Disclaimer: We don't own GW. If it's not cannon or basic grapevine, it's ours.

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Chapter 3

Warning

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After dinner, when Florence left, Kameko returned to the subject of Duo Maxwell. "At least you know he's not aiming to die or anything," Kameko said.

"Yes. It was funny, actually. He thought he could stop me."

Kameko sat for a minute in silence, her attention intent on the dress she was embroidering. "You said you weren't planning on speaking to him again," she finally said.

"Not unless I have to. Most mortals…well, you know what it's been like."

"Sometimes it's gone well, and I think Duo Maxwell is a person who wouldn't mind."

"Yes. But still, I think I'll keep them away from him. At least until I have to."

Kameko nodded. "Do you really think he'll need your guidance?"

"Maybe. With any of them it's possible." She grimaced. "Heero's too eager to die, but he isn't ready."

Kameko sighed. "Yes. But who knows, maybe I'll be able to do something about that."

The dirges lifted their heads from the floor, and they pricked their ears, staring at the scrying pool. Hou and Kou trilled, long tails rustling, and the sisters looked at the shallow bowl of water. The clear liquid clouded, swirled, and settled, revealing the message. Takai and Kameko looked at each other.

"Of course," Takai sighed. "Stupid humans."

"So, Trowa, are you going to do the whole lion trick?" Duo picked up the pilot's half-mask and turned it over in his hands. "I really like that one."

"A master never reveals his secrets," Trowa said quietly.

"Aw, come on. We're your pals." Duo draped an arm around Trowa's shoulders and waved to the other pilots seated in the small dressing tent.

Trowa didn't respond but shrugged off Duo's arm so he could pull on the sleeveless shirt of his costume. "Can I come in?" a woman asked from outside.

"Just a minute, Cathy."

"I'm not Catherine."

Trowa looked at the tent entrance. "You have a fan!" Duo ran over and threw open the tent flap. He froze.

Takai simply looked at him out of deep violet eyes. "Can I come in?" she repeated.

"Duo? Who is..." Quatre's voice trailed off as he joined Duo. "It's you," Quatre said quietly. Takai nodded.

Heero stepped forward. "Who are you?"

Takai looked away from Heero towards Duo. "I need to speak with you. May I come in?" she repeated firmly.

Duo glanced at Heero and nodded. The soldier didn't move at first, except for a shadow in his eyes and a slight wrinkle between his brows. Then he lowered the gun. Duo stepped back, and the woman entered the tent. "So, what do you want to talk to us about?" Duo asked.

She closed the tent flap. "Your Gundams."

"What about them? They were destroyed after the last war."

"I know. I propose that you make new ones."

The pilots stared at the woman. "That's out of the question," Quatre finally said.

"Why?"

"Don't you know why we destroyed them?"

"A dream that will one day be," Takai said.

Duo frowned. "Then why do you want us to rebuild the Gundams?"

"Because humans are not ready for that dream."

"Are you proposing that we bring back war?" Heero said.

Takai turned to him, red flashing across her eyes. Then they were violet again, through narrowed, hooded by her thin eyebrows. "Hardly. I am proposing that you be prepared for another war."

"Just who are you?" Wufei asked.

"Erelah Takai."

Heero glanced at Duo. "Death."

The woman simply looked at him.

"Are you Death?" Heero asked.

"No."

Duo frowned, and Heero glanced at him, one eyebrow raised.

"Do you think war's a great enough possibility to rebuild our Gundams despite everything that's happened?" Quatre asked after a moment of silence.

"What with everything that has happened, I would expect you to know better. Treize and his daughter are only two examples of what the human race is capable of, even when they mean well. There are those who try to do evil, as well. You are examples of beneficial good, but the good needs to be prepared for the evil. It will come."

"What makes you so sure?" Wufei said.

"I know human nature. Until the end of this world, there will be evil present, since the serpent told Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, since Cain killed Abel."

The boys were silent for a minute. "But the government has changed," Quatre said softly.

"Humans have not."

"Rebuilding the Gundams would be inviting war," Heero said.

Takai sighed. "Trust me, you will be much happier if you rebuild them and have them ready. I never said you had to display them. To have the weapons available for defense is not to start the fight."

Wufei and Heero watched the woman with narrowed eyes. "But do you think war will come so quickly? It hasn't even been a year," Duo said.

"Yes."

"We're supposed to believe you?" Heero asked.

"You don't have to, but it would make things easier. Think about what you have seen."

The man in the alley, and again, two at once… "Who are you, really?" Duo asked.

Violet eyes turned to him. "Takai."

"Death."

"No."

"You took that man. His spirit," Duo said.

Heero sighed softly, while the other boys stared at Duo. "What?" Quatre asked.

"I…saw her. A man died from a heart attack, and there were two of him. She led the living one away. Or not living one. His spirit."

The stares turned to Takai, and Quatre opened his mouth. After a moment, he swallowed. "Are you…"

"No. I am a guide, not the Grim Reaper."

Trowa blinked. Wufei snorted. "Really?"

It was Takai's turn to glare at the Chinese pilot. "Yes."

"Duo?" Quatre said.

Duo shrugged. "Well, she can walk through walls, and she can vanish. Oh, and she has wings."

Trowa cocked an eyebrow. "Wings?" Quatre asked.

"Yeah, wings," Duo said.

"You're an angel?" Quatre asked Takai.

Takai sighed. "Not technically. I'm a Fae."

"A fae? Like a fairy?" Quatre held up his hand, two fingers indicating a tiny being. Wufei snickered, Duo laughed, and even Heero seemed to be repressing a grin.

The violet eyes flashed red. Then Takai subsided. "It is better to have faith than knowledge," she said, almost too softly for Duo to hear. She turned to the pilots. "Now, back to business, please."

Silence reigned in the small circus tent for a minute. It never could last for long, though, with Duo around. "So you say there's a war coming and that we should build new Gundams. That'll take some time, not to mention getting the supplies," Duo said.

"Even though your Gundams were deconstructed, many of the original computer, circuitry, and frames exist. Also, why do you think I'm here?"

"You're gonna help us steal what's left of our Gundams and rebuild them?"

"Trowa, we're on next," Catherine called from outside.

"And not just me, but your friends, if they're willing," Takai added. She looked at Quatre, then turned back to the whole group. "Do you want to do this or not? You've already done much for your fellowmen, but there is always more," she said quickly.

Duo grinned. "You think we'd pass up this chance? Count us in!"

Takai smiled. "I thought so. You need to get your engineers, and I'll meet you in five days time in the old Oz factory in the Persian Gulf. Good luck, Trowa." She bowed and vanished.

"That was weird," Duo said.

"Trowa, get your behind out here!"

"Better go before Cathy has a fit," Duo teased.

"Good luck, Trowa. We'll be cheering for you," Quatre said.