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: Yeah, I know, a lot of you are out for my head. But right now I'm too depressed to really care so the future state of this fic has just become questionable. Many of you also want this fic to be done with and for those screaming for more Duo/Relena moments will just have to deal with my writing. I'm not that great when it comes to dealing with my emotions and I'm not a romantic but I'm great when it comes to describing unrequited love. Hell, in Zero Soul Heero and Relena barely had any real moments together and the thing at the end of ch.15pt.2 couldn't even be classified as a real kiss. I think this and the next chapter will be the last, but that's hoping for too much.
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My Ojousan
Chapter 10: Headlong into the Melee

By: veGie-kun


It became a race to the top with the grand prize being the Vice Foreign Minister. Taylor was no longer going to stay back and wait for results; he'd monitor the diplomat for as long as necessary until the assassins did their job. Being more than out of shape, he took the elevator, keeping in mind that the 6th floor was his destination. Heero and Duo had decided the stairs would provide more cover and began climbing its many flights with Marcus and Chris just a few steps ahead. Only the two former Gundam pilots were aware of the other's presence, giving them an upper hand in the matter. The hotel goers and staff raised a few eyebrows but the true nature of the incidences flew over their heads.

The five were ready, each armed with a gun and goal to fulfill. No more setbacks, no more minor technicalities, surprises, or regrets, just an end. It was only the afternoon but they knew not to take things for granted. The past few days had been unpredictable for them all and if it continued, they'd all be in for one hell of a ride. Feet barely contacted with carpeted stairs, as they got closer to the top; each step summoning the presence of Death. Whatever weariness or hunger that once resided within were now gone, satiated by thoughts of victory.

//Two more floors.// Taylor thought, looking up periodically to the flickering lights. The brief interlude allowed him an instance of reflection as he began to truly consider his actions. For the first time since the operation began, he thought of the consequences. Getting rid of the Vice Foreign Minister would secure his access to an army, which would be enough for his country to win over their neighbors. But then again, her absence would cause instability; he had to admit she gave the people, his included, a sense of peace and security. Her death would be a quick solution, but in the long run, it would bring untold calamity to the solar system. His mini war would escalate into something bigger and spread like wildfire into the other nations. But this time around, there would be no Gundams to save the people from destruction and no Vice Foreign Minister to mend the broken pieces.

//Why the hell am I thinking about this now? That stupid girl, she's getting to me. This is for the good of my country. With all those extra resources we can support our growing population and maintain self-defense. This is the right thing to do...// His nervousness intensified and sweat trickled down his face. Wringing his hands together, he reasoned it was the seriousness of the matter getting to him. He'd never been this close to death, and on such a personal level too, till this point. Assassins his party hired carried out the majority of the dirty work his offices called for, independents and organizations alike were their employees. //I just need to calm down and breathe. Once the job's done, I can go back to Earth with the good news and we can resume reconstruction... Yeah, everything will be fine.//

He inhaled once more before the elevator doors opened. Pausing shortly, he scanned the floor; there had to be a place he could conceal himself in. His eyes roamed the area twice over before he spotted a far-off room whose door was ajar. It was opposite the diplomat's suite and provided him with good surveillance of the area. He smiled, confident in the belief that some higher power really loved him. With a short walk he slipped inside while backs were turned and locked it once he was successfully in. //Now I wait.//

*****

Hardly tired, Todesengel's finest jumped over the last two steps, bringing them to their desired floor. They weren't alone though; numerous hotel employees were bustling about fulfilling the many room service orders. With spectators around, their job would be more than difficult; heroics might come into play. Brandishing his gun with much fervor, Chris smiled, staring down anyone foolish enough to interfere. As expected the workers scattered, running away to protect the lives they loved so much, their own. "Always does the trick," he remarked, grinning wickedly. The other dismissed the gesture with a roll of his eyes and continued to lead the way towards room 121.

"When we get there, I'll pick the lock then you'll sneak inside and secure the room," he relayed, taking out his gun and replacing its clip. He wanted to make sure he didn't run out of bullets too early in the game; he normally wouldn't need it, but the offhand chance of his former leader showing up was highly probable. "If she's right in front of you, just shoot so we'll finally be able to go back home. But I'm certain there's someone with her; besides our former leader and that mechanic, there was also another person at the warehouse last night. I'm sure of it. Got that?" He looked left and a nod confirmed his question. //Finally, this damn week's going to end!//

Heero and Duo quickly appeared an instant later, unbeknownst to the previous assassins; either they didn't see or they didn't care. They'd been pushing their luck till that point but they pressed further on. Heero, much to Duo protests, drew his gun and fired. The shot hit the space between the blond and brunette and their heads shot up like deer caught in headlights. Heero and Marcus's eyes locked, cold; the challenge had been issued and the fire within them burned with greater intensity. With a superior smirk, the assassin turned the knob and pushed himself inside, savoring the look of helplessness and annoyance in the Japanese's gaze.

