(From old archive)
Note to my readers: I adore all of you who have stuck by with this fic being as long as it is. I am more than grateful to those who have shared your insights and questions, your thoughts and opinions, and especially your love for the story and characters. I have fallin' in love with Uno as much as the whole lot of you had and I understand how it is nearly impossible for a child her age to be as mature and great as she is. I just now got reminded about how children of that little age act as my work requires being around children from ages of infantry to 13. Her life was practically squashed into a small story and tried to the best of my knowledge to become one of the greatest characters I have ever made; what helped is your love of Uno and commentary. What helped more is how you asked to use her in your own stories. I don't mind letting you use her in whatever way, just so long as you hand over the original credits to me, Angel0fRebirth. I have plans to take this story all the way to a sequel, yes, and bind them on my own. If you feel to have a hard copy in book format, stay tuned as I am working on a way to sell them across Internet through Pay Pall without having to fear fines of copyright. I if I buy the names to sell my book for reality purposes, I fear they may steal it; heck, I wouldn't mind watching this turn into another Gundam series or even a movie, but I'd like to keep my credibility. Once again, thank you all for keeping this story alive and for the help you all have shown me over these past several years; to think a story could go so far and still stay so popular. I only hope that you will enjoy the sequel as much as the original and yes, I will give a hint towards the sequel when this story, Duo's Child, ends. This story has kept my motivation for writing running wild and without it and without all of you, I would not have been able to get as far into my writing career as I am now; you all taught me so much and kept me working on it for so long, I simply couldn't find it in me to back out. This story is on the verge of closure and I feel emotionally torn and drain because of it all; I'd prefer it continue on forever and I know it can't.
(To new archive)
Note to my readers: Yes, as you all have seen for yourself, the previous chapter was a bit shocking and entirely frightening. It showed (from an idea I harbored for years beyond this story), what would have happened if neither of them had survived the wars. Quatre would have still taken Uno in as his own, she would have met everyone in school, and as the rest of the chapter goes, she wouldn't have been the way she is now. It was Duo who developed her mind set to think like his because he was the first to give her love. Also, I tried to give some insight to what her parents were like; her mother, to those who still wonder about it to this day, was a female version of Heero and because of that she didn't know love and affection (her mother never had a chance to have it) so that's how she's such the acer and perfectionist she is and Duo is her father, showing that is why she's able to hide her emotions behind a smile and always look at the bright side to things.
Duo's Child
Chapter 27
Sudden Exposure
Uno dropped the earmuffs and sighed heavily before turning to Theresa with a growl. For the past several hours, she and her friend have been working so hard to get another song made for the Talent Night in one week; Uno was ready to go but Theresa kept forgetting her words.
"Theresa," Uno began, her eyes squinting shut. "If you can't sing the lyrics, then back down."
"But…I'm getting nervous. I'm stage fright." Theresa pouted. She was always nervous when it came to big gatherings of people.
"And you think I'm not?" Uno stared at her, anger rising up to the tops of her head. "I've done this before and I still get nervous. Heck, Mr. Merky makes me talk my oral presentations in front of the whole class while you all get to sit back in your seats and say yours!"
"Hey…you two," Uno and Theresa looked back through the window at Ricky. "Shut up!"
The two of them went blank in the face and Ricky only grinned. Theresa sighed and looked down. Uno grumbled and stretched. She hadn't volunteered for the Talent Show in over four to five years, at least since she was six. Uno leant against the wall and shut her eye lids.
"Theresa, are you having a part for your birthday?" Uno folded her arms across her chest and lowered her head.
"No…I'm taking your route; no more parties!" Theresa smiled big. "Just you and Ricky and that's all."
"What? No gifts?" Ricky teased from the other side of the studio and Theresa glared him. He cracked up laughing.
"Besides, I thought it was cool when you turned seven and Brittany and them asked if you were going to have another party again just like before. Man, was she brownnosing!"
"Theresa…" Ricky blinked at her and she turned to face him with question in her eyes. "Do you even know what brownnosing means?" She stayed quiet and he just shook his head down and sighed.
"Do as you wish. Quatre knew I always hated a lot of people gathered around for me for things like that. 'Oo..look, I turned nine!' 'Oh wow! I'm now eleven!" Uno rolled her eyes. "Like I even enjoy being twelve? Duo is trying to teach me how to drive and Heero's yelling at him about it because I'm too young."
"Get a bike." Ricky offered through the microphone. "Johnson's giving me a great deal with one. Dad's thinking of getting me my hardship license to drive around because he's always at work and Johnson's always out with his girlfriends; besides, I've gotten in deeper with my dad's work and so I'm nearly required a vehicle now."
"What's a hardship license?" Theresa asked, looking from Ricky to Uno and back to Ricky again.
"It let's fifteen-year-olds get a driver license and drive whenever they can because they're the main working person in the family; but since I require it for the job, I may get it anyways." Ricky looked down at the switches.
"Oh yeah, I keep forgetting you're fifteen." Theresa looked down in though then back up to him. "Why do I keep thinking your more like, ten?"
Ricky blinked. "Because he looks like it a lot of the times." Uno smirked and lifted her head to catch a glimpse of Ricky's playing-hurt expression. She looked at Theresa.
"I sometimes forget you're thirteen. I sometimes think I'm thirteen and you're the twelve-year-old around here."
"That's only 'cuz I keep my sense of humor!" Theresa stuck her tongue out at Uno.
Ricky blinked. "Is that why you think I'm ten most of the time?"
"No," Uno looked back at him and grinned. "You still look like a younger version of Heero, only now you hold a semi-striking resemblance to him."
Theresa looked at Ricky and tilted her head a bit. "You know…now that I think about it—so many years later—he does look a lot like Heero."
"Hey! I know I come from my father! There is no way I'm his son!" Ricky pointed through the glass window to the two of them and shouted.
"Unless your mother cheated on your father with him…but even then that would be nearly impossible…wouldn't it?" Uno looked off thinking and the other two in the studio shrugged.
-
That night, Heero walked Relena up to the steps of her mansion door and looked down at their locked hands and to the massive diamond ring on her finger. He was nearly spent; he took the entire night finding the courage to propose to her and finally managed to do it outside of the high dollar restaurant he spent a fortune on; he tried to get the night perfect but failed miserably and finally proposed to her while they took a stroll through the park. However, when another couple witness the scene and came over to congratulate them, he felt a bit better about it being in a secluded area rather then in a room crowded with a sea of faces.
"I had a really wonderful night, Heero." Relena stated, softly. She paused and turned to look at him with kindness in her eyes. He lifted his head and managed a small smile; he was nervous again.
