Masks
By: Starlight-x
Chapter 8

Fire and blood. The smoke was too thick, she couldn't breathe. Screams echoed around her. She couldn't see.

"BURN IT ALL. Let all become ash. Burn the unholy ones with a cleansing fire."

Noin felt her throat close up. No not again, not this dream again. She struggled against her unconsciousness, trying to force herself awake. Please wake up now.

Laughter, harsh and grating beat upon her ears. "BURN."

The flames were nearer, she could feel their heat. "No." Noin wanted to scream, but her voice wouldn't work.

"Lucrezia." A voice warm, strong, and familiar broke the chains the dream had thrown around her.

Noin came awake, shaking. Unashamedly she buried her face in Zechs' shoulder, clinging to him tightly.

He held her, one hand stroking her short hair soothingly. "Another bad dream?"

Noin managed a nod. "Not like before." Her voice sounded raspy and she swallowed once before continuing. "This was just a regular nightmare from a long time ago." She shuddered, still feeling the heat of the flames in her mind. "Thank you for waking me up."

"Of course." Zechs shifted on the bed, moving so he could cradle her more comfortably. "Want to talk about it?"

Noin sighed. "It was from before I met you." She let her hand run idly over the firm muscles of his abdomen before coming to rest on his stomach. "There was a fire started by superstitious peasants easily swayed by uneducated men who feared anything they didn't understand. Dark ages for those of our kind." She shuddered again. "I couldn't breathe because of the smoke." The flames had been so hot. "I lost my first guardian Maria then. She saved my life at the cost of her own."

There was silence for while. Noin closed her eyes. "I'll always remember her face." Then she gave her head a little shake and continued speaking. "After that my mentor and the other Elder immortals decided that it would be best for us to keep our existence hidden from the humans."

"Hmmm." Zechs sighed. "Even after all these years I'm still learning new things about you." He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Well, I have to keep some mystery about me. Wouldn't want you getting bored with me after all." Noin teased lightly, the horror of the memory fading away as she pushed it back behind the barrier her guardian provided for her.

"Bored? I don't think so." Zechs chuckled. "You're stuck with me for a good long time Lucrezia Noin."

Noin felt a pleasant shiver run up her spine at how he seemed to linger over the syllables that comprised her name. "You do make me happy Zechs."

He chuckled again.

Noin sighed, enjoying the cuddle time. "I really didn't want to get up yet."

"Want to try and go back to sleep?"

"I'm too wide awake now." Noin patted him gently. "Might as well get up the rest of the way. After all, you and I are going to have a lot of work to do."

"We should get you a sign for all the rest of your immortal compatriots."

"A sign?"

"Beware the sleeping dragon."

"I knew I shouldn't have asked." Noin sat back and gave his upper arm a light punch. "Besides, I'm not a dragon."

Zechs grinned, a quick flash of teeth. "Oh? So you're saying you're not dangerous when you're roused?"

"Oh, not at all." Noin gave a lazy stretch. "I'm just saying I'm worse then a dragon." She smiled. "Besides I think that sign's already in use. I think Wufei has full rights for that one."

"I think he might need that for his guardian, more than himself."

"Be nice." Noin shook her head. "Meiran just is a little enthusiastic at times. She's not all that bad."

Zechs stood up. "Well, if you're getting up then I suppose I'm going to call dibs on the shower."

"Not again. You take forever."

Zechs raised an eyebrow inquiringly at her. "I suppose I could always cut my hair. That is the part that takes me the longest after all."

"Oh, no. Don't even think about it. The hair stays."

"As my lady wishes."

Noin waved him off. "Go on, take your shower, you selfish excuse for a guardian."

"I love you too."

0000

"I really don't see what you're so upset about." Cala paused in the middle of pricing merchandise to frown at Dorothy. "Who cares if I went to see Quatre Winner? As far as I'm concerned your article really has nothing to do with me. Besides, wouldn't it be cheating if I just gave you this alleged information that you so obviously think I have." She straightened a top, slipping it easily onto a hanger and placing it on a rack.

"But…" Dorothy started to speak before she was interrupted.

"When have you ever concerned yourself with the fact that your exposes might actually be hurting my business?" Cala tapped her bottom lip thoughtfully for a moment before holding one finger out in front of her. "Oh wait, I have it. Never. Remember that Baron Whatshisface, Walther? Well, his daughter was actually quite a frequent shopper here until you let everyone know the fact that her father kept several male lovers on the side. After that business dried up rapidly. Did you ever hear me complain? No, so I don't think you have any right to demand anything from me."

Dorothy sighed. "Really darling, no need to get so melodramatic. I'm simply curious about what prompted you to visit Quatre Winner in the first place. It's so unlike you to be so bold."

