Rescuer in Need
Just remember: I am so very, very, very sorry for not updating for so long. And I love all my patient reviewers! Don't worry: This will NOT be a typical Heero-rescuing-Relena situation. It starts out like that, but believe me, it belongs to the plan. (Uh, what plan, Shooting Jewel? You have zero plans for any of your fanfics). ANYWAY, this chapter explains the mystery with Quatre knowing Tekkan, and vice versa. Ready? Here goes!
The rest of the day passed by Relena like a hazy mist. She did not register the anxiety all her friends expressed, nor the fervent concern her admirers showed. It felt to her as if she was caught in a net, unable to get free wherever she looked.
It was wrong of Heero to be here. How could he have come here, where SHE was? Hadn't he known the danger he would put himself in by doing this?
For Relena knew now that she would never be strong enough to see Heero's serious, blank face basically every day, and not show that they knew each other. She had supposed she could do it, but now the situation was different. She had promised him she would pretend she didn't know him, but she HADN'T known him then. She hadn't known that he cared enough to kiss anyone, let alone her.
And it was unfair, Relena decided, her head in her hands, propped up on the literature book she was supposed to be studying. Everything was alright for Heero, he could hide any emotion, and, on the few occasions she had seen something in his face, he had carefully chosen a deserted place to show it. He would have no problems. In fact, he probably didn't care about her that much at all. Maybe- her heart ached just thinking about it -maybe it was just another part he was playing to fool somebody. He was playing the earnest young scholar, why should Relena Peacecraft's admirer be any different to him?
But for her, it was difficult. So difficult she knew without trying that she couldn't do it. She just wasn't the stone soldier Heero was, and if there was an emotion in her as strong and painful as the one she was experiencing now, it would be written on her face every time she looked at him.
For now she finally knew what she felt for Heero, after that kiss, and that was something that was impossible to hide.
Could she risk seeing Heero after school, as he had instructed her through the note? But she had to, after letting him down so many times. And yet she didn't want to, for fear he would- for fear he would do something.
The word 'fear' suddenly jolted something in Relena's mind. She had learned long ago that it did not do to be afraid. She had faced her fears before, and now she would once more. Even though this was not fear for anyone's life, it was fear for her soul. And that was selfish!
A sudden blue flame flickered in Relena's eyes, making them sparkle with determination. Never would she let herself live with the fact that she was selfish. She would tread on her fears and see Heero.
***********************************
Quatre's military training was very handy in his stealthily following Tekkan around. Even though he could not imagine where he had seen that sneering, resentful face, he didn't associate it with anything good. It was better to keep a close watch on him.
He had taken up his stalking after Tekkan had left the cafeteria, and had now the feeling that they had been through the entire school at least three times. What was more irritating was the fact that Tekkan didn't do anything suspicious. He occasionally threw a punch with one of his 'friends', but that was all.
And now lunch was over, and he had accomplished nothing. Quatre was discouraged. For as soon as Tekkan entered a classroom, he would have to officially join the class as the reporter. But doing that would surely rouse his mysterious enemy's attention towards him. Especially if Tekkan remembered him from somewhere, too, as he had certainly seemed to.
So, his only other option would be to hang around the classroom door, and wait for Tekkan to emerge, Quatre thought wearily. If only his memory would kick in and give him a hint on who this guy was!
But all his plans were dashed when the bell signalling the start of classes rang, and Tekkan showed no signs of hurrying off to his appointed classroom. Quatre perked up, and followed him along another hallway, and then out onto the school grounds.
Blinking in the afternoon sun which was shining straight at his eyes, Quatre slid behind an outcrop of the building, so that he could sneak a look at Tekkan every now and then.
He had drawn out a scrap of paper, and was writing hurriedly on it. Try as he might, Quatre could not make out the words. The note was very short, but he knew that even a few words on paper could tell him where he had seen Tekkan before.
A sudden noise made Quatre's muscles seize up into fighting position. From the other side of the school building, a small girl with hazel curls that bounced when she walked advanced on Tekkan.
'Have you got it?' she asked him carelessly.
He nodded, and shoved the folded piece of paper roughly at her. 'Go do your work,' he instructed her, 'and remember to be silly and disarming. This guy's really suspicious.'
The girl laughed, and put the note in her school bag. 'Why don't you just slip it into his pocket, or something?' she asked innocently.
Tekkan growled dangerously. 'I told you, I CAN'T!' he said between gritted teeth. 'He'd notice too soon for me to get even a meter's distance from him. With Miss Prissy, it's different. I don't think she even registered that I'd walked by her.'
Again, the girl laughed. Its tinkling, artificial sound annoyed Quatre. 'Why, aren't you the big guy! Have to ask a girl to do the difficult jobs!'
'Stuff it,' Tekkan advised her, narrowing his eyes.
She smiled mockingly at him. 'What way should I go? I don't want to miss the fun.'
'The back way- you know, from the grounds.'
After another toss of her curls, the girl went back into the school the way she'd come. Tekkan glared after her for another second, then turned around abruptly and started off towards the door Quatre was hiding at.
Quatre's reflexes did not fail him. Quietly, but at lightning-speed, he opened the door, slipped back into the school, and closed the door behind him. Then, he ran noiselessly into the first available room he saw- the copy room. There he waited until he had heard Tekkan's footsteps fading away.