"Will you be coming inside?" She asked. He's come inside a few other times after their date but this time—despite how he would really admire doing so—he couldn't. He lowered his head.
"I shouldn't; it's late Relena and you have a meeting tomorrow with the press and council committee of L13." Heero looked at her with want in his eyes but he couldn't release the urgency and need of it as he desired too. He heard Relena sigh a heavy breath and leant over to kiss her good night.
She was well a good inch or two below his height and as he slanted his head over hers, she willingly lifted her chin to claim his lips. They eyes shut and for a moment, their surroundings were forgotten in a sea of bliss. His kiss was gentle and light, as all his other kisses have been, and he lifted a hand to cup her cheek. His lips were soft and he parted them to invade his tongue into her mouth, to have them both dance around as flames enticed their bodies. Relena lifted her arms and held him closer, pressing on his back to keep him besides her forever.
The kiss was a romantic image that will plaster itself into her mind for the rest of eternity and beyond, even after they marry and die together of old age. He smelt of cologne and she smelt of perfume; he tasted of berries and she tasted of cherries. Together, the two of them held one another and kissed their fears of all future paths away until there was nothing but the single path of a cherished family and a peaceful life.
All too soon, Heero released her lips from his claim and pulled an inch away from her face to stare deeply into her loving eyes. Years she has loved him and it seems only months he has returned it. Through out the wars in the past she has been there for him over and over again, chiding him about what to do and what not to do, despite his efforts to block her out, and out of all of the times he pushed her away she stood right back up and tried again. She was determined and persistent and that's what made her such a good leader.
Heero, on the other hand, had tried several times to do without her and each time had failed him terribly. Without her constant calling and nagging about when they would get together he thought it would be a soothing and peaceful moment but each time the occurrence hit, it struck him hard in the chest. He loved her all these years and never knew; she tried to get him to see it but he shoved her aside and paid no attention to the feelings.
Boy she sure showed him.
"Relena," Heero began but couldn't find the breath to finish.
"Heero." Relena dazed up into his eyes and brushed the small brown strands of hair away from his face. A smile crept up on her face. "Heero, do you love me?"
"Yes." Came his quiet and almost silent reply. "I do."
"Say it, Heero. Please." Relena begged and for the time being, Heero could only smile at her innocent-looking eyes, her big, blue, glassy orbs shining with hope and desire just as he was feeling right then.
"I love you, Relena."
Relena smiled. "Heero."
He lowered his head to her neck and wrapped his arms tightly around her body. She returned the hug and he felt protectively aggressive about anything that may happen. He didn't want anything to happen; she was his woman and his desires filled the air just then. He shut his eyes and took in a heavy breath. He knew she wanted him to come inside again; it wouldn't have been the first time for neither of them.
"Relena, I can't." Heero backed away and looked down at her saddened expression. Relena pouted softly and her voice lowered to nothing above a whisper.
"Why?"
"I can't. We shouldn't continue on like that." Heero looked into her eyes and she could see that he wanted to…lusted for it…but the fact that it was wrong told him not to and held him back. She looked at him, nearly pleading him with her eyes, but still he kept his lips firm and slowly shook his head all while watching her express go to hurt.
"It's not right." She looked down and felt like she was about to cry, but he lifted her chin with his finger and dazed into her eyes. "Sleep well, Princess. I will see you tomorrow night."
Relena had to force herself to smile and when she did, felt tears sting her eyes. Heero shut his eyes and pulled her in for another hug. He was hurting her, doing this to her, but he had too. They had to stop before they got in too far deep and could not get out; before something were to spring up and surprise them and he couldn't bear to have her status of authority go down hill. They managed to correct the few times precautions were forgotten and carelessness took over, but accidents can still happen and he didn't want to take any chances of wrecking her appearance. They tried all the other ways but nothing worked and only turned him away; they had to stop before they got in trouble.
Heero backed away a good two feet and watched her. Relena stood there another moment before turning around and opening the door. Slowly, as if each foot weighed a ton, she carried herself inside the mansion and turned to face him one last time that night. There eyes met one on one and she stifled a small smile to put her pains behind her; he stayed still with his seriously stern face and watched as she closed the door between them, shutting the gap for that night like so many nights ago, several years ago. Relena pressed her forehead against the door and dragged her hand to the lock; with hurt in her chest she turned the key and locked the door.
Why? Relena shut her eyes and felt the sting of water blur her vision. Why can't we? Why does it have to matter? It took a while for Heero to start falling for her and notice and it when he had, she had loved every moment of it and bathed in the glory of it all; but why did it have to end just then? Why did her status of being the Vice Foreign Minister matter so much that they had to slow their relationship down to a cautious watch.
Why does it matter; it's only work! You wanted me; I wanted you! It was right! Relena's eyes drew heavy of water and they weren't capable of holding much more. They began to fall heavily and drench her face, her makeup running off.
-
When the door firmly shut and clicked to lock, Heero turned around on his heels and drew in a heavy breath. The night was cool and he hadn't noticed it until he was alone without his fiancé. Around her, fires would sooth out to a protective warmth but ice would melt at a rapid pace.
He lifted his head and gazed out into the stars above, feeling dread for what he just did. He's loved her for about six years now and nearly three of those he proved it to her. But why did it take this long to stop? Why was he so weak to pull away and protect her even from her own status? Because he loved her and he couldn't bear to witness the media progressing towards her should she become a woman without a husband but with a child. He loved her too much to have her throw her work away just for him. She spent yearsstriving for the title she received, especially the returning title of 'princess;' that took most of the time.
Heero headed back towards his jeep and sat inside. After he shut the door, he looked back up to the mansion and at her window. He knew she was watching him through the blinds, staring into the tiny little gaps without touching the full thing. He's done it before and even watched her do it once.
His hand lifted and he blindly turned the key to the engine. The car purred to life and he shut his eyes while taking a heavy deep sigh. It was killing him to stay there as long as he was, wanting and desiring to go back to her front door and apologize for backing away. He wanted so much as to do that, but he couldn't; not again. They almost got in trouble a few times in the past and she had to go to a secret doctor for help; he didn't want to have her actually get a real abortion.
His heart pounding, Heero rested his hands on the top of the steering wheel and guided the car around the front courtyard until he hit the very road that would take him away from her fairy-tale world and back into the real world of safety and precaution.
-
The following day was already feeling like a drag to Uno as she and Theresa walked down the street towards the school. Theresa was humming some made-up tune and Uno was hanging her bag from behind her head. She yawned widely and dazed around their surroundings before shutting her eyes once again and tilting her head backwards.
"Why do you again have Mr. Merquise as your teacher?" Theresa paused her song, remembering something that's been agitating her for years.
Uno looked straight ahead at them and blinked a few times before shrugging and tilting her head back again.
