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: Well, this fic is still going on which means I've failed to maintain that 10-chapter mark I set for myself. Why the HELL can't I finish this and why the HELL is it taking me so long to write? When I first started writing Zero Soul, I came out with a chapter every other day. I saw and knew what I wanted to write and the words flowed out of me like a river. Why can't I think as clearly now as I did back then? What's happened to make me this way? Everything is so clouded so I apologize for making everyone wait so long for this chapter, things just pop up out of nowhere and I find myself having to deal with them alone. Hopefully this will be the last chapter.
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My Ojousan
Chapter 11: A Reason to Fight, A Reason to Continue

By: veGie-kun


"So, mind telling us who you are exactly?" Duo queried, his body leaning against a steel column.

The young woman tilted her head to the side and smiled devilishly, "Well, if I tell you, then I'd have to kill you." She saw him blanch at the statement and giggled merrily, "I was only joking. God, you must watch way too many movies." She got up and strolled towards the mechanic, outstretching a hand as he started to scoot back a step. "C'mon, I don't bite... that much," she exclaimed innocently as Duo cautiously took her hand and shook it. "My name is Karen. I'm one of Chris' teammates and also his keeper."

"Hey!"

She turned around and gave him an impish smile before directing her attention back to Duo. "I don't know what kind of people you are, but if Chris is willing to jeopardize his position at Todesengel for you, then you must be special. Speaking of Todesengel..." she began slowly, "what are you going to do, Liebe?" Making her way back to her boyfriend, the young woman kneeled at his side and began playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. "You know I wouldn't tell them what you did, but if Marcus or Taylor ever got wind of it... not to mention HIM. My goodness, that guy even gives me the creeps."

"I... I don't think we have to worry about Him," Chris struggled to say, "He's working with them."

"What?"

Chris smiled sardonically, "Yeah, as it turns out, our fearless leader is a spy. Hard to believe he was able to mask that from us for so long, huh? Sorta goes to show you just how good he really is." He reached for his gun but pain tore through his arm and he found himself cradling it. Karen wasted no time helping him steady himself and Relena saw just how much the two cared for each other. It was funny to see supposedly cold-blooded killers act in such a loving manner towards one another.

"You two... must really care a lot about each other," the diplomat found herself saying.

They looked up at the young diplomat than at each other then back to Relena. "You could say that," Karen spoke sincerely, "I can't imagine not having the dummkopf around, I'm so used to him I guess."

"Ouch," Chris winched, "and that's not from the gunshot wound."

Duo laughed, rubbing the back of his head, "Boy, those two are even worse than Sally and Wufei. I guess you were right, Relena... they're not as bad as they seemed at first... but..." his eyes became somber and his demeanor grew serious, "You can't always assume that everyone will turn out like they do. They aren't the only assassins this organization has to offer and if they are anything like the guy Heero took on... then we're all in trouble." Seeing the questioning look on her face, he took her hands into his, "So when I tell you to run next time... please do so."

"But, Duo, I don't want to leave you behind. How can you just expect me to walk away while you're in danger?" she pleaded with him.

Her sincerity touched him deeply and he brushed away a few strands of hair from her face, "I know you want to help, 'Jousan, and it's not to discourage you, but the fact of the matter is... there's nothing you can really do."

"I saved your life!" she shouted abruptly, eyes tearful and angry. Pulling free from Duo's grasp, she ran to the other side of the warehouse.

Not knowing what course of action to pursue, Duo sat dumbfounded on the cold cement floor. //Oh, great, what have I done now? ::So, how are you gonna get yourself outta this one?:: How the hell should I know? I've never had to deal with this kinda stuff before... and Relena's not like other girls... ::Is she worth all this trouble?:: ... Yes, she is.// He got up to go after Relena but Chris grabbed his wrist, holding him back.

"Don't go charging in just yet," he told Duo, easing his grip when the mechanic obeyed. "When you go you have to be ready to listen to her, not just try to get your point across. You know her better than most so you should understand how afraid she is to lose the people she cares for. You've lived through the war, so I'm certain you've been through the same ordeal." A knowing smirk replaced his stern gaze, "And in situations like these, sometimes actions speak louder than words."

With the last piece of advice given, Duo slowly got up and trailed Relena's path as Chris continued to watch him leave. When he felt a light pressure on his shoulder, he spoke up and addressed his companion, "Think they'll be all right?"

"Somehow," the young woman began, "they remind me of younger versions of us." A reminiscent tone filled her voice, "They'll be put through troubling times, I'm sure of it, but I know they can pull through. If the look in their eyes is any indication of how much they care for each other, then..."

"Younger versions of us, huh?" Chris mused lightly, "Kinda scary to think there are people out there just like us. I think two is enough, any more and the world won't be able to last long."

"It's even scarier to think that our children could turn out like us," she chimed in dreamily, "Imagine... miniature versions of ourselves."

"Children?" Chris gulped nervously.

*****

Having crossed another street, Marcus stopped next to the light and pulled up his watch. Pressing one of its various buttons, the picture changed to an image of what looked to be a map with a blinking beacon in the middle. He magnified the image and smiled as he recognized the location, having passed by the area during a scouting mission. //The job must've been easier than I thought, seems like Chris had no trouble at all. Well, now that we have the bait, let's go see if we can get the prey... You're not going to be able to get away from us this time, I'm going to kill you and enjoy every minute of it... I can almost taste your blood now.// He had the biggest sneer plastered on his face as he continued to head for his car, causing some of the pedestrians to look upon him with wonder.

//Don't get too overconfident now, that little bastard probably has a couple of tricks still up his sleeves. Hell, that kid's just as ruthless as I am, maybe even more so... it's like he doesn't even fear death... People like that... they'll do anything...// Marcus shook his head; such unpleasant thoughts only brought doubt to him, that wasn't a good thing. Doubt will cause him to hesitate and before he knew it, that little bastard would have a knife through his heart. He smirked and opened his car door; the final battle was going to be an interesting one.

*****

"Do you have an idea as to where they are?" Trowa asked calmly from his seat in the back of the taxi, tilting his head to the side to glance at his partner. "We don't have enough money to ask the driver to go all over the colony, you know."