Groaning noiselessly, Quatre shoved the hair out of his face. If only he could have read that note! And who was the 'suspicious guy'? One of the Gundam pilots, maybe even he? It wouldn't surprise him in the least. But who was 'Miss Prissy'?
Well, whoever it was, he had to find that girl again. She carried the note.
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Duo was exasperated. Where on earth had Heero gone? School was just over, and he hadn't seen him anywhere! Now there wasn't anybody there for him to tease! But not only that, they really needed to get more research done on the project that was being developed here. And now Heero had gone and disappeared. So like him!
Suddenly Duo stopped searching the quickly-emptying classroom he was in, as a thought struck him. Talking of disappearing. He hadn't seen Quatre since lunch. And even though it was expectable of Heero, Quatre wasn't the type to go sneaking off on his own.
For a second, he frowned, trying to figure it out. But soon his face lit up with mischief, as he remembered a little secret of his own.
Grinning delightedly, he left the school. Actually, he owed his buddies Heero and Quatre something. Everything was much more convenient this way.
Duo walked a few blocks of the city until he came to the hotel he was staying at. He marched straight by the receptionist's desk and headed for the elevator.
In the fourth floor, he quickly found the door he was looking for, and knocked on it politely. The door opened and a girl with short, black hair and a big smile on her face appeared.
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Heero was finding his way through the hallways to the main exit, when he was suddenly stopped by a girl, who was playing with her hazel curls excitedly.
'Are you Heero Yinkomoto?' she asked him, wide-eyed, her face a picture of pure innocence.
Heero was on full alert. She was acting, he was sure of that. But what did she want to achieve? Wordlessly, he nodded.
The girl giggled and pulled a folded piece of paper out of her bag.
'Relena wants you to have this,' she informed him, grinning delightedly, and held out the harmless-looking scrap to him.
Heero stared at it a moment, unsure of what to do. At the mention of Relena's name he was plunged yet again into regret and guilt of what he had got her, and himself, into. And all because of this one show of emotions. He would never let it happen again, not ever.
Hardening himself past caring, he coolly took the paper from her, and went straight off into the little desolate corridor where Relena had found him after she had hurt him so badly.
Some perfect soldier I'm turning out to be, he thought grimly. And kissing Relena was the last straw of my absolute lack of discipline.
He distracted himself from his inner torments by unfolding the piece of paper. It was a note.
Heero,
There is something extremely important that I must discuss with you. Alone. Please come to the gym, go into the broom closet right beside it, pull the linoleum away, and go through the trap door that is there. I will be waiting for you. But don't tell anybody, I beg you! I am counting on you.
Relena
Heero glanced over it suspiciously. Relena could have written it, but an impostor would have had no trouble doing something like that.
Well, either way, he had to go down there. Something shuddered in him at meeting Relena alone, but he knew that if she wanted his council, he had to be there. If it was an impostor, then it was even more necessary to check it out. He might get behind the secret of his mission.
***********************
Still determined from the decision to face her fears truly and unafraid, Relena set off to the gym the minute school was over. The gym doors had not been locked yet, which was lucky for her. After having crossed the enormous room, she reached the door to the broom closet. To her surprise, she found it unlocked. Had Heero already been here?
The broom closet was stuffy, and filled with cleaning utensils. Looking around carefully to make sure no one was watching her, Relena bent down and rolled up the dirty grey linoleum that covered the floor- and a small, insignificant-looking trap door. It was not barred in any way either, and opened quite easily. Relena could not see the bottom of the hole, but only darkness.
With complete confidence in Heero, she lowered herself through until she was only hanging on to the floor above by her hands, and then let go and went plummeting down.
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Heero quickly found his way to the school gym, staying in the shadows, and not letting anyone see where he was going. He was positive that there was a trap prepared for him, but he was not going to fall into it. Instead, he was going to try and catch whoever had set it.
He now saw that it couldn't possibly have been Relena who had written the note. How would she know about a trap door in the broom closet? And she would never want to talk to him again, after what he had done to her. Never.
Something in Heero burned like fire at this thought, torturing him intolerably. Strong, individualistic Relena, who wouldn't let anything get in the way of her ideals. She wouldn't want anything to do with him, a mere soldier, a mere fighting machine.
Heero shook his head, furious at himself. Somehow his feelings, which he had so vigorously detached from himself, were clinging to him again.
He had now snuck quietly across the gym and had reached the shabby broom closet. He tried opening the door, and was not in the least surprised to find it unlocked. Reaching for the gun he had been hiding in his jacket pocket, he flung the door wide open.
Nobody was there. But clearly someone had been here, for the linoleum was rolled back, and the exposed trap door open.
Automatically, Heero took out a length of steel rope, dug the hook on one end of it into the floor, and let the rope fall into the dark hole.
Then, he readied his gun, and slid noiselessly through the trap door, and along the rope into the pit. He could not see anything but blackness, but he did not fear an ambush. He was quite sure he could hold off any attack, and if he couldn't- no one would miss him.
Soon he felt his feet touching the floor, and, letting go of the rope, he spun around once to see if he could make out anything in the dark.
There was nothing to see or hear. A heavy silence, loaded with expectation, hung all around him. Heero narrowed his eyes. Where was the enemy?
He didn't have to wait long. Suddenly, light flooded all around him, and he instinctively flung his hand up to his face to shield his eyes. But he gripped his gun securely, never losing his head.