An odd feeling crept over the two with their entrance. The room was dim, the curtains weren't drawn and the lights were off; from what they saw, it seemed abandoned. Marcus signaled for Chris to turn on the lights so they'd get a clear idea of what they were shooting at, but to their displeasure, the switch wasn't working. Their cushion time had been depleted and with ready trigger fingers they greeted their guests with a hail of bullets.

"Try the bedroom, she's probably in there!" Marcus yelled over the sounds of gunfire, broken glass, and splintering wood.

"Right," the younger man acknowledged, crouching as he ran towards the corridor to the sleeping chambers. Occasionally he'd fire a few shots, ducking and covering his head just in time when the favor was returned. Safely within the small hallway, he noticed the bedroom door was slightly ajar, allowing him a peek inside. Like the main area it was dark, containing an eerie presence that Chris couldn't shake. With his hand on the knob, he inched forward noiselessly. He began seeing more of the interior with every step, yet it still remained unclear what was inside.

With a start the door was pulled forward and the young man lost his balance. Lucky for him Trowa decked him at just the right angle allowing him to maintain equilibrium. The clown also graciously added a right hook before grabbing hold of the upper door frame, lifting himself up to kick out with both legs. That sent the assassin to the floor and Trowa was on him before the man could regain his bearings. They wrestled, Trowa struggling to loosen the other's grip on the gun while Chris concentrated on delivering blow after blow to the performer's face and chest.

Back in the main quarter the three were in a deadlock; Duo was close to empty, and left without any more clips, he'd resorted to throwing anything within reach. Heero tried conserving what little ammo he had left, attempting to engaged in hand to hand combat, but first needing to deplete the other's supply. He became a decoy for those bullets, sprinting left and right to attract their attention. When he heard the commotion from the sleeping quarters his mind froze leaving him open to a bullet that burrowed into his left shoulder. With his mind solely set on the task at hand, he barely even grunted against the pain. Instead he lunged forward, tackling the older man who quickly lashed out in response.

"Duo!" he seethed, gritting his teeth but refusing to concede to the pain, "Go help Trowa!" His hands were secured around Marcus's in a death-like grip.

Not needing to be told twice, he ran leaving Heero to deal with the assassin. The mechanic knew the young man could take care of himself, the experiences they went through together as teenagers showed him just how strong the Japanese was. Hell, he barely made a sound when the American first shot at him and he'd even survived being blown up on more than one occasion. This was a walk in the park for the former Zero pilot, what did he care about a few gunshot wounds? //Sometimes I think he's a robot instead of human.// But that thought was easily abandoned when he reached his other ally in the bedroom.

Trowa had been able to wrestle the gun out of the older man's hand, but he'd paid the price for it. One look at his cut lip, bleeding temple and various bruises, and Duo could see that he'd exhausted much of his energy. His breaths came in shallow gasps and he had a hard time focusing on his enemy, the other clearly having outmatched him in strength. Yet, now that he had both his gun and other's he was calling the shots. Cautiously he glanced at Duo and motioned him to go further into the room. Duo complied and he soon found Relena; she was unharmed but the fear in her eyes left her immobilized. There was no more time to waste, Trowa knew he wouldn't be able to escape with Relena; he'd be unreliable as a bodyguard in his current condition. //Duo's more than capable of protecting her. Heero would feel the same as I do on this matter.// He reasoned to himself, clearing the fogginess that threatened to consume.

Moving warily over towards his two friends, he grabbed at a pile of what looked to be sheets and wire twined together and tossed it to the mechanic. The American soon realized that it was a makeshift rope, fashioned out of bed sheets and cable, a bit flimsy in appearance and questionable in strength. //So that's why the power's not working right now, but... how did he know?// He pondered, then recalled the shot Heero fired prior to the enemy's infiltration. //That's what he was doing when he fired at them. Heero wanted to warn Trowa about their presence!//

"Here, Duo, use this to get out," the clown ordered; he coughed and winched as pain bolted through his chest.

"Huh?" Duo asked perplexed, "What am I supposed to do with this?"

Trowa gave one of his rare smiles in an effort to forget the hurt and looked at his comrade. "As of now, our primary means of escape are blocked and I doubt you'll make it out the front door unharmed if Heero is fighting near there. So, think you're up for a little fresh air?"

Duo understood and tied one end to the dresser leg before grabbing Relena's wrist, taking off for the window. If the furniture was as heavy as it looked, they'd be fine and hopefully the rope would hold out as well. Opening the glass panels he perched at its edge with one foot on the sill and the other planted firmly on the floor. "Hold on tight, 'Jousan," he instructed. He gave a reassuring smile and placed her arms around his neck while he secured an arm around her thin waist. Holding tight to both the rope and the diplomat he jumped forward, propelling himself through the air with their added weight. The rope soon became taut and the recoil almost made Duo lose his grip.

