Black gloved heands stealthily moved, slipping out from the darkness of the tent to stare at air tanks snuggly placed in a tight space to the left corner. A malicious grin crossed across the face of the intruder, cold mirth evident with a cruel intent. Footsteps were barely noticeable and, when the figure reached the tanks of oxygen, a handle to the breathing gas was heard.

Anoher grin formed on the face of the dark-cladded figure. 'Perfect…' The hissing of air released from the tight compression in the tanks was heard as it seeped out from the open nosel.

The screw was placed back into place, tightly sealing the remaining air that existed in the tank. Then, the figure retreated back from the darkness that it seemed to materialize from.

Kidnapped, chapter twelve

The trudge up the mountain was hard, but Heero didn't seem to really mind at all. His eyes narrowed when he remembered how light his air tank was when he had first put it on with his other equipment, but he shrugged it off. X's security was pretty tight, though a former soldier could easily break through their defenses, much like himself.

He sighed through the oxygen mask placed on his face as he looked around his settings, wind howling but barely reaching his ears through the many layers he wore. His eyes felt heavy, but he shook off any sluggish movements that suddenly crept up on him and continued up the path, already breaking the limit past what clouds form a few minutes ago.

He used his ice axe and made his way up, following Sammy who looked down and smiled at him though he could barely see it. She waved at him to hurry up as they ventured even more and more up the mountain.

He blinked and took the final step, looking with awe at the beautiful scenere around him. One world could decribe how breathtaking it was: beautiful. The sky was like velvet, mixed with different hues and colors as the stars hung so low in the sky the former Gundam pilot thought he could touch them.

It looked like heaven, well, what he would assume as it to be.

Sammy looked at him and then up at the sky, closing her eyes and breathing through the oxygen mask as she let herself bask in the moment. She crouched down to the snow and pulled out a picture of her and her family to bury in the snow with the other object placed at the top of the world.

Heero looked at her and saw his vision begin to sway and his thoughts space out and his breathing shorten. He frowned lightly, not concentrating too much as he fell to his knees in the snow and Sammy throw a confused look at him.

"Heero?" She questioned over the radio link built into their masks. Heero didn't respond, hands out in front of him as he tried to keep himself upright.

"What's wrong?" Worry instantly flashed in her eyes as she got up from her spot and knelt down besides him. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Can't…breathe…" He rasped out, yanking his oxygen tank off and looking at the guage between his swaying vision and looked taken aback when he saw the point at ten and dropping.

Not good.

Sammy looked at his gauge and gasped, raking a deep breath of air before bringing him up to her and making him take deep breaths before taking some air from her own again.

"No…there isn't enough for us to make it down the mountain!" Fear flashed in her eyes until she caught Heerro looking at the safety harnesses still attached to them.

She shook her head and looked at him with wide eyes, "no…" She whispered in a small voice as she continued to switch off her oxygen with him and herself.

While taking some of her oxygen, Heero stop to her over the comm link, "We have to get down and it'll be dangerous but we'll have to risk it. He ripped the snowboard off his back and took hers as well, strapping it to his feet while holding his breath.

She took gulps of oxygen, holding her mask out to him as he took gasps as well. He reached down, grabbing a metal blade that cracked instantly in the freezing temperatures. While having his own mask in place and taking small breaths, he managed to whisper to her as she wrapped her arms around his waist, "Hold on."

And he took the knife and cut the harness, the snowboard instantly lurching forward on the incline they found themselves on. Sammy didn't even have any time to scream before she found the world around her streaming past her eyes.

Emtoions were high, many pleased when the two teens Heero and Sammy managed to make it back, the girl explaining what happened in haulted breaths as she fell to the ground with Heero beside her, wanting to throw up from the rapid decent and wild ride.

People smiled with relief and waves of happiness and sighs of fear being released filled the air…except from one who stared at Heero Yuy's slightly shaking body with contempt.

No, not everyone was happy at all…

TBC

Author's note: Wow, took me long enough to update? Sorry it was really short! I guess I need to work on making chapters longer, neh?

Updates will be slow this weekend 'cause I'm really busy. And dead tired.

Thank you to the people who reviewed this story and I'm glad to those of you who like this story::huggles:

Love, Red Tail