When he could see again in the sudden brightness, he stared around rapidly. What he saw was worse than he anything he could have ever imagined.
Tekkan, sneering in obvious delight, had a tight arm around Relena, and a knife to her throat.
'Nice of you to join us, Yinkomoto. One move, forwards or backwards, or one shot from that gun, and the Relena you know nothing about is dead.'
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(A/N: Should I stop here? Hmmm, rather not. My chapters are too short anyway.)
Quatre had been searching for ages, and he still had seen no sign of the girl with the hazel hair, or of Tekkan. Where could the villains be? Not in the school, at any rate. He had been going through it over and over again, without ever a sign of either one.
Exhausted, he leant against a classroom door. There was no way he could find them if they had left the school grounds-
Suddenly, two voices floated back to him from his memory.
'What way should I go? I don't want to miss the fun.' 'The back way- you know, from the grounds.'
How stupid of him not to think of it before! The girl was probably going the 'back way', and had gone out of the school and onto the grounds.
Without wasting another second, Quatre raced through the hallways at top speed, eager to find the exit. When he did, and had emerged out onto the grassy grounds, he immediately saw a figure, quite far away, doing something at a large boulder that marked the middle of the grounds.
Not stopping to think, and still running as fast as he could, Quatre bent down and snatched up a rock, which he hurled in the direction of the figure.
Even at a distance, his aim was good. The girl dropped like the stone which had hit her head.
********************
Relena stared as if in trance at the motionless Heero. She had not been afraid before- not even when Tekkan had first grabbed her in the darkness and put the cold blade of the knife under her chin. But now, she was shamed to be caught in a position like this by Heero. He might think she had been stupid enough to follow Tekkan in here on her own accord.
Heero was still holding his gun, but no longer was pointing it at Tekkan. His eyes were blank, but when they met hers, a rage filled them, which made Relena honestly wish Tekkan would bring the knife in a little closer and kill her. Heero was angry at her. (A/N: Of course, really he isn't, but she doesn't know that)
'Drop your weapon,' commanded her capturer in an authoritative voice.
Heero's fingers loosened their hold on the gun, and it went clattering to the floor. Despair filled Relena. She was sure he wouldn't have done that if he didn't think that he had to protect her from her fate. And that was wrong!
'Now,' continued Tekkan, an evil delight in his voice, 'how about we re-enact that last bit of our fight the other day, this time with a different victor.'
'You mean change the last bit of our fight', Heero spat at him. 'I had thought you had at least enough honour to accept the fact that you lost. But you even went as far as kidnapping a defenceless girl to get your victory. There isn't a shred of honour in that, and you'll get no satisfaction from it.'
Relena could hear Tekkan's breathing getting more laboured, as he fought to control the anger that swelled up in him at this remark.
'You'll pay,' he promised Heero darkly. 'Either you or the 'defenceless girl' that means so much to you.'
Relena gazed imploringly at Heero. If only he would tell Tekkan she didn't mean anything to him! Then he might toss her aside, thinking she was useless as blackmail. And, even armed with a knife, Tekkan was no match for the other boy.
But Heero didn't say a word. He avoided Relena's pleading gaze by lowering his head.
Desperate, Relena tried to save the situation herself. 'Tekkan,' she told him sternly, 'nothing is going to come of this. Heero won't obey you simply to keep me out of danger. He doesn't care for me that much, I can assure you.'
Tekkan drove the blade as close to her as he possibly could without pricking her skin. 'One more word, and you won't exist any more,' he threatened her.
'I don't care!' Relena raised her voice. 'I only have my life to lose. There is nothing you can threaten me with.'
He ignored her and focused on Heero instead. 'Come here,' he told him menacingly. 'I have the power now. And if you take your punishment without dodging or evading, then maybe I'll let her live.'
'Don't!' It escaped Relena's lips before she could stop it. Her eyes were oddly bright, and her features were set in resoluteness. 'I'm not worth it, Heero,' she said persistently. 'You must disobey him.'
His blue eyes were shadowed with so many different emotions she could not distinguish any in particular. Wordlessly, he walked up to Tekkan until he was easily within his reach. Relena ached to reach out to him, but she knew it couldn't do any good.
Still having the knife fixed to her throat with his left hand, Tekkan punched Heero's cheekbone with his right fist.
Relena screamed in dismay, but Heero didn't flinch. His eyes burned with a rebellion that didn't match his submissive posture.
Helplessness overtook Relena. There was absolutely nothing she could do to help Heero, and it was all her fault that he had to let himself be beaten down by Tekkan now. No matter how much she tried to persuade Heero to step back, he never moved. Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she felt each blow as if it was being administered to her soul.
There was only one thing to be done, and that was to lean forward and take her life on Tekkan's knife. Then his protection would be gone, and Heero wouldn't have to suffer anymore. If she could just bring her trembling body one millimetre further, Heero would be released.
*************************
The pain was not new to Heero. But the humiliation of not being able to fight back, or even dodge the blows tortured him. In front of Relena too.
Did she truly believe what she had said? That he did not care about her enough to take whatever cruelty Tekkan wanted to carry out on him? Even as Tekkan's fist collided with his lip and brought a searing tingle and blood to his jaw, Heero knew that it was a small price to pay for keeping Relena alive.
Relena Peacecraft was a symbol, and a legend, to the earth and the colonies; a name they trusted, and a person they believed in. She must at all costs be kept alive, to keep peace and a mutual understanding between people.
