Chapter One

Heero glanced up from the screen as it went black, the tape from the video running out, his cold Persian blue eyes glaring at the blank screen. He shook his head, brown bangs falling over his eyes, casting a shadow over his eyes as his mind drifted into a deep thought, his companions surrounding him, talking amongst themselves.

"We've been trying to track this guy down, and it's nearly impossible. There are no tracks and the assassin knows how to clean up after himself. For all we know his eyes could be covered by contact lenses, and the clothing, along with voice, conceals any type of gender at all. So, where do we start?" Quatre analyzed, his blue eyes wide with horror at the display of the newest murder from their mysterious killer.

"Who knows? This guy has us running in circles constantly," Wufei snorted, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest.

Heero then look up sharply, his gaze landing on the uncommonly quiet Duo, whose eyes seemed trained on the dark oak table, "You aren't telling us something Maxwell."

Duo didn't look up, his vision seemed to sharpen onto the table, "I don't know anything, but I think I know of someone who could."

"Maxwell, if every scientist and data anaylists can't figure out who it is, what makes you think you would?" Wufei snapped, receiving a glare from the teen, his long braid shifting as his head snapped up.

"I never said I would know. I just have an old friend I met before the wars and I think we could use the help," Duo's voice trailed off softly.

"but...?" Trowa cut in quietly, emerald green eyes cooly glanced over the American teen.

"Nothing, it's just that I wouldn't jump to conclusions if I were you guys," Duo informed.

Heero glared, "How can we trust this friend of yours? Just because it's your word?"

Duo looked at the white ceiling, "Well, I suppose we can test Yamino. So," Duo looked up at the group. "are we going to give Yamino a call?"

Everyone looked at each other and Quatre sighed, "We can't lose trying."

The three quiet ones nodded relunctantly, causing Duo to stand up and walk out of the study, the guys watching after him. Duo entered his room and immediately sent a message to Yamino, sighing softly as he felt his throat become scratchy. He stood up, wanting to get a drink. Duo walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge door, grabbing a bottle of water. Closing the door, he leaned against the counter top, opening the bottle and taking a sip.

Why do I have a feeling that Yamino does have something to do with this? This is Yamino's style of fighting, and if it isn't, it's one of the others. I just hope Yamino isn't a part of this.

He closed his eyes, a pair of dark, blue-violet eyes flashed in his mind, causing him to drop his bottle, water seeping through the cracks seperating the individual tiles on the floor, his eyes wide with sorrow.

He shook his head, grabbing towel and allowing it to soak up the water, picking it up and throwing it into the sink. He glanced over his shoulder to see Heero standing in the doorway, "What do you want?"

Heero glared at him, "Who is this Yamino?"

"Yamino is a friend I met on the streets on L2. Quick on the feet, and Yamino had the best street smarts. Kind of a loner though. Yamino was really good at slipping into places and always had a nack for obtaining a high amount of knowledge," Duo remersed, a soft smile lifting the corner of his lips. "We split up when I was sent to the Maxwell Orphanage and I hadn't seen Yamino until I snuck aboard Dr. Howard's ship. Yamino was a mechanic on Deathscythe Hell, but before I was tricked into doing Operation Meteor, Yamino up and left, saying there was something that needed to be done."

"Where is Yamino now?" Heero asked.

Duo grinned, "Oh, Yamino travels around. I can e-mail Yamino and see if they can drop by."

"They?" Wufei questioned, walking pass Duo and grabbing drink out of the fridge.

"You think Yamino travels alone? No, Yamino and the gang travel everywhere."

Duo stretched his arms above his head before yawning, "Well, I'm tired, so I'm going to see you guys later. I'll see if Yamino's up for it."

Duo walked out of the kitchen and headed to his room, laying down on his bed, gazing up at the ceiling. He smiled softly, shaking his head at the memories that entered his mind.

I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever see you again, I guess now I can. Goodnight Yamino, hopefully you wont be so stubborn this time.

Duo closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

"Commander Yamino," a voice pulled a lone figure out of their thoughts, pulling the figure's gaze from the night sky to the speaker, who saluted the lonely figure. "I'm sorry to interrupt but there is a distress call for you."

The figure's dark, blue-violet eyes rolled in annoyance, "This better be important, because I have things I must meditate on."

"It's from a young teen named Duo Maxwell," the speaker informed.

A flash of confusion flew across the Commander's eyes, "I will take this privately."

The speaker bowed and handed the Commander a laptop, turning and walking off, leaving the Commander alone. Upon clicking a file, the face of the American Gundam Pilot appeared on the screen of the computer, "It's been a while Yamino. I understand you a probably busy, but my comrades and I have come across and assassin that might be down your angle of expertise. Watch the video clip and you may understand what I'm coming at. If you accept this, the other pilots will want to test you on the basics. I will be staying at Winner Mansion Thirteen in Osaka, Japan on Earth. Hopefully you will accept, because I'd...like to see you again."