Heero's brows furrowed, indicating his intense concentration on the question asked. The two's location would depend on Duo. Heero had to get into the mechanic's head, think like he did, align his mind with the America's way of thinking. Of course, that was easier said than done. He hadn't seen the youth in almost two years, and the memories he had were hazy and untrustworthy. //Duo's the kind of person to try and find the quickest route towards a goal, right? If that were so, then when he came out of the hotel, he'd probably just head straight forward. Assuming that something might have happened then he'd head for cover. The only place around here that would allow that is the alleys... and considering who's with him, they couldn't have gotten that far... ::Aren't you forgetting about something? *ahem*:: ?... Oh yeah...//

"You have a theory?" Trowa queried, knowing full well that the Japanese did.

Heero looked up giving an arrogant smirk, "I don't need one." He took out a small handheld device and turned it on, revealing two blinking beacons on the small screen. "I had the both of them bugged with tracers." Trowa muffled a laugh and stayed quiet in order for the youth to continue. "Looks like they're in a large building somewhere near the alleyways... Probably a warehouse of some type. It's really close by..."

Trowa nodded then turned his attention to the cab driver. "Stop here."

*****

With nervous movements, Duo cautiously approached the slumped figure in the corner. "Oi, 'Jousan," he called out softly, hoping for acknowledgement, "What'cha doin'?" Hearing no reply, protest, or otherwise, he advanced another couple of steps. "C'mon, you know I don't like the silent treatment. Please, just talk to me." He sat down next to her, but she continued to stare at the wall. "Alright. 'Jousan, look, I'm sorr-"

"Am I really that useless?" she cut him off, eyes trained on the cold, concrete floor.

"What?" the youth gasped, astonished by the remark. "How can you ask that?"

She smiled sadly, ignoring the tear that trickled down her face, "You won't answer me because you know that I am," she stated matter-of-factly. "Yeah... dead weight that's better off being left behind while everyone goes off to fight... I wonder if that's the reason why everyone leaves me"

The mechanic had heard enough, grabbing Relena roughly by the shoulders; he turned her around and bore deeply into her eyes. "'Jousan..." his tone was sad, "Don't ever think that your life is worthless... no life is... You are very important, to your mother, the people, Heero, and everyone else who know you... but especially me." He eased his grip, suddenly aware that he was invading her personal space. Inching away slowly, Duo once again caught her gaze. "'Jousan, your strength gives us hope and that's why you have to live."

She answered with a mocking laugh. "C'mon, you can come up with something better than that, can't you?"

Stunned by her behavior towards the situation, the youth examined her face to discern her emotions but a veil of blonde hair hindered his efforts. //What do you want me to say, Relena? I don't know what to do in these situations... I've never been in them before... C'mon, don't do this to me. I'm not used to seeing you without a smile...// Unsure of what to do he tried for a different topic. "You've just had a long, hard day, 'Jousan."

Ignoring his words she continued emotionlessly, "They always used to tell me that I was too small to do anything; that I'd only be in the way... and then... they all left... One by one, they were gone from my life, my father, my brother, Noin... Heero... I'm useless to all of them." Sniffling, she turned her head upwards and gazed at Duo with a questioning, sorrowful look. "Why don't you want me?"

"But I do want you!" Duo found himself shouting thoughtlessly. "I want to be with you more than you'll ever know. To hear you laugh, to see you smile, to caress your hair as you talk to me, to watch you as you sleep... I want all of that..." he quickly stopped his rambling as soon as he realized exactly what he was rambling about. "... I'm sorry, 'Jousan, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that... forget everything I said... I'll leave you alone for now..."

He turned around to leave but her hand shot out and grabbed his before he could take a step. "Wait... did you mean all that?" She looked at him with pleading eyes.

His voice had left him with that unexpected speech and he found himself nervous from her touch. //::There's nothing to be afraid of. Just tell her your feelings and show her how much you care about her::// Duo smiled gently at her and covered her hand with his. "Relena," he spoke softly, "I care about you very much... more than you may ever know..." As he grew silent again, he leaned forward and kissed her gently on her forehead.

*BANG*

*****

"Did you hear that?" Trowa asked as he and Heero made their way through the narrow alleys.

"Don't worry about it, we're almost there," Heero assured but still worried that Marcus had gotten there before they did.

*****

Marcus frowned when he heard the shot. In his mind, there were numerous possibilities: 1. He was too late and the traitor had killed Chris 2. Chris had killed the traitor 3. Chris' prisoners managed to escape and killed him 4. Chris had killed the prisoners in their attempt to escape 5. Another factor that he hadn't accounted for. Things weren't looking good. "Hah! That's an understatement!"

He looked at this watch again and realized that he was there. Remembering the number one rule of assassins, to stay hidden, he automatically searched for an alternative entrance. Noticing a ladder to the side of the building, he raced for it and began climbing towards a nearby window. Being as stealthy as he could, he hid behind the factory's old machinery as he watched everything unfold.

*****

Duo covered Relena as the shot sounded. With gun in hand, he scanned the area, wary of any suspicious shadows that came into his line of vision.

"You'd better put that gun away," came Taylor's voice from behind.

The young man whirled around and their eyes locked. "You bastard," Duo seethed, "I'm not going to let you lay a finger on her."

Taylor chuckled merrily, "Oh, I don't intend to kill her myself, it'd be easy for the authorities to find enough evidence to point me as the murderer. That's not to say that I'm not tempted though. If I killed you now, then I wouldn't have to worry about when those incompetent assassins will finish the job I hired them to do. Now, hand over your gun before I shoot you."

Against his better judgment, he wanted to shoot the guy but knew it would put Relena at risk; the gun obviously aimed at her. With a sigh, he relinquished his firearm. "Fine, you win this one," he seethed.

"Just why are you doing this Representative Taylor?" Relena asked, bewildered and angry.

He eyed her vehemently and spoke harshly, "Because I don't like people such as you, Darlian. You preach of peace and a world without wars yet you know nothing of the reasons why those wars are being made. You just assume that it's all about killing but you fail to see that without them people will also die." His anger seemed to have subsided slightly as he continued, gaze transfixed on the helpless girl before him. "Ever since the wars our country has suffered; being in the middle of such fighting left it in shambles, used, wasted, decrepit. They came and they took everything we had and left us with nothing but dead bodies and freshly dug graves. We haven't been able to get back on our feet since, even with the aid of the E.S.U.N. we are still unable to pick up the pieces."