"Well, sometimes you exasperate me." Cala moved over to a display and began swapping the outfit on the mannequin. "I hate it when you go all reporter on me. I'm your friend, Dorothy, not a interviewee."

"I apologize." Dorothy sighed again. "I'll treat you to a dinner out if that makes you feel any better."

Cala sniffed. "Not really, but I'll take it just the same. And the only reason I went to Quatre Winner's house, besides the fact that you haven't come up with any good blackmail material, was to invite his ward to shop here. If you haven't noticed business hasn't exactly been booming lately. I figured I really needed to pull in some high paying clients and that girl is exactly what I need."

Dorothy began to feel impatient. "What about that girl you waited with outside the gate?"

"Outside the gate?" Cala frowned at her, stopping what she was doing. "How do you know about that?"

Dorothy just raised an eyebrow at her.

"Oh," Cala turned back to the mannequin. "She was there to meet a friend. I don't know anymore than that. I don't make a habit of prying into strangers affairs, not even when I know my friend would be interested in the answers."

"Alright, I'll not meddle any further." Dorothy hurried to smooth Cala's ruffled temper. "You know I really can't help it, just all part of the reporter's instinct."

Cala finished with the mannequin and stood back, head tilted slightly to one side as she eyed it critically. Finally she gave a sharp nod, satisfied. She turned back to Dorothy. "You really have to stop using that as an excuse." She chided. "I think I've heard it one too many times, it no longer has any effect on me. Now, where should we go for lunch? I'm starving."

0000

Lady Une was a formidable woman. She knew what her role as Trieze Kushrenada's wife entailed and she more than filled it. She was also aware of how most people viewed her. Most only saw her as the perfect wife and society lady and it was true that she was. She played her part to perfection. Then there were those who looked down at her for what they viewed as her blind devotion. It originally had irritated her to no end knowing she was held in such contempt by Trieze's cousin Dorothy. But she had grown to find it amusing instead. She played her petty games with Dorothy whenever she saw her, inwardly amused. It was so much easier to do what was necessary when the people surrounding you constantly underestimated you.

There was only one person in the entire world who knew her true abilities.

"You're my perfect soul mate." He had breathed those words in her ear when he proposed and life for her had been perfect at that very moment.

In a perfect world they would've been all each other needed. In her perfect world she wouldn't have to share him with anyone else. But this wasn't a perfect world and no matter how much she wished it otherwise Une wasn't the perfect wife.

There was one thing she couldn't do for her beloved Trieze.

Une stared at her reflection in the full length mirror. Slowly she smoothed her hands over her flat abdomen, imagining it gently swelling with a child. The illusion fell to pieces at the timid knock on her bedroom door.

"Yes?" Une turned toward the maid who stood there, eyes downcast.

"This invitation just arrived."

Une took the thick envelope off the silver tray and dismissed the girl with a nod. Settling down in front of her vanity she slit the envelope open and pulled out a heavy cream colored card. Glancing over the invitation she dropped it with a sigh.

She knew about her husband's lover. Both of them conveniently ignored the fact that they both were aware of it.

Sometimes she watched the woman and girl from a distance. At those moments, seeing that small red headed girl laugh and run she would be gripped with a jealousy so hard that it froze her voice, reducing her to tears that felt as cold as ice. She knew that the other woman was in love with Trieze, not that she could blame her. It was so easy to fall in love with him. Still Une knew she was the only one who understood Trieze completely, he always came back to her. At times it was a hollow consolation.

Still, she would do anything for him, even deny the rage and jealousy that wanted to tear her apart at times.

0000

The overwhelming surge of protectiveness would fade over time. At least that was what Trowa had told her. He seemed comfortable in his role as a guardian. It fit him comfortably like a well worn shoe. Her guardian abilities chafed a bit, like a shoe that needed to be broken in before it could become comfortable.

The bonding process had been simple enough. Chris glanced at her bandaged fingertip, all it had required was blood and a spoken oath. Now she was effectively connected with the girl sitting across from her, brow furrowed in concentration. Then her eyes opened and she smiled at Chris. "It worked!"

Chris found herself smiling back, feeling unusually happy.

There was a lot she didn't really understand. A lot she had to learn. Trowa had assured her that she was doing quite well. "There are many different roles we as guardians are called to play. One of the most important is providing a barrier for your immortal's memories." The barrier hadn't been all that hard. Just a particular twist of her mind and that was that.

She hadn't been able to sleep at all the previous night. Instead she sat, her hand clasped firmly in Relena's.

"It's almost like having a sister." Relena had said.

Chris didn't have any siblings and so found it easy to become caught up in Relena's excitement. Now they were practicing. Chris kept her barrier active, although that took no thought at all, while Relena shifted through memories to find what she was looking for.