"Okay, 'Jousan, cover yourself up, we're about to crash," he whispered into her ear. Feeling her head nestle itself into the crook of his neck, he nuzzled her hair and savored the faint smell of flowers. Closing his eyes and doing his best to shield Relena, he swung his body and the rope arched back towards the hotel. With his legs outstretched they contacted glass, easily cracking its surface as they crashed through the floor below Relena's room. Once Duo's feet touched the carpet he instinctively sprang forward so they'd land away from the hazardous shards of glass.

The occupant of the room, a middle-aged woman wearing nothing but a towel, screamed bloody murder when they nearly took her down with them. Duo immediately got up, blushed, and apologized, "Ah, sorry 'bout the mess uh ma'am," then proceeded to help Relena, "C'mon, 'Jousan, we have to get going now." They left the woman there dazed and confused, wondering if that blonde girl was the famous Vice Foreign Minister or just a hallucination. Before long she snapped out of her surprise and fainted. Both were unaware of the figure already close behind, distance just shy of being detected.

*****

Heero noticed his injuries were beginning to hinder him when he failed to dodge a right jab. With staggered movements he was slowly being pushed into a corner by a flurry of punches. He had to keep his mind off the pain if he wanted to stand a chance, he couldn't afford distractions. With lightening fast movements he intercepted a blow to his head, catching the arm then pushing against it till his opponent was at the wall. He hopped back a step, raising his hands to grab Marcus' head, gripping and bringing it down to contact with his knee. The older man's head seemingly bounced back before his whole body dropped to the floor, but that did little to disable him. In a flash he was back on his feet, fists raised and ready to answer whatever punches came his way.

On the other hand, Heero had not the strength to continue, his wounds, the exhaustion, the three days without sleep, he'd reach the end of his rope. Looking up he saw Marcus ready himself to strike but at the last second he was jerked away by Chris. The blond had been able to elude Trowa's watch, kicking the youth into the wall long enough to make his exit. Their target had fled once again and fighting those two would only guarantee great bodily harm. With so many fantastic options to choose from, Chris saw the front door as being the most practical means of escape and took his comrade along. He heard Marcus cuss at him for dispersing the fight and swiveled his head. "Do you have a death wish or something? Nothing short of a silver bullet can stop that guy. Wait until we can restock our supplies, besides, Darlian's getting away."

Clearly unhappy about being pulled away, Marcus reluctantly nodded his agreement; his sore body also helped him to recognize the situation. He was both angry and amazed at how his former leader was able to match him blow for blow with such a wound and, no doubt, blood loss. His green eyes flared with hatred and jealously but he snubbed out the chain of thoughts before it got the better of him. //Best to save my strength for when I actually get to kill the bastard.// A plan formulated in his head and he turned to Chris, "Take my gun and follow Darlian," he ordered passing the cool object into waiting hands, "I'll go back to our room and get whatever I can. I think we still have a good supply of explosives left. Considering who our opponent is I believe we'll need more than the norm." With that they disappeared down the stairs.

*****

Duo and Relena were out of the hotel and desperately running along the streets and sidewalks, pushing and shoving their way through the crowds. Of course the crowd took that as a sign of total blatant disregard for their personal space and pushed back. With a hard shove from a large burly man, Duo was thrown to the ground. Interesting enough the mechanic was about to protest but found Relena had beaten him to it. With her head held high she walked up to the man who looked to be a good foot and a half taller with twice the weight. He watched on awed as the diplomat held steadfast her ground.

"Sir, that was uncalled for," she stated firmly.

The large man looked down at her and laughed. Who was this little girl telling him his actions were wrong? With just a glance, he deemed her unworthy of his attention; compared to him she was an insect. "Don't get so riled up, honey," he smirked, "Go run off and play with your little friend if you know what's good for you... Unless..." upon closer inspection he reconsidered his first opinions; she was cute, "you'd rather play with me?"

"W-what?" Relena gasped incredulously.

The man's smile widened and he took that opportunity to grab her wrist. Holding her still as his face got closer to hers, leaning in to steal a kiss but a hand intercepted him, blocking his lips from Relena's. Surprised he turned and saw one incredibly pissed off, newly out of retirement, Shinigami.

"I don't think so, buddy," Duo huffed, eyes burning furiously. With his other hand he removed the man's grip on Relena's wrist and nudged her back so his body shielded hers. "The lady's with me and if you want anything to do with her, you'll have to answer to me first." He held his ground and attempted to stare the man down.

