Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are the
property of Sotsu, Sunrise, TV Asahi, Bandai, etc. I don't own any part of it
and I'm not making any money out of it either. This is purely for entertainment
purposes, nothing more and nothing less.
Warnings: Mild language and violence. 2+R fic.
A.N: I know a lot of you guys are getting tired of how slow this story is moving. Well, from this point on, things are gonna start speeding up. I'm well aware a lot of you are annoyed at me for all my delays but it's not like I always have time to do this and I've recently had my computer taken away from me. Yeah, yeah, go ahead and flame me about my incompetence, I really don't care. I go at my own pace but I also try not to neglect those who appreciate my fics and the majority of the time, I write for those people.
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My Ojousan
Chapter 7: Close Allies, Closer Enemies
By: veGie-kun
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
No answer.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
No answer.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
*Click* "......." A sleep-eyed and bewildered Trowa opened the door to his trailer only to find the Japanese youth standing there with his usual greeting glare. The tall young man remained still, gazing through half-raised lids at the intruder, "...... Why do you insist on visiting me at these ungodly hours?" He yawned and scratched his stomach under his green pajamas, not look happy one bit for being wakened. "Couldn't this wait until dawn? It's only another half hour *yawn*."
"We need to talk now," Heero commanded rather than asked, but that was how he usually approached things. He didn't care much for the clown's current state, he could be wearing his sister's performance costume and the Japanese youth would still be adorning his professional mask.
"So talk," the half awakened man yawned again, rubbing his tired eyes with the sleeves of his pajama shirt.
Heero glared at him, then looked past the performer into the trailer. He saw Catherine still asleep in her bed on the other side of Trowa's then returned his gaze to the youth. "Privately," he stated firmly. He waited in a standing face-off with the former Heavyarms pilot, neither budging an inch nor blinking; it seemed as if the two would stay that way forever.
"... Trowa... *yawn*... Will you close the door? It's cold," Catherine's drowsy voice broke the tension and the two snapped back into attention. With that little dispute settled, Trowa quietly closed the trailer door behind him and followed the forever mission oriented human alarm clock.
*****
//She looks so at ease just sleeping there... Maybe I shouldn't wake her up, she could really use the extra hours...// A small smile played on Duo's lips as he leaned on the doorway of Hilde's room. Unlike the other day, he never had much of a chance to gaze upon the slumbering maiden, preoccupied with making breakfast. The light from the outside broke through slivers in the curtains, falling on the girl and highlighting her already beautiful features. For a moment the youth thought about giving up on the idea of getting her and The Frigid One together and keep her all to himself. Yet as tempting as that idea sounded he just couldn't help but feel guilty for doing something so underhanded. //Of course, it's not like he cares about what happens to her; I mean, he's the one who left her in the first place. ::Now you know that's not true. If Suicide Boy didn't give a damn, do you think he would've gone through all this trouble? You saw it in his eyes last night, he cares about her a lot and I think he always has. You can't be the one to decide who should get whom; it's not up to you, now is it?:: I know you're right, but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up without a fight. ::Who said you had to. We're Shinigami here! If we have to go down, why not go down with a bang?:: Well, I think it's about time to wake up sleeping beauty... Maybe I can do it the way it was done in the fairy tale...//
Duo strolled over to the bed, taking time to study her delicate features. He stopped when he reached the side of the mattress and his hands reached out to brush aside her blonde bangs. His eyes softened at her peaceful and unguarded expression, his hands tenderly caressing her cheeks. Slowly he kneeled on the floor, reaching over and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. The girl's eyes slowly fluttered open and she stretched her arms in a cat-like motion before rolling over to face the grinning mechanic. "Ohayou, Princess."
"That's Vice Foreign Minister, not Princess," she corrected, smiling as she looked adoringly at the handsome youth.
"Why don't you go wash up while I get breakfast ready? What would you like this morning?" He queried, resting his head atop his folded arms.
She removed the covers of the bed and her slender hands banished the last traces of sleep from her eyes. "Hm, how about some omelets?" He nodded in agreement and headed for the door, only leaving after he snuck in a second glance. Relena sat on the bed for another minute before willing herself up, her feet found the slippers on the floor and she started for the bathroom.
"Oi, 'Jousan!" Duo called from the end of the hallway, "Make sure to be careful when you're coming into the living room, I haven't deactivated the alarm system yet. I think I'm going to leave it on for a little while longer just until I make sure that the area's safe."
"Okay, I will!"
*****
"I can't leave them," Trowa stated, putting down his mug of coffee on the table. The two were sitting on one of the many picnic benches that littered the circus grounds, engaged in a discussion over Heero's plan.
"There's no other way. I need you. I can't trust the others; besides, they have their own missions," Heero reasoned gruffly, penetrating the gaze of the other and hoping he could intimidate the clown into agreeing with him. Of course that worked about as well as trying to intimidate a large, immovable rock; the two had about the same emotional capacity.
"Can you guarantee their safety?" The answer would determine the outcome of Trowa's response and Heero knew that all too well.
"... No, but I'm certain they won't come here. I've told them to stay away and if they value their lives, they'll obey my orders," he answered in his confident monotone.
"... Do you really need my help? You were usually able to do these missions by yourself in the past," Trowa remarked, staring down at his mug, letting its warmth seep into his cold hands.
Strange how things usually turn out, he'd promised himself before that he would no longer kill; yet as the days wore on, he knew the vow could not be kept. Yes, killing is wrong, but sometimes it was the only option left when one is thrown into a corner. The only way to correct that situation was to make sure he wasn't going to be thrown into such a corner, in order to do that he needed an ally. "Those missions concerned OZ; these people are not OZ. They're men trained to kill, not pilot; they're like us, but without restraints and empathy." Looking up, their eyes locked and Trowa saw that Heero was pleading with him; this mission was beyond the efforts of one man, no matter how skilled he was.
His gaze dropped and the taller man nodded; the terms had been accepted, Heero had gained himself a partner. "Thank you," Heero murmured, quiet but not lacking in gratitude.
"What will I tell them?" Trowa spoke up as Heero raised himself off the bench.
"... Tell them nothing if you want; it doesn't matter what you say," he mentally berated himself for how cold the statement came out; if he wanted to keep his partner he was going to have to ease off those unsociable manners. "... You'd better get dressed, there's no telling what they're up to now. Taylor already knows that Relena's still alive and he'll probably want this matter taken care of as soon as possible."
Trowa nodded and left the bench with no further questions asked, heading towards his trailer to get dressed and bid his sister goodbye. Heero saw his quiet actions and silently thanked him once again; that's what he appreciated most about the former Heavyarms pilot, understanding without questions. He knew it was hard for the young man to leave his family unguarded like so; they had become the main reason for him to keep on living these past years. Those green eyes would light up every time his sister or one of the other circus members laughed, sang, danced, or just enjoyed their life; those people were giving him things that he'd been long denied during the Alliance's reign. They were filling up the void caused by violence and killing, they were chasing away his nightmares, giving him something to dream about; they were giving him love. No man in his right mind would give up something as precious as that. //But I gave that up... so what does that mean? ::You're still a boy learning how to feel. Someday you will discover what it's like to embrace your emotions and not be afraid of what's waiting around the corner:: I'm not afraid... not for myself anyway...//
Trowa quietly made his way inside and found his sister still asleep; the corners of his mouth curved upwards slightly. With practiced skill, he noiselessly stole away to his drawer and picked out a change of clothes: his customary jeans, a black-buttoned shirt, and a long jacket draped over a nearby chair. Glancing over his shoulders to the sleeping form, he reached further into the drawer to a secret compartment where he retrieved a gun. Rapidly, he dressed, getting into his jeans and shirt, buttoning and zipping swiftly; that left the gun. Eyeing the object for another minute he sighed and tucked in into the back of his waistband, immediately covering it with his long jacket. The only thing left on the itinerary was to say goodbye; it pained him to do so but he managed somehow. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, whispering, "Goodbye Cathy, I'll be out for awhile, don't wait up for me." Then he was gone along with the Japanese youth who stood patiently outside the door.
*****
Relena stepped into the living room after having taken a shower, dressed in a pair of shorts and a plaid shirt. She was surprised to find Duo sitting on the couch, two plates of omelets on the coffee table. "Hey, Duo, why, aren't you eating in the kitchen?"
He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head, "Well, remember our food fight the other night? Uh... it's still there."
She slapped her forehead and groaned, "Oh no! I completely forgot about that!" She plopped down next to Duo and made a grab for her plate. "Oh well, guess it can wait 'til later," she exclaimed, shoving a forkful of breakfast into her mouth.
