Chapter 2

Do you know, one of my favourite places on Earth or in space is Hawaii? I kid you not, that place is incredible. Beaches all over, flowery shirts and grass skirts everywhere you look. People are so busy enjoying themselves that they aren't nasty to each other. It seriously is paradise.

Before I'd been to Hawaii, I'd never really been that fond of the ocean. Coming from the colonies, it seemed a bit unnatural at first for so much water to be in one place. Now though, after spending a month or so looking at the beach, I decided to stop being silly and learn to surf.

It took me a few days but eventually I got the knack of standing up on the board. Granted I was still hunched over because it felt like the board was trying to buck me off, but at least it was two points of contact instead of four. I was so impressed the first time I rode a wave into shore that I jumped off the board and ran around like an idiot for five minutes cheering – but no-one cared. In fact, I even had a couple of other guys clap for me too. How great is that?

I suppose you're wondering why I was having a good time in Hawaii instead of assisting the war effort. Answer: Heero had disappeared into the wild blue yonder with Quatre, Wu Fei was hiding on one of the colonies (assumption here, we actually had no idea where he was!) and Trowa was presumed dead. I was a bit upset about that last; I'd really liked that guy. We connected on a level I don't think the others understood. Maybe it was because of our respective pasts, but we recognised each other as kindred spirits and got along pretty well when he wasn't spending time with Quatre.

Anyway, there wasn't all that much to do until OZ stopped holding the colonies hostage. I probably should have been hanging out with Hilde or something while we tried to find a way around the stalemate, but to be completely honest I was almost on the edge of burning out. I needed to find some space to get my head back together before I continued the fight.

I was actually on the beach the first time I heard someone talking about the Sanq Kingdom. It seemed that Relena Peacecraft was amassing her own private army, and that she had a couple of Gundam Pilots in service. I shook my head over that one, I tell you. I mean, we all know that she's obsessed with Heero, right? Problem is, if the guy keeps going and helping her out when she gets cornered, she's never gonna stop stalking him. Am I right or am I right? Thought so.

Anyway, I figured the other pilot had to be Quatre. Couldn't be Wu Fei since the guy is so anti-social it isn't funny, and there was still no word of Trowa – I wondered how Quatre was taking his death. Probably hard. If there's anyone on this Earth destined to be soulmates, it's Quatre and Trowa. They are just perfect together, but...never gonna happen now.

Anyway, it kinda got my curiosity up when I heard that bit of news, so I decided to take a short jaunt over there and see how Heero's security measured up. Kept my head down though; I don't get along well with that guy at the best of times and Deathscythe is a big old target. I went incognito through the forest, clad head to toe in black. And of course I went at night.

Now, sneaking through a forest at night isn't the fun it looks on TV. For starters, it's dark. I don't mean normal dark where if there's a moon you can see pretty well. I mean, DARK. Like, can't see three feet in front of you. Even me, the master of stealth, tripped over his own shoes more than once. And got my foot stuck in a rabbit hole that was hiding under a pile of leaves when I was stepping over a log, which made me fall onto my face. While I was spitting out leaves I recalled fondly that this was my own idea, that no mission was pressing me to go on, and that when or if I finally made it Heero would likely shoot me in the face. Gee. What inspiring thoughts to be having on this venture.

Finally I made it to the edge of the trees, pressing myself up against one to hide myself. I could see at least 3 proximity sensors about 4 meters away and resolved not to go near them if I could help it. Heero had hidden them pretty well, but I was a master at avoiding detection; I knew what those slightly raised mounds of grass meant. But how to get around them?

The sound of a squirrel scratching the truck of the tree made me look up. I smiled. The tree I was leaning against was very sturdy, with thick branches that stretched out over the grass. If I could climb up to one of the higher branches I should be able to swing myself over the sensors and into the main compound. I had no idea how I was going to get out again but I figured I'd cross that bridge when I came to it. Or not; I would probably be running for my life. But hey, that was pretty standard for me since the war started.

Taking a step back into the forest I bent my knees, ready to jump for the lowest branch. And froze when someone touched a gun to the back of my head. Ah. Slight problem. I put my hands up in the air slowly.

"You're getting sloppy," a familiar voice commented, and I sighed.

"Nice to see you too, Heero," I said, turning on the spot to face him. He was as charming as ever; the gun that had previously been aimed at my head was now about an inch away from the bridge of my nose. I nearly went cross-eyed trying to see it. His dark eyes were considering me carefully.

"What are you doing here?" he asked quietly. The gun never wavered; I don't think even an earthquake could have moved him. I shrugged, keeping my hands where they were. He wouldn't trust me to lower them in case I went for my gun. Or knife, depending on how close he got.

"Sightseeing," I told him blithely, prepared for his usual grunt and maybe a kick in the shins. I got neither.

"Why?"

"Um...because I heard the country is real nice up here?" My mouth was running on autopilot now; I was confused. I know I hadn't seen the guy for a couple of months but this was almost like having a normal conversation! I wondered what on earth had happened to him to make him less bloodthirsty.

"I mean, why are you wearing stealth gear?" Oh. That. I'd forgotten about that in the rush of adrenaline that having a gun pointed at me sparked.

"I just came to visit. Old times sake, Heero." It was even true – or mostly true. I had come to visit, just not him. He frowned and put up the gun.

"Keep your hands where they are," he cautioned, and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, captain," I muttered. He took a slow step forward and reached for me. I figured he was going for my hands because he wanted to restrain me, so imagine my surprise when he grabbed my braid instead. I hadn't realised it was over my shoulder until that moment.

"Well, this is lovely," I told him as he held my braid, "but unfortunately -" I kicked him in the gut with my left foot and twisted away when he let go momentarily, "- I have another engagement."

As he straightened up from the kick, seemingly not at all injured, I bolted. I tore through the woods like the hounds of hell were behind me, running and praying as I ran that I wouldn't trip or hit anything. It seemed that God was on my side for once since all I got for that mad dash was a couple of twigs caught in my hair. I didn't hear him follow me which was all to the good, since I don't know what I would have done.

After all, how can you kill the Perfect Soldier?