The large man became furious and grabbed Duo's collar, pulling him up till he was on his toes. "Why you little snot-nosed brat! Don't you dare speak to me that way-" he was cut off prematurely when a bullet whizzed between their heads. Both he and Duo, still locked in each other's grasp, gazed over the crowd trying to determine where the hell the shot came from. The American caught sight of shining metal as another shot was fired and both men quickly let each other go.

Grabbing Relena's arm, Duo waved at the man, "See ya later, buddy!" he exclaimed enthusiastically as he pulled Relena away, "C'mon, Relena, we better beat it before the next shot actually hits something." They were off in a flash and the large man could only wonder what the hell had taken place.

*****

"Heero, dammit! Hold still," Trowa cursed when the Japanese refused to allow himself treatment. The taller youth took hold of his arm and pinned him to where he sat slumped next to the wall. "Those wounds are going to get infected you know," he stated trying to reason with his partner.

Heero grunted and tried to pull away, "I don't care if it gets infected, we have to go after them," he protested adamantly. His struggles were weak and the former Heavyarms pilot easily got the upper hand. Whatever movements the other made, Trowa just countered until Heero gave up and let his arms fall to the floor. With a sigh he resigned himself to Trowa's mercy.

"That's better," the clown remarked calmly, taking out the first aid materials. He grabbed a gauze band-aid and a bandage roll along with tweezers and a bottle of antiseptic. "You shouldn't worry about them," Trowa stated in his emotionless voice, "Right now Duo's the most capable one of us to guard her. In our present condition we could hardly be considered threatening." Picking up the bottle he poured a small amount on the bleeding wound. He wasn't surprised when he saw Heero's whole body tense and the Japanese let out a loud hiss; those things stung like hell, most of the time they hurt more than the injury. Wiping away the access blood with a clean cloth, he grasped the tweezers and began probing for the bullet.

The pain clearly registered on Heero's face, but the only verbal indication that he even felt it came in the form of grunts and hisses. A minute late Trowa produce the small but lethal object, putting it inside the first aid kit then dabbed the area with more antiseptic. From then the rest was quite easy, he'd bandage Heero enough times that he could do it blindfolded. At least this time he didn't have much to dress. "For someone who can do almost anything you certainly have a hard time when it comes to not getting shot," he remarked jokingly earning a muffled chuckled as a reward.

"Trust me, it's not something I'm proud of," Heero replied, shifting his weight so he could be more comfortable. He looked down at his body and mentally cringed at the amount of blood staining his clothes. //Why must there always be so much blood? There's always too much of it... and it's always mine...// He closed his eyes and leaned back, letting Trowa work in silence, it was something that comforted both of them. Scenes of his death flashed before his eyes and his spine tingled. He was actually afraid of dying, that was something new. Well, he had to admit that his life had changed drastically since he was a Gundam pilot, willing to do anything to save the colonies. //I don't want to die again... not again... it's too cold... and lonely...// His eyes slowly drifted shut and his head lolled forward; exhaustion had won out.

Trowa smiled sadly at him, studying the limp form as he continued to treat the cuts. "It's good to know that even you, Heero, are still human," he whispered solemnly. //Your humanity is what I've always admired most about you, Heero. Please, try not to lose it in spite of this.// When he finished with Heero's injuries he concentrated on his own, wincing at how many there were. He'd never been this hurt in any battle before, giving him a much clearer idea of just who he was dealing with.

Ten minutes later and he'd dressed his final cut. Feeling tired all of a sudden he lurched forward, supporting himself on one arm, his head swimming with dizziness. It wouldn't do to fall asleep not at such a crucial time, but little could've been done in his present state; he had the blond assassin to thank for that. His fight against weariness was a losing one and he conceded to let his body rest, if only for a few moments; Duo would need them in their best form if he were to stand a chance.

*****

"Huff huff huff huff huff huff."

Running through the alleys, Duo couldn't shake off that sensation of watching eyes. Every now and then, he'd look past his shoulder, trying to discern the source of his paranoia. His pace quickened along with his hold on Relena as they ran across puddles and trash-littered pavement. //Kuso! There it goes again... that weird chill that ran down my spine... someone's out there, I just don't know where...// His eyes darted back and forth, desperately attempting to locate this hidden enemy.

After passing by another block, he spotted an abandoned building; at least to him it seemed abandoned. Yet he never made it to the shelter, a large body dropped on him before he even came within a yard of it. Horrified, Relena could only gape at the dark figure as it got up, assessing its handiwork. Chris smiled wickedly as he stared at the unconscious pilot then turned to his other captive. In one swift motion he drew his gun and aimed for Relena's heart. "You're not going to like it if you take another step, Miss," he remarked with a wry grin, "and neither will your friend."

The girl kept her cool and matched him gaze for gaze, "It's not as if I have a choice, do I now?"