"N-Nani?!" Duo's mouth hung open; he was astonished beyond mere words. He'd always known her as someone who never put things off when they could be done and over with right away. "What did you just say?! You don't say things like that. Are you feeling okay?"
She laughed heartily, almost unable to keep the food from spraying onto him. "You see what a bad influence you are to me, Maxwell," she remarked, pointing her fork in his direction. "I mean, it hasn't even been three full days yet and already your idleness is starting to rub off on me."
"Oi! You can't blame me for that! It wasn't as if you were protesting it or anything!" Duo scoffed indignantly, putting food into his mouth as well. "Well," he lightened up, "since you're beginning to act so much like me, then I guess you wouldn't mind watching some morning cartoons, huh?"
"Nah," she drawled out, "I wouldn't mind at all. It's been about... Oh, I'd say twelve years since I last watched morning cartoons."
"You're joking, right?" Duo choked out. //Man! I thought I had a deprived childhood. Exactly where did you grow up, 'Jousan? A monastery?//
*****
After having debated the situation, the two stoic youths decided that the safest way to get to Hilde's home was by using the alleys. It had been the route Trowa had used when he had made his trek to the drop off supplies and information to Duo and Relena. Using the streets would attract unwanted attention, especially if there were people who knew or recognized the clown. Along with that, Heero's subordinates wouldn't take kindly to it if they happened to see him in the company of a well-known former Gundam pilot. The morning air was cold and the local businesses were starting to open up their shops.
//He still looks tense and worried... maybe it wasn't such a good idea, recruiting him to assist me.// Heero thought as he walked through the alleys with Trowa to his right.
"Don't worry about me. I agreed to help you and that is what I'll do," he stated emotionlessly, aware of what the other had been thinking of. "Besides, when Heero Yuy goes asking for help, it usually means that task is of profound difficulty, right?" he smiled down at his companion, loosening the tension that had built up during the journey.
"Thanks, Trowa," Heero replied, "but I really am sorry for having disrupted your life. I see the way you are around them and I know it must have been hard for you to leave them, especially Catherine." He looked up and offered his apologies.
The taller man was silent, contemplating the turn of events, "There is nothing to be sorry about. I love them, yes, but I cannot ignore the danger this organization poses either." His words rang out sharply in Heero's ears and the other listened with much interest. "Like you, I do realize that Relena is the key to keeping the Colonies and the Earth in a state of peace. If she were to be assassinated, it would be just like that incident with the former leader of the Colonies, Heero Yuy. I love my family too much to allow something so deplorable to transpire. I will do all I can to keep them from suffering."
The Japanese man deliberated those words, "... I wish I were able to love others like you do," he confessed, ashamed for harboring such weak feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. "I still have yet to know what it's like to care for someone so unconditionally..."
"What of Relena?" Trowa mused. "As I recall, you seemed to hold a special affinity towards her," he reminded the other, a small smile on his lips.
"... I can't taint her life with the blood on my hands," he whispered. In his twenty years of life, the former Gundam pilot had acquired many enemies, some still out there looking for him, and he wanted Relena to be nowhere near it. He'd never forgive himself if she'd taken a bullet meant for him, knowing that in the future such an event would be commonplace.
"I still have blood on my hands as well, Heero," the taller man stated, memories of the war coming to the forefront of his mind. "I never wanted them involved, but they never gave up in their quest to make me a part of their family. Loving someone also means allowing the other to decide whether or not they want to love you as well. Catherine and the others have accepted my past and for better of worse they love me in spite of that. If you love her, you have to allow her to decide what she wants to do. Ignoring her and disappearing into thin air is not the solution."
//He's probably right on this one... I can't just ignore her for the rest of my life... Ryoukai.// He turned his head to examine the streets and make sure they were still on the right path. The sidewalk was starting to crowd with people making it difficult to discern what area they were in, yet it wasn't enough to hide the image of a familiar black car. His mind froze, realizing that the vehicle was headed in the same direction they were. He signaled for Trowa to stop and immediately pulled out his cell phone. It took them two rings before they answered and he proceeded to pump them for info. "Where are you two right now?" He asked calmly, showing no hints of agitation or worry.
"Sir? We could ask you the same thing," came the voice of the blond man.
"I'm not in a joking mood right now. What's your location?" he commanded more firmly.
"Well, we got a tip last night from one of that Gundam pilot's friends. They say he's probably at his partner's place, house sitting for her. We're going to check on it right now."
"I understand," Heero acknowledged grimly, flipping the device off. He took a deep breath, reached into his coat pocket and pulled out another cell phone. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it to his partner and informed him of the situation. "They've discovered Relena's whereabouts. We have to get there now. If we should arrive at the same time they do-"
"Then you're the enemy again," Trowa finished, understanding that the Japanese could not give away his cover just yet.
"If that's the case, you can contact me with that. My number is on speed dial one." With nothing more to discuss they took off in a mad run, utilizing the short cuts Trowa discovered the other day to quicken their journey. They were no match for the car, but then again they had an advantage; they didn't have traffic lights to hinder them. //I'm coming Relena.//
*****
"What did he want?" the tall brunette asked.
"Just to know where we're headed. I guess he wants to meet us there," he pondered, taking out his gun to check its condition.
"I thought he would've been the one to locate them first," Marcus spat offhandedly. "After all that talk about being able to do this mission by himself, he hasn't even found them yet. Humph, I think the boss made a mistake assigning him as the leader."
His partner leaned back and chuckled, "You sound like you want his job."
"I wouldn't mind getting it," he joked, turning another corner.
*****
The morning dragged on and the Chinese agent was thoroughly agitated. The argument he had last night with Sally Po was really beginning to irk him. Leave it up to the woman to get the man frustrated; she seemed to be the only one who could do so. "Damned onna," he cursed, "How dare she blame me for this! It's not my fault that she expects me to check in with her at a regularly given basis! If she had told me that staying with them were more important than I would have done so." He kicked a nearby can and buried his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Baka na! The least she could have done was offer to send me more money. The amount they gave me barely covered the shuttle expenses and the hotel costs."
He sighed to himself and stopped at the street corner. "Hm, at least I'm making good time. At this rate I'll be there soon... and maybe I can get something to eat there as well... For Kami-sama's sake, didn't they know food prices were starting to go up? It was all over the news so how it managed to fly over their heads, I don't know." His stomach growled and he shot it a deadly look. "Stop being so weak," he scolded the organ. "We've been through worse so don't you dare get soft on me!" //I swear, they're all playing some kind of joke on me.// He cursed his absent partner once more and pushed through the growing crowd of people, keeping his eyes wide open should he see someone he recognized as either enemy or ally.
*****
"How much further?" Heero asked; his shades were back on and the only thing on his mind was his destination.
"About two more blocks; we might make it," Trowa called over his shoulders. "Do you see them?"
Cocking his head to the side, the man glanced at the passing streets. "No, but I imagine they're close as well." He turned back to the stoic youth, "Another thing, which way are we entering the house, front or back?"
Trowa gave the question a second of consideration before promptly answering. "We'll know when we get there. The back might take longer, but the front is wired with all those security devices you told me to give Duo. Knowing him, they might still be activated and if we set them off, then I can guarantee that your 'assistants' will find us." A trashcan suddenly fell into his path, but his quick reflexes allowed him to jump over it with ease. Looking over his shoulder, he saw a brown and white cat jump out from the overturned object. //I'm getting too paranoid about this. They don't know where we are so there's nothing to get worked up about.//
Rounding another corner, they were suddenly out of the dark alleyways, the colony's light blinding them momentarily. With renewed hopes, they began hopping over the neighborhood fences, utilizing the backyards of the local residences to get to their destination. Ripping through trees and bushes, they blazed a pathway, taking no heed of those in their way. It was all a matter of who would get there first and they were determined to be the first. Within another minute, the German girl's house came into view and the two quickened their pace. With his mind made up, Trowa headed towards the back of the house so he could enter from the kitchen door. Heero knew his choice and proceeded to follow but a black form in the distance caught his eye. "They're here!" he shouted and Trowa nodded his acknowledgement. This time round, the tall youth didn't bother with knocks or greetings, he just kicked through the door and ran for the living room.
"What the-" came Duo's initial reaction to the entire scene, "Trowa!?"
Relena, on the other hand, was too surprised by the sudden intrusion to mouth any words of shock or outrage. Her eyes went wide as she centered her gaze on the man accompanying Trowa. Her face went blank as if she'd seen a ghost; her mind working to decipher which person from her past this phantom resembled. "Hee-"
"We have to get out of here!" Trowa yelled, drawing out his gun. "You've been discovered!" He cocked his head, seeing Heero run up to the door, pulling out his own firearm.