Though he tried to tell himself this was the only reason he was taking the humiliation, he knew that a small flame in him, that had helped him through worse hardships than this, reflected Relena's presence. She had rashly, and without any consideration for herself, lit it up inside him, and since then he was not the same heartless, mechanical soldier he had been.
'Down into the dirt with you!' screamed Tekkan, in a frenzied rage at finding Heero still standing.
His pride was shattered, and torn down, as he dropped to the ground. Let Tekkan do what he wanted with him, he would not let Relena get hurt.
Heero did not even notice the savage kicks brought upon him by Tekkan, but listened to Relena's frantic sobbing, which suddenly came to an end. What was she doing?
It was at that moment that, looking past Tekkan's feet, he suddenly saw a figure in the shadows behind him. Heero gazed blankly at it. Quatre.
*********************
Quatre had followed the tunnel under the stone the girl with the hazel curls had moved aside until he came to a cavern, where a most unpleasant sight met his eyes.
The back of Tekkan, holding a knife against Relena Peacecraft's throat, and mercilessly kicking Heero, who was not doing anything to defend himself, but looked as though he had gone into a trance.
Quatre stared at the group, stupefied by a sudden flashback that had come vividly to him.
A crowd of people were standing in a loose semi-circle around two figures. Quatre was curious to know what was going on, so he stepped closer.
A boy, around his age, was gripping a little girl tightly, and had a knife to her neck. The girl was looking around hysterically, waiting for someone to rescue her.
'Everyone! Stay away, or you'll be responsible for this girl's death!' yelled the black-haired captor, who was turning around in circles so nobody would try to get him from the back. 'And don't touch the money!'
Now Quatre saw that there was a safe on the ground next to the boy's feet. Obviously, he had robbed a store, and was holding the girl hostage.
Rage boiled up inside him, but he knew he couldn't advance on the thief, or he would slit the girl's throat.
'Is that all you can do?' Quatre asked coolly. 'Grab a little girl so you won't have to atone for any punishment? Can't you even fight your way out on your own?'
The boy whipped his head round to Quatre, and stared at him icily. Quatre matched his gaze, speaking slowly and deliberately to keep the boy focused on him.
'You think you're smart, to be able to rob a store. But let me tell you: cleverness will only get you so far. If you were truly strong and clever you wouldn't have to capture anybody to get away unharmed.'
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that a man behind the boy was inching closer to him, ready to grab the knife out of his hand. He had to keep this criminal staring at him!
'The only reason you do this, is because you're afraid. You're afraid to get caught, and that makes you a coward. Don't you see that nobody admires a coward? People might secretly admire a clever thief, but nobody would ever admire a coward,' he went on, watching the boy glaring bullets into him. The knife had moved quite far from the girl's neck, and was now more in the air.
'What would you know about-,' the boy started to say, but in this moment, the man sneaking up on him had deftly snatched the knife out of his hand. While the boy stared around in shock, the little girl he had been holding broke away from him and straight into her mother's arms.
The police arrived and the criminal was caught. Quatre went up to him and spoke quietly. 'If you were truly strong and clever you wouldn't have to steal. Let this be a lesson to you.'
Without a moment's hesitation, Quatre slipped quietly up to Tekkan. The blade of his knife was farther away from Relena's throat than he or even she realized.
In one swift movement, Quatre's hand shot out, gripped the knife, and pulled it backwards out of Tekkan's grasp.
While Tekkan, totally dumbfounded, turned around sharply towards Quatre, Relena tore from his grasp and ran forward to Heero.
Quatre's eyes were fairly burning with hatred and disgust. 'It was you, Tekkan, wasn't it?' he said in a shaky voice. 'It was you who used that little girl as a hostage two years ago.'
*clears her throat* I sincerely hope you are not put off by the acts of violence in this chapter, or by its total lack of romance. Both Heero and Relena are too confused at the moment to think properly. But I hope they will come to their senses soon. OK, have I explained all mysteries now? Well, except the you-know-what that Heero and co. are looking for. But you're not supposed to find that out till later, awfully sorry.
Reviewers are as follow:
Laura- I'm emailing you about this, I hope you'll come by and read it! Sorry that this wasn't very romantic. Mara- well, it's not just the scheming ex-boyfriend, it's also cuz Heero humiliated him. I'm glad you liked the H/R bits. And your reviews are EXTREMELY insightful. I'm so happy you're sticking around, I love faithful reviewers (even though I'm a very unfaithful writer). Callisto Nicol- you're absolutely right as you can see, it was the evil dude Tekkan. He makes for a nice baddie, don't you think? And this chapter isn't romantic at all, cuz it's getting to an all time low romance bit. Maybe we'll get some more soon. *looks hopeful* fallen phenoix- Wow! That was some record! Three reviews right after each other! Uh, you think Duo hilarious? Hm. Yeah, that gundanium alloy is a pain, but we have to put up with it, otherwise I'd have nothing to write about it! Yup, Relena is definitely stupid in this chapter. Sorry about that. I just realized I have three emails from you, too, and I didn't know cuz I haven't been online for AGES. See you!
I am more than the word thankful to all of you for giving me feedback on this. It's pretty ambitious for me. *gulps* Well, I hope you come by again! Shooting Jewel
Help! I just realized I forgot to mention *cuty-cat* for editing all my chapters! *bites her nails nervously* Well, I owe you lots, k? S.J.
