In the room huddled together the conversation began between the Gundam Pilots.
"Do you buy it?" Quatre asked the group and Duo was, as per usual, totally clueless of what Quatre was referring to.
"Buy what?" he asked innocently looking from one of the pilots to the next.
"The act, that they don't remember anything," Quatre explained and Duo was quick to jump to Minako's defence.
"Minako seems to genuinely not know anything at all"
"As does Ami," Quatre confirmed and Wufei snorted.
"Even though I don't like her the onna Mako doesn't seem to know much either," Wufei admitted shaking his head. Quatre then turned to Heero who seemed to not really be listening to the conversation at all.
"And Rei?" Quatre asked of Heero and he shrugged, for the first time in his life he was unsure.
"I don't know," he replied and Quatre pursed his lips considering his options.
"I think we should keep an extra eye on Rei then, Wufei you stand guard in the hallways…" Quatre started to hand out assignments but was interrupted by Heero's quick response.
"No"
"What?" Quatre was surprised Heero had spoken up, Heero had never challenged Quatre like this before.
"No!" Heero repeated, then he calmed himself and said, "I will guard Rei myself, I will take the room opposite hers"
"Well maybe we should all watch over the girl from the room opposite theirs?" Quatre rearranged his plan and Duo rubbed his hands together with glee at the prospect of all he could get up to.
"Good idea," Duo said more to himself than to Quatre and Quatre gave him a stern look.
"Duo, under no circumstances are you to go into any of the girl's room without permission," Quatre told him seriously and Duo twisted his fingers behind his back so he could lie, smiling.
"Sure Quatre, no problem."
Rei sat beside the window holding the roses to her chest. Slowly she untied the ribbon holding them together and they fell onto her lap, 24 perfect, beautiful roses. She picked up two roses by the thorny stalks, wincing as the thorns pierced her skin, causing her to bleed. Rei ignored the pain and continued to tie the stalk of one rose around the stalk of the other. She then picked up another rose tying it to the first two. As she worked Rei felt wet tears on her cheeks, and she realised belatedly that she had been crying.
-This is for you Serenity, this is all for you- Rei thought to herself biting down on her lip through the pain.
She continued her work well passed dawn and by that time, there was no part on her hand that had not been pierced by the thorns. Rei fell asleep in the chair and didn't stir.