"How the hell did that happen!?" Duo shouted, reaching under the sofa cushions to feel for the gun he'd hidden there. Once his hands made contact with the cold metal, he pulled it out and unlatched the safety, holding it close to his body as he reached for Relena's hand.
"They're here!" The Japanese youth shouted, turning his attention towards the stoic entertainer. "Trowa!" With that cue, the taller man ran towards him and ran his fist into Heero's stomach then proceeded to deck him across his face. The grim agent staggered slightly before losing his footing, falling right through the front door, triggering the alarms. Once he got up he raised his gun and began shooting at the space around his three friends.
"What's going on?" Relena pleaded, confused by all the chaos that had suddenly developed. There were bullets flying everywhere; Trowa was shooting at the brown-haired man while the other shot at all three of them. Strange that none of the bullets seemed to be connecting with anything else save for Hilde's furniture and wall.
"C'mon, 'Jousan!" Duo yelled, taking hold of her hand and pulling her towards the kitchen. "I think this is our cue to high tail it outta here." He looked back at Trowa then at the other firing at them and everything clicked into place. //Geez, the way he's carrying on with the whole thing, I actually have a hard time believing he was on our side. But how the hell did those guys figure out we were here? Damn! This means Heero won't be able to help us; not with his 'buddies' around him.// Through the hail of ammunition, he found his way to the back and out the door.
"Where are we going, Duo?" Relena questioned, covering her head with her free arm while her other hand had a death grip on Duo's. //That person in there... it couldn't have been... could it? It sounded like him, but why would he be here? Why did Trowa hit him? More importantly, why is he shooting at us?// She swiveled her head to see if she could catch a glimpse of him but a bullet hitting the kitchen wall made her turn away. //Those clothes he was wearing... Heero doesn't wear those types of clothes... not when he doesn't have to... So, if he's dressed like that... it means that he's on a mission. Was he sent to protect me... or was he sent to kill me?// Heero's 'Omae o korosu' rang through her ears as tears welled up in her eyes.
*****
"What the hell..." Wufei gasped, hearing the alarms and gunfire. He stood motionless on the sidewalk a few houses down from Hilde's staring in wonder at what was happening. He pivoted his head and saw a familiar brown braid swinging in the wind along with honey blonde hair and sped off to follow them. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted yet another figure with spiky brown hair dressed in a suit, shooting a gun. Off the top of his mind he recalled the people present at the bombing of Maxwell's shop. Then again, the image of a gruff, Japanese pilot also came to mind and he briefly wondered if it was just his imagination. "No time to think about it now; Sally's going to nag my head off if I don't keep my watch on them."
*****
The two were out of the car and at their leader's side in a flash. "Sir, are you all right?" Chris asked worriedly. "What happened, sir?"
Heero brushed the dirt off his shoulders and straightened his suit and tie then proceeded to remove his shades. He fingered the spot where Trowa's fist connected with his face before turning his attention to his two subordinates, a hint of a smile on his face. "It seems that the Preventers are getting involved," he lied to his comrades. "When I came here you still had yet to arrive. I decided to finish the job myself, but they had the house rigged with an alarm system; I wasn't expecting them to do that for a temporary shelter. Worse part yet, that Gundam pilot wasn't alone; the Preventers are protecting Darlian as well."
"They sure did some job on you," the blond commented, removing a tube of ointment from his pocket. "How many were there?" He unscrewed the cap and placed a small dapple on his finger and smeared it on Heero's cheek.
"There were only two," he continued with his lie, having spotted Wufei running in the distant, "but they were top ranking agents; along with that Gundam pilot, it was a bit too much to handle by oneself."
"Wow," Chris whistled, "that's probably the first time I've heard you be so humble. What brought this on?" he laughed and patted his superior's back.
Heero smirked and slipped his sunglasses back on, "I'm not one to be so arrogant as to deny when others are more skilled than I. I respect those whose abilities are better than mine; there's nothing wrong with acknowledging that." //Trowa, keep them safe; it might be a while before I can meet up with you again... This just seems to get more and more difficult everyday... I've tried, but I can't be everywhere all at once... shimatta!//
"Taylor's not going to be happy when he hears about this, neither will the boss," Marcus mumbled off to the side, scratching his head in wonder as he assessed the damage on their leader and the house.
Heero brushed past him and stopped, "Who says we have to inform them of this minor technicality?" he queried, not bothering to look behind him. "We can get rid of them before the conference week ends. That shouldn't be too hard now, right?"
"And where do you suggest we start looking, sir?" he asked sarcastically, crossing his arms over his chest. "For all we know, they're probably on a shuttle headed for Earth right now. Damn, I knew it was a bad idea to take on this assignment of assassinating Darlian. She's the most targeted person on both Earth and space, but she's also the only person who's escaped all those encounters alive. Darlian's the hardest person in the world to kill; every single assassin knows that."
"Yeah," Chris agreed with that observation, "It seems as if she has the Devil's luck or something."
"There's no such thing as luck," Marcus scolded, "There are people protecting her; ones we don't know about." The Japanese stiffened slightly at those words, but the others took no notice of it. "The best way to get to Darlian is to get through them." The tall brunette's face was set and he located the car keys and headed towards the vehicle.
*****
"Duo!" Relena gasped, trying her best to keep up with the young man holding her hand. Truth be told, the Vice Foreign Minister wasn't up to all this strenuous exercise; her long hours in the office and conference meetings left her little time to stay in shape. At the moment, she was struggling, nearly falling down more than once. "Duo, please stop! *huff* *huff* *huff* I can't keep this up."
Duo looked over his shoulder and his eyes softened, understanding how she felt; however, they were trapped in a very difficult predicament and stopping was not an option. "Just a little further Relena, just try to stay with me 'til then. C'mon, I know you can do it," he urged encouragingly. In front of him, Trowa was still running at a breakneck pace. "Oi! Trowa! Where are we headed exactly?"
"To a safe house about twenty miles from here!" he answered, glancing to the sides to make sure it was safe.
"Twenty miles?!" the American bawled, "What do you mean twenty miles? We can't possibly get there on foot!"
"There's a storage house nearby; a car's inside," Trowa informed. His ears perked up when he heard an unfamiliar noise behind them and motioned for Duo and Relena to hide. Relena was relieved, allowed to catch her breath and rest her aching legs while Duo began to tense. They hid in the shadows of the buildings and held their guns close; ready to fire at a moment's notice. As the figure stepped into the light, the two men let out a sigh of relief; it was Wufei. They lowered their guns and slowly walked towards their friend.
"Man, Wufei," Duo said joyously, "You don't know how glad I am to see you!"
"Maxwell? Barton?" he mouthed in surprise before a smile appeared on his lips. "For a moment there I was afraid I wasn't going to catch up to the three of you." He noticed the girl in the corner and directed his attention on the mechanic. "How's Darlian doing?"
"Well, other than being a bit out of shape," that earned a glare from the girl in question, "she's doing all right. How did you find us anyway? I thought you had to dig up information on Taylor and that organization working for him." Duo mused with a hearty smile.
"Hm? Oh, Sally said she and Une would be taking care of that and sent me to look after you two and when I got to Schbeiker's house I heard all that disturbance and saw you and Darlian running along the back way of those houses," he reported as another question came to mind. "Say, Maxwell, before you left that house, did you take those provisions I gave you?"
There was a moment of contemplation, "Um... Well, I have the gun with me along with the extra clips and the credits, but I think I left all that other stuff back there... Aw, damn!" he cursed realizing what that meant, "Now we won't be able to leave the colony without alerting them to our position. Kuso! We can't stay on L2, this place could be crawling with assassins." A hand pressed down on his shoulder and Duo recognized it as Relena's.
"Did you say Taylor?" she looked seriously at the Chinese man in front of her as she steadied herself on the mechanic.
That certainly got Wufei's attention. "You mean you don't know?" he gasped then concentrated all his energy on the braided youth. "Maxwell! You didn't tell her!?" he seethed and clenched his fists.
The mechanic started to back away from the fuming Preventer, holding his hands up in defense. "Whoa, Wufei, now hold on a minute. I um... ah... it slipped my mind?" That was the most pathetic excuse he ever heard coming out of his own mouth. Relena grabbed his upper arm and pulled him so they were face to face.
"Duo, please don't lie to me. You knew who the person trying to kill me was so why didn't you tell me?"
He was a bit uneasy and looked to Trowa for help, but after realizing how verbally inept the other was he gave in to their requests. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to tell you who it was," he admitted, his eyes downcast, unable, but more like unwilling, to meet the girl's gaze. "I didn't really want to be the one to tell you that one of the people whose country you're trying to help was the one trying to kill you. I-I..." The words were becoming harder and harder to express as he tried to convey the reasons behind his decision, "I just didn't want you to think that all your efforts were being wasted... I wanted to have this over with so you wouldn't have to worry about being in danger..." Through all the babbling, his last statement became the sole purpose for his actions as he looked at ocean blue and confessed, "I-I wanted to protect you... that's all."
