Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Wing ❯ Broken Wing - Chapter Ten ( Chapter 10 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Authors Notes: Here we are, chapter ten, the last chapter before I go back to class for the semester



Authors Notes: Here we are, chapter ten, the last chapter before I go back to class for the semester. I hope that everyone has been enjoying Broken Wing up until this point, and I REALLY hope that you all will be patient with me as once again the time between postings becomes longer and longer once more. I'm sure that you understand, most of you probably being students yourselves. And to answer a question someone asked me in a review: Quatre doesn't know that Setsuna is Sailorpluto. He knows that she is the Guardian of Time because she told them in chapter six. Also, look forward to chapter eleven, my next comedy chapter! It'll be funny, whenever I manage to get it out! Well, thankies as always to Marika Webster, Trenchcoat Man, VeeBees, and everyone who reads Broken Wing!

Disclaimer: I don't feel like writing an attempt at a witty disclaimer today. Sailormoon and Gundam Wing don't belong to me, they belong to their respective Japanese creators.


Broken Wing ~ Chapter Ten


"Stay back," Hiiro ordered quietly, crouching down in the underbrush. Quatre nodded and echoed the stoic boy's movement, blue eyes scanning the horizon for signs of what Hiiro saw. While Sanch did not have a military to speak of, they did allow OZ troops within their borders as long as none of the soldiers caused any trouble. So the two pilots still had to be very careful about travel and exposing themselves.
It was nearly a week since the day they'd rescued Usagi from the clutches of their enemy. If they had taken the shorter route through Sanch they would have been in the capitol the morning after, as Setsuna had said. But Hiiro, who was wary of this entire expedition to begin with, had insisted that they travel in a spiral about the location of the palace, finally arriving from the opposite direction than if they'd come straight from the base. The Wing pilot also refused to stop in villages along the way to look for shelter or food. Quatre thought that Hiiro was perhaps a bit too paranoid, but knew that the boy was only trying to keep them both safe. However, the blonde's stomach grumbled to remind him of his diet of edible nuts and berries.
"It's alright," Hiiro finally said, standing and tucking his gun back into . . . Quatre blinked, realizing that he had no idea where Hiiro always pulled that gun from. He didn't ask, however. He didn't really want to know.
"What did you see?"
"Thought I saw OZ troops," he replied shortly, as was his custom.
Quatre sighed as Hiiro led the way forward. Not only had the good-natured pilot been deprived of good food, but also of decent human interaction. Hiiro slept, ate, and marched. The only time he ever spoke was to warn Quatre if he saw something. The young Winner couldn't imagine what it might be like to be Hiiro, to never have a friend to confide in. Normally his empathic gift only picked up emptiness from Hiiro, but every so often he thought he felt a bit of . . . loneliness.
Are you so lonely because you make that loneliness yourself? Or is it something that was forced on you?
Quatre was determined that he would become a friend for Hiiro. Even the Perfect Soldier had need for companionship every once in a while, he was sure of it. But now was not the time to begin, for . . .
"There's the palace," Hiiro motioned to the large, yet simply constructed building nestled between a town on one side and a forest on the other three. Hiiro was scowling ever so slightly, and Quatre soon saw why.
His plan to approach the palace from the opposite direction of the base wouldn't work. There was only one direction that it was possible to come at the palace, and that was the front, from the town. If the situation were different they would quietly infiltrate from one of the forested sides, but the situation was what it was. They were going to ask for political asylum, and it wouldn't look very good for them to do so after invading the royal palace of Sanch.
"We have to slip into the town unnoticed," Quatre said, "so that the guards at the gates won't be able to tell from what direction we really came."
Hiiro nodded, offering one of his affirmative grunts. He agreed.
As it turned out, blending in with the inhabitants of Sanch's capitol, so long as they kept their weapons concealed, wasn't very difficult at all. The people were extremely happy and smiled to each other, tipping their hats or curtsying. Quatre smiled despite himself, finding the peace and tranquillity of this place the embodiment of a deeply desired dream of his. He hadn't known that such a place existed anywhere, let alone right smack in the middle of the Earthsphere. He'd thought the planet to be too riddled with war and the hunger for power to have anywhere as peaceful as this.
Whoever this princess is, she's doing a wonderful job of keeping the peace.
Quatre found himself wishing he could stay forever in this calm kingdom for the rest of his days and never again worry about going to battle or killing. Though his heart ached with the realization, his head knew that such a wish would not be granted. At least not until OZ was completely defeated.
He dared a glance to Hiiro, finding to his quiet amusement that the boy wasn't reacting as well to the amiability of the citizens as himself. Hiiro had a muted scowl plastered on his face, which only deepened every time someone smiled at him. Quatre assumed it was because he was so unused to smiling or having someone smile at him. The blonde thought to himself that a stay in the Sanch Kingdom might do Hiiro some good.
It seemed like at least an hour before they wound their way through the entire town and finally found themselves standing before the great iron gates of the Sanch Palace. A guard stood at either side, but neither looked ready to fight with anyone. In fact, they both smiled at the two approaching boys and one asked them very congenially what their business was in Sanch. Quatre and Hiiro both blinked at the guards who seemed to not believe that anyone would ever actually try to get into the palace who didn't belong.
"We're here to ask the princess for political asylum," Quatre replied to the man's question. The two guards looked at each other in surprise. Did they even know what political asylum was?
"Well," the one on the right pursed him lips in thought, "I don't have any idea why two boys like yourselves would have need of such a request . . . but I'll go inside and see if the princess can receive you at the moment." He turned to open the gates but paused and looked over his shoulder at them, "Who may I tell her is requesting an audience?"
Silence. Quatre elbowed Hiiro in the side.
"Hiiro Yui," the boy grunted, tossing his companion an annoyed glance. The guards blinked, then broke into disturbingly knowing grins.
"Ah, so you're Hiiro Yui, eh?" asked Left Guard.
Hiiro lifted an eyebrow.
"Oh, then we don't need to ask!" Right Guard laughed and opened the gate wide, motioning for the two of them to go inside, "Her Highness will see you even if Treize himself were here!"
Quatre and Hiiro moved forward, glancing to each other uneasily as they passed through the gates. What had THAT been about?