The blond laughed heartily, shaking his head to dismiss the seriousness. "No, I don't suppose you do. You know, it's great having a hostage who understands, it's quite... refreshing." He went back to Duo and began to hoist him up, slinging the American's arm over his shoulder. Shifting the other's weight into a more comfortable position, he trudged on inside the building. Halting before the door he addressed the diplomat again, "Aren't you coming in? I'd hate to have to use force, it'd be kinda pointless since you're not really worth the effort now."

She stared a moment longer before replying haughtily, "Well I never!" she huffed then closed her eyes and turned her head, walking in before him.

Chris chuckled again as he carried the body in, "Ah, where are my manners. That was no way to address the Vice Foreign Minister of the E.S.U.N. My apologies. It's been awhile since I last spoke with higher officials."

A bit bewildered by his peculiar behavior, well, peculiar for an assassin, she kept silent and observed him more closely. "What are you trying to get at?"

He raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean by that? I'm not getting at anything," he replied, producing some twine from his pocket. Tying Duo's hands behind his back, he propped the unconscious youth against a fallen crate. "There. You've caused me enough trouble for one day. Now, Miss Darlian," he said cheerfully, "would you like to make yourself comfortable while we wait?"

The young woman became puzzled. "Wait? Wait for what? I thought you were here to kill me," she exclaimed. Her eyes locked onto his form as he got up to stand in front of her. She took a step back and swallowed hard.

"Our plans have been changed," he answered light-heartedly, "I'm sorry to inform you that you've just been downgraded from target to bait." He saw her mouth the word 'bait' silently then filled her in on what she needed to know. There wasn't any harm in doing so; she'd die soon enough once they got their prey. "Our former commander turned traitor is top priority now. We can't really ignore him anymore, he's too dangerous to keep around and he knows too much about Todesengel." He stopped and watched her stride over to an upturned crate, using it as a stool. "Since he seemed so adamant about protecting you, I can only guess that you're important."

//Oh, Heero... What have you gotten yourself into?// She looked towards Duo's direction and frowned. //So many people I care about are getting hurt... My life is not worth it... so why? Dammit! Duo... it's all my fault... I never meant for you to get caught up in my problems...// The assassin noticed the shift in mood and sat down beside her, ruffling her hair playfully. "What's with the sad face, Leuchtkäfern?"

"I'm not a firefly," she promptly protested, gazing at the floor.

"You know German?" he gasped.

"... A little," she answered sheepishly with a small hint of a smile.

He chuckled again, patting her back, "And yet again you surprise me, Leuchtkäfern. In all honesty, when I took this mission I thought it'd be, as they say, a piece of cake. Well, you've managed to stay alive thus far... How do you do it, if you don't mind my asking?"

She was hesitant then replied what she felt to be true, "It's because other's take the bullet for me... You know, you don't act like any of the other assassins I've encountered... You seem a bit too... cheerful to be one."

He holstered his gun and moved to a crate across from her answering, "You know, everyone seems to wonder that." He laughed softly, "I guess the best way I can explain it would be to ask, "If you don't love what you do, then why do it at all?" right? I enjoy killing, sure," she became aghast and he spoke again before she could interrupt, "but it's not because I'm a sick bastard or anything. No, I like it because I get to test my skills against other people. Every time I'm out there, I want to see just how much quieter I can be, how much longer I can move about before I'm caught, just how much more invisible I can make myself." Chris spoke with such fervor and passion, truly mesmerizing.

"But you're killing people," Relena cried out.

The German mulled over those words, "Yes, that's true, but it's still a job. My job as an assassin is to eliminate certain people. If I had your job as the Vice Foreign Minister, then I'd do my best to regulate the activities between Earth and Space. However, it's not, so why should I do such a thing? As I see it, every creature on Earth was put there for a specific purpose and they all work together in harmony to ensure a world of balance."

*****

Marcus was finally in their hotel room. Everything looked to be how they left it so he knew he'd been its only visitor. Yet that didn't prevent his cautious nature to surface and he scanned with every step he took. All the while thoughts of Heero's death and his promotion danced in his head. It was like a dream come true, too good to be real, a wish that'd finally been granted. He glanced down at his watch and saw his need to hurry. Hopefully Chris had already dealt with the mechanic and the Vice Foreign Minister was in their hands.

He reached his bed and kneeled to retrieve his suitcase. With a quick snap of the clasps the lid was popped open and the array of artillery shone like gleaming diamonds in the dim light. He identified each one closely and made his selection, picking out two new guns, several clips, a small hand knife, some poisoned darts, and a few explosives. //This should be more than enough. I mean, it's just him...// Doubt set in and he looked once more at the suitcase, then pocked two smoke grenades should he need cover for an escape. Knowing that bastard, he'd probably still be ticking with two or three bullets lodged in him. Stubborn fool, thinking he could stand against Todesengel. What did he hope to accomplish anyways? Saving the girl will only solve the problem temporarily; they could always hire other people to do the job. What a fool.