Stunned by the declaration, Relena wanted to say something in response, but Trowa's ever vigilant senses told him it was about time to leave. "We don't have anymore time to idle around." The four were then off and all other questions were put on hold until they reached safer grounds.
*****
The car pulled up into the alley of an abandoned warehouse, beaten up and looking as if it were ready for demolition. There were stained and shattered windows accompanied by broken panels and peeling paint. A sad sight that, when seen through a rain shower, made things seem more gloomy and depressing. Along the floor and above some pipes and walkways all kinds of creatures including rats and roaches were scurrying about. Relena cringed slightly aware that she'd seen this type of thing before in those old horror movies where the killers usually hid behind some door ready to slit the throats of those foolish enough to enter their domain. A tap on her shoulder brought her back to reality and she graciously took Duo's hand as he led her out of the car.
Duo whistled and took in the 'grand' site before him. "Wow, Trowa," he remarked sarcastically, "You sure do know how to pick such 'lovely' hideouts. This is the kind of place everybody's trying to get reservations for; it's got everything, lovely scenery, stained glass windows, it allows the breeze to go in and out freely, and it's got all sorts of 'exotic' creatures to play with- OW!" he screeched when Wufei slapped the back of his head.
"Mind your manners, Maxwell," he hissed under his breath, surveying the building in front of them. He evaluated the factory mentally and deemed it satisfactory, meeting his standards of approval; the building didn't have to look good in order to protect the Vice Foreign Minister. A rat jumped off an open oil drum and Wufei craned his neck to the sides to make sure it was only the filthy vermin and nothing else. "This will do until the situation blows over," he commented, walking towards the door, using all his strength to pry it open. "Let's get in before we're spotted." Yet before he was even able to make a move, his cell phone rang. "Yes, what is it?" he snapped in annoyance.
The others looked on as Wufei's expression changed from annoyance to anger to distress and to one of pure frustration. His conversation consisted of abrupt interruptions and many questions of "What happened?" and "What do you mean-" along with "But-" and "How-" before he sighed and switched off the phone. A heavy silence descended upon them and the three could that Wufei was inserting his iron will to keep from shedding tears as his hands clenched into tight fists. His head hung low for a brief moment before he turned to address them. "... That was Sally," he informed with a sullen tone, "she's told me that one of our agents has just been killed... He was investigating a lead we had and was discovered. Sally said they lost contact with him earlier this morning; he was somewhere in Germany at the time. He sent out a distress message saying they were close... and then they heard gunfire."
"Wufei-" Relena spoke, stepping forward but was held at bay with a gesture from his side. He looked up and they could see the conflict in his eyes at having lost a teammate.
"He knew what he was getting into, there is no need for sympathy. The only problem is that he wasn't able to retrieve or confirm anything for us. All we know is that there is a hostile group residing in that location of Germany... Sally says they need a replacement for his assignment and since the others are very hesitant to go, Lady Une has nominated me for the job." The emotions inside of him were stirring wildly; he was unsure of how he should feel. The fact that the tragedy was clouded in obscurity made him uneasy and the knowledge that those people were willing to shoot without questions asked made him afraid. A few years ago he'd never feared death, there wasn't much to live for; however, now that he had grown, he had friends, people who were like family and a chance to regain the life he should have had in the first place. They were too precious to give up, but he knew what was needed of him and he resigned to accept the fate dished out to him; he would go. "I should be leaving now, but I am grateful that I had the opportunity to see and make sure that you were safe Darlian, Maxwell."
"I'm sorry Wu," Duo said dejectedly, his shoulders slumped with helplessness.
"You can take the car," Trowa offered, throwing him the keys.
"Thank you," he looked back to Duo and then Relena, "Take care of her." He left without another word and was out of the building before the others could stop him.
"So what's the plan from here on end?" Duo piped up, "Trowa?"
The performer had a thoughtful look on his face, "We have to make sure the area's safe. I don't think they'll come looking for us here, but there's no telling what lurks behind these corners. What's the time Duo?"
"Ah... it's around ten."
"We should get started right away... we have a long day ahead of us." No more words were exchanged, the day already held too many bad memories.
*****
They had passed the day in silence, each to their own thoughts about what would happen in the upcoming days. Things seemed grim and there weren't much left for them to hope for. On the floor was a pile of wrappers and soda cans; provisions Trowa bought a few hours prior that was their lunch and dinner. Relena sat alone on an overturned crate; Trowa was in the corner leaning on the wall, while Duo paced about with pent up energy. The darkness was unsettling and getting to the three in its own unique way. For the clown, black surroundings caused him to relive that painful memory of when he was lost in space. His body shivered and a few trickles of sweat slid down his cheek; it was cold, so cold, and he once again felt alone and abandoned. For Relena, the darkness released all the fears and doubts she'd kept at bay during the day, crashing like tidal waves. All her barriers proved useless on these shapeless enemies; she was defenseless, reduced to the vulnerable child she worked hard to conceal.
Duo on the other hand, was determined to maintain his jovial nature, throwing in comments once in awhile in between the pacing. //I will not let this affect me. Things will turn out fine in the end. Wufei's okay and Heero's doing his best to make sure those guys never find us. It's only a matter of time before my life gets back on track and I'm fixing broken things again. It's just a matter of time... before all this madness ends... ::Before you have to say goodbye to Relena?:: Huh?... I can't believe I almost forgot about that...// He looked towards the diplomat and saw her heartbreaking expression, her eyes dull and lifeless with unknown emotions. //During all that time we spent together, it was as if nothing else mattered. It felt so normal just being together; I felt like I was normal. What am I going to do without her? Can I go on without her? ::You should answer those questions now while you have the chance:: I-I... I can't do this now! She's got too much on her mind; I'll only make it worst!//
Unexpectedly Duo stormed across the room and headed out the door. Both Relena and Trowa were surprised by his actions and the girl was ready to go after him, but Trowa stopped her. "You stay here, it might not be safe outside. We'll be back in a few minutes." Relena nodded her understanding and resumed her seat on the crate.
She watched silently as his figure disappeared behind the large metal doors and sighed as she grabbed her chest to still her heavy heart. //What's happening? How did things get so out of hand? How did I lose control? How? Why? Why is this happening? Isn't everything supposed to get better once the war is over? That's how it is in the fairytales, so why can't it be the same in life? ::Are you feeling lonely again?:: You already know that answer, there's no need to ask. ::Are you feeling insecure?:: I always have, this is nothing new. ::Do you wish that Heero was here?:: ... I don't know... I miss him and I miss the way he made me feel safe, but I don't think I can go on living like this; checking every corner and turning at every noise just to see if it's him. ::What about Duo?:: Duo... he's such a nice guy, but I'm not sure what I feel for him. It's great having him near me... so warm and comforting... it feels... like I have someone I can count on and... ::Love?:: I-I... I don't know. I don't know how I feel these days; I didn't think I could anymore... What would I do about Heero? I still want to be able to give him something he can hope for, someone he can love and cherish. ::You've done that already by giving him a future he can live in:: I haven't done that yet, there are those that won't let me... people I work with and for. I haven't given him anything he can hold on to... no wonder he keeps his distance... I'm a disappointment; I've failed.//
"Relena." Came a low, gruff voice; it was monotone but full of hidden emotion.
The girl looked up and her eyes widened in fear and shock. It was Heero, beautiful and dangerous all at once. His shades were off and she could see those stormy blue eyes in what little light the room offered. They spoke volumes of what the former pilot wanted to say but unable to voice. She recognized confusion, hesitation, uncertainty, defiance, and something that resembled love.
"Heero..." her voice trailed and her mind warned. //Have you come to kill me at last, Heero?//
-to be continued-
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I said I was going to finish this fic in fewer than 10 chapters and that is what I'm going to do, even if it kills me! Yeah, yeah, I know it was a bit confusing, but that's because I want to finish this as soon as possible so I can get back to Trapped Soul which I really think will turn out great. I miss that fic so much but thank goodness I still have most of the ideas for it. My memory might be the worst thing in the world when it comes to school but it's the best storage space for useless, miscellaneous junk. By that I mean I know about every single character in anime, their personal data, their seiyuu, the original creators of that anime or manga, and some other stuff that just doesn't really prove useful in everyday life. *sigh* AP's are coming up and so are finals and then Anime Expo. Once all that is over with, I have to deal with college... I feel sick now. Well, if you've been following this story you know how long it usually takes for me to get a chapter out and considering I still don't have my own PC... Well, you know the rest, ja ne.