"I dunno'; I guess cuz he liked he out of most of the other students he ever had. Either that, he knows I'll always get in trouble if I bad mouth other people when he's not around."
"You're lucky. He wants you to stay in class." Theresa grumbled. "With me, he could care less. He only has me in the classes because I'm your only friend besides Ricky."
Uno smirked from her positioned head. "I guess that's it then. He's using you to keep me motivated." Uno shrugged. "Even though I still don't care whether or not I have to do things in class. With you there, I only get bored because you actually do your work."
Theresa giggled. "That's so mean, Uno!" Theresa laughed out loud. "No wonder you don't make friends!"
"Oh shut up!" Uno glared her and both girls soon cracked up laughing. "People are just jealous of me and hate me because I can kick their ass in just about anything!"
"Hehehe…like what?" Theresa asked, giggling because Uno cussed out loud and didn't give a care in the world about getting caught.
"Well…" Uno began. "I can run the fastest on the team; I'm best at softball. I even kick Ricky's butt in basketball and that's an easy game for him. I ace all my grades and Mr. Merky tests me about three times harder than the rest."
Theresa grinned. "That's only because Wufei quizzes you after he practically forces you to study and then if you get one question wrong—just one—Heero makes you do fifty pushups."
Uno grumbled. "Or fifty laps, or fifty pull-ups…I hope he never has kids because if he does, I'll feel sorry for them." Uno imagined his children having the same pain soaring and aching body parts she was feeling just then, remembering the night before when Heero and Wufei quizzed her at least a dozen times over. And at least a dozen times over, Heero made her do one hundred pull-ups, pushups, sit-ups—the works—because she kept getting wrong answers.
"How many trophies and plaques have you gotten that Ricky doesn't have? You two are the best in the entire school; I'd wonder if his dad does the same Heero and the rest of your big family does." Theresa asked, a thought popping up in her head.
"Hm…" Uno looked ahead of herself and thought about that. She shrugged. "Well…all I can think of is five more trophies and twelve more plaques."
"Doesn't he have about thirty-two all together?" Theresa asked. "I think that's what he said, at least." Theresa shrugged. "Oh well."
-
In the bushes, a distance from the Winner mansion and a distance from the school, noises could be heard. A black sport bike lay hidden in a near-by bush only a couple feet away. A black bag consisting of several boxes of bullets, folders of data and names, and a collection of weapons sat besides the body of a black dressed person, hidden in the shadows of the huge oak tree just behind him.
He looked through the bushes, the leaves just barely covering him, and watched as the two young girls carelessly walked down the sidewalk towards the Winner School. A hefty sigh was released from shaky lips and the black rifle, tightly grasped in his hand, was unusually heavy to hold. His hands were sweaty, his palms slippery. He knew he had to make this work; he worked so hard up to this point, but the image of the young girl's body sprawled out and lying on the sidewalk made him shiver with fright rather than the spur of enjoyment for having to really use his gun.
They were getting closer; the two young girls, one with her brown hair so lavishly tied back into a long braid and the other with her annoying tunes of hums. They were headed towards the school, which started in about half an hour, and unaware of the dangers that lurked around them.
Another breath was taken and it didn't help cease the shakiness behind the man's trembling body. He had to go through with this; he was getting paid after all. But a child; it was hard to bear.
Shutting his eyes and looking down to the side, he fumed. A child didn't deserve to die in place of the real people accused; they should at least send the child to a foster house or some other form of family.
He opened his eyes and looked back through the bushes. They were getting closer and he was running out of time. It wasn't like the simulations where he knew how to pause the game so he could have the time he needed to gain and regain his composure; this was a real life he had to take!
He breathed deeply and propped himself up on his knees. He lifted the gun and pushed the barrel through the bushes just a little so the bullet wouldn't hit a thing but the girl.
Why the girl?! He fumed. Children have no right dying like this! He kept a steady position on the poor child and tilted his head just enough to catch a glimpse of her through the scope. She was chanting with her friend, skipping and hopping. It wouldn't be hard considering there was no one around for miles and the two girls hadn't a single clue as to his awareness, but the fact that it was a child altered his position on her body.
He released a heavy sigh. He wasn't able to go through with it, but he forced himself to comply with his missions and not fall back; there would be hell to pay if he returned to the base without the successful attack.
-
Theresa and Uno stopped prancing and slowed back down to their normal walk. As usual, the two of them raced a bit and as usual, Uno had won. They looked at it more as a game of fun rather than a test of the best; it was Ricky and Uno that shared the test for the best.
"Uno…sometimes I wonder if you're even human." Theresa groggily stated, finally catching her breath again.
"You're just a poor runner and playmate." Uno teased. She shrugged. "Duo wonders that about me as much as he does about Heero."
"Heero?" Theresa asked. "You I understand; why him?"
Uno shrugged. "I dunno'. Guess he's just like me."
"Wow…how frightening…maybe somehow a genetic splice had happened between the two of them—Duo and Heero—and you're their daughter." Theresa dazed out into the open before them. Uno stopped and blinked then turned and gave Theresa a terrified look.
"Where did you ever come up with that thought, Theresa?"
Theresa shrugged. "It was on some movie that dad was watching last night. Some old horror that he said was all fake and you could tell."
"Heh…I think that's disgusting…disgusting enough to tell them about it." Uno grinned.
"Heh." Theresa walked on then looked down when she saw Uno's feet. "Uno…you're boot's untied."
"Huh?" Uno looked down and blinked. "Crap monkeys…when did that happen?" Uno dropped her bag besides herself and knelt down. Theresa stopped and watched.
"Maybe when we raced?" She shrugged then looked back down the sidewalk and hummed again.
"I guess." Uno replied, retying her boot laces.
-
The man watched the two talk and joke then stop as one had to kneel down and tie her shoes. He should get her now, as the moment is just right and neither of them were aware of the situation, but he was struggling to keep a hold of the rifle on the girl.
He aimed at her and set his finger on the trigger. It felt harder to press and his fingers were extremely shaky; it was beginning to cause the rifle to slide away from his target.
He sighed again and shook his head. He minus-well just aim to the basic spot where she would be when she stands back up from tying her shoes, but even that was a struggle of wits. Even though his body shook and wracked him viciously, he remained positioned at where her head would be when she stands back up.
The two of them were talking again, chanting on about something, and he was ready and waiting for the moment to pull the trigger and start this new war.
But he was shaking so damn badly!
-
Theresa hummed again and looked around the wide open spaces besides them. The sidewalk rested along a street that was hardly ever used unless going towards Uno's house and the fields surrounding it have yet to be worked up. Theresa wondered about something and blinked down at Uno.
"Uno?"