Just remember: I am so very, very, very sorry for not updating for so long. And I love all my patient reviewers! Don't worry: This will NOT be a typical Heero-rescuing-Relena situation. It starts out like that, but believe me, it belongs to the plan. (Uh, what plan, Shooting Jewel? You have zero plans for any of your fanfics). ANYWAY, this chapter explains the mystery with Quatre knowing Tekkan, and vice versa. Ready? Here goes!
The rest of the day passed by Relena like a hazy mist. She did not register the anxiety all her friends expressed, nor the fervent concern her admirers showed. It felt to her as if she was caught in a net, unable to get free wherever she looked.
It was wrong of Heero to be here. How could he have come here, where SHE was? Hadn't he known the danger he would put himself in by doing this?
For Relena knew now that she would never be strong enough to see Heero's serious, blank face basically every day, and not show that they knew each other. She had supposed she could do it, but now the situation was different. She had promised him she would pretend she didn't know him, but she HADN'T known him then. She hadn't known that he cared enough to kiss anyone, let alone her.
And it was unfair, Relena decided, her head in her hands, propped up on the literature book she was supposed to be studying. Everything was alright for Heero, he could hide any emotion, and, on the few occasions she had seen something in his face, he had carefully chosen a deserted place to show it. He would have no problems. In fact, he probably didn't care about her that much at all. Maybe- her heart ached just thinking about it -maybe it was just another part he was playing to fool somebody. He was playing the earnest young scholar, why should Relena Peacecraft's admirer be any different to him?
But for her, it was difficult. So difficult she knew without trying that she couldn't do it. She just wasn't the stone soldier Heero was, and if there was an emotion in her as strong and painful as the one she was experiencing now, it would be written on her face every time she looked at him.
For now she finally knew what she felt for Heero, after that kiss, and that was something that was impossible to hide.
Could she risk seeing Heero after school, as he had instructed her through the note? But she had to, after letting him down so many times. And yet she didn't want to, for fear he would- for fear he would do something.
The word 'fear' suddenly jolted something in Relena's mind. She had learned long ago that it did not do to be afraid. She had faced her fears before, and now she would once more. Even though this was not fear for anyone's life, it was fear for her soul. And that was selfish!
A sudden blue flame flickered in Relena's eyes, making them sparkle with determination. Never would she let herself live with the fact that she was selfish. She would tread on her fears and see Heero.
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Quatre's military training was very handy in his stealthily following Tekkan around. Even though he could not imagine where he had seen that sneering, resentful face, he didn't associate it with anything good. It was better to keep a close watch on him.
He had taken up his stalking after Tekkan had left the cafeteria, and had now the feeling that they had been through the entire school at least three times. What was more irritating was the fact that Tekkan didn't do anything suspicious. He occasionally threw a punch with one of his 'friends', but that was all.
And now lunch was over, and he had accomplished nothing. Quatre was discouraged. For as soon as Tekkan entered a classroom, he would have to officially join the class as the reporter. But doing that would surely rouse his mysterious enemy's attention towards him. Especially if Tekkan remembered him from somewhere, too, as he had certainly seemed to.
So, his only other option would be to hang around the classroom door, and wait for Tekkan to emerge, Quatre thought wearily. If only his memory would kick in and give him a hint on who this guy was!
But all his plans were dashed when the bell signalling the start of classes rang, and Tekkan showed no signs of hurrying off to his appointed classroom. Quatre perked up, and followed him along another hallway, and then out onto the school grounds.
Blinking in the afternoon sun which was shining straight at his eyes, Quatre slid behind an outcrop of the building, so that he could sneak a look at Tekkan every now and then.
He had drawn out a scrap of paper, and was writing hurriedly on it. Try as he might, Quatre could not make out the words. The note was very short, but he knew that even a few words on paper could tell him where he had seen Tekkan before.
A sudden noise made Quatre's muscles seize up into fighting position. From the other side of the school building, a small girl with hazel curls that bounced when she walked advanced on Tekkan.
'Have you got it?' she asked him carelessly.
He nodded, and shoved the folded piece of paper roughly at her. 'Go do your work,' he instructed her, 'and remember to be silly and disarming. This guy's really suspicious.'
The girl laughed, and put the note in her school bag. 'Why don't you just slip it into his pocket, or something?' she asked innocently.
Tekkan growled dangerously. 'I told you, I CAN'T!' he said between gritted teeth. 'He'd notice too soon for me to get even a meter's distance from him. With Miss Prissy, it's different. I don't think she even registered that I'd walked by her.'
Again, the girl laughed. Its tinkling, artificial sound annoyed Quatre. 'Why, aren't you the big guy! Have to ask a girl to do the difficult jobs!'
'Stuff it,' Tekkan advised her, narrowing his eyes.
She smiled mockingly at him. 'What way should I go? I don't want to miss the fun.'
'The back way- you know, from the grounds.'
After another toss of her curls, the girl went back into the school the way she'd come. Tekkan glared after her for another second, then turned around abruptly and started off towards the door Quatre was hiding at.
Quatre's reflexes did not fail him. Quietly, but at lightning-speed, he opened the door, slipped back into the school, and closed the door behind him. Then, he ran noiselessly into the first available room he saw- the copy room. There he waited until he had heard Tekkan's footsteps fading away.