"And you believe that by monopolizing on the natural resources of that territory, which so happens to have once been a part of the Sank Kingdom, you'll be able to fully bring yourselves back to power," Relena supplied coldly.

Taylor sneered at her dangerously, "Don't you dare take that high and mighty tone with me, Darlian; I hold you partially responsible for the state my country is in." Seeing the disbelief spread across her delicate features he deemed to enlighten her. "If you hadn't opposed OZ and remained neutral then there would have been no reason for them to attack. But damn your foolish, stubborn idealistic pride! Then you, with blatant disregard for you neighbors, dissolved the Sank Kingdom, leaving them prone to OZ's assaults as well. Sank had always been the larger kingdom and because of past treaties was obligated to protect and support its neighbors. But since you dissolved it we lost the only barrier that kept them at bay; they assumed we were part of your little pacifist nation and deemed it worthy enough to trounce."

Relena lost her resolve and shook her head, sighing sympathetically. "I'm sorry that had to happen to your country Representative Taylor, but the truth of the matter is it would have happened anyways, with or without the Sank Kingdom as a shield. OZ never cared about the Sank Kingdom as an ally; they just wanted a reason to destroy what they saw as an obstacle. They knew the kingdom's pacifist policies, played upon, and tried to manipulate them. Even if I had agreed, such an alliance would teeter on the edge of a knife-"

"Shut up!" The large man intervened, refusing to listen to anymore dribble from a girl who couldn't even order alcohol at a bar. "I've heard about enough of the excuses you have to offer. Whatever they are, they're still not enough to fix the problems you've caused."

Duo eyed him warily for those biting remarks against Relena, but knew better than to say anything about them, choosing something much safer instead. "So basically this whole assassination scheme of yours is nothing but petty revenge. Well since you have us at your 'mercy' now, just exactly what are you going to do with us now?"

"I'm not going to do anything except wait until those idiots get here to do the dirty work of course," he barked.

"Just who are you calling idiots now, Representative Taylor?" Karen questioned with a gun to his back. "I don't really care if you kill those two since they're really no concern of mine, but I don't like the way you're insulting us. It's just not polite."

"Wha? W-who are you?" the man stammered as she further pressed the gun into his back.

"Someone who doesn't take kindly to ridicule from an ignorant, foolish man who knows nothing of what goes on in the world of professional killing. Now please take a seat right here," putting a hand on his shoulder she pushed him into a sitting position on the cold floor. She turned her head towards the door when she heard it being open and saw Teufel's team leader with another man running in their direction. "Well, look who's decided to join the party."

The moment they were within ten meters both sides had their guns already drawn and trained. "Get away from them Karen," Heero threatened evenly.

She quirked the corner of her lips into an amused smile, laughter playing in her eyes. "Oh, I wouldn't be so worried about those two, sir. Seeing as how they're not the person who betrayed Todesengel. As the case may be I'm very tempted to kill you right where you stand." But the fire in her eyes died and stifling a laugh she cocked her gun back and lowered her arm, "However, our past camaraderie does come to mind and the memory of you saving my life at a certain point is something that I have yet to forget. So consider my sparing your life a testament to my honor and once unwavering loyalty to you." She heard the quiet sighs of relief around the room and smirked.

*****


//What the hell is she doing here?! And more importantly why hasn't she shot him yet?!// Marcus fumed at the sight he was greeted with once he'd made it through the window and onto the second floor walkway. If it didn't mean giving away his prime advantageous position, he would have yelled obscenities from here to the farthest colony in the galaxy. //What in blue blazes could that woman have been thinking about!? She just lowered her gun. Just LOWERED her gun!! I should have warned Chris about how kooky she was the minute he even thought about getting involved with her. Of all the-! Has she lost her mind?! ARGH!!// He stealthily made his way along the platform and hid behind a large piece of machinery, patiently he waited for the scene to play itself out.

He watched as Heero and Trowa warily lowered their guns, tension evident in their cautious movements. If he shot at one of them now he'd succeed before alerting the other to his position. The temptation was strong but the little bit of honor that he harbored actually spoke and he decided otherwise. His attention perked up when he heard the conversation resume, this time between Taylor and Heero.

"You!" Taylor seethed furiously. "I knew there was something about you I couldn't trust." He backed down at the glare Heero sent his way, settling for furious indignation instead.

"Let's say I feel the same way about you." Heero's eyes wandered over the decrepit factory interior before returning his gaze to Taylor's. "Now shall we get to discussing what we're going to do with you? In my opinion, if it counts for anything, death is the best course of action. Although, I believe Relena has objections to this. Am I right?" She nodded and he continued vehemently, "Will it be jail then? Or should we just make you disappear? You can make that happen, Duo, can't you?"

Shinigami's eyes glistened dangerously with a kind of malice that had not been present since the days of war. "Oh that's a specialty of Shinigami's. With regards to how you've treated Relena, I'll make sure that you're never heard from again."

"Duo!"

The menacing look on his face melted into a humorous smile that he gladly gave to her. "What? Don't you trust me, 'Jousan?" He helped her up and began dusting her off, "I don't see why we shouldn't give him a taste of what he's been giving us; he obviously deserves it. For heaven's sake, he tried to have you killed. Doesn't that say anything at all about his character?" Ignoring her attempt to interject he continued onwards, "I know you what you're going to say, 'it's wrong' 'no one has the right to take the life of another' 'everyone deserves a second chance' 'everyone is entitled the right to live', etc etc. But honestly Relena, I'd like to kill him. Not just because he's a bastard, and no one here is gonna deny that, but because he tried to kill you. I won't ever forgive anyone who'll try to take you away from me I I care about you"

The words warmed her heart and she felt the urge to embrace him, but instead she let the tears flow and smiled her sad, sweet smile for him.

"Oh please, spare me this piece of overly saccharine sentimental dribble. I think I might just die from the sugar overdose."

"Go ahead; no one would really give a rat's ass if you do"

"Duo!"