"Nani?" She asked from below.
"Does Quatre own half the city?"
"Huh?" Uno looked up, her laces once again untying from their knot.
Theresa motioned to the wide open fields around them. "Does he own all this land?"
"Yeah, I think so." Uno looked back down at her shoe laces and grumbled.
"So if he was to die…or like in the long run from now…you would get the city and all of the land, school, mansion…and all else he owns?" Theresa asked down at her friend and Uno paused to think.
"Actually…I don't really know." Uno looked up at Theresa and grinned. "Probably so, since Quatre doesn't have a girl in his life."
"That is so cool!" Theresa grinned. "I'm glad I'm your best friend!"
Uno murmured. "You're my only friend…besides Ricky."
Uno just finished tying her shoes in a double knot to be certain it wouldn't untie again and heard what sounded like a rock hitting the road. She looked down her right side to the street and saw nothing. She gazed up into the sky, ignoring the bright sun, and blinked.
There was nothing around.
Her eye brows quirked in and she shrugged.
"Hey Theresa, did you hear that? It sounded like a rock hit the road but there's nothing around." Uno looked ahead of them to a few bushes in the distance and still, she heard nothing…not even Theresa's reply.
"Hm?" Uno looked back at Theresa and froze with fear. "Theresa?"
Theresa was laying on the ground, backpack thrown back, body sprawled out like a doll forgotten on a child's bedroom floor, arms and legs spread out as if she were stretching. Uno never heard her say anything after the best friend statement, never heard her groan or stretch, or even yawn…if she was even tired. But crouching where she was so close to her friends body laying entirely on the grass, was beginning to frighten her. Theresa lied there, silently, without a movement, and Uno knew just then, without having to see the blood flowing out from under the body on the grass towards the concrete, that her best friend was dead.
"Theresa?!" Uno crawled over to her friend's side, wanting to scream out her best friend's name over and over again a thousand times, crying for her to return, but paused in fear when she saw the gaping wound between the eyes. "A bullet hole?"
Fear struck Uno right then with an icy stab and she realized the bullet formation: silent, small, powerful; it was an assassin rifle. The tears that threatened to form in her eyes fell heavily and Uno slowly stood up, knowing for certain, that it was meant to hit her.
-
"Fuck!" He growled at himself and yanked the rifle back into his arms. He leant over in his crouch and held onto the rifle as a means to stay in a sitting position. "I fucking missed!"
His eyes shut tightly and he was beginning to shake violently. He had killed the girl's best friend and that wasn't what he was supposed to do, either. He had taken the wrong life, by accident.
I was ready…I was ready and I was waiting for her to stand back up. But…damn it! He growled to himself. Words from their chanting returned to his ear and he trembled even more.
'You're my only friend…besides Ricky.'
Damn the girl! Why did she have to say that? Why did she have to state that she had no friends but the two she's always around? Why did she have to say that her best friends were the other girl and her boyfriend? Why?!
He released a heavy, agitated sigh and shut his eyes. He had to witness the fear creeping along her face when she turned around and noticed her friend was dead.
Her best friend.
When she found that there was no bringing her best friend to life. When she realized that he had missed his target and accidentally struck her friend. He was doing just fine, managing to withhold his shaky urges and ready to pull the trigger, but when she stated who her few friends were, his body freaked out and he slipped; his finger had pressed too tightly and caused him to pulled the trigger, mistakenly tip the rifle to the side and shoot her friend.
He would have been fine had she not said that just then.
"Fuck…well…here we go again."
He brought himself to come to conclusions and told himself, silently, that if he missed again or did not kill her this moment, he'd be in a lot of trouble. Bringing himself up onto his knees, he lifted the rifle up once more, pushed it back through the leaves, and gazed back into the scope only to see that she had already run off.
-
Uno was running as fast as she possibly could push herself to go. She was running faster than she had ever run against Heero in training, she was running faster than she had ever run away from Duo when he wanted to ground her; she was running so fast her chest ached as if she were about to die just then. The last time she ever remembered running this fast, Heero clocked her at twenty –miles-per-hour; she was definitely running faster this time.
Her mouth stayed open as she struggled to breath and she was coming closer to the front gates of the mansion. She couldn't believe what she had seen. She couldn't believe the fear and the pains.
What about the pain Theresa must have felt?
Uno choked back a sob and tears began to blur. She blinked several times until the water fell from her eyes and she could see again. She then noticed she was slowed down to nearly a jogging speed and paced herself back up again to her race-for-dear-life speed.
She rounded the corner of the big brick fence and paused at the gate. It was well over twelve feet tall and locked; the only way in, unless she could jump a super-high distance, was crawling underneath it. Even if she had a key to get in, or if somebody from inside was fast enough, the gate would still open very slowly and she would still be in trouble as the gate is just a metal rod iron and wouldn't shut until it made its full opening sequence.
Uno caught her breath and released her backpack from the straps on her arms. She quickly gazed around at her surroundings and tossed her backpack over the brick wall to the best she could and ran towards the gate. She dropped to her knees, rolled onto her back, grabbed the bars, and pulled herself under. She managed to get through with a little trouble and knew, also, that this would probably be around the last time she could do that.
When she got to her feet, she quickly grabbed her backpack and made a deathly run towards the front door.
-
Duo yawned that morning and headed down the stairs. He blinked when he saw Heero sorting through the mail near the front door. He grinned when he noticed he was wearing the silver bracelet that Relena had bought him several years ago.
"So, Heero…finally wearing the little piece of equipment that labels you as Relena's bitch?" Duo grinned when he got off the last step and received a deathly glare from his partner. Duo shrieked back a little. "Sheeze…don't have to get all technical now; I was only joking!"
"Relena and I are engaged." Duo froze, his eyes popped out of his head, and his mouth dropped. "We haven't set a date, but it's a definite."
"Heero…buddy…" Duo's voice trailed off.
"It won't be the first time." Heero turned and headed down the hallway. Duo paused and thought long and hard. He was about to say that Heero was finally going to get some, but now that he puts those words together with his own thoughts, a grin slowly crept up onto his face.
"You actually tapped her! That is so cool!" Duo shouted. He threw a fist into the air when the door began banging from the other side. "Yeah Buddy! You go man!"
Duo chuckled and turned around to open the door. When he did, Uno practically fell in and grabbed at his waist. Duo blinked.
"Duo!" She choked back.
"Uno?" Duo blinked and looked around outside. "Where's Theresa? What are you doing home already?"
Uno was sobbing in Duo's shirt and no one else was around. Uno's backpack was laying on the doorway besides the welcome mat and she was covered in dust and dirt. He knew then that she had crawled underneath the gate to get home…but why? Duo wrapped his arms around her back and rubbed her some.