Groaning noiselessly, Quatre shoved the hair out of his face. If only he could have read that note! And who was the 'suspicious guy'? One of the Gundam pilots, maybe even he? It wouldn't surprise him in the least. But who was 'Miss Prissy'?
Well, whoever it was, he had to find that girl again. She carried the note.
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Duo was exasperated. Where on earth had Heero gone? School was just over, and he hadn't seen him anywhere! Now there wasn't anybody there for him to tease! But not only that, they really needed to get more research done on the project that was being developed here. And now Heero had gone and disappeared. So like him!
Suddenly Duo stopped searching the quickly-emptying classroom he was in, as a thought struck him. Talking of disappearing. He hadn't seen Quatre since lunch. And even though it was expectable of Heero, Quatre wasn't the type to go sneaking off on his own.
For a second, he frowned, trying to figure it out. But soon his face lit up with mischief, as he remembered a little secret of his own.
Grinning delightedly, he left the school. Actually, he owed his buddies Heero and Quatre something. Everything was much more convenient this way.
Duo walked a few blocks of the city until he came to the hotel he was staying at. He marched straight by the receptionist's desk and headed for the elevator.
In the fourth floor, he quickly found the door he was looking for, and knocked on it politely. The door opened and a girl with short, black hair and a big smile on her face appeared.
**********************************
Heero was finding his way through the hallways to the main exit, when he was suddenly stopped by a girl, who was playing with her hazel curls excitedly.
'Are you Heero Yinkomoto?' she asked him, wide-eyed, her face a picture of pure innocence.
Heero was on full alert. She was acting, he was sure of that. But what did she want to achieve? Wordlessly, he nodded.
The girl giggled and pulled a folded piece of paper out of her bag.
'Relena wants you to have this,' she informed him, grinning delightedly, and held out the harmless-looking scrap to him.
Heero stared at it a moment, unsure of what to do. At the mention of Relena's name he was plunged yet again into regret and guilt of what he had got her, and himself, into. And all because of this one show of emotions. He would never let it happen again, not ever.
Hardening himself past caring, he coolly took the paper from her, and went straight off into the little desolate corridor where Relena had found him after she had hurt him so badly.
Some perfect soldier I'm turning out to be, he thought grimly. And kissing Relena was the last straw of my absolute lack of discipline.
He distracted himself from his inner torments by unfolding the piece of paper. It was a note.
Heero,
There is something extremely important that I must discuss with you. Alone. Please come to the gym, go into the broom closet right beside it, pull the linoleum away, and go through the trap door that is there. I will be waiting for you. But don't tell anybody, I beg you! I am counting on you.
Relena
Heero glanced over it suspiciously. Relena could have written it, but an impostor would have had no trouble doing something like that.
Well, either way, he had to go down there. Something shuddered in him at meeting Relena alone, but he knew that if she wanted his council, he had to be there. If it was an impostor, then it was even more necessary to check it out. He might get behind the secret of his mission.
***********************
Still determined from the decision to face her fears truly and unafraid, Relena set off to the gym the minute school was over. The gym doors had not been locked yet, which was lucky for her. After having crossed the enormous room, she reached the door to the broom closet. To her surprise, she found it unlocked. Had Heero already been here?
The broom closet was stuffy, and filled with cleaning utensils. Looking around carefully to make sure no one was watching her, Relena bent down and rolled up the dirty grey linoleum that covered the floor- and a small, insignificant-looking trap door. It was not barred in any way either, and opened quite easily. Relena could not see the bottom of the hole, but only darkness.
With complete confidence in Heero, she lowered herself through until she was only hanging on to the floor above by her hands, and then let go and went plummeting down.
****************************
Heero quickly found his way to the school gym, staying in the shadows, and not letting anyone see where he was going. He was positive that there was a trap prepared for him, but he was not going to fall into it. Instead, he was going to try and catch whoever had set it.
He now saw that it couldn't possibly have been Relena who had written the note. How would she know about a trap door in the broom closet? And she would never want to talk to him again, after what he had done to her. Never.
Something in Heero burned like fire at this thought, torturing him intolerably. Strong, individualistic Relena, who wouldn't let anything get in the way of her ideals. She wouldn't want anything to do with him, a mere soldier, a mere fighting machine.
Heero shook his head, furious at himself. Somehow his feelings, which he had so vigorously detached from himself, were clinging to him again.
He had now snuck quietly across the gym and had reached the shabby broom closet. He tried opening the door, and was not in the least surprised to find it unlocked. Reaching for the gun he had been hiding in his jacket pocket, he flung the door wide open.
Nobody was there. But clearly someone had been here, for the linoleum was rolled back, and the exposed trap door open.
Automatically, Heero took out a length of steel rope, dug the hook on one end of it into the floor, and let the rope fall into the dark hole.
Then, he readied his gun, and slid noiselessly through the trap door, and along the rope into the pit. He could not see anything but blackness, but he did not fear an ambush. He was quite sure he could hold off any attack, and if he couldn't- no one would miss him.
Soon he felt his feet touching the floor, and, letting go of the rope, he spun around once to see if he could make out anything in the dark.
There was nothing to see or hear. A heavy silence, loaded with expectation, hung all around him. Heero narrowed his eyes. Where was the enemy?
He didn't have to wait long. Suddenly, light flooded all around him, and he instinctively flung his hand up to his face to shield his eyes. But he gripped his gun securely, never losing his head.
When he could see again in the sudden brightness, he stared around rapidly. What he saw was worse than he anything he could have ever imagined.