"Sorry. Ok, so what are we going to do with piece of incompetent, politician trash? I'm open to all suggestions that exclude death, but any form of torture is game."

Visibly shaken by the hinted at threats, Taylor squirmed and backed away from the group up until the point were Karen trained a gun on him. "Not so fast Mister Taylor, we still haven't decided your fate yet." She licked her lips at the thoughts of seeing Taylor get his just desserts. Normally she never felt anything close to dislike with their other clients but oddly enough, she felt contempt every time Taylor was mentioned. What contributed to those feelings, she did not know, but she didn't considering delving too deeply into the reasons pertaining to it. She was just a simple girl at heart even if it seemed otherwise on the surface.

"What's wrong with just putting him in jail? Is that too old fashion or something?" Relena queried more to herself than the rest of the group.

They all looked at her with something of a sympathetic gaze. "Only 19 and already she's lost touch with the times. Really she has no flare for the dramatics at all." Chris piped up as everyone began to laugh.

*****

"Oh God this is pathetic," Marcus whispered to himself. //I can't believe that even Chris has resorted to fraternizing with the enemy and the target. This won't look good in the eyes of Todesengel they'll probably demote us all// "Hmm " He began as he scanned the surroundings under the walkway more closely, "Where did the traitor go?"

"He's right here," Heero announced pulling the gun on him.

"But how?"

Heero graced him with his infamous smirk. "Honestly, with all the noise you make I'd think that even Relena would notice. Still haven't gotten the art of stealth down, now have we? It's no wonder they chose me over you."

The words inflamed Marcus and he brought himself to his full height and quickly drew out his gun. "Oh yes, they made such a wise decision by letting you into Todesengel and appointing you leader of Teufel. You were ever the perfect assassin, quick, efficient, intelligent, and oh yes, a spy! They should have listened to me!" He spat venomously. "Since the moment I met you I knew you couldn't be trusted but no one ever listens to me."

"That's because you were always second best, and who'd want to listen to someone like that?" Heero retorted, deliberately egging him on. A little more and the older man would be too consumed with blind hatred to react accordingly. "I mean if you were someone else, wouldn't you choose to listen to the person who was most competent?" He stepped closer, seemingly without caution until he was only a few meters away. "Poor, poor Marcus, never able to feel the warmth of the sun because he's always in my shadow. Does that make you angry?"

It was clear that Marcus was livid with righteous indignation with having to hear such insults. He would have reacted just as Heero would have hoped him to, but in some corner of his mind, Marcus knew Heero's intentions. //If you're guilty of one fault, it's that you severely underestimate your opponents. Well, I'm not going to be strung along like some puppet. I'll show you just how dangerous I can be.// He mentally counted to five, took a deep breath, then proceeded to put forth an air of cool indifference. "I guess you do have a point there, which means the only option I have left is to kill you. And rest assured I will do that and take great pleasures in it."

Heero blinked at him a few times before giving a low chuckle. "Talk is cheap." At that moment, they both noticed the continuing conversation below.

"How dare you do this to me you ungrateful bastards!?" Taylor shouted indignantly. "My party has been supporting your organizing for decades!! If it hadn't been for our money you would have never been able to reach your current status!" The two noticed that he'd begun foaming at the mouth and gave a quick smirk at one another before they remembered their hostile situation. "In fact, with all the monetary backing we've given you in the past, this job should be done as a favor!!"

"Arrogant, self-centered bastard, isn't he?" Marcus replied dryly turning his gaze once again to Heero. "Well, that's easy enough to fix." Lifting his gun with his eyes still on Heero he fired.

"Ah-!"

"Relena!!!!!"

Heero's eyes widen in horror as he looked down to confirm his suspicions, and as he feared Relena was lying on the floor in a pool of her own blood. Red filled his vision and he turned to face Marcus with a look that teetered on the edges of sanity. Words failed him, his anger had his mouth clamped tightly shut.

"Oops. Looks like I missed," Marcus' feigned innocence slowly gave way to a sadistic, satisfied grin.

*****

Duo had been the first to react, the others still frozen by the unexpectedness of what had taken place. Putting pressure on the wound, he snapped the others out of their shock. "Trowa-!" he shouted but noticed that the other had already left, giving chase to Taylor who had used the brief distraction to attempt an escape. Turning to Chris and Karen he pleaded for assistance, "You two come here and help me!" There was much panic in his voice and they saw the urgency in his eyes so they wasted no time.

"Did the bullet go all the way through?"

"No. It's still lodged in her chest and it's too deep for us to get it out."

"We need to stop the bleeding. Give me something to cover up the wound."

"Karen, how about your blouse?"

"Liebe!"

"Just kidding; I'll volunteer my shirt." He hastily took off his jacket and shirt, minding his own wound, and handed the former to Duo.

"Thanks." He placed the cloth over her wounded chest and applied the right amount of pressure to it. The blood immediately seeped through a good portion of the shirt and the panic flared in Duo's mind. "Check her pulse!"

Leaning down, Karen placed two fingers on the side of Relena's neck; to her relief she felt a faint pulse. "It's weak but it's there. Although, if she keeps bleeding like this who knows what will happen."

*BANG* *BANG*

Hearing the gunshots, they turned to the source and saw Marcus and Heero battling it out on the metal ramps. Duo's gaze narrowed and a fire ignited within him. "You two look after Relena!" he ordered as made a grab for Karen's gun to add to his own.

"You're not seriously thinking of getting between those two, are you?!" Chris yelled.

Duo looked back briefly before turning around again, shouting. "Some things are too unforgivable to be ignored and a man has to take action against it!" Looking up he hastened his pace.

Meanwhile, on the ramp Marcus was getting a taste of Heero's unbridled fury. In all his time around the quiet youth, he'd never seen the limits of his anger tested. As soon as the shot had been fired Marcus found himself in over his head with the former Gundam pilot. But inside he had his own rage fueling him on; he was not going to let Heero best him yet again. Finding an opening he charged at Heero, guns drawn he shot at his nemesis.