"Duo!" Uno choked again, crying terribly into his shirt. "We were walking to school, talking and joking around and I bent down to tie my shoe laces…" She sniffled, hugging him even tighter into herself. "And when I didn't hear anything else from her I looked and she was lying on the grass besides me, dead!"
Duo froze; his head lifted up to stare out ahead of himself, his eyes wide and frozen in spot. He could feel Heero's presence behind him doing the same thing.
"She had a bullet hole in between her eyes!"
Uno continued to cry loudly into his shirt and Duo's body slowly began to tremble. Heero's heart was racing. The both of them knew that the shot was meant for Uno.
"Uno sweetie, step inside, please." Duo softly whispered to her. She sniffled and stepped in, still holding onto his waist. Duo looked over and saw Heero stepping up to them; he, too, looked terribly shocked.
They have never actually expected something like this to happen.
Duo shut the front door and turned back to the hallway where he saw Quatre stepping into the group. His face looked twisted and when Quatre saw it, questioned. Heero kept his head down, his own body trembling with fear and anger.
"Uno?" Quatre asked. Uno was balling into Duo's waist. He looked up at Duo with confusion in his face.
"Uno, sweetie." Duo bent down a little to look at her. She sniffled and faced him, depression and fear wracking through her body. "Uno…go to Quatre and he'll help you go up stair and wash up. Okay?" Uno nodded while she sniffled a little more. "Heero and I have to talk and we're be right back, alright? I promise." Uno nodded again, and turned towards Quatre as Duo released her grasp on his shirt.
"Duo?" Quatre questioned. All he got in return was a seriously stern look from Duo that told him, through the eyes, that they'll talk later.
Duo turned to Heero and nodded. Then he opened the door, stepped out, and after Heero left the door shut again. Uno's body was weakened tremendously and she was shaking very badly.
"Uno?"
Quatre looked down and wondered what all the big mess was about. He looked down the hallway of bedrooms and saw Wufei had come out of his room in question. Quatre furrowed his eye brows and looked back down to Uno. He needed to get Uno washed up and put to sleep. He turned to the stairs with her and saw Trowa standing around in the living room with question written on his face, as well. Uno continued to cry and went up stairs with Quatre, still in confusion, behind her.
-
Heero backed out of the driveway in a frenzy and sped the car around in a heap. The drive down to the gate seemed to last more then a few seconds. Theresa had been shot in place of Uno; something was not right here. They tried to assassinate him and now little Uno, a girl of twelve-years-old.
It just wasn't right.
"What did I tell you, Man." Duo stated, growling and looking outside the window for the body. "Someday a war will break out and here you go; assassins to hit you up and fail then kill Uno and somehow miss." Heero veered the car to the side of the road and leaped out as soon as it stopped. "This is just too much all at once." Duo pulled the keys from the ignition and stepped out.
He stepped up to Heero and looked down at Theresa's mangled body. He felt a terribly sharp stab of remorse for her, thought a tiny bit of reassurance that Uno was at home, safe. His lips tightened together and he looked at Heero. Heero was kneeling down besides the body, touching the skin and the blood to see how long ago she had been shot verses how long ago the bullet had killed her. It appeared it killed her on the spot, despite the head wound.
"I can't believe this." Duo fumed, looking down the end of the street to the curve and the bushes and huge oak tree. "Somebody had to have been hiding in those bushes. I'll go check."
Heero lowered his head and looked around then lifted his head and watched as Duo surveyed the area. Duo was right; if anything had shot at them, it had to have been from the bushes up ahead. Damn it; he always knew those were in a terrible spot but Quatre had demanded they remain normal and natural and untouched by civilians until the city decided to build up around his mansion.
He sighed and looked back down to Theresa's body. They were going to have to take her home now and explain to her parents. He knows her parents are going to want to call the police and that must not be done. If this hits the media, then surely the enemy is going to know they are afraid and are warning the public.
Then again, it may buy them time as the enemy wouldn't want the world to know that a terrorist had attacked a child, especially if they plan to attack greatly.
Heero looked up and over to see Duo scanning the bushes and huge oak tree. He was looking around, appearing agitated, and very much annoyed. Duo stood back up, had his hands propped up on his hips, and gave Heero a confused expression while shrugging. He held out his arms and shook his head and Heero looked down back to the body, knowing that the enemy had not intended to ever get caught; just shoot and run.
"Well…I guess it's up to us now."
Heero got to his feet and bent over. Duo was on his way back to the jeep and was watching as Heero lifted up Theresa's lifeless body and carry it over to the backseat of the jeep. Funny—though it shouldn't be at a time like this—but Heero's back seat has been used as a cot for bodies in the past several years since they lived together, whether it be an assassin's body, a dead body, or Duo's own body tied up for torture, he always used the backseat as a compartment for holding humans.
"Heero…what are you doing?" Duo got closer to the car but that didn't stop him from raising his voice for the remaining distance.
Heero laid the body down on the seats, the blood no longer moist enough to stain. Either way, he knew how to get blood stains out of things; if he hadn't, all of his things would be stained still. He stepped back from the jeep and turned down to the ground once again. He bent down and picked up Theresa's backpack.
"Heero?" Duo questioned, heading towards the passengers door.
"We have to go to Theresa's house; explain what Uno said had happened." Heero replied monotonously.
He sat the backpack down on the floor behind them and got in the jeep. Duo handed Heero the keys and the car boomed to life once again. Duo rested his head back against the seat's head rest and sighed very loudly.
"What did you find?" Heero asked, gazing up and down the street and around the fields.
"Nothing, just flattened grass where the person sat, a burrowed hole in the bushes where he obviously hid the rifle, and tire tracks around the base of the oak tree. Only the tracks disappeared when it hit the concrete so definitely someone was waiting for Uno and Theresa to walk to school that morning; somebody knows they walk to school, together."
"Or at least just Uno." Heero added in before driving the jeep away. He reached down and pulled his cell phone out of his jean pockets around his knees. Duo blinked.
"What you doing? Calling them?"
"No; I'm calling Relena. I don't think it'll be best for this new to hit the media." Heero hit the speed dial button of her name and the number dialed.
"You think they're going to?"
"Yes. If an assassin attacked a girl then soon after terrorists hit the towns, people would fear them a greater amount than what there would be."
"But…then that's a good thing…isn't it? I mean, then that way the terrorists won't attack at all." Duo pondered.
"Hn. They don't care about lives, Duo." Heero reminded him and Duo went silent.