Yamino watched the clip, eyes never wavering with any emotion, until the screen went black. Yamino's eyes darkened and a small silver ring surrounded the dark, blue-violet pools, the computer spontaneuosly smashing to bits.

"Cadet!" Yamino called out, instantly gaining a soldier within the area, who saluted to Yamino. "You are to inform Commander Rix, Krin, El, and Trin that we are leaving for Earth as soon as possible, is that understood?"

"Yes Commander!" the soldier saluted before running off, leaving the Commander to gaze at the starry night sky.

I'm sorry you are being dragged into this.

"Maxwell!" a voice rang through Duo's ear, causing him to jump up, wide awake.

Wufei glared at him and walked out of the room, cause Duo to lay back on his bed, arms behind his head. He gazed at the ceiling, smiling before he gazed at his clock beside his bed, reading the red flashing numbers, 6:31 PM. Sighing, he sat up and climbed out of bed, slipping on a comfortible pair of clothes before walking down to the living room, immediately joining the guys watching the news. The top story was of some woman named Leanna, who won a ruling over Alliance's new form of information, stating that the public should not be able to use such technology for everyday use.

The guys were interrupted by Rashid entering the room, bowing slightly, "Master Quatre, there is a person here to see Mister Maxwell."

Duo stood up, and with the others following, and headed toward the entrance way of the house.

Standing in the entrance way was a girl their age, her long pitch black hair fell over her shoulders into two French twists, dark purple highlights seen in the lighting as she moved around. Her eyes, which surveyed the room carefully, were covered by black lenses of a pair of shades, which went with her complete black outfit. Duo gasped, causing her to glance in their direction, only to be caught in a hug by the American teen, who swung her around.

"I can't believe you came!" Duo shouted as he set her down on her feet, his eyes roaming over her.

"Well, when the almighty Duo Maxwell sends me a clip from a security camera and asks for help...you tend to wonder what's wrong," the young girl replied, pushing her shades on top of her head, revealing a pair of stunning, blue-violet eyes incased within a thin silver ring.

"Yeah, I'm so glad you accepted." Duo replied, turning to the guys. "Guys, this is Yamino, Yamino, these are my friends, Heero Yuy, Wufei Chang, Trowa Barton and Quatre Winner, the owner of the house."

The guys were about to say something when the girl interrupted, "Accepted what? I just want to know where the hell you got this footage from."

Duo looked at the girl, hurt flashing through his eyes, "You mean you wont help us?"

"It's not that I don't trust your judgement, it's just...I'm not fond of Preventers," the raven-haired stranger replied softly.

Silence fell on the group before Wufei stated something on the guy's minds, "YAMINO'S A GIRL?"

Duo rubbed the back of his head sweatdropping, "um..yea...I didn't mention that did I?"

The girl shook her head, "Look, I can't stay long, I'm suppose to meet up with someone..but I'll analyze this clip and get back to you..I'll be in the area, so don't be afraid to look me up."

Duo looked like she had slapped him, sorrow written all over his face, "But you just got here. Please...don't tell me you're leaving already?"

Yamino's strangely colored eyes landed on Duo's cobalt blue eyes, before she sighed softly, "Duo, we have much to catch up on. Why don't you meet me in the park tomorrow..say three o' clock?" Duo's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, "but don't bring your comrades."

She bowed respectively before walking out of the house, leaving Duo confused. Turning to the others he smiled weakly, "She wasn't always like that."

Yamino entered a dark house, the eerie shadows surrounding her with comfort. Her saddened eyes gazed up at a painting that hung above the mantle of the fireplace, the family portait gazed back down, eyes glowing with the shadows that danced from the lights the flames gave off. She glared at one figure in the painting before turning to the staircase, walking up them slowly.

What do I tell him? He'd be just like the Doctor, jumping to conclusions.

She entered a bedroom, dark violet walls reflecting the small lights the many candles gave off, she kneeled down, legs folded underneath her. She tilted her head forward, her black treases falling forward.

Everything is darkening. Soon enough, everyone on this planet will see what the night has already lost, but they are unable to see until now.

She bowed softly, before crawling into the oversized bed, closing her eyes, hands resting behind her head.

Soon enough, the lost souls will be able to arise and fight for what they've lost. Soon enough, I will fulfill a promise I've kept ever since the day I arrived.

Her eyes opened softly, her gaze landed on a oak case, a deadly sword incased within the glass. Shuddering she turned over so her back was to it, her eyes closing as her mind drifted into the usual nightmare.