It wasn't without great effort that Heero managed to dodge the bullets aimed at him and with one quick roll he found himself inches away from Marcus. He struck with his gun arm and the cold steel cut through the flesh of Marcus' cheek. The older man toppled to the floor and shot back in retaliation, the bullet lightly grazing Heero's temple. Getting back up he gave a sharp head butt to the underside of the youth's chin. Startled by the unexpectedness of the attack the former pilot could not anticipate the swift kick to his abdomen. There was a metallic taste in his mouth and he spat out a good amount of blood. It angered the Japanese youth to know that the other man had gotten in so many hits when he was clearly the superior of the two.

With all his strength, he tackled the older man to the ramp's floor. The two grappled, trying desperately to gain the upper hand, and after what seemed like hours, though minutes they were, Heero had his opponent pinned down. Both their guns had been lost during the previous struggle so shooting Marcus was no longer an option. But that was alright, Heero had killed grown men with his bare hands on several occasions. Besides, he thought a second later, it'd be more satisfying to feel the skin turn cold underneath his hands as Marcus' life drained from his body. And with those thoughts he unleashed a flurry of blows upon the man, reveling in the blood that spilled. //More! More blood! I'll bleed you dry!!// Red. At this point, all he could see was red and it stripped him of his senses save the urge to kill. But before his rampage could reach its crescendo an image of a saddened Relena flashed in his mind and he froze. //What is it?// It was as if she had willed him to stop in his beating and he realized bitterly that he'd been close to breaking his promise.

But the momentary pause proved to be his downfall for in that brief hesitation Marcus lashed out. Unbalanced, Heero stumbled backwards and received a kick to his stomach. The force of the blow knocked him through one of the wide gaps of the handrail and he dangled dangerously off the side, gripping tightly to the railing bar with one hand. Looking up he saw Marcus leering gleefully at him, it was obvious to anyone what the German had in mind. "How sad to see the fearless leader go out like this. Once praised and ranked amongst the best of us yet to die in a most pathetic way. I've waited long for this." Yet as luck would have it, Shinigami came to rescue him from the clutches of death. With both guns at the ready, he rained down bullets upon the assassin unconcerned with his own safety, for just like Heero he only saw red.

Marcus was already scrambling away to whatever little safety the walkway provided. A glint caught his eyes and he lunged for the discarded gun, returning fire when the cold metal met his hands. And in the recesses of his mind he knew that there was no way out unless he killed these two. //It's my life or theirs and I have no intentions of retiring yet.// But the fight was not in his favor, the injuries Heero had graciously adorned him with had sapped him of his strength. Seeing the murder in Duo's eyes was confirmation enough that he would not be the victor, other tactics had to be implemented if survival was the goal.

Grabbing a knife hidden within his sleeves, he turned quickly and threw it at Duo, but the other dodged in time and the knife merely nicked his neck. Duo graciously returned the favor by firing several shots at him. Failing to dodge the bullets, he took several in his legs and arms. //This can't be the end of it// No longer able to support himself he fell hard onto the metal walkway; looking up he saw the cold eyes of death staring into his soul. *click* Death positioned the gun at his head; he'd never been so close to it. His breathing was shallow and his mouth was parched. His eyes wandered, even knowing that it was pointless to look for a means of escape, and his eyes fell upon Heero still struggling to pull himself up. It was more of an instinct than a conscious decision as he fired at the helpless youth.

"!"

"Heero!!!" The bullet had torn through Heero's right arm. Duo had to go to him but there was hesitation in his eyes and Marcus was already fleeing the scene. Looking back at the other youth, he saw Heero losing his grip and in an instant, he was helping him up. "For God's sake, Heero, can't you ever stay out of trouble?!"

"Hn."

"You know, you could show a little more gratitude to the person who just saved your life."

"He's getting away"

"Yeah, I saw."

"And?"

"And what? I can't possibly catch up to him now when I've already decided to save your ungrateful hide."

"Your braid."

"What about my braid?"

"It's gone."

"What do you mean it's gone?"

"I mean that it's not there anymore."

Horror fell upon Duo as he reached back to feel the familiar rope of hair, but to his dismay he only grabbed air. He gulped and looked about the platform and caught sight of what was once a symbol of his pride lying a few feet away from the knife that Marcus had thrown. "T-The bastard! I'm gonna kill him!!"

*BANG*

In an instant, their eyes looked to the end of the walkway at Marcus; both were stunned into silence as they watched him fall from the walkway and hit the concrete floor with a sickening thud. Their eyes frantically scanned the area before resting upon Chris who had a smoking gun in hand.

"Why did he do th-?"

"Because he and Karen cannot trust Marcus to keep secret their helping the enemy; most likely he would have them killed so as to get rid of any remaining obstacles that would prevent him from being Teufel's leader. Marcus is not the type to consider friendship where his career is concerned."

"And it seems the other two are the same way."

"Chris' actions were not for his own benefit, but Karen's. Whatever is within his means to do in order to protect her he will do them."

Silence descended upon them, everything was finally over and that realization had yet to sink in.

*****

Back at Preventer Headquarters, a disgruntled Wufei was hardly two feet inside the special operatives' floor before being assaulted with sympathetic and pitying glances. //I guess they know I'm the next lamb being sent to the slaughter. Geez, the least they could do is sugarcoat the situation for me. Wait. What the hell am I saying? Of course I don't want it sugarcoated; I'm no coward. All the same, I wish they wouldn't look at me like I was a dead man walking. For goodness sakes just stop staring at me!!// With a glare he marched briskly to the room's end where his office lay. "Of all the nerve!" he huffed indignantly before realizing the severity of the mission that had befallen him. Oddly enough, it wasn't any different from the ones he'd been through as a teen. //Actually there is a difference; I don't have Nataku!!//

*knock* *knock*

"Come in Sally."

Taking a cautious peek into the room, as if Wufei would snap her head off, the tall, slender woman walked in and focused her attention on him. Gathering her composure when she deemed everything normal, she straightened up, clasping both hands and a manila folder behind her back. "So how are you feeling today?"

"Take a guess, onna," came Wufei's curt reply as he continued to gather and put away items from and into random drawers. "When is the plane scheduled to leave?"