*****

"How does killing ensure balance?"

"Oh, quite easily, Leuchtkäfern. It's sort of like a food chain. Animals kill and feed off of one another everyday, in that way, their population is maintained. However," he emphasized, pulling out his gun again, "humans have no predators to fear, no real means of checks and balances. Small sacrifices have to be made otherwise man will come to dominate all aspects of life. Haven't you noticed how we've slowly crept our way into space? Little by little man gains more knowledge and with it more means to escape their confines. How long do you think it will be before we reach it's very edges? We'll spread like a disease with no known cure and the entire universe will pay for letting us play our games of war and conquest. So we must trust our only enemies to keep us in order."

"And who may they be?"

"Why, Leuchtkäfern," he exclaimed shocked, "ourselves of course. Man's greatest enemy is man himself. Are you still trying to deny to yourself that very truth?" Her silence confirmed his answer. "History is the only proof you need in order to see that. Generation after generation, century after century, it repeats itself for no real purpose, fueled not by reason, but by instincts. The need for balance drives us to kill each other, because at our very core is the drive to destroy... and create. Do you not agree, Leuchtkäfern?"

Her reply wasn't forthcoming but she queried, "Why do you call me that?"

The assassin pondered; unsure of why he applied that word to her. "Well, I guess it's because you remind me of one. As small as you may be, you give off a light that helps to guide others through the darkness."

She giggled, "I never knew assassins had such philosophies concerning life before. You're really different from many of the ones I've faced. It's kind of odd to be in this sort of conversation," Relena smiled at him, "but it also feels nice. I guess facing death isn't all that hard if you just get to know your killer a bit more." An odd feeling of familiarity crept inside her.

His laughter broke her reverie and she soon joined in as well. "You're certainly taking this well. I'd imagine you to be begging for your life right about now, but knowing your position; death is always lurking around the corner, huh?" He sighed heavily and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Must be difficult to find any free time; I don't envy you at all."

She shook her head. "Nah, I'm used to it. If you'd been threatening to kill someone else, then I'd put up more of a struggle, but since it's only my life right now, I don't mind. I'm not afraid of death... at least not for myself."

"You sound as if you want to die. I can't possible fathom any reasons for you to give up your life so easily." He clasped his hands under his chin and turned to her. "You have a lot to live for, don't you? The people love you, they need you, and you seem to enjoy what you do."

"To a certain extent," she deliberated then nodded, "yes, but every time someone like Taylor tries to undermine my efforts, I begin to doubt whether or not my presence is wanted or if it even makes a difference. I try, but some people aren't willing to listen."

"That's not the point," the blond promptly rebuked, "If you believe you can make a difference in someone else's life, then that should fuel you on. I mean, haven't you made a difference in your boyfriend's life?"

"My... boyfriend?" she inquired curiously.

"The guy I knocked down," he began a bit uncertain, "isn't he your boyfriend?"

Relena's eyes widened, "Duo?... No, he's a good friend of mine."

"Really?" he mused, surprised, "When I saw the way you two stood up for each against that big guy earlier today, I was sure you two were involved. I could see it in his eyes; he literally wanted to hurt that guy."

"Yeah, I did, but I'll settle for you!" came Duo's voice, then a shot rang out and Chris was lying on the concrete floor, clutching his arm. He looked across the room and saw the mechanic standing tall, a gun in one hand and the twine in the other.

"How, did you-?" Chris gritted between his teeth.

The American smirked, a dangerous gleam in his eyes, "When you've lived through a war, you pick up a few things." He replied getting ready to fire another shot, but Relena blocked his path.

"Duo, don't!" the Foreign Minister protested, shielding Chris with her body.

"What are you doing, Relena?" Duo gawked. //Has this happened before?// "Get out of the way so I can finish this guy!" He aimed his gun with renewed anger.

"No," she retorted, "I won't let you, Duo. You don't have to kill him!"

"What?" He looked deeply into her eyes and saw the determination, she wasn't kidding. "Are you out of your mind, Relena? He's gonna kill us once our backs are turned!"

Her voice wavered as they continued to face off; she didn't like fighting with Duo. "Well you're going to have to go through me if you want him."

"Why the hell do I feel like this has happened before?" he sighed, putting away his gun. "Oh, yeah, that whole thing with Heero... I should've known." He went towards and knelt by Relena as she pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket. With care she folded the cloth and pressed it to the wound. "Hey, 'Jousan, since when did I become the bad guy? Remember, he's one of the people trying to kill you?"