Tekkan, sneering in obvious delight, had a tight arm around Relena, and a knife to her throat.
'Nice of you to join us, Yinkomoto. One move, forwards or backwards, or one shot from that gun, and the Relena you know nothing about is dead.'
************************
(A/N: Should I stop here? Hmmm, rather not. My chapters are too short anyway.)
Quatre had been searching for ages, and he still had seen no sign of the girl with the hazel hair, or of Tekkan. Where could the villains be? Not in the school, at any rate. He had been going through it over and over again, without ever a sign of either one.
Exhausted, he leant against a classroom door. There was no way he could find them if they had left the school grounds-
Suddenly, two voices floated back to him from his memory.
'What way should I go? I don't want to miss the fun.' 'The back way- you know, from the grounds.'
How stupid of him not to think of it before! The girl was probably going the 'back way', and had gone out of the school and onto the grounds.
Without wasting another second, Quatre raced through the hallways at top speed, eager to find the exit. When he did, and had emerged out onto the grassy grounds, he immediately saw a figure, quite far away, doing something at a large boulder that marked the middle of the grounds.
Not stopping to think, and still running as fast as he could, Quatre bent down and snatched up a rock, which he hurled in the direction of the figure.
Even at a distance, his aim was good. The girl dropped like the stone which had hit her head.
********************
Relena stared as if in trance at the motionless Heero. She had not been afraid before- not even when Tekkan had first grabbed her in the darkness and put the cold blade of the knife under her chin. But now, she was shamed to be caught in a position like this by Heero. He might think she had been stupid enough to follow Tekkan in here on her own accord.
Heero was still holding his gun, but no longer was pointing it at Tekkan. His eyes were blank, but when they met hers, a rage filled them, which made Relena honestly wish Tekkan would bring the knife in a little closer and kill her. Heero was angry at her. (A/N: Of course, really he isn't, but she doesn't know that)
'Drop your weapon,' commanded her capturer in an authoritative voice.
Heero's fingers loosened their hold on the gun, and it went clattering to the floor. Despair filled Relena. She was sure he wouldn't have done that if he didn't think that he had to protect her from her fate. And that was wrong!
'Now,' continued Tekkan, an evil delight in his voice, 'how about we re-enact that last bit of our fight the other day, this time with a different victor.'
'You mean change the last bit of our fight', Heero spat at him. 'I had thought you had at least enough honour to accept the fact that you lost. But you even went as far as kidnapping a defenceless girl to get your victory. There isn't a shred of honour in that, and you'll get no satisfaction from it.'
Relena could hear Tekkan's breathing getting more laboured, as he fought to control the anger that swelled up in him at this remark.
'You'll pay,' he promised Heero darkly. 'Either you or the 'defenceless girl' that means so much to you.'
Relena gazed imploringly at Heero. If only he would tell Tekkan she didn't mean anything to him! Then he might toss her aside, thinking she was useless as blackmail. And, even armed with a knife, Tekkan was no match for the other boy.
But Heero didn't say a word. He avoided Relena's pleading gaze by lowering his head.
Desperate, Relena tried to save the situation herself. 'Tekkan,' she told him sternly, 'nothing is going to come of this. Heero won't obey you simply to keep me out of danger. He doesn't care for me that much, I can assure you.'
Tekkan drove the blade as close to her as he possibly could without pricking her skin. 'One more word, and you won't exist any more,' he threatened her.
'I don't care!' Relena raised her voice. 'I only have my life to lose. There is nothing you can threaten me with.'
He ignored her and focused on Heero instead. 'Come here,' he told him menacingly. 'I have the power now. And if you take your punishment without dodging or evading, then maybe I'll let her live.'
'Don't!' It escaped Relena's lips before she could stop it. Her eyes were oddly bright, and her features were set in resoluteness. 'I'm not worth it, Heero,' she said persistently. 'You must disobey him.'
His blue eyes were shadowed with so many different emotions she could not distinguish any in particular. Wordlessly, he walked up to Tekkan until he was easily within his reach. Relena ached to reach out to him, but she knew it couldn't do any good.
Still having the knife fixed to her throat with his left hand, Tekkan punched Heero's cheekbone with his right fist.
Relena screamed in dismay, but Heero didn't flinch. His eyes burned with a rebellion that didn't match his submissive posture.
Helplessness overtook Relena. There was absolutely nothing she could do to help Heero, and it was all her fault that he had to let himself be beaten down by Tekkan now. No matter how much she tried to persuade Heero to step back, he never moved. Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she felt each blow as if it was being administered to her soul.
There was only one thing to be done, and that was to lean forward and take her life on Tekkan's knife. Then his protection would be gone, and Heero wouldn't have to suffer anymore. If she could just bring her trembling body one millimetre further, Heero would be released.
*************************
The pain was not new to Heero. But the humiliation of not being able to fight back, or even dodge the blows tortured him. In front of Relena too.
Did she truly believe what she had said? That he did not care about her enough to take whatever cruelty Tekkan wanted to carry out on him? Even as Tekkan's fist collided with his lip and brought a searing tingle and blood to his jaw, Heero knew that it was a small price to pay for keeping Relena alive.
Relena Peacecraft was a symbol, and a legend, to the earth and the colonies; a name they trusted, and a person they believed in. She must at all costs be kept alive, to keep peace and a mutual understanding between people.