"Tomorrow morning. You'll be landing in Zurich where you'll then proceed to rendezvous with our contact in the lobby of the Narzisse hotel. He'll know who you are, just go the front desk and say that your name is Grant Lee. Got all that?" He nodded his affirmative and she saw his forehead crease with doubt or worry. "We also got word from Heero an hour ago and Taylor's been arrested."

"What about Darlian?"

Hesitation; the silence stretched and under the questioning gaze from the man Sally gave in. "She's being hospitalized right now. She was shot in the chest by one of the assassins - but she's holding on and her condition was stabilized."

As the weight of her words settled upon him he went and sat in the nearest chair, it had been too much for him. "I can't believe they came so close to killing her. It's never been like this before Dammit, these people were more troublesome than I thought if Yuy couldn't even stop them" He sighed quietly and turned once again to his partner. "How's Barton, Maxwell, and Yuy?"

*****

How long had it been since they entered the hospital bringing with them the limp and bloodied form of the Vice Foreign Minister? 2 hours? 3? The doctors were able to successfully remove the bullet imbedded in her, but still she remained unconscious. Somber and unmoving they waited and waited, hoping everything they'd fought for had not been in vain. The immediate threat had been dealt with, but the price they had paid was far graver than ever imagined. Trowa had taken to securing a place in one of the room's corner, opposite of where Heero was standing, staring out the window through a sliver in the curtains. As for Duo, he was rooted in the chair beside Relena's bed, her hand in his, stroking ever so gently and looking forlornly at the serenely sleeping form. Seconds ticked by giving way to minutes and soon another half hour had passed with little development.

"You don't suppose they're going to try anything soon, do you?" Duo's voice shattered the heavy silence.

Heero shifted and turned his attention to Relena's prone, sleeping form, his brows crinkled with thought. "It's highly unlikely. Marcus is dead and I trust Chris and Karen to keep their word. But that depends on whether or not Todesengel gets any more contracts concerning Relena."

"And it will be awhile before her... adversaries discover of this failed attempt on her life and try to arrange another one," Trowa added in. "By the way, how are you doing, Duo? Still mourning the loss of your braid?"

The American gave him a bitter smiled and shrugged. "Meh. I'll live. How are your wounds, Heero?"

"Nothing I haven't gotten before." Silence descended upon them once again, it was obvious that much contemplation was taking place. "Duo, from this point on you are Relena's personal bodyguard." Heero stated unexpectedly. He eyed the other seriously, cutting off the mechanic before he could protest, "There's no way around it. We need someone to constantly monitor her and you know what hired protection is like." He saw Duo about to rise from his chair, but in three short strides, Heero was in front of him pushing him back down. The look in his eyes took the words out of Duo's mouth and he burned with the intensity of it. "Look," he whispered harshly, "I care about her and you do as well. But around me she'll just meet her end quicker, especially when the rest of Todesengel come to take vengeance against me." His eyes became wild, holding a kind of desperation Duo had not seen before. "Please There's no one I trust more with her life than you, Duo."

The other was taken aback; it was the most sincere confession Duo had ever received from the Japanese. "Heero, man, I don't know what to say" He gazed to the floor hoping to find some encouragements. Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, he looked up to see Heero heading towards the door. "Hey, where are you going? Aren't you going to stay in case she wakes up?"

"I know she'll be ok, I have faith in her," the other replied. "She's stronger than what people give her credit for I should know."

"You still haven't told me where you're going off to," Duo retorted sternly.

The Japanese smiled grimly at him. "No, I didn't, did I?" He would have left without answering further but seeing the other youth rise he answered, "No, Duo, you need to stay here for when she wakes up again. She'll need your comfort and reassurance after going through this whole ordeal and sadly that's not something I can do for her," Heero admitted dejectedly and then, he was out the door.

*****

"Wait!" Trowa shouted urgently as he caught up with the young man, grabbing his shoulder and turning him around, "Where are you going?" He eyed Heero suspiciously, not letting go in the slightest for fear that the youth would disappear in a puff of smoke.

Heero regarded him coldly for a few seconds, refusing to divulge any information to his friend and former comrade in battle. However, he found that sadly he couldn't maintain such an indifferent front for long and let out a deep sigh. It was just too hard, too much work. Though not the first time, Trowa saw just how exhausted and spent the shorter man was. The calm and controlled façade slipped off just as easily as they were put on and it pained him to see Heero in this state. He remembered all the plans and schemes they had to work out with calculatingly, deadly precision, losing in the process sleep, health, and sanity. Fatal consequences resulted from poorly laid out plans and such mishaps had been present in the past. But for Trowa it had all ended years ago, yet for Heero, the eternal soldier, it seemed tied to his fate. He didn't doubt that Heero was once again planning something that would guarantee him many more sleepless nights, all for the sake of keeping those dear to him safe. It was this type of self-sacrifice that Trowa admired so much, but at the same time was scared of. //It's going to be the death of him someday...//

Glancing at the pavement Heero finally conceded to the question. "I'm heading off to Germany... back to Todesengel." There was a brief pause and he moved his gaze to his hands, outstretched and flexing before him. "Taylor may not be a problem any longer, but that doesn't mean Relena's safety is assured. But even if I can't monitor the people who would want her killed, I can at least monitor some of the assassins that would be hired to do the job."

"You're going to try and strike a deal with them, aren't you?" Trowa stated more than asked. "Just how are you going to manage to pull something like that off?" His tone was both curious and chastising. "They're an elite organization of assassins; they wouldn't hesitate to kill you the instant they discovered your true intentions, of which I'm sure they've already gotten wind of. I doubt that Karen and Chris would be willing to jeopardize their positions just for your sake. They may be more tolerable and humane than Marcus but they are still loyal members of Todesengel and they're not going to let you undermine it anymore than you already have."

Prussian blue looked upwards towards the artificial sky with a rare, melancholic expression. "If there were any other way I wouldn't even bother thinking twice about abandoning this idea. But the truth of the matter is, I won't always be there to protect her... She may have Duo now, but he won't stand a chance if Todesengel decides to send out another team after Relena. Especially if I'm not there to sabotage their efforts... And Relena wouldn't tolerate being put on extra security alert; she doesn't have much freedom outside her house as it is." He finally turned towards forest green eyes, "This is the only thing I can do for her."

*****

"All set, Wufei?"