She gazed up at him and smiled warmly, "He's not all that bad, Duo," she remarked as she worked, "While you were unconscious we got to talking... He's helped me to realize some things... A lot of things actually... about my life, my work, my friends... and you..." she trailed into a murmur.

"Me?" he choked out, baffled and she nodded her head.

"This is a first," the German remarked, awed, "Never thought I'd live to see the day when my target would be saving my life. Ow!"

Duo smiled; he'd press on the man's arm more forcefully than needed. "It's nothing new. Believe me, buddy, this isn't the first time she's done it."

Chris' face was incredulous; it seemed a bit too surreal for him. "What? You mean she's protected someone who tried to kill her before?"

"Yeah, your leader..." he reassessed that statement, now that he thought about it, "or I guess your former leader since you are out to kill him too."

The assassin could only shake his head in wonderment. These people had to be the oddest ones he'd ever met before in his life. "Boy, you're even stranger than I took you for."

The girl smiled inwardly; they'd stop fighting. "There's nothing wrong with showing a little compassion and forgiveness. Now if you'd stop chatting and help me, Duo, I can get this done a whole lot faster."

*****

Heero woke up to the nose of bustling feet quickly making their way on carpeted floor. His vision focused and he realized he was still inside of Relena's suite. Panic rushed through his head and he desperately searched for Trowa and found him laying only a foot away. He quickly got up but was almost brought back down by a sharp pain in his shoulder. //Oh yeah, I got shot...// He located his gun; reaching for it he kept his senses tuned to the incoming forces. On his feet, he knelt next to his fallen comrade and shook his shoulders, whispering gruffly, "C'mon, Trowa, there are people coming this way. We need to make ourselves as scarce as possible."

Bleary eyed and sore, the taller youth's moves were quite lethargic, but once the severity of the situation struck him his eyes shot open. With speed worthy of an acrobat of his caliber, he was swiftly out the door, catching up with Heero. "Sorry about dozing off back there. I guess we have some ground to make up, ne? I hope Duo's fairing well without us, Relena too."

"I've no right to blame anyone, I was sleeping myself," he checked his gun and remember his deficient supply of bullets. "How much ammo do you have left?"

"My gun's got half, but the gun I confiscated is about fully loaded. Is that sufficient enough for you?"

"That'll have to do," his jaws locked and his eyes steeled, "but if I know Marcus, he's probably gone back to our room to reload. We can't exactly do the same, we might have a confrontation... normally, I'd have no problems with that, but we brought along some explosives and he's not shy about using them."

Giving Heero a rare smile, Trowa shook his head replying, "Talk about overkill, but you were always one for those explosive entrances and exits."

*****

Duo looked over at Relena and repositioned his gun on Chris. "You have her to thank for you life so you better start talking now cause I've had a bad week and I don't feel like dragging your bloody carcass around." He heard Relena gasp and gave an innocent grin, "I was only kiddin', 'Jousan." Gaze back on the assassin, his eyes hardened and the smile turned sinister. "So where should we begin? Hmmm... For starters, how many other people were assigned to this mission? Heero said is was only you three, but I'm guessing that maybe you could've called for backup after last night."

"Call for backup?" Chris choked indignantly. "Just how desperate do you think we are? Teufel isn't one of the best because we went begging for help every time something didn't go our way. We're praised for our resourcefulness and quick thinking. If we're told to do a job with a certain amount of people, we do it with that specific amount. Hmph! Call for help, we're not incompetent!"

"Alright, alright, I get it, I get it. Oi, 'Jousan," he thought suddenly, "could you go back to where I was tied up and bring back the ropes I left there? We might have to leave here soon and having a human shield could guarantee that our hides will stay in tact for just a bit longer."

"What a morbid sense of humor," a feminine voice spoke out of the blue.

Duo's head quickly perked up but it was too late and he felt a thin, choking wire at his throat. His hands were instinctively at his neck, gun on the floor, as he desperately pried at the slender weapon. His eyes slammed shut and he bit his lower lip against the pain as he felt the garrote cut into his skin. "Relena," he choked out, "run! Get outta here!" He gasped when the wire tightened and his vision was filled with flashes of white.

"Duo!" Relena screamed, running to his aid, rope in hand and fear in her eyes. The other picked up her presence immediately and Relena was stopped short as the woman pulled out a gun.

Her lips quirked in a gleeful smile as she turned her gaze to the girl, her partner, than her own comrade. "Well, well, well, I don't know what you and Marcus were doing all this time, but eliminating Darlian doesn't seem all that difficult. Am I right?" she asked, directing her question to the diplomat. "You're no harder to kill and about as dangerous as a field mouse." Her smile disappeared as Relena's blue-green gaze widened in horror, pleading, begging. "But first, to make sure that we have no further interference..." she began, bringing the gun to Duo's head.