~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~


Usagi vaguely felt the hand on her shoulder, shaking her awake. But she didn't want to wake up. She wanted to stay in the wonderful painless oblivion of sleep. Even the dream world had been kind enough to leave her alone for the past week, letting her sleep without the nightmares she had been so sure were coming.
"Go away, Duo-kun," she murmured, knowing who it was. Duo had been hovering over her like a worried mother hen, and she was getting sick of it.
"I'm not Duo," growled a gruff voice, "Now get up."
Confused, Usagi opened one eye and peered up into the scowling face of Wufei. She sighed and rolled her eye.
"What do you want?"
"You're starting your training today."
"Wha? Training? What are you talking about?" she yawned and turned over, pulling the sleeping bag up to her chin. No sooner had she finally gotten comfortable again than Wufei's rough hand jerked the material away from her, unzipping the bag.
"You'll see when you get up."
"But, I still hurt . . ."
"I know, but you've healed enough. We can't wait any longer to start training you. We've already had two close calls and Hiiro and Quatre aren't back yet. We don't know what has happened to them and we might have to go after them. You have to learn how to protect yourself, otherwise you'll just be a burden to us." That said, Wufei reached a hand downward in an offer to help her up.
Usagi, realizing that he was right despite herself, pushed herself into a sitting position and grasped his strong hand. He pulled her to her feet most ungently then handed her a bundle of clothes.
"What's this?" she asked, blinking dumbly.
"You can't train in that," he replied, motioning towards the school uniform she still wore, "Those are more suitable clothes." He stood back and crossed his arms, waiting. Usagi glared at him. He glared back.
"Do you MIND?!?"
Wufei tilted his head to the side, brow furrowed in confusion.
"I need to change . . ."
Usagi was almost amused at the faint blush that tinted his face as it finally dawned on him what she was talking about. But she was more amazed that he even had the decency to blush at all. He turned quickly, and she even thought that he closed his eyes. She slipped behind a tree and first unfolded the bundle he'd given her. It consisted of a light grey cotton tank top and olive green pants, a belt, and a pair of shiny black boots. She couldn't help but wrinkle her nose at the sheer ugliness of the ensemble. Ah well. She stripped off her uniform quickly, just in case Duo DID decide to come around. She had no fear of Wufei peeking. For all of his arrogance, she knew him to be better than that. Usagi was just pulling the boots on over her pants when Wufei's voice cut through the silence.
"I . . . never did thank you."
"For what?" she asked absentmindedly, tugging the right boot on with some difficulty.
"For . . . uh . . . s-saving my life," he stuttered out, as if the words themselves were fighting to remain unspoken. He was not used to giving thanks, apparently, especially not to a female. He probably had never been saved before, Usagi reasoned.
"You don't have to thank me," she said, standing and brushing the dirt and leaves from her rear. She picked up the messy pile that was her uniform and walked back around. Wufei still stood with his back to her, arms crossed. She walked in front of him and saw that his eyes were indeed closed.
"I didn't say I was going to," he said a bit loudly, thinking she was still behind the tree.
"Good," she gave a smile when his eyes flew open and he stumbled back, surprised. Usagi giggled and took his hand to pull him forward, for it seemed that now his legs were locked in place. "C'mon, let's go. You said you were going to train me, right?"
"R-right."
She released his hand and Wufei started forward, leading her deeper into the trees than their small camp. Usagi followed him quietly, feeling immensely proud of herself for being able to wrest a partial thanks at least from this most disagreeable of her five charges. She truly didn't require a thanks, as she had told him, but the fact that he had almost given one was proof that she was still doing her job.