Warnings: Mild language and violence. 2+R fic.
A.N: I know a lot of you guys are getting tired of how slow this story is moving. Well, from this point on, things are gonna start speeding up. I'm well aware a lot of you are annoyed at me for all my delays but it's not like I always have time to do this and I've recently had my computer taken away from me. Yeah, yeah, go ahead and flame me about my incompetence, I really don't care. I go at my own pace but I also try not to neglect those who appreciate my fics and the majority of the time, I write for those people.
My Ojousan
Chapter 7: Close Allies, Closer Enemies
By: veGie-kun
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
No answer.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
No answer.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
*Click* "......." A sleep-eyed and bewildered Trowa opened the door to his trailer only to find the Japanese youth standing there with his usual greeting glare. The tall young man remained still, gazing through half-raised lids at the intruder, "...... Why do you insist on visiting me at these ungodly hours?" He yawned and scratched his stomach under his green pajamas, not look happy one bit for being wakened. "Couldn't this wait until dawn? It's only another half hour *yawn*."
"We need to talk now," Heero commanded rather than asked, but that was how he usually approached things. He didn't care much for the clown's current state, he could be wearing his sister's performance costume and the Japanese youth would still be adorning his professional mask.
"So talk," the half awakened man yawned again, rubbing his tired eyes with the sleeves of his pajama shirt.
Heero glared at him, then looked past the performer into the trailer. He saw Catherine still asleep in her bed on the other side of Trowa's then returned his gaze to the youth. "Privately," he stated firmly. He waited in a standing face-off with the former Heavyarms pilot, neither budging an inch nor blinking; it seemed as if the two would stay that way forever.
"... Trowa... *yawn*... Will you close the door? It's cold," Catherine's drowsy voice broke the tension and the two snapped back into attention. With that little dispute settled, Trowa quietly closed the trailer door behind him and followed the forever mission oriented human alarm clock.
//She looks so at ease just sleeping there... Maybe I shouldn't wake her up, she could really use the extra hours...// A small smile played on Duo's lips as he leaned on the doorway of Hilde's room. Unlike the other day, he never had much of a chance to gaze upon the slumbering maiden, preoccupied with making breakfast. The light from the outside broke through slivers in the curtains, falling on the girl and highlighting her already beautiful features. For a moment the youth thought about giving up on the idea of getting her and The Frigid One together and keep her all to himself. Yet as tempting as that idea sounded he just couldn't help but feel guilty for doing something so underhanded. //Of course, it's not like he cares about what happens to her; I mean, he's the one who left her in the first place. ::Now you know that's not true. If Suicide Boy didn't give a damn, do you think he would've gone through all this trouble? You saw it in his eyes last night, he cares about her a lot and I think he always has. You can't be the one to decide who should get whom; it's not up to you, now is it?:: I know you're right, but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up without a fight. ::Who said you had to. We're Shinigami here! If we have to go down, why not go down with a bang?:: Well, I think it's about time to wake up sleeping beauty... Maybe I can do it the way it was done in the fairy tale...//
Duo strolled over to the bed, taking time to study her delicate features. He stopped when he reached the side of the mattress and his hands reached out to brush aside her blonde bangs. His eyes softened at her peaceful and unguarded expression, his hands tenderly caressing her cheeks. Slowly he kneeled on the floor, reaching over and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. The girl's eyes slowly fluttered open and she stretched her arms in a cat-like motion before rolling over to face the grinning mechanic. "Ohayou, Princess."
"That's Vice Foreign Minister, not Princess," she corrected, smiling as she looked adoringly at the handsome youth.
"Why don't you go wash up while I get breakfast ready? What would you like this morning?" He queried, resting his head atop his folded arms.
She removed the covers of the bed and her slender hands banished the last traces of sleep from her eyes. "Hm, how about some omelets?" He nodded in agreement and headed for the door, only leaving after he snuck in a second glance. Relena sat on the bed for another minute before willing herself up, her feet found the slippers on the floor and she started for the bathroom.
"Oi, 'Jousan!" Duo called from the end of the hallway, "Make sure to be careful when you're coming into the living room, I haven't deactivated the alarm system yet. I think I'm going to leave it on for a little while longer just until I make sure that the area's safe."
"Okay, I will!"
"I can't leave them," Trowa stated, putting down his mug of coffee on the table. The two were sitting on one of the many picnic benches that littered the circus grounds, engaged in a discussion over Heero's plan.
"There's no other way. I need you. I can't trust the others; besides, they have their own missions," Heero reasoned gruffly, penetrating the gaze of the other and hoping he could intimidate the clown into agreeing with him. Of course that worked about as well as trying to intimidate a large, immovable rock; the two had about the same emotional capacity.
"Can you guarantee their safety?" The answer would determine the outcome of Trowa's response and Heero knew that all too well.
"... No, but I'm certain they won't come here. I've told them to stay away and if they value their lives, they'll obey my orders," he answered in his confident monotone.
"... Do you really need my help? You were usually able to do these missions by yourself in the past," Trowa remarked, staring down at his mug, letting its warmth seep into his cold hands.
Strange how things usually turn out, he'd promised himself before that he would no longer kill; yet as the days wore on, he knew the vow could not be kept. Yes, killing is wrong, but sometimes it was the only option left when one is thrown into a corner. The only way to correct that situation was to make sure he wasn't going to be thrown into such a corner, in order to do that he needed an ally. "Those missions concerned OZ; these people are not OZ. They're men trained to kill, not pilot; they're like us, but without restraints and empathy." Looking up, their eyes locked and Trowa saw that Heero was pleading with him; this mission was beyond the efforts of one man, no matter how skilled he was.
His gaze dropped and the taller man nodded; the terms had been accepted, Heero had gained himself a partner. "Thank you," Heero murmured, quiet but not lacking in gratitude.
"What will I tell them?" Trowa spoke up as Heero raised himself off the bench.
"... Tell them nothing if you want; it doesn't matter what you say," he mentally berated himself for how cold the statement came out; if he wanted to keep his partner he was going to have to ease off those unsociable manners. "... You'd better get dressed, there's no telling what they're up to now. Taylor already knows that Relena's still alive and he'll probably want this matter taken care of as soon as possible."
Trowa nodded and left the bench with no further questions asked, heading towards his trailer to get dressed and bid his sister goodbye. Heero saw his quiet actions and silently thanked him once again; that's what he appreciated most about the former Heavyarms pilot, understanding without questions. He knew it was hard for the young man to leave his family unguarded like so; they had become the main reason for him to keep on living these past years. Those green eyes would light up every time his sister or one of the other circus members laughed, sang, danced, or just enjoyed their life; those people were giving him things that he'd been long denied during the Alliance's reign. They were filling up the void caused by violence and killing, they were chasing away his nightmares, giving him something to dream about; they were giving him love. No man in his right mind would give up something as precious as that. //But I gave that up... so what does that mean? ::You're still a boy learning how to feel. Someday you will discover what it's like to embrace your emotions and not be afraid of what's waiting around the corner:: I'm not afraid... not for myself anyway...//
Trowa quietly made his way inside and found his sister still asleep; the corners of his mouth curved upwards slightly. With practiced skill, he noiselessly stole away to his drawer and picked out a change of clothes: his customary jeans, a black-buttoned shirt, and a long jacket draped over a nearby chair. Glancing over his shoulders to the sleeping form, he reached further into the drawer to a secret compartment where he retrieved a gun. Rapidly, he dressed, getting into his jeans and shirt, buttoning and zipping swiftly; that left the gun. Eyeing the object for another minute he sighed and tucked in into the back of his waistband, immediately covering it with his long jacket. The only thing left on the itinerary was to say goodbye; it pained him to do so but he managed somehow. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, whispering, "Goodbye Cathy, I'll be out for awhile, don't wait up for me." Then he was gone along with the Japanese youth who stood patiently outside the door.
Relena stepped into the living room after having taken a shower, dressed in a pair of shorts and a plaid shirt. She was surprised to find Duo sitting on the couch, two plates of omelets on the coffee table. "Hey, Duo, why, aren't you eating in the kitchen?"
He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head, "Well, remember our food fight the other night? Uh... it's still there."
She slapped her forehead and groaned, "Oh no! I completely forgot about that!" She plopped down next to Duo and made a grab for her plate. "Oh well, guess it can wait 'til later," she exclaimed, shoving a forkful of breakfast into her mouth.
"N-Nani?!" Duo's mouth hung open; he was astonished beyond mere words. He'd always known her as someone who never put things off when they could be done and over with right away. "What did you just say?! You don't say things like that. Are you feeling okay?"
