Fangs of Memory
Chapter One
Reunions
Throughout history, wars have been waged – some for justice, some for vengeance, some even for love – but few wars in the history of Earth have been as severe as the war between Earth and the colonies. The colonies, after years of domination from Earth and the secret organization OZ, have had enough and strike back. Five young men were chosen to battle against the Earth oppression; these young men were Heero Yuy, a Japanese boy from the L1 colony cluster, Duo Maxwell, an American boy from the L2 colony cluster, Trowa Barton, a French boy from the L3 colony cluster, Quatre Raberba Winner, an Arabian boy from the L4 colony cluster, and Chang Wufei, a Chinese boy from the L5 colony cluster. These five boys were pilots of elite mobile suits called Gundam's.
The end of the war came at last and the five Gundam pilots finally hung up their helmets. Each of the pilots destroyed their Gundam's to promote peace and then said good bye to one another, each going on to find a life of their own.
After 10 years of peace, the ex-pilots have all but forgotten their friendships with each other, until the reunion. The colonies of Earth came together 9 years after the war and decided that for the 10th anniversary of peace, which had already become a national holiday, a party would be thrown. On colony L1 a reunion was planned for everyone involved in the war (meaning mostly officers and warriors were in attendance). It was on this night that the lives of the five ex-Gundam fighters came together once more.
Heero Yuy walked through the large double doors of the ballroom. He knew he was already late and had probably missed dinner already, but the truth was, he wasn't sure he even wanted to be there. A reunion would only remind him of what he had lost. None the less he entered the room. He walked through the milling people seeing a familiar face here and there but never stopping to talk. With his hands stuffed in the pockets of his tan suit pants, Heero halted in the back corner of the room just observing the passersby.
This is a waste of time, his mind hissed, Standing in a room full of people that don't like me. People that I never expected, nor wanted, to see again.
Heero was starting to get aggravated with himself.
Stay for Relena, his conscience told him, if you stay for nothing else, stay for Relena.
Heero sighed. He knew the voice was right. He owed it to her to stay and at least make nice with these people, regardless of how he felt about them. As he stared at the people walking by him, he silently wondered what became of the other Gundam pilots. Did Duo ever open that mechanics shop he always talked about? Did Trowa stay with the circus? Did Quatre inherit his fathers company? Did Wufei make something other than a fighter out of himself? He wondered if they would be here. He himself had only come because it was on his home colony. If it had been out of his way at all he would have passed it up. Did the others feel the same way?
Heero received his answer moments later when a short blond haired boy entered the room. Heero smiled before he could catch himself. Quatre looked good; much more grown up. Heero vaguely remembered that it was Quatre who had made the strongest attempt to keep in touch after the war. He had written letters often. Heero replied to the first few but then he slowly dwindled and soon the letters stopped coming. Heero wondered if Quatre would be mad at him for not doing a better job at keeping in touch.
Heero took a deep breath.
It's now or never, he told himself and walked forward.
Quatre was smiling and greeting people he had not seen in years. Outwardly he was being perfectly polite, greeting everyone who came up to him and smiling warmly at waves; inwardly he was desperately searching for the other Gundam pilots.
Over the years, Quatre had become very lonely. He really had no friends, not people he could trust with personal things, and his sisters were far too busy trying to find him a wife to talk to him about personal matters. This gathering was the perfect time to meet back up with his friends and perhaps stay in touch this time.
Out of all the people he saw, none of them had ever even touched a Gundam, let alone flown one. He was beginning to loose hope of ever seeing his friends again when the surly brunette boy caught his eye. Heero was approaching him from the corner of the room. Quatre's eyes lit up and he smiled brightly.
"Heero!" He called and walked to him swiftly.
His emotions told him to throw caution to the wind and hug his old friend but he restrained. Instead he extended a hand which Heero took. Quatre smiled and nearly laughed at finally finding his fellow warrior.
"It's been a long time, Heero. How are you?"
"Hn" Heero responded and shrugged. "You look good, Quatre."
Quatre blushed softly. "Thank you, so do you." Quatre hesitated slightly and then continued. "Have you heard about Relena?"
Quatre's words stabbed into Heero's heart with as much force as any bullet. Heero tensed slightly and grunted.
"Hn." Heero nodded.
Quatre looked worriedly at Heero.
"She's dead."
Quatre sighed and nodded. "I saw it on the news." He explained. He wanted to press further, but the pain in Heero's eyes made him pause. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a loud shout from the East entrance.
"So this is where the party is!" Duo bounded into the room from the balcony with Trowa close behind him.
Quatre smiled again and waved them over.
"Duo! Trowa! So good to see you!" He laughed.
"Likewise, Quat! Hey Heero, long time!" Duo smiled and playfully slapped Heero's back.
Heero smiled – well, it was more of a smirk – and shook his and Trowa's hands.
"I wasn't sure any of you would be here." Quatre admitted.
Trowa nodded. "I was starting to wonder myself. Then I found Duo. Well, actually, Duo found me.
"I had to!" Duo exclaimed in defense. "You would never have seen anyone lost out on the balcony!"
Quatre laughed and Heero chuckled.
"I thought I recognized those voices." The four ex-pilots turned to see Wufei approaching them.
Duo grinned and ran to him. He immediately took his hand, whether it was offered or not, and shook it.
"Wu-man! It's really you!"
Wufei jerked his hand away from Duo. "Do not address me so." He said bitterly, but his eyes showed his pleasure at seeing them.
"Sure thing Wu-Man!" Duo turned and looked at the others. "Finally! We're all together again!" He posed and they all smiled or laughed.
Two new voices of laughter joined them and suddenly there were two children at Duo's feet in an identical pose. Heero blinked and looked up at Duo.
"You have children?"
Duo looked down at the kids and laughed loudly. "Oh! Yes!" He reached down and picked the three-year-olds up. "This is Adiana and Ryo; my pride and joy." He grinned and his children laughed digging their heads shyly into their father's shoulder.
Wufei approached him and smiled.
"Congratulations, Maxwell. Children are a great achievement."
Duo nodded. "I think so to!"
"So who's the mother, Duo?" Quatre asked.
"Hilde!" He grinned.
Quatre smiled wider. "Oh wonderful! Where is she?"
Duo's face became solemn behind his smile as he replied. "She died when the twins were born."
"Oh…Oh Duo I'm sorry." Quatre was beginning to wish he had a sock to stuff in his mouth.
Duo nodded. "It's okay Quat, I still have my kids. And hey, don't give me all the attention. Trowa has a kid too!" He looked accusingly at Trowa who, sure enough, had a small girl hovering behind his legs.
Trowa smiled and gently ushered the child into the open.
"Yes, this is Nura." The little girl waved shyly and then hid behind his legs again.
Quatre's smile returned. "So Trowa, are you ma-" He stopped himself, knowing what happened the last two times he asked a question.
Trowa chuckled. "It's okay Quatre. I'm not married. Her mother died before I could. I'm not Nura's real father, but when Ain died, I couldn't leave her alone, so I adopted her."
Heero nodded. "Very good of you." He grunted.
Trowa nodded. "Thank you."
"Wufei?" A woman's voice rang out from behind the group.
Wufei smiled and waved her over.
"Everyone, I would like to introduce to you my wife, Jun."
Hello's went around the group and Duo made sure to "welcome" her by sharing embarrassing stories about Wufei during the war.
"Oh and then there was this time – you guys remember – when Wufei went up against Treize himself and-"
Duo was interrupted by a large explosion that shook the compound.