Rouge Angel

By Chikara-Yuy

Okay I know it took a while but I wanted to see how the other chapter went over!

To those of you who have read this before, welcome back!

To the new peoples, welcome!

I hope you like this chapter!

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Duo sat impatiently at the table, Quatre was once again insisting that they wait for Kari and Heero to come downstairs before eating. Heero came down first he looked refreshed. "Heero? You got another morning shower?"

Heero nodded. "I went outside to train, then got a shower when I got back."

Duo shook his head. "Don't you think you should take a break from training?"

Heero didn't answer but took his seat opposite Duo. It didn't take Kari to come down long after Heero. She sat down and took a few slices of bacon, as everyone else began taking what they would eat for breakfast.

During the time that week everyone was having fun, just getting along.

Heero put a picture of him and everyone in his picture frame. Duo was now spouting Latin prayers at the table. Quatre sat back and listened to the c.d.'s with Kari and the others and everyone one had a laugh.

At the end of the week everyone got a shock Friday morning. Kari was gone.

Heero found a note on the fridge, telling where she went.

Dear guys, if you are reading this. Don't worry I am fine, K mailed me and gave me an important mission. She said it was urgent and wanted only me to come. Don't worry about me I will be back when it's done.

Love ya lots,

Kari

Heero frowned. It didn't seem like she would be the type just to up and leave.

Duo said to reassure them that when at the orphanage she would run off a lot, but would come back sometimes with a bruise or two, but safe none the less. So he wasn't that worried, in fact he joked that they should be worried about whoever she was supposed to be sent after.

Well February passed, then March, April, and June. They got a small letter from her once a month telling them how she was. Pretty soon that stopped as well. Duo even began to worry.

Soon enough it was December, and the night before Christmas and Kari's birthday.

Duo and the others had presents and a tree because it was something they hadn't been able to have in a while and they all decided to surprise Kari. Wufei admitted that she didn't have a Christmas with his family, she wasn't left long enough too.

It was late that night that Duo heard a thump. And a voice start cursing. He opened his door at the same time as the others and looked down the hall. A boy dressed in black jeans, and a leather jacket with a cap that hid his face was trying to get into Kari's room. A big dog was behind him looking around. Trowa whose door was behind the boy as well as Heero's both stepped quietly from their rooms and Heero reached the boy first. And Heero who was already holding his gun smacked the boy in the back of the head, and Trowa grabbed the dog. Later….

A low groan alerted the boys that their 'guest' was awake. The boy still had his cap on but they knew he was glaring at them.

Wufei spoke first. "Boy what is your name, and why are you here? Answer because we can kill you at any moment."

The boy tilted his head forward and chuckled. "Fei-chan, I can't believe you'd forget your own sister."

Duo pushed forward. "Kari?"

The boy looked to Duo. "No, I am the friggen ghost of Christmas past paying you a visit. Who else would I be Duo?"

Duo laughed out loud. "Well, we thought at first Santa was coming in a little late."

Kari laughed sarcastically, then she asked. "You going to untie me?"

Trowa moved behind her and when he had undone the knot Kari massaged her wrists. "Now then as to what to say now." She took of her cap revealing her short hair to be messier than ever. "You guys mind if I get a shower? That mission to long, I haven't had a nice hot shower in a while."

Duo laughed again "Alright but first how did the mission go?"

Kari rolled her neck and popped it. She noticed Heero had been silent all this time. "Well it went pretty good, I had to rescue some of K's other subordinate's that got themselves caught. But it took them a while to trust me. I actually had to fight the biggest bastard they could find to prove myself."

Trowa grinned and spoke. "How bad did it go for him?"

Kari smirked, a look that resembled Heero's in a little way. "He started spouting that he had a puppy named purdy. Then I told him to tell purdy he got knocked the fuck out."

Wufei and Duo laughed and both moved forward and hugged her. Trowa patted her on the shoulder and Quatre hugged her as well. Heero stood back and walked out Kari watched him her eyes following him out the door.

After a she hugged everyone again even Trowa, Kari walked to Heero's door. She found it locked, Kari whispered something to the door and went into her room. Heero was leaning on his side of the door looked down at the floor. 'I am not supposed to feel!' rang through his mind but his heart yelled back 'but I do feel!'

Heero was now truly at war with himself.

Kari stepped out of her shower and looked at herself in the mirror. She was fine, she thought really.

She put her right hand over her stomach and then took it quickly away, and tugged on a pair of baggy cotton pants, she then pulled on a baggy cotton top. She then walked into her room and looked to the door, she frowned and opened it letting Dory in and shutting the door not noticing that it didn't close all the way. She went to her bag she had brought back with her and picked it up. She went down the stairs and opened it and put some presents beneath the tree.

She turned only to come face to face with Heero. Heero looked her in the eye and pulled her to him in a hug. Kari wrapped her arms around his waist hugging him back. 'Why do I trust him so? I could only get hurt in the end…that is what is always going to happen… just like with the my comrades..'

Kari shut her eyes tightly. Heero pushed her back and took her hand tugging on it. Kari followed silently and she went to his room until he pulled her out onto the balcony. They stood there and watched the snow fall. Kari leaned on the railing and smiled lightly at Heero. They watched the snowfall, and stayed there for a while until Kari went to her room to sleep.

The next morning Kari opened her eyes to find the light streaming from the window onto her face. She yawned then realized she hadn't had her usual wake up call. She sat up and noticed her door was open and Dory was not in the room.

Kari stretched and got up from her bed. She felt a little woozy but she ignored it. She walked out the door and went down the stairs. The lights were out, and the curtains were still closed but there was the Christmas tree, which was still glowing. Then the lights flashed on and the Duo and Quatre yelled Surprise! At the same time. Dory was sitting in front of them a big bow around her neck. Wufei went up to his sister and hugged her. "Happy birthday sis."

Kari smiled and hugged him. "I forgot it…I didn't remember when my birthday was." Wufei grinned. Well happy sweet seventeen!"

Kari grinned and playfully punched him in the shoulder. She then hugged the others one by one. "Okay its Christmas, so that means presents!" yelled Duo.

Everyone laughed a him and settled around the tree, Duo passed the presents around and it seemed that it took to hours for everyone to open they're gifts.

Later Kari and Duo were cleaning up the wrapping paper since they had offered and of course everyone went outside into the snow at Duo's pleading.

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Some time later…..

Kari went riding with the others, they were going down the regular horse trails and everyone split up deciding to pick up later at the gates. Kari sighed and looked round at the trees. It had been two years now since she had come to live with her brothers and their friends. She would be a liar if she said she didn't have fun. And Heero…. God she felt for him. She knew she loved him and if she was right unless her heart was hoping for too much he loved her too. But could she keep all of them safe? From her enemies, could they keep her safe from their own?

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Kari's head whipped around and there was Peacecraft. Upon a white horse no less.

She glared at him. "What do you want?" she asked in a hiss.

"Oh, so hostile." He said with a smirk.

Kari glared at him. "Answer the question, Zechs."

"I think that should be obvious." He knew he was making her angry and reveled in that. He loved it.

"Now then I haven't seen you for a while, then you are back with them? I thought I told you to stay away,"

Kari's eyes narrowed even more, but her hands were shaking. "Like I said when you last saw me, you won't do anything to them and with me around I can make sure you don't."

There was a loud bang and a scream and Kari's head turned the sound. God no…

Kari glared at his smirk, then she steered the black stallion she was riding in that direction.

"I warned you…" Zechs murmured.

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End of chapter 13

Sorry for the cliff but my dad is stealing the damn laptop and I have school tomorrow.

R&R! Hope you enjoyed it!