She laughed heartily, almost unable to keep the food from spraying onto him. "You see what a bad influence you are to me, Maxwell," she remarked, pointing her fork in his direction. "I mean, it hasn't even been three full days yet and already your idleness is starting to rub off on me."
"Oi! You can't blame me for that! It wasn't as if you were protesting it or anything!" Duo scoffed indignantly, putting food into his mouth as well. "Well," he lightened up, "since you're beginning to act so much like me, then I guess you wouldn't mind watching some morning cartoons, huh?"
"Nah," she drawled out, "I wouldn't mind at all. It's been about... Oh, I'd say twelve years since I last watched morning cartoons."
"You're joking, right?" Duo choked out. //Man! I thought I had a deprived childhood. Exactly where did you grow up, 'Jousan? A monastery?//
After having debated the situation, the two stoic youths decided that the safest way to get to Hilde's home was by using the alleys. It had been the route Trowa had used when he had made his trek to the drop off supplies and information to Duo and Relena. Using the streets would attract unwanted attention, especially if there were people who knew or recognized the clown. Along with that, Heero's subordinates wouldn't take kindly to it if they happened to see him in the company of a well-known former Gundam pilot. The morning air was cold and the local businesses were starting to open up their shops.
//He still looks tense and worried... maybe it wasn't such a good idea, recruiting him to assist me.// Heero thought as he walked through the alleys with Trowa to his right.
"Don't worry about me. I agreed to help you and that is what I'll do," he stated emotionlessly, aware of what the other had been thinking of. "Besides, when Heero Yuy goes asking for help, it usually means that task is of profound difficulty, right?" he smiled down at his companion, loosening the tension that had built up during the journey.
"Thanks, Trowa," Heero replied, "but I really am sorry for having disrupted your life. I see the way you are around them and I know it must have been hard for you to leave them, especially Catherine." He looked up and offered his apologies.
The taller man was silent, contemplating the turn of events, "There is nothing to be sorry about. I love them, yes, but I cannot ignore the danger this organization poses either." His words rang out sharply in Heero's ears and the other listened with much interest. "Like you, I do realize that Relena is the key to keeping the Colonies and the Earth in a state of peace. If she were to be assassinated, it would be just like that incident with the former leader of the Colonies, Heero Yuy. I love my family too much to allow something so deplorable to transpire. I will do all I can to keep them from suffering."
The Japanese man deliberated those words, "... I wish I were able to love others like you do," he confessed, ashamed for harboring such weak feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. "I still have yet to know what it's like to care for someone so unconditionally..."
"What of Relena?" Trowa mused. "As I recall, you seemed to hold a special affinity towards her," he reminded the other, a small smile on his lips.
"... I can't taint her life with the blood on my hands," he whispered. In his twenty years of life, the former Gundam pilot had acquired many enemies, some still out there looking for him, and he wanted Relena to be nowhere near it. He'd never forgive himself if she'd taken a bullet meant for him, knowing that in the future such an event would be commonplace.
"I still have blood on my hands as well, Heero," the taller man stated, memories of the war coming to the forefront of his mind. "I never wanted them involved, but they never gave up in their quest to make me a part of their family. Loving someone also means allowing the other to decide whether or not they want to love you as well. Catherine and the others have accepted my past and for better of worse they love me in spite of that. If you love her, you have to allow her to decide what she wants to do. Ignoring her and disappearing into thin air is not the solution."
//He's probably right on this one... I can't just ignore her for the rest of my life... Ryoukai.// He turned his head to examine the streets and make sure they were still on the right path. The sidewalk was starting to crowd with people making it difficult to discern what area they were in, yet it wasn't enough to hide the image of a familiar black car. His mind froze, realizing that the vehicle was headed in the same direction they were. He signaled for Trowa to stop and immediately pulled out his cell phone. It took them two rings before they answered and he proceeded to pump them for info. "Where are you two right now?" He asked calmly, showing no hints of agitation or worry.
"Sir? We could ask you the same thing," came the voice of the blond man.
"I'm not in a joking mood right now. What's your location?" he commanded more firmly.
"Well, we got a tip last night from one of that Gundam pilot's friends. They say he's probably at his partner's place, house sitting for her. We're going to check on it right now."
"I understand," Heero acknowledged grimly, flipping the device off. He took a deep breath, reached into his coat pocket and pulled out another cell phone. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it to his partner and informed him of the situation. "They've discovered Relena's whereabouts. We have to get there now. If we should arrive at the same time they do-"
"Then you're the enemy again," Trowa finished, understanding that the Japanese could not give away his cover just yet.
"If that's the case, you can contact me with that. My number is on speed dial one." With nothing more to discuss they took off in a mad run, utilizing the short cuts Trowa discovered the other day to quicken their journey. They were no match for the car, but then again they had an advantage; they didn't have traffic lights to hinder them. //I'm coming Relena.//
"What did he want?" the tall brunette asked.
"Just to know where we're headed. I guess he wants to meet us there," he pondered, taking out his gun to check its condition.
"I thought he would've been the one to locate them first," Marcus spat offhandedly. "After all that talk about being able to do this mission by himself, he hasn't even found them yet. Humph, I think the boss made a mistake assigning him as the leader."
His partner leaned back and chuckled, "You sound like you want his job."
"I wouldn't mind getting it," he joked, turning another corner.
The morning dragged on and the Chinese agent was thoroughly agitated. The argument he had last night with Sally Po was really beginning to irk him. Leave it up to the woman to get the man frustrated; she seemed to be the only one who could do so. "Damned onna," he cursed, "How dare she blame me for this! It's not my fault that she expects me to check in with her at a regularly given basis! If she had told me that staying with them were more important than I would have done so." He kicked a nearby can and buried his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Baka na! The least she could have done was offer to send me more money. The amount they gave me barely covered the shuttle expenses and the hotel costs."
He sighed to himself and stopped at the street corner. "Hm, at least I'm making good time. At this rate I'll be there soon... and maybe I can get something to eat there as well... For Kami-sama's sake, didn't they know food prices were starting to go up? It was all over the news so how it managed to fly over their heads, I don't know." His stomach growled and he shot it a deadly look. "Stop being so weak," he scolded the organ. "We've been through worse so don't you dare get soft on me!" //I swear, they're all playing some kind of joke on me.// He cursed his absent partner once more and pushed through the growing crowd of people, keeping his eyes wide open should he see someone he recognized as either enemy or ally.
"How much further?" Heero asked; his shades were back on and the only thing on his mind was his destination.
"About two more blocks; we might make it," Trowa called over his shoulders. "Do you see them?"
Cocking his head to the side, the man glanced at the passing streets. "No, but I imagine they're close as well." He turned back to the stoic youth, "Another thing, which way are we entering the house, front or back?"
Trowa gave the question a second of consideration before promptly answering. "We'll know when we get there. The back might take longer, but the front is wired with all those security devices you told me to give Duo. Knowing him, they might still be activated and if we set them off, then I can guarantee that your 'assistants' will find us." A trashcan suddenly fell into his path, but his quick reflexes allowed him to jump over it with ease. Looking over his shoulder, he saw a brown and white cat jump out from the overturned object. //I'm getting too paranoid about this. They don't know where we are so there's nothing to get worked up about.//
Rounding another corner, they were suddenly out of the dark alleyways, the colony's light blinding them momentarily. With renewed hopes, they began hopping over the neighborhood fences, utilizing the backyards of the local residences to get to their destination. Ripping through trees and bushes, they blazed a pathway, taking no heed of those in their way. It was all a matter of who would get there first and they were determined to be the first. Within another minute, the German girl's house came into view and the two quickened their pace. With his mind made up, Trowa headed towards the back of the house so he could enter from the kitchen door. Heero knew his choice and proceeded to follow but a black form in the distance caught his eye. "They're here!" he shouted and Trowa nodded his acknowledgement. This time round, the tall youth didn't bother with knocks or greetings, he just kicked through the door and ran for the living room.
"What the-" came Duo's initial reaction to the entire scene, "Trowa!?"
Relena, on the other hand, was too surprised by the sudden intrusion to mouth any words of shock or outrage. Her eyes went wide as she centered her gaze on the man accompanying Trowa. Her face went blank as if she'd seen a ghost; her mind working to decipher which person from her past this phantom resembled. "Hee-"
"We have to get out of here!" Trowa yelled, drawing out his gun. "You've been discovered!" He cocked his head, seeing Heero run up to the door, pulling out his own firearm.
"How the hell did that happen!?" Duo shouted, reaching under the sofa cushions to feel for the gun he'd hidden there. Once his hands made contact with the cold metal, he pulled it out and unlatched the safety, holding it close to his body as he reached for Relena's hand.