Sighing somewhat dejectedly, he faced his partner. "There's not much else I can do to prepare, is there? This is as ready as I'll ever be." He slung the knapsack over his right shoulder and followed Sally to the car awaiting them outside the building. He would be transported to the airport from there and then continue onwards to Germany and possibly his own end. His night had been a sleepless one, with those thoughts occupying his mind. //It's not so bad I guess. I've led a very productive life up to this point. I've helped end a war, brought peace to the colonies, and protected the rest of humanity from dangerous people, and I'm barely twenty-one. So I guess I can die happi- What the hell am I saying?! Who can be happy about an early death? This is crazy, the more I think about it the more hysterical I get. Kisama. Stop it already!//

"What's wrong, Wufei? You look conflicted, either that or you're constipated," Sally commented.

"Not constipated, onna, apprehensive. I don't like the situation I'm heading into; all the odds are against me and my chances of my coming back alive are nonexistent. I'm not as reckless as I used to be you know."

Sally smiled sympathetically, she understood the troubles plaguing him but there wasn't much she could do to ease them. "I'm sorry that we couldn't get anyone else. It was the fact that you were once a Gundam pilot that made you the most likely candidate for the mission. There aren't too many agents here who've had the kind of experience you did. But that's not justification enough, we shouldn't even be doing this mission. It's beyond what the Preventers are capable of -"

Wufei held up a hand to stop her. "No. Whether or not we are capable is irrelevant. I should just stop complaining and make the most of the situation since I did volunteer to join the Preventers and continue this line of work. Besides, without us, who would the people have looking out for them?"

She smiled. "I've never seen you tackle something so maturely. I have to say it's quite refreshing."

"I'm not sure what you're trying to imply, but I've always been mature. Now, if there's anyone here who's -" but the ringing of his cell phone diverted his attention elsewhere. "Hello? Heero? Where the hell are you? Did anything else happen? We asked Maxwell about it but he said he hadn't heard from you since you left him with Darlian yesterday. Huh? What? What do you mean there's no need for me to go to Germany? You're taking care of it? How? Wait. Is Barton with you? Hello? Hello? Kuso. He hung up on me."

Sally looked at him inquiringly. "What was that all about? I gather it was from Heero and it didn't make you happy. So what did he have to say?"

Still recovering from the strangeness of his conversation with the Japanese, he turned and addressed her questions with as much sense as he could make of it. "It appears that Heero is handling the situation, possibly with the aid of Barton, and he doesn't want Preventer interference."

"Nothing more than that?" And Wufei shook his head in response.

*****

It was already the morning after and still Relena refused to wake. He hadn't heard from Heero or Trowa either, but judging by how abruptly the former WingZero pilot left the other day, he wasn't sure if he'd ever hear from him again. //It was as if he was going off to die or something Knowing Heero, that's probably not far from the truth. I hope he knows what's he's doing he usually does, but then again it's always reckless and he'll more than likely end up half dead So why didn't I stop him then?// Looking at Relena he knew. //Heero trusts me to protect her in his place. Of all peoples, he trusts me So I can't let him down I can't let her down either// Unexpectedly, he rose from his seat and climbed onto the bed with Relena. Taking her hand in his he said a quiet prayer. "Dear God, please protect the ones I love, help guide them back to me." And he fell asleep listening to the rhythmic beats of her heart.

*****

"You didn't have to come, Trowa," Heero said gruffly as they made their way through the dense forest. He looked over his shoulder and saw his comrade smiling with some unknown delight. "Hn. Just don't hold me accountable if you happen to get killed."

The taller youth let out a hearty laugh. "This coming from someone who took on the responsibility of saving the whole of humanity onto his shoulders; quite funny if you think about it. But don't worry yourself over me; I'm perfectly capable of handling any situation the opposition decides to throw our way." He heard a twig snapping in the distance and reached out for Heero's arm to stop him, signaling that someone or something was nearby. They became as still as stones, and silently scanned the surrounding trees and shrubbery, their hands slowly inching towards their guns.

"There's no need for that gentlemen, I come unarmed," came the low, almost paternalistic voice. The shrubbery to their right began to rustle and out stepped a man finely dressed in a dark grey suit. He looked to be in his early forties but the glimmer in his eyes and the smile on his face made his look much younger. He first eyed Heero, then Trowa, then Heero again. "Ah, there you are, lad, it's been awhile since I last saw you. How are you faring?"

He was about to answer, but something caught his throat and he suddenly felt something akin to shame. He couldn't bear to look at this man who had been so much like a father to him as Odin Lowe was. He had taken a special hand in Heero's training at Todesengel, overseeing his daily activities. But more than that, he was there to advise him on the best ways to approach certain situations or just to listen whenever Heero seemed troubled. He hadn't minded betraying Todesengel as a whole, but betraying the old man was different.

The older man smiled and turned to look at Trowa, "You must be the Gundam pilot, Trowa Barton."

"Former Gundam pilot," Trowa corrected.

"Ah, yes, those things were destroyed a few years ago." Looking at the ground, he found a patch of soft grass and moved to sit on it. "The reports Chris and Karen submitted state that you were very formidable. I guess it's not a surprise considering your role in the Eve Wars, but that's old news. What I'm really interested in right now, is the matter of why you're here. I have a very good guess as to his reasons, but not yours."

"Just looking out after a friend," Trowa stated calmly.

The man smiled and turned to Heero again. "You seem to have made quite a number of loyal friends during your lifetime, Heero. I expected as much from someone with such remarkable talents. I knew there was something about you that caught my eye, but I never would have guessed that you were the infamous Heero Yuy. You're quite good at covering up your identity, but that's not what you're here to talk to me about, correct?"

His eyes steeled and the guilt left his mind. "I want to you stay away from Relena Darlian. I don't care if you get anymore contracts on her life, just don't go near her again."

"I'm afraid we can't, Heero. It's not ideal for us to turn down jobs, we have to make a living somehow," the man replied kindly, but seeing Heero's disappointment he continued on, "but I am willing to make an arrangement with you over her life."br>
Somewhat suspicious he hesitated, "What kind of arrangement would that be exactly?"

