change... but at least he's giving me some kind of reaction. I should be thankful for small miracles.//

Walking up the wooden steps, Trowa handed her the keys and she unlocked the door. Before entering, her hands roamed the trailer wall until she found a switch and flipped it on. The bright light made her wince for a brief second before she stepped inside. Immediately, the slender woman made for the cupboards to raid it of any remaining food items. This time it was Trowa's turn to smile at her actions as he removed his half mask. Making a path to his bed, the tall youth took off his clown shirt and threw it onto the mattress. //Strange...// he thought as he caught a glimpse of a straw hat underneath the discarded garment. //Relena seems to have left her hat behind.//

Spinning around to check on his sister, he was met with a flying bottle of water, which he caught with his left hand. It was quickly followed by a small, plastic package, which he caught with his right hand. Glancing down at the item, he discovered that it was a bag of honey-glazed sesame seed biscuits. Lifting an eyebrow curiously, he brought his head up and saw his sister sitting on the counter with an impish grin on her face. "That's all I could really find," she informed him lightheartedly, "so you'd better make it last until I can get some grocery shopping done tomorrow."

"Alright, sis," Trowa replied in his somewhat emotionless voice, which was an improvement really. Making ready to tear open the package, a knock at the trailer door stopped him.

"Wonder who that could be," Catherine mused from the counter.

"We'll soon see," Trowa exclaimed as he neared the door. Opening it, his eyes widened in surprise, "....."

*****

Thank the gods above, or whatever higher power that existed; they actually made it to the German girl's house without being spotted. Although the two were relatively safe there, it didn't make them any less cautious or paranoid of the enemies that might be lurking in the bushes. Earlier on Duo had given Relena his leather jacket to keep her warm and to also make her less conspicuous. Constantly checking the area surrounding them, they snuck to the door on light feet. Scrambling for the keys he knew were somewhere in his pants pockets, Duo soon became frustrated. He was about to scream out in annoyance when his hand felt the familiar cold metal. Another minute passed before he was finally able to open the door. The youth paused in his actions when he felt a weight leaning on his side. Cocking his head slightly, he found that Relena had fallen asleep. //This must've been a really rough day for her... Poor girl.//

Nudging the door open with his left foot, he lifted the girl's slim form into his arms. A slight frown graced his face and he glanced down at the lithe body. //She's really thin... I wonder if she's been eating well? All she had today was that tuna sandwich, salad, and popsicle. That must've been her first real meal in a long time. What have you been doing to yourself, Relena?// Casting those thoughts aside for the time being, he went inside and shut the door behind him. Not wanting to alert anyone to their whereabouts, he refrained from switching on the lights; he knew the place well enough to figure his way around without bumping into things.

Sensing the couch nearby, he maneuvered past the table to the soft piece of furniture. He set down the girl's body with a gentleness he didn't even know he possessed and plopped down on the floor beside her. The young man was too weary to search the place for a blanket and figured his jacket would be sufficient to keep her warm during the night. He, himself, never gave much thought to the night chill. Leaning his head on the edge of the couch, he looked at the girl through the corner of his eyes and sighed; they had actually made it. "Oyasumi, 'Jousan," Duo whispered before joining her in the realms of slumber.


-to be continued-
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I don't know why, but I can never write a completely happy fic. For some odd reason whenever I try to write something cheery and carefree, it never stays on that particular path. After about a chapter or two of something light, it takes a nosedive into angst. You only have to look at Zero Soul to understand what I'm talking about. The third chapter threw all hopes for humor and happiness out the window.