Without warning Wufei stopped and Usagi had to screech to a halt to keep from running into him. When she at last had her balance she peered around him to see just where they were.
It was a small clearing within the forest. Usagi had been too immersed in her own pain to notice when her companions took turns scouting for a decent place to train. The first thing she saw was Trowa sitting off to her right, cleaning what looked to be a very big and very dangerous gun. She gulped; she'd had enough of guns for a lifetime. To her left she spied a section of the ground that had been cleared of leaves and marked in a circle with large stones. No one occupied that area, and Usagi assumed it had been set aside for Wufei.
The most striking image in the entire clearing, however, was Duo. He occupied the area directly in front of her and in his hands he held a thick, strong wooden staff that had no doubt been cut by Wufei's katana. Usagi's eyes widen as she watched him. Graceful was too crude a word to describe the sweeping fluidity with which he moved. The staff jabbed out into the air, creating a whistling sound in its swiftness, and the next moment it swung about to Duo's other side, stopping there with a suddenness that made Usagi jump. Though she knew it to be a dangerous fighting skill, the Deathscythe pilot's motion seemed to her more a dance. As he passed his stave through the air again and again in practiced rhythm, Duo's face was locked into the most serious expression she'd ever seen, even from Setsuna. He knew the ability he was engaged in could kill if employed correctly. And by the looks of it he was very capable of doing just that.
"You'll start with me," Wufei's voice suddenly cut into her reverie. Trowa looked up from his work at the words, and Duo ceased his intricate action to look to them. Instantly the sober expression was gone as he smiled and waved towards her. Usagi waved back.
"Alright," she replied to Wufei, who led her to the cleared ring.
"I'll teach you some basic martial arts first. We'll be going quickly because we don't have much time. I just hope you're a fast learner."
Usagi sweatdropped, but didn't bother to mention her many deficiencies.
"After that we'll move into some of the more difficult moves. Then you'll move on to Duo, who'll work with you in learning the mostly non-lethal weapons. Once you've got a well enough grasp on that you'll go to Trowa, and learn how to-"
"I don't want to know how to use a gun." Usagi interrupted, voice firm, expression hard. The three pilots shared a helpless glance, then Trowa walked over and spoke.
"Usagi-san, I understand that you don't want to use a gun, but you have to at least learn how to hold one properly." He looked down at her, green eye kind.
"Yeah," Duo cut in, serious once more, "We don't know what kind of situations we're going to be getting into later on, and you don't know when you may need to bluff. If you tell an OZ officer not to move or you'll shoot him, but you're holding the gun the wrong way, he'll know instantly that you don't know what you're doing and your safety will be compromised. Do you understand?" His indigo gaze settled on her, alight with the intelligence he only rarely allowed to show.
"Hai," she nodded regretfully, furious at the world because these pilots were right.
"Then come over here-" Wufei had placed his hand on her shoulder to direct her inside the ring, but in the next second found himself flat on his back, looking wide-eyed up into her grinning face. She'd thrown him! And perfectly at that!
"I have a friend back home who taught me some of the basics," she said, and reached out a hand, as she had done the night of her rescue. This time Wufei lifted his own hand and gripped hers tightly, allowing her to help him to stand. She smiled brightly, knowing that this was a