-
Quatre was sitting besides the bed in Uno's room, softly brushing his hand across her cheek as she fell asleep. He felt a great swell of pity for her; something had happened and it had happened horribly wrong. Uno finally told him about an hour later when she sat in the bathroom, curled up in a ball in the corner, crying and balling her eyes out. Quatre sat besides her on the toilet lid, trying to sooth her and find out what was wrong when she told him.
Since then, he felt extremely saddened and hurt very much. But right now, she was safe in their mansion, with the security system back up and running in top condition, and protected by the ex-Gundam pilots; nothing was going to get to her even if it valued his own life.
Quatre retrieved his hand and remained sitting besides her in the chair for an extra minute before standing up. He looked down at her and felt emotionally hurt for her. No one else of the entire group could have felt the utter helplessness and hurt that he felt, sharing it with Uno. He had a gift of understanding one another's pain and passion, knowing how badly they felt by feeling it himself. Duo had used to tease him about it, calling him a little weak-hearted imp, but he didn't mind; he knew Duo was only teasing and did not quite fully understand his ability.
Quatre turned and left the room slowly. Behind him, he shut the door very softly and backed away quietly. On his way down the stairs, he wanted to cry for her but it just wouldn't come. He knew that now, as Duo has said so many times in the past when Uno had just entered the family that a time would come where war will return. Duo was right in his predicaments; that time had come and it had come hard and fast.
Quatre stepped off the staircase and looked down the hallway. He figured Wufei was still in his bedroom and instead of going down there to tell him, he figured to wait until Heero and Duo returned. He knew where they went; they were to the scene of the crime to investigate and pick up the body. They knew what had to be done and they were doing it themselves.
Quatre paused upon entering the living room and found Trowa and Wufei discussing topics of understatement. Quatre figured he didn't look so well as Trowa paused in mid sentence and questioned his composure.
"Quatre? What's wrong? You look drastic." Trowa's soft voice reached the air and Quatre only wondered what it would feel like if Trowa had died in his place one day.
"Quatre?" Wufei had spoken up as well. "What happened earlier; why was Uno crying and not going to school?"
Quatre looked down, his own voice soft like his fellow friends. His body was quivering and shaking tremendously, his breath harsh and ragged. He didn't know how to explain Uno's fright from earlier.
"Quatre?" Trowa had called his name again and just hearing on his friend's lips made him feel even more depressed than he had before.
"Uno and Theresa were on the way to school." Quatre stumbled to say Theresa's name; it stuck on his lips as a fear with a groggy taste stuck onto a shaking body. "Uno had to tie her shoes and bent down to do it. She said Theresa was quiet and she looked back to see her dead."
The look on Trowa and Wufei's faces were a blank stare filled with shock and dread.
"She was shot in place of Uno." Quatre blurted out in torture of himself.
"Oh my God." Trowa murmured.
"Impossible." Wufei blinked.
All three of them were in shock at what had happened.
"Where's Uno now?" Trowa had asked with a hint of urgency.
"I helped her wash up; she's asleep now." Quatre remained focused on the ground. "Heero and Duo went to retrieve the body and return it home." A tear fell from Quatre's eyes. "She was so young."
-
"I still can't believe it had happened." Duo stated that afternoon on the drive home.
Theresa's parents, Lori and Billy, had allowed them to stay a bit longer than a few minutes to an hour. They were devastated when they heard about the news and when Billy went out with Heero to get the body, Lori collapsed in a heap of tears. Duo had sat besides her and comforted her to the best she could get, to the best he could give, and tried to sooth her.
The first thing Billy had said to Heero when they went outside was something Heero hadn't expected.
"Is Uno alright?" And Heero had replied 'yes, but she's still drastic over it all.'
When Billy returned inside with Heero, he had noticed Lori had cried herself to sleep in Duo's arms; Duo was, as well, drenched with his own fears for everything.
"I mean, just this morning, she and Uno were in a wonderful mood. Lori had dropped her off at six o'clock and she had the chance to wake up Uno. I stood in the doorway and watched her smack Uno several times with a pillow until fought back. They were having a blast!" Duo chanted on. "What jackass would want to go and end all of that?!"
"Someone who knows about us and doesn't want Uno to fight them." Heero replied without emotion.
"Well to hell with them!" Duo growled. "I'm making sure her training gets a whole lot tougher now, harder on her and all! Got it!" Duo snapped at Heero. "No more play, no more nuthin' but training and more training!"
"Don't forget her homework." Heero reminded him. Duo paused.
"They didn't go today."
"She's going to school tomorrow. Billy will go tomorrow as well to withdraw Theresa's name from the school's account." Heero turned a corner.
"But…"
"Her name will still be on record, but no longer present." Heero stated. "Right now, what you need to do is go home and give Uno all the support you can give her."
"You're telling me. Don't forget, I lost Father Maxwell and Sister Helen in my grasp because I escaped death."
Duo paused and realized that, what had began his motivation to run off as the God of Death is the same sequence that had just repeated for Uno. She now has nothing holding her back from being the Goddess of Death except her family and Ricky.
When they got back to the house, Heero opened the front door and Duo bent down to pick up Uno's backpack from earlier that morning. It still had her books in it, all the papers she was supposed to turn into class, everything; only it wasn't attached to Uno.
Heero stepped into the living room with Duo behind him, placing Uno's backpack on his shoulder. He looked around and a puzzled expression came on his face.
"Where is she?" He asked softly.
"I put her to sleep soon after you left. She's been a sleep since; I've checked up on her but still, she hasn't woken." Quatre's soft voice never faulted from its silent purr. Duo nodded.
"It's a hard day for her; that's for sure." Duo turned and walked out of the living room.
When he entered Uno's bedroom, he saw her curled up in a ball under the cushions, sleeping to the best she could probably sleep. Duo laid her backpack down on her desk and stepped up to the bed. He sat down besides her and trailed his hand across her cheek. As if magic, Uno slowly opened her eyes and looked up into his, a deep set of sadness settling across both of their faces.
"Hey sweetie." Duo's managed to smile against his will. "How do you feel?"
Uno sniffled; she's still been crying. "I still can't believe that it actually happened. It feels like it was just a nightmare but I know that's not true because I'm not in school, today."
Duo sighed, his lips thin. He looked down and slowly nodded his head, tears threatening to sting his eyes as well as hers. For the past six years, Theresa had felt like a daughter of his own; he yelled at her at a few times when the both of them got in trouble, he split the two of them apart and made them do things they didn't want to do as punishment, he even picked her up from school and took care of her when her parents weren't able too. He was there a lot for her, as much as Uno, and cared for her like family and now she was gone and it tore apart his very soul like when he was little and lost his family from the church.
"Will I ever get to see her again, Duo?" Uno had asked and brought Duo back to reality from depressing memories of his childhood. However, her question made him wonderous.
"Huh?" He blinked in weary caution.