"They're here!" The Japanese youth shouted, turning his attention towards the stoic entertainer. "Trowa!" With that cue, the taller man ran towards him and ran his fist into Heero's stomach then proceeded to deck him across his face. The grim agent staggered slightly before losing his footing, falling right through the front door, triggering the alarms. Once he got up he raised his gun and began shooting at the space around his three friends.
"What's going on?" Relena pleaded, confused by all the chaos that had suddenly developed. There were bullets flying everywhere; Trowa was shooting at the brown-haired man while the other shot at all three of them. Strange that none of the bullets seemed to be connecting with anything else save for Hilde's furniture and wall.
"C'mon, 'Jousan!" Duo yelled, taking hold of her hand and pulling her towards the kitchen. "I think this is our cue to high tail it outta here." He looked back at Trowa then at the other firing at them and everything clicked into place. //Geez, the way he's carrying on with the whole thing, I actually have a hard time believing he was on our side. But how the hell did those guys figure out we were here? Damn! This means Heero won't be able to help us; not with his 'buddies' around him.// Through the hail of ammunition, he found his way to the back and out the door.
"Where are we going, Duo?" Relena questioned, covering her head with her free arm while her other hand had a death grip on Duo's. //That person in there... it couldn't have been... could it? It sounded like him, but why would he be here? Why did Trowa hit him? More importantly, why is he shooting at us?// She swiveled her head to see if she could catch a glimpse of him but a bullet hitting the kitchen wall made her turn away. //Those clothes he was wearing... Heero doesn't wear those types of clothes... not when he doesn't have to... So, if he's dressed like that... it means that he's on a mission. Was he sent to protect me... or was he sent to kill me?// Heero's 'Omae o korosu' rang through her ears as tears welled up in her eyes.
"What the hell..." Wufei gasped, hearing the alarms and gunfire. He stood motionless on the sidewalk a few houses down from Hilde's staring in wonder at what was happening. He pivoted his head and saw a familiar brown braid swinging in the wind along with honey blonde hair and sped off to follow them. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted yet another figure with spiky brown hair dressed in a suit, shooting a gun. Off the top of his mind he recalled the people present at the bombing of Maxwell's shop. Then again, the image of a gruff, Japanese pilot also came to mind and he briefly wondered if it was just his imagination. "No time to think about it now; Sally's going to nag my head off if I don't keep my watch on them."
The two were out of the car and at their leader's side in a flash. "Sir, are you all right?" Chris asked worriedly. "What happened, sir?"
Heero brushed the dirt off his shoulders and straightened his suit and tie then proceeded to remove his shades. He fingered the spot where Trowa's fist connected with his face before turning his attention to his two subordinates, a hint of a smile on his face. "It seems that the Preventers are getting involved," he lied to his comrades. "When I came here you still had yet to arrive. I decided to finish the job myself, but they had the house rigged with an alarm system; I wasn't expecting them to do that for a temporary shelter. Worse part yet, that Gundam pilot wasn't alone; the Preventers are protecting Darlian as well."
"They sure did some job on you," the blond commented, removing a tube of ointment from his pocket. "How many were there?" He unscrewed the cap and placed a small dapple on his finger and smeared it on Heero's cheek.
"There were only two," he continued with his lie, having spotted Wufei running in the distant, "but they were top ranking agents; along with that Gundam pilot, it was a bit too much to handle by oneself."
"Wow," Chris whistled, "that's probably the first time I've heard you be so humble. What brought this on?" he laughed and patted his superior's back.
Heero smirked and slipped his sunglasses back on, "I'm not one to be so arrogant as to deny when others are more skilled than I. I respect those whose abilities are better than mine; there's nothing wrong with acknowledging that." //Trowa, keep them safe; it might be a while before I can meet up with you again... This just seems to get more and more difficult everyday... I've tried, but I can't be everywhere all at once... shimatta!//
"Taylor's not going to be happy when he hears about this, neither will the boss," Marcus mumbled off to the side, scratching his head in wonder as he assessed the damage on their leader and the house.
Heero brushed past him and stopped, "Who says we have to inform them of this minor technicality?" he queried, not bothering to look behind him. "We can get rid of them before the conference week ends. That shouldn't be too hard now, right?"
"And where do you suggest we start looking, sir?" he asked sarcastically, crossing his arms over his chest. "For all we know, they're probably on a shuttle headed for Earth right now. Damn, I knew it was a bad idea to take on this assignment of assassinating Darlian. She's the most targeted person on both Earth and space, but she's also the only person who's escaped all those encounters alive. Darlian's the hardest person in the world to kill; every single assassin knows that."
"Yeah," Chris agreed with that observation, "It seems as if she has the Devil's luck or something."
"There's no such thing as luck," Marcus scolded, "There are people protecting her; ones we don't know about." The Japanese stiffened slightly at those words, but the others took no notice of it. "The best way to get to Darlian is to get through them." The tall brunette's face was set and he located the car keys and headed towards the vehicle.
"Duo!" Relena gasped, trying her best to keep up with the young man holding her hand. Truth be told, the Vice Foreign Minister wasn't up to all this strenuous exercise; her long hours in the office and conference meetings left her little time to stay in shape. At the moment, she was struggling, nearly falling down more than once. "Duo, please stop! *huff* *huff* *huff* I can't keep this up."
Duo looked over his shoulder and his eyes softened, understanding how she felt; however, they were trapped in a very difficult predicament and stopping was not an option. "Just a little further Relena, just try to stay with me 'til then. C'mon, I know you can do it," he urged encouragingly. In front of him, Trowa was still running at a breakneck pace. "Oi! Trowa! Where are we headed exactly?"
"To a safe house about twenty miles from here!" he answered, glancing to the sides to make sure it was safe.
"Twenty miles?!" the American bawled, "What do you mean twenty miles? We can't possibly get there on foot!"
"There's a storage house nearby; a car's inside," Trowa informed. His ears perked up when he heard an unfamiliar noise behind them and motioned for Duo and Relena to hide. Relena was relieved, allowed to catch her breath and rest her aching legs while Duo began to tense. They hid in the shadows of the buildings and held their guns close; ready to fire at a moment's notice. As the figure stepped into the light, the two men let out a sigh of relief; it was Wufei. They lowered their guns and slowly walked towards their friend.
"Man, Wufei," Duo said joyously, "You don't know how glad I am to see you!"
"Maxwell? Barton?" he mouthed in surprise before a smile appeared on his lips. "For a moment there I was afraid I wasn't going to catch up to the three of you." He noticed the girl in the corner and directed his attention on the mechanic. "How's Darlian doing?"
"Well, other than being a bit out of shape," that earned a glare from the girl in question, "she's doing all right. How did you find us anyway? I thought you had to dig up information on Taylor and that organization working for him." Duo mused with a hearty smile.
"Hm? Oh, Sally said she and Une would be taking care of that and sent me to look after you two and when I got to Schbeiker's house I heard all that disturbance and saw you and Darlian running along the back way of those houses," he reported as another question came to mind. "Say, Maxwell, before you left that house, did you take those provisions I gave you?"
There was a moment of contemplation, "Um... Well, I have the gun with me along with the extra clips and the credits, but I think I left all that other stuff back there... Aw, damn!" he cursed realizing what that meant, "Now we won't be able to leave the colony without alerting them to our position. Kuso! We can't stay on L2, this place could be crawling with assassins." A hand pressed down on his shoulder and Duo recognized it as Relena's.
"Did you say Taylor?" she looked seriously at the Chinese man in front of her as she steadied herself on the mechanic.
That certainly got Wufei's attention. "You mean you don't know?" he gasped then concentrated all his energy on the braided youth. "Maxwell! You didn't tell her!?" he seethed and clenched his fists.
The mechanic started to back away from the fuming Preventer, holding his hands up in defense. "Whoa, Wufei, now hold on a minute. I um... ah... it slipped my mind?" That was the most pathetic excuse he ever heard coming out of his own mouth. Relena grabbed his upper arm and pulled him so they were face to face.
"Duo, please don't lie to me. You knew who the person trying to kill me was so why didn't you tell me?"
He was a bit uneasy and looked to Trowa for help, but after realizing how verbally inept the other was he gave in to their requests. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to tell you who it was," he admitted, his eyes downcast, unable, but more like unwilling, to meet the girl's gaze. "I didn't really want to be the one to tell you that one of the people whose country you're trying to help was the one trying to kill you. I-I..." The words were becoming harder and harder to express as he tried to convey the reasons behind his decision, "I just didn't want you to think that all your efforts were being wasted... I wanted to have this over with so you wouldn't have to worry about being in danger..." Through all the babbling, his last statement became the sole purpose for his actions as he looked at ocean blue and confessed, "I-I wanted to protect you... that's all."