"Oh," Relena's eyes flew open yet again. "I wonder what happens to an immortal who doesn't have a guardian?"

"Why are you asking that?" Chris wondered.

"Oh, Edwin, the guy who gave me his immortality. After his last guardian asked to be released he never called another one."

"That's odd." Chris, having no frame of reference couldn't think of any other response.

"That is odd."

Both girls looked up to see a rather more well rested Quatre in the doorway. "Most immortals can't handle long periods of time without a guardian. If Edwin chose not to call another guardian after he lost his last one then that would explain his mental state. The burden of all the memories he carried in effect made him go somewhat insane."

"Why would a guardian ever want to be released?" Chris asked.

Quatre smiled at her. "Well, in my experience it's mostly because of a little thing called love."

"Love?"

"They fell in love with someone." Trowa interjected.

"What about you?"

Quatre slung an arm over Trowa's shoulder. "Well as you can see, he's still hanging out with me. He hasn't yet run into anyone tempting enough to pull him away."

Trowa snorted. "Or rather it's that you're hopeless without me."

"Touché." Quatre grinned. "Although it is true. I don't think I'd ever want to be without a guardian. The life of an immortal can be rather lonely after all. There aren't many people who can truly understand you." He met Relena's gaze. "You watch the mortal's lives speeding by while you're standing still. That's one reason many immortals choose to have nothing to do with mortals. And it's also a reason why your guardian is so important. To have a companion with you who really understands you is a precious gift you should never, ever take for granted."

"I understand." Relena nodded. She tilted her head slightly to one side. "I've been wondering something, and if it's not too personal could you tell me about the person who gave you your immortality?"

Quatre's entire expression softened and he pulled out a chair, sitting down. "Oh, well, Iria, Iria was my savior."

Relena propped her chin in her hands and waited.

"I was a starving street orphan." Quatre stated. "Nothing romantic about my background at all. Iria found me one day and she took me in. She raised me, taught me, and when I was old enough she gifted to me her immortality. I never truly understood why until after I had her memories." His eyes grew distant for a moment. Trowa touched his shoulder gently and Quatre came back. He gave a self depreciating smile. "Sorry about that. Iria was the first taste of family I'd ever been given and I'm eternally grateful to her for her kindness."

"But why did she give you immortality?" Relena pressed. "I guess I just don't really understand it. I don't understand why Edwin gave it to me."

"What kind of relationship did you have with Edwin?"

"He was my tutor when I was younger." Relena admitted. "He was always a little strange, but he was brilliant. He told me I was like a granddaughter to him."

"That's sounds like Edwin." Quatre agreed. "You have his memories Relena, I think you'll come to understand his reasons better than anyone else. He obviously thought quite highly of you." He stood up. "Sounds like you knew him better then most anyone else could."

"Yeah, maybe so." Relena considered for a moment. "I always thought he seemed kind of lonely."

A knock on the doorframe interrupted them. "Excuse me Master Winner,"

"Yes Asher, what is it?"

"If you're not too busy Hilde and Duo really need to speak with you."

Quatre glanced back at Relena and Chris. Relena smiled at him. "Don't worry, Chris and I'll be fine. There's still a lot we have to talk about too."

"Okay then." Quatre nodded. "Remember, if you have anything you're not quite sure about, then feel free to ask. That's what I'm here for as your mentor after all. And for what it's worth, I don't think Edwin could have picked a better person to give his immortality to. You're going to be just fine Relena."

"Thanks Quatre." Relena made a shooing motion with her hand. "You better hurry, that Duo seems like he's a real handful."

"You're not telling me anything I didn't already know." Quatre shook his head wryly as he left. "On to solve the next problem."

"Cheer up," Trowa spoke up from behind him. "It could always be worse."

"Don't even think that, you'll make it happen." Quatre glanced back. "Hey, are you laughing at me?"

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"Which means you are laughing at me." Quatre gave a long suffering sigh. "Well at least I can be proud that my existence provides some sort of humor to someone."

"Go see what Duo and Hilde want."

"Yes Mom."

Silence.

"Maybe I should've said something else?"

"That would've been smart."

"Forgive me, I'm not working with my best brain cells at the moment."

"No excuses, I'm already back to suppressing your memories again. You've got a nice, cushy buffer to work with."

"All right, fine. I'll admit I've never been the best at exchanging witty repartee."

Trowa chuckled. "That comment was a bit redundant."

"What are you talking about?"

"Witty repartee."

"Everybody's a critic."

"No, just me."

"Shut up."

"Yes Mom."

"That wasn't funny when you said it either."

"My point exactly."

"Okay," Quatre paused. "I think we should just scrap this entire conversation because I don't think there's the slightest possibility of me making a comeback anytime soon."

He walked another couple steps before speaking again. "Oh, and you can stop smirking too."