"Will I ever get to see her again? You say God only takes those who have to go right then; that he won't take unless they are ready to go." Uno paused, a single tear falling. "Was Theresa ready to go? Will I ever get to see her again?"
Duo remained silent in thought and lifted his hand to wipe her tear away. He didn't really know what to say to that. He never gave it a thought to the world to even trust in God, and here Uno was asking whether or not she'll get to see her best friend again.
Slowly, Duo withdrew his hand and sighed. "In time…when God feels it's time for you to see her again, he'll make the arrangements. But that won't be for a while, Uno. Once he takes you, he takes you and there's no coming back."
Uno looked down. "I miss her." More tears spilled.
Duo pulled her into his arms and held her for a long time, trying so hard not to cry, himself. "I know, Uno." Duo retorted, looking up into the ceiling, trying not to cry and failing at it. "I know, but some of us are destined to stay in the world while others are not."
Uno sniffled. "I don't care; why did she have to go?"
Duo shut his eyes and lowered his head to hers. He rested his chin on the top of her head and cried. He cried for Theresa, he cried for his childhood; he cried because he was remembering what it felt like when he lost Father Maxwell and Sister Helen.
"Uno, sometimes things happen that we can't help. Even if we're there, we sometimes can't help what happens." The both of them sniffled and Duo felt dread in his heart for everything. "Honestly, Uno, war is what causes things like this to happen; war for greed, power, money, or just revenge. It steals lives; always. There's never remorse until the very end and sometimes there isn't even remorse at the end of that."
Uno sniffled again. Duo shut his eyes, remembering the hurt that had come to him when he held Sister Helen one last time.
"Uno, when I was about the age you came to me, six-years-old, I lived in a church as an orphan. I was the only one there. I grew up in a street gang, friends of the wildest, roughest and toughest, and cruelest kids around the L2 block, and one day the priest at the local church took us all in as orphans, starting up a branch just for us." Duo sniffled. "Weeks have gone by and all my friends were taken up by other families; I was left behind. I got into fights because nobody had liked me; I got my first hug from Sister Helen. Father Maxwell was going to raise me on his own, along with Sister Helen, and was hoping I would become a priest just like him someday. But one day, war broke out on top of the church and to defend the church and Father Maxwell and Sister Helen, I fled out to find a mobile suit on their command. I found one, risked my life as I stole it, and brought it to them. I returned to the church to see it was burned to the ground, Father Maxwell no where to be seen, and Sister Helen on the verge of death." Duo's eyes watered heavily. "She died in my arms, praying that the Lord will always keep me."
Uno sniffled and hugged him tighter; Duo wrapped his arms more securely around his daughter and inhaled her scent deeply.
"So you see…even those who have never done anything wrong are still taken away by God's grace. Perhaps he was protecting her, perhaps he was protecting you. God taking Father Maxwell and Sister Helen protected me by sending me away to steal a mobile suit and when I returned and I saw Sister Helen die in my arms, her words hitting my very soul, I knew then that God was telling me this had to be; that I had to fight to defend the church, that I had to get my vengeance for the Maxwell Church Tragedy." Duo stopped to catch his breath and pull back. He wiped his tears away with the sleeve of his shirt and looked down at her. He wiped her tears away as well.
"So you see, God had taken Theresa away as protecting you. And at the same time, he wants you to avenge her death just as I had with the church fire. He's telling you that, if you had been killed in place, we would be in great danger and took her as a warning."
Uno looked up at him her eyes focusing as always on his face and what he was saying. She looked adorable when she cried, even if she was sad. Duo couldn't let here stay alone tonight, even he didn't want to, and lifted her up out of bed and into his strong arms.
-
The following day was the returning to school day for Uno and when the corvette door opened, she looked back at Duo with a fake smile. She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek before getting out of the car. She turned around and shut the door then proceeded to the school. Duo remained and watched until the doors shut behind her and she disappeared behind the middle school walls. When she was out of sight, he drove off.
Uno stepped into the classroom, a minute after the bell had rung, and silently made her way to the back of the class room where her seat had been. Every head in the room turned her direction and Uno ignored them all, walking her best to her desk and keeping her head down. When she sat down, she tried not to look to the desk behind her, picturing Theresa there doodling around on paper, drawing pictures of monsters eating classmates or random things while humming made-up tunes.
It was a hard task, but it had to be done sometime. Unfortunately, Uno tried her hardest to not cry in the classroom or at all unless she was back at home in her room, but it wasn't easy. Every face she saw reminded her of Theresa's; every laugh and voice she heard made her want to call up Theresa's parents and wonder where her best friend was. Every thought she had was of her and Theresa's, joking, racing, playing, or even just signing together.
They had the Talent Show in two days…it looked like Uno was going to withdraw from it.
"Denise?" Mr. Merquise called roll.
"Here."
"Ivona?"
"He-ah." The poor girl was still learning English.
"Latina?"
"Present." A black girl raised her hand with a smirk; she reminded Uno of Brittany at times.
"Denis?"
"Here." A deep voice shot out and another pencil flew to the ceiling.
"Denis, do that again and you go to the principal's office." Mr. Merquise warned him.
"Cool, can I go anyways?" Denis asked. Mr. Merqiuse blinked in question at him then rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Laurence?"
"Here."
"Uno?" Mr. Merquise nodded, hearing Uno's faint—extremely quiet—'here' in return. "Theresa?"
Everyone looked around in confusion and Uno stayed quiet. She took in a shivering breath and just barely released it commonly. Mr. Merquise looked up and around in question.
"She's probably sick again." Carl mentioned. "She was absent yesterday as well. Maybe she has that stomach bug that's going around."
"Uno? Where is Theresa?" Mr. Merquise was looked at her. Uno kept her head down and replied almost silently. "Uno?"
"…She's dead."
The room went dead still and Mr. Merquise thought he had misheard her at first. The only thing that told him he heard right was the silence of the room. Theresa was dead; it make perfect sense to him now, after all, Uno was never this sad when she came to school in all the years he'd known her.
Mr. Merquise handed the roll sheet to Stephanie. "Stephanie; finish taking roll for me." He looked up to Uno. "Uno; come outside, please."
Uno nodded slowly and stood up. She headed outside and behind her followed Mr. Merquise. He shut the door behind them and bent down to face her. He noticed her face had tears on it; she failed the battle against crying and he could tell she was trying so hard not to lose.
"Uno?" He rested his hands on her shoulders. "What happened?"
"She and I were walking to school yesterday morning." Uno paused to sniffle back some more tears. "She when I bent down to tie my shoes, she was shot in the head."
Mr. Merquise felt the blood in him run cold. He knew, already, what had happened.