Stunned by the declaration, Relena wanted to say something in response, but Trowa's ever vigilant senses told him it was about time to leave. "We don't have anymore time to idle around." The four were then off and all other questions were put on hold until they reached safer grounds.
The car pulled up into the alley of an abandoned warehouse, beaten up and looking as if it were ready for demolition. There were stained and shattered windows accompanied by broken panels and peeling paint. A sad sight that, when seen through a rain shower, made things seem more gloomy and depressing. Along the floor and above some pipes and walkways all kinds of creatures including rats and roaches were scurrying about. Relena cringed slightly aware that she'd seen this type of thing before in those old horror movies where the killers usually hid behind some door ready to slit the throats of those foolish enough to enter their domain. A tap on her shoulder brought her back to reality and she graciously took Duo's hand as he led her out of the car.
Duo whistled and took in the 'grand' site before him. "Wow, Trowa," he remarked sarcastically, "You sure do know how to pick such 'lovely' hideouts. This is the kind of place everybody's trying to get reservations for; it's got everything, lovely scenery, stained glass windows, it allows the breeze to go in and out freely, and it's got all sorts of 'exotic' creatures to play with- OW!" he screeched when Wufei slapped the back of his head.
"Mind your manners, Maxwell," he hissed under his breath, surveying the building in front of them. He evaluated the factory mentally and deemed it satisfactory, meeting his standards of approval; the building didn't have to look good in order to protect the Vice Foreign Minister. A rat jumped off an open oil drum and Wufei craned his neck to the sides to make sure it was only the filthy vermin and nothing else. "This will do until the situation blows over," he commented, walking towards the door, using all his strength to pry it open. "Let's get in before we're spotted." Yet before he was even able to make a move, his cell phone rang. "Yes, what is it?" he snapped in annoyance.
The others looked on as Wufei's expression changed from annoyance to anger to distress and to one of pure frustration. His conversation consisted of abrupt interruptions and many questions of "What happened?" and "What do you mean-" along with "But-" and "How-" before he sighed and switched off the phone. A heavy silence descended upon them and the three could that Wufei was inserting his iron will to keep from shedding tears as his hands clenched into tight fists. His head hung low for a brief moment before he turned to address them. "... That was Sally," he informed with a sullen tone, "she's told me that one of our agents has just been killed... He was investigating a lead we had and was discovered. Sally said they lost contact with him earlier this morning; he was somewhere in Germany at the time. He sent out a distress message saying they were close... and then they heard gunfire."
"Wufei-" Relena spoke, stepping forward but was held at bay with a gesture from his side. He looked up and they could see the conflict in his eyes at having lost a teammate.
"He knew what he was getting into, there is no need for sympathy. The only problem is that he wasn't able to retrieve or confirm anything for us. All we know is that there is a hostile group residing in that location of Germany... Sally says they need a replacement for his assignment and since the others are very hesitant to go, Lady Une has nominated me for the job." The emotions inside of him were stirring wildly; he was unsure of how he should feel. The fact that the tragedy was clouded in obscurity made him uneasy and the knowledge that those people were willing to shoot without questions asked made him afraid. A few years ago he'd never feared death, there wasn't much to live for; however, now that he had grown, he had friends, people who were like family and a chance to regain the life he should have had in the first place. They were too precious to give up, but he knew what was needed of him and he resigned to accept the fate dished out to him; he would go. "I should be leaving now, but I am grateful that I had the opportunity to see and make sure that you were safe Darlian, Maxwell."
"I'm sorry Wu," Duo said dejectedly, his shoulders slumped with helplessness.
"You can take the car," Trowa offered, throwing him the keys.
"Thank you," he looked back to Duo and then Relena, "Take care of her." He left without another word and was out of the building before the others could stop him.
"So what's the plan from here on end?" Duo piped up, "Trowa?"
The performer had a thoughtful look on his face, "We have to make sure the area's safe. I don't think they'll come looking for us here, but there's no telling what lurks behind these corners. What's the time Duo?"
"Ah... it's around ten."
"We should get started right away... we have a long day ahead of us." No more words were exchanged, the day already held too many bad memories.
They had passed the day in silence, each to their own thoughts about what would happen in the upcoming days. Things seemed grim and there weren't much left for them to hope for. On the floor was a pile of wrappers and soda cans; provisions Trowa bought a few hours prior that was their lunch and dinner. Relena sat alone on an overturned crate; Trowa was in the corner leaning on the wall, while Duo paced about with pent up energy. The darkness was unsettling and getting to the three in its own unique way. For the clown, black surroundings caused him to relive that painful memory of when he was lost in space. His body shivered and a few trickles of sweat slid down his cheek; it was cold, so cold, and he once again felt alone and abandoned. For Relena, the darkness released all the fears and doubts she'd kept at bay during the day, crashing like tidal waves. All her barriers proved useless on these shapeless enemies; she was defenseless, reduced to the vulnerable child she worked hard to conceal.
Duo on the other hand, was determined to maintain his jovial nature, throwing in comments once in awhile in between the pacing. //I will not let this affect me. Things will turn out fine in the end. Wufei's okay and Heero's doing his best to make sure those guys never find us. It's only a matter of time before my life gets back on track and I'm fixing broken things again. It's just a matter of time... before all this madness ends... ::Before you have to say goodbye to Relena?:: Huh?... I can't believe I almost forgot about that...// He looked towards the diplomat and saw her heartbreaking expression, her eyes dull and lifeless with unknown emotions. //During all that time we spent together, it was as if nothing else mattered. It felt so normal just being together; I felt like I was normal. What am I going to do without her? Can I go on without her? ::You should answer those questions now while you have the chance:: I-I... I can't do this now! She's got too much on her mind; I'll only make it worst!//
Unexpectedly Duo stormed across the room and headed out the door. Both Relena and Trowa were surprised by his actions and the girl was ready to go after him, but Trowa stopped her. "You stay here, it might not be safe outside. We'll be back in a few minutes." Relena nodded her understanding and resumed her seat on the crate.
She watched silently as his figure disappeared behind the large metal doors and sighed as she grabbed her chest to still her heavy heart. //What's happening? How did things get so out of hand? How did I lose control? How? Why? Why is this happening? Isn't everything supposed to get better once the war is over? That's how it is in the fairytales, so why can't it be the same in life? ::Are you feeling lonely again?:: You already know that answer, there's no need to ask. ::Are you feeling insecure?:: I always have, this is nothing new. ::Do you wish that Heero was here?:: ... I don't know... I miss him and I miss the way he made me feel safe, but I don't think I can go on living like this; checking every corner and turning at every noise just to see if it's him. ::What about Duo?:: Duo... he's such a nice guy, but I'm not sure what I feel for him. It's great having him near me... so warm and comforting... it feels... like I have someone I can count on and... ::Love?:: I-I... I don't know. I don't know how I feel these days; I didn't think I could anymore... What would I do about Heero? I still want to be able to give him something he can hope for, someone he can love and cherish. ::You've done that already by giving him a future he can live in:: I haven't done that yet, there are those that won't let me... people I work with and for. I haven't given him anything he can hold on to... no wonder he keeps his distance... I'm a disappointment; I've failed.//
"Relena." Came a low, gruff voice; it was monotone but full of hidden emotion.
The girl looked up and her eyes widened in fear and shock. It was Heero, beautiful and dangerous all at once. His shades were off and she could see those stormy blue eyes in what little light the room offered. They spoke volumes of what the former pilot wanted to say but unable to voice. She recognized confusion, hesitation, uncertainty, defiance, and something that resembled love.
"Heero..." her voice trailed and her mind warned. //Have you come to kill me at last, Heero?//
-to be continued-
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I said I was going to finish this fic in fewer than 10 chapters and that is what I'm going to do, even if it kills me! Yeah, yeah, I know it was a bit confusing, but that's because I want to finish this as soon as possible so I can get back to Trapped Soul which I really think will turn out great. I miss that fic so much but thank goodness I still have most of the ideas for it. My memory might be the worst thing in the world when it comes to school but it's the best storage space for useless, miscellaneous junk. By that I mean I know about every single character in anime, their personal data, their seiyuu, the original creators of that anime or manga, and some other stuff that just doesn't really prove useful in everyday life. *sigh* AP's are coming up and so are finals and then Anime Expo. Once all that is over with, I have to deal with college... I feel sick now. Well, if you've been following this story you know how long it usually takes for me to get a chapter out and considering I still don't have my own PC... Well, you know the rest, ja ne.