The man's golden brown eyes twinkled with delight. "Oh, it's quite simple really, whenever we get jobs concerning Miss Darlian, we will go to you first. If you succeed in defeating whichever unit we send against you then we will declare the mission a failure and give up until the next contract. But should we happen to kill you then there will be nothing stopping us from proceeding with Miss Darlian's assassination. Does this sound suitable to you?"

Before Heero had the chance to speak Trowa gripped his arm and pulled him to his side. "I'm not sure I like this. Your life will be constantly sought after if you agree to this - you'll never see the end of it." But there was a strange look in Heero's eyes and youth knew what was in the other's mind. "You can't be serious" Trowa's expression became grim and he looked to the seated man. "Why propose such a thing?"

"Because I want to test how far his skills can go I've never seen someone with so much potential. It's almost frightening to know that there exists someone with almost no limits to his abilities," he answered with a hint of admiration. "If he continues to survive in light of this then I will know of whom I want as my successor and at that point, Heero, you can make whatever policies you desire as the head of Todesengel."

Surprise did not escape the two young men and Trowa could tell the statement had sealed Heero's decision to accept the arrangements presented to him. It would mean that Relena would not only be safe from them, but with such power over Todesengel he could utilize them as her new hidden protectors. Still in a daze, he distantly heard Heero's infamous "Ryoukai" and he wept internally at the fate the other had chosen. //You will never be at peace, Heero for all the good you seek to do you condemn yourself a thousand times over to hell on Earth and I can't let you do that alone Don't worry, Heero, I'll be there to back you up when it gets too much for you to handle.//

*****

She woke with a startle and a pain in her chest (from the gunshot wound she realized somewhere in the back of her mind) as if escaping from a nightmare, yet it was something more disturbing than what nightmares could induce. It was like being plunged into a whirlpool of sadness and images of Heero swept through her mind. She knew instantly that something that happened to him. It was their shared bond, which told her so, and although their relationship may have changed, it did nothing to sever that connection. Deeply she wished him to come out of it unscathed but knew such a thing was impossible with Heero. The pain in her chest began to dull as her thoughts drifted further into somberness until a stir at her side alerted her to Duo's presence.

She smiled at his peaceful expression and stroked his cheek, eliciting a pleased sigh from him. Being so close to him brought about thoughts and feelings she had been trying to repress for the last couple of days. But as his presence began to calm and soothe her nerves, she came to a decision regarding their currently ambiguous relationship. She couldn't very well figure out how intense her feelings for Duo were without giving their relationship a chance. Already she knew that her feelings for him were strong, stronger than she would have thought possible. It was her feelings for Heero that hindered anything from developing further, but even he had wanted her to take this chance. He wanted her to be happy and she had to admit that the days spent with Duo had been some of her most enjoyable ever. //Heero and I will always have something special between us but it's about time I let someone else into my heart and Duo seems to be the right one// She placed a soft, innocent kiss to his forehead, but the touch was enough to waken him from slumber. He grabbed hold of arm, it was an action borne of instincts and natural reflexes, but after realizing where he was, and whom he was with, he relaxed his grip and smiled sheepishly at her. That was when she noticed that his trademark braid was missing. "Duo - your hair?"

He touched the short ponytail that was the remainder of his braid and shrugged his shoulders. "It's not big deal; I'd rather lose the braid than lose you, Relena." And in his eyes she saw sincerity and deep affection and she reached out and pulled him into a kiss whispering, "But I won't be able to play with it anymore."

He laughed heartily, "That's the one good thing that came from losing it," and returned the kiss with much fervor. Duo couldn't remember a time in which he'd been happier than he was at this moment. His heart fluttered as he continued to shower Relena's soft features with light, gentle kisses. He sighed as he stole a kiss from her lips and delighted in the giggles she gave at his earnestness. He cupped her face and became self-conscious of his calloused hand compared to the softness of her skin. But the joy in her eyes told him that she either hadn't noticed them or didn't care and he kissed her again. The only thing that prevented him from losing himself in the moment was a small inkling in the back of his mind.

"Hmm. You know, Relena, I can't help but think that there's something I'm forgetting about..."

*****

A car pulled up into the driveway of an oddly familiar house nestled away within the fairly comfortable and quiet neighborhood. The smiling duo that emerged from the automobile was all smiles and giggles, memories of a pleasurable week still on the forefront of their minds. Meeting for an embrace at the entrance, they settled into a long, loving kiss, whispering endearments to one another. The young woman giggled again and turned around, fishing in her coat for keys.

"C'mon honey, as much as I'd like to lounge on the front porch, I'd really like to get settled back in," the tall man piped up, laying his hands on her shoulder and massaging gently.

She looked up over her shoulder and quirked an eyebrow, "My, aren't we impatient, Anthony." She stuck out her tongue as she slipped her newly found key into the slot. Surprise overtook her when the door opened without any resistance. //Odd... Maybe he's inside somewhere....// No amount of words could describe the emotions running through her the instant the room came into full view. The corners of her eyes twitched involuntarily, her body refusing to budge, afraid that this wasn't just some horrible nightmare. Bright blue eyes darted back and forth, nervousness and anger coursing through her veins.

"Hilde what's wrong? Why aren't you going... in..." he implored but finally saw what had his wife frozen in place. " Honey?"

"I'M GOING TO KILL THAT BRAIDED IDIOT!!!!!!!!!! DUO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

-owari-
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Well it's finally finished and I know a lot of you have been waiting for this story to end. Just know that I'm really sorry for having to make many of you wait, some for over 2 years. I can't say that I've been the most responsible when it came to wrapping this up and hopefully this doesn't happen with any of my other fics. As for the endings, I know Heero's was somewhat sad, but honestly, there was no way to make it happy. But Duo's and Relena's was suitable, I can imagine them being that way towards each other. As for Trowa, I believe he would make such a sacrifice, especially if it's to help someone whom he admires as much as Heero. Anyways, I don't plan on writing a sequel to this; I hope that doesn't disappoint any of you. For now I have too much on my hands and I still have to finish up Trapped Soul and get a sequel to Zero Soul started (too many people have been requesting it and it does seem to need a bit of closure). So before I go I'd like to thank all of you who stuck with me and never forgot that this fic still existed.