"Duo said an assassin tried to get me and missed. He said that Theresa was killed and since Heero had an assassin after him several years ago, that it may happen again."
"Uno…" Mr. Merquise knelt down and faced her. He lifted her chin up and looked at her.
"I miss her so much. Duo told me I had to come to school anyways, but I can't. Everything I see—everything I hear and think about—it all has her in it!" Uno was crying now and Mr. Merquise wrapped his arms around her for a supporting hug. Uno hugged back tightly, not knowing what was going to happen now.
"Did Duo drop you off?"
Uno nodded and sniffled again. "He's going to pick me up as well. He said he took off work for the rest of the week to settle things out with everyone else."
Mr. Merquise nodded and he pulled back from the hug. Uno managed an actual smile.
"Thank you for always being there." She sniffled again. Mr. Merquise nodded.
"Uno, go inside and pack your things. I'm going to take you home."
Uno sniffled. "You know where I live?" She asked.
He nodded. "We're all old…friends."
"Okay." Uno's reply was very quiet and when she entered the classroom again, Mr. Merquise followed in behind her.
"Stephanie; thank you."
He picked up the roll sheet and crossed off Theresa's name from the list. He looked back at the classroom and stood there a minute, remembering all the faces and the love he had of teaching all these years. He took a deep breath and gave them all his final instructions.
"Class," he paused, noticing Uno stepping out of the room's way to look at him and out into the hallway. "I want you to read chapters one and two in your History books."
Mr. Merquise quickly grabbed a few pictures from the side of the computer and sitting in frames on his desk. He grabbed the box of tissues then shut the door. He sure was going to miss teaching, especially now that he had finally been able to hit his favorite topic in history: war.
He looked down at Uno and handed her the box of Kleenex. She gratefully received it and followed him down the hallway. She noticed he had his pictures from his desk with him and pondered about that, but only shrugged the thought away.
She followed him to the front desk and watched as he spoke to the people over the counter.
"Excuse me, Gladys; I would like to withdraw a student." Uno blinked up in question at Mr. Merquise.
"Alright; their name?" She sat down at the computer and hit a few keys.
"Uno Maxwell and Theresa Sanders."
"Alright." The lady hit more keys and Uno looked around the school If she was withdrawing, then that means she'd never step foot back into this school again. At least Ricky had already withdrawn; his dad hired a private tutor, thinking his family business needed more attention than his education.
"Alright, Uno Maxwell. Theresa Sanders is removed. May I have an understanding as to why these two are removed?" She looked at Mr. Merquise in question. Uno blinked up at him as well.
"They have hit a rough section in the educational learning process. They need to be tutored privately outside of public school." He paused. "I will also need a substitute for my class room. M350 is the room number."
The lady nodded, typing in the commands needed on the computer screen. Uno smirked and looked back down. Mr. Merquise sure knew how to lie when the time came.
When Uno followed Mr. Merquise to his red Lincoln Mercedes, she yawned. The car was clean and fresh. It seemed like he hardly ever drove in it. Uno sat in and buckled up. She sniffled again, pulling out another tissue to wipe her nose and eyes with, and looked out the window. When he sat in the started the car, she questioned him.
"Why did you take me out of school?" She pondered, innocently, up at him.
"I'm retiring as well. I think it's time I tutor you myself." He stayed quiet.
She looked out the window as the scenery drove by her in a fast blur. "Well…then I guess, I thank you; Mr. Merky."
Mr. Merquise smirked and slowly lowered his head. "Uno…don't call me that anymore. I will be more of your mentor from now on."
"Huh?" Uno blinked up at him.
"My name is Zechs; call me that." He stayed quiet until the drive to her home was finished.
-
Duo and Heero were discussing the topic of related war quarrels when the door bell rang. Once again in question, Duo stood up. Heero stood with him, wondrous as to who would be coming to their house at mid morning, early noon. Duo strode down the hallway with a smile plastered on his face despite the pain still tearing at his soul. Heero followed behind, scratching his arms.
He growled.
"Well, then stop scratching it, Heero!" Duo grinned.
Heero forgot how much Duo loved to be an ass and when he was in an upset mood, would play jokes on people to cheer himself up; like this time. Duo had thrown itching powder all over Heero when he walked in earlier today from cleaning the backseat of his jeep.
Duo chuckled a bit then reached for the door.
"Uno!" Duo paused after his smile faded. "Why aren't you in school?"
The door opened a little bit wider and then Duo saw a face he hadn't seen in nearly ten years. He freaked out when he saw him, but he knew it was the same guy. Zechs Merquise; back from the living Hell.
"Zechs! The hell are you doing here?!" Duo shouted. Heero paused in his footsteps and blinked at him in pure wonder.
Uno stepped inside and Zechs stepped in behind her. Quatre raced down to the hallway and paused when he saw the familiar face. Trowa looked over from the second floor balcony. Zechs smiled and slowly bowed.
"Uno…is this Mr. Merky?" Duo asked. Uno nodded and headed upstairs. Zechs just stood there and grinned.
"Since I first had Uno she's heard my name pronounced without the last remained syllables and apparently thought it was 'Merky' instead of 'Merquise." Zechs shrugged. "I didn't mind the subtle change from her calling out my name verses my other students."
"But what is she doing home so soon?" Duo asked the question that was eating away his insides.
"I withdrew her from school, took off Theresa's name from the list as well, and I, myself, retired from teaching." Zechs replied. He smiled and nodded at Quatre when Quatre held out his hand for his jacket. "Thank you, Quatre. So how have you all been?"
"Wonderful up until yesterday, thank you." Quatre replied, pulling back and hanging up the jacket in the coat closet besides them.
"But, why withdraw her?" By now, Duo and Quatre and Zechs were the only ones remaining in the hallway. Trowa had returned to the closet he was organizing within and Heero went to take a shower.
"It was obvious Theresa was shot in place of Uno that the assassin had missed a great deal and got her instead." Zechs paused. "I think it's time to teach Uno all the needs to know about war and get her ready for what's to come. I have retired to spend the time with her and tutor her."
"Hm…smart thinking." Duo shrugged.
"Well, if you need anything at all, just ask. I can buy a copy of anything from anywhere in this entire town; probably from any where in this Universe." Quatre commented. Zechs nodded in approval and in his thanks.
"I appreciate that."
"Would you like to stay here?" Quatre offered.
"No, but thank you anyways. I have an apartment not far from here, but if it ever gets late I may stay a night."
"That's quite alright with me. I have plenty of room now that I've opened up the rest of the mansion."
"So…you think it's time then, huh?" Duo put his hands on his hips and sighed. Zechs nodded.
"It's time. Her training has to get harder and I intend to prepare her for the worst."