"And I thought y-you didn't need any help," Duo seethed, still struggling against the wire's hold.

Coffee brown pools shifted undecidedly to the left and right, deliberating. "Stop!" Chris shouted suddenly, lurching forward as he cradled his arm.

Surprised aqua eyes turned to him, "What did you say?"

"Don't kill him, Karen," the blond stated more firmly.

"Am I hearing this right? Are you out of your mind?" Their gazes were unwavering as they attempted to stare the other down. "Do you know what you're asking for by making such a demand?"

"Karen... Please, I owe them..." His eyes shifted to the floor but he knew his request was given when he heard her click the safety of her gun back on. A long sigh and then a loud gasping of air followed it.

"Care to explain?" came the level voice as their eyes met again. "You've just asked me to spare a life and no doubt it applies to the target as well."

The young man hesitated, wondering himself why he'd ask her to relinquish the kill. It was spontaneous in a way... the look in the girl's eyes, they were so scared and after what she'd done for him, he had to return the favor. "I had a debt to pay," he simply replied, "Darlian... she saved my life." He held out his arm, revealing the bandaged wound. "I'm not so heartless as not to know when to do the same."

"Liebe!" The young woman gasped as she scooted to his side, leaving the mechanic to message his throat as Relena rubbed his back in comfort. At that time the diplomat was able to get a better look at the female assassin. Tall and slender with short, light brown hair and aqua blue eyes, she was clad in a white, buttoned shirt that clung to her body. Along with her short leather skirt and knee-high boots, she gave the persona of a spy rather than an assassin. "Who did this to you?"

"Uh..." he began nervously, "he did," Chris replied, gesturing his head at Duo. Before Karen could reposition her gun at the American the German promptly came out with another question. "Uh, when did you get here and how did you find me, anyways? Marcus and I never called for backup."

The woman laughed softly and planted a kiss on his lips, "Now, Chris, we've been together long enough to know that I always keep you under surveillance." She reached for his left wrist and rolled up his jacket sleeve, revealing a very expensive looking watch. "Honestly, Liebe, sometimes you're just too trusting. If you'd bother to check this "birthday present" more closely, you would've been able to locate the little tracking device I had installed between the quartz and the coil." He gave her a funny expression and her lower lip quivered in a pout. "Aw, c'mon, Liebe, you know how I worry about you."

"... Yeah, I guess," he sighed in concession, "I should've known better by checking everything I'm given, present or otherwise, especially from you." He shook his head and attempted to get up but fell halfway and slumped on the young woman. "*sigh* Maybe I should go back to retraining, it seems as if I'm getting lazy these days. But, Liebe," he addressed adoringly, "you shouldn't have come; it's too dangerous right now. I can't ensure your safety."

The young woman snorted indignantly and her eyes flared, "Since when did I need you to protect my back. I'm every bit as good as you are in this business. If you haven't forgotten, Todesengel came looking for me because my skills gave them something to fear." Their eyes locked once more and silence reigned throughout the warehouse. Neither budged, determined to come out the victor in the sparing match of wills.

"Uh," came Duo's bewildered voice, "can one of you please explain what's going on here? I think I might've missed something. Are you or are you not here to kill us? If that's the case then where does this little love spat fit in?"

That seemed to snap the two out of their trance and they turned to their audience. With perplexed expressions being exchanged back and forth, an air of confusion began forming around them. "Oh," Chris replied dryly, "I almost forgot you were there."

"What?!" the youth choked, "How the hell could you have forgotten us!? After all the torment we've put each other through, how could we just slip your mind!? Are we not important anymore? Weren't you just doing all you could to kill us mere moments ago? What happened to our status on your to do list!?"

The two blinked, once, twice, then a third time before the young woman decided to speak up. "My, aren't you a strange one," Karen replied, eyes studying the young man before her. "Are you sad because you're no longer important to us? Our targets are getting stranger and stranger with every mission, don't you think, Liebe?" she mused towards Chris who was chuckling at Duo's outburst.


-to be continued-
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Ah, screw making this a romantic comedy! I'm too damn tired and depressed to care! Argh! I tried to promise myself that I wouldn't let my moods effect my fics, but seeing how the last ones turned out, I clearly can't keep promises to myself. Oh, gomen for adding another character in there, it seems kinda abrupt and many of you might think that it's just added garbage, but, hey, it's my fic! I'll add and take out whomever I want! *sigh* Gomen for the outburst, I'm just a bit stressed out.

Kuso! Kuso! Kuso! Two months! No, wait, I have less than two months left with my muse... then it's goodbye... life is so unfair sometimes. If I had a real choice in the matter, I'd stay in Long Beach and attend Cal State with her. It's going to be a difficult four years, I'm sure of it. Expect what I write to be more angst than anything else.