Though he tried to tell himself this was the only reason he was taking the humiliation, he knew that a small flame in him, that had helped him through worse hardships than this, reflected Relena's presence. She had rashly, and without any consideration for herself, lit it up inside him, and since then he was not the same heartless, mechanical soldier he had been.
'Down into the dirt with you!' screamed Tekkan, in a frenzied rage at finding Heero still standing.
His pride was shattered, and torn down, as he dropped to the ground. Let Tekkan do what he wanted with him, he would not let Relena get hurt.
Heero did not even notice the savage kicks brought upon him by Tekkan, but listened to Relena's frantic sobbing, which suddenly came to an end. What was she doing?
It was at that moment that, looking past Tekkan's feet, he suddenly saw a figure in the shadows behind him. Heero gazed blankly at it. Quatre.
*********************
Quatre had followed the tunnel under the stone the girl with the hazel curls had moved aside until he came to a cavern, where a most unpleasant sight met his eyes.
The back of Tekkan, holding a knife against Relena Peacecraft's throat, and mercilessly kicking Heero, who was not doing anything to defend himself, but looked as though he had gone into a trance.
Quatre stared at the group, stupefied by a sudden flashback that had come vividly to him.
A crowd of people were standing in a loose semi-circle around two figures. Quatre was curious to know what was going on, so he stepped closer.
A boy, around his age, was gripping a little girl tightly, and had a knife to her neck. The girl was looking around hysterically, waiting for someone to rescue her.
'Everyone! Stay away, or you'll be responsible for this girl's death!' yelled the black-haired captor, who was turning around in circles so nobody would try to get him from the back. 'And don't touch the money!'
Now Quatre saw that there was a safe on the ground next to the boy's feet. Obviously, he had robbed a store, and was holding the girl hostage.
Rage boiled up inside him, but he knew he couldn't advance on the thief, or he would slit the girl's throat.
'Is that all you can do?' Quatre asked coolly. 'Grab a little girl so you won't have to atone for any punishment? Can't you even fight your way out on your own?'
The boy whipped his head round to Quatre, and stared at him icily. Quatre matched his gaze, speaking slowly and deliberately to keep the boy focused on him.
'You think you're smart, to be able to rob a store. But let me tell you: cleverness will only get you so far. If you were truly strong and clever you wouldn't have to capture anybody to get away unharmed.'
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that a man behind the boy was inching closer to him, ready to grab the knife out of his hand. He had to keep this criminal staring at him!
'The only reason you do this, is because you're afraid. You're afraid to get caught, and that makes you a coward. Don't you see that nobody admires a coward? People might secretly admire a clever thief, but nobody would ever admire a coward,' he went on, watching the boy glaring bullets into him. The knife had moved quite far from the girl's neck, and was now more in the air.
'What would you know about-,' the boy started to say, but in this moment, the man sneaking up on him had deftly snatched the knife out of his hand. While the boy stared around in shock, the little girl he had been holding broke away from him and straight into her mother's arms.
The police arrived and the criminal was caught. Quatre went up to him and spoke quietly. 'If you were truly strong and clever you wouldn't have to steal. Let this be a lesson to you.'
Without a moment's hesitation, Quatre slipped quietly up to Tekkan. The blade of his knife was farther away from Relena's throat than he or even she realized.
In one swift movement, Quatre's hand shot out, gripped the knife, and pulled it backwards out of Tekkan's grasp.
While Tekkan, totally dumbfounded, turned around sharply towards Quatre, Relena tore from his grasp and ran forward to Heero.
Quatre's eyes were fairly burning with hatred and disgust. 'It was you, Tekkan, wasn't it?' he said in a shaky voice. 'It was you who used that little girl as a hostage two years ago.'
*clears her throat* I sincerely hope you are not put off by the acts of violence in this chapter, or by its total lack of romance. Both Heero and Relena are too confused at the moment to think properly. But I hope they will come to their senses soon. OK, have I explained all mysteries now? Well, except the you-know-what that Heero and co. are looking for. But you're not supposed to find that out till later, awfully sorry.
Reviewers are as follow:
Laura- I'm emailing you about this, I hope you'll come by and read it! Sorry that this wasn't very romantic. Mara- well, it's not just the scheming ex-boyfriend, it's also cuz Heero humiliated him. I'm glad you liked the H/R bits. And your reviews are EXTREMELY insightful. I'm so happy you're sticking around, I love faithful reviewers (even though I'm a very unfaithful writer). Callisto Nicol- you're absolutely right as you can see, it was the evil dude Tekkan. He makes for a nice baddie, don't you think? And this chapter isn't romantic at all, cuz it's getting to an all time low romance bit. Maybe we'll get some more soon. *looks hopeful* fallen phenoix- Wow! That was some record! Three reviews right after each other! Uh, you think Duo hilarious? Hm. Yeah, that gundanium alloy is a pain, but we have to put up with it, otherwise I'd have nothing to write about it! Yup, Relena is definitely stupid in this chapter. Sorry about that. I just realized I have three emails from you, too, and I didn't know cuz I haven't been online for AGES. See you!
I am more than the word thankful to all of you for giving me feedback on this. It's pretty ambitious for me. *gulps* Well, I hope you come by again! Shooting Jewel
Help! I just realized I forgot to mention *cuty-cat* for editing all my chapters! *bites her nails nervously* Well, I owe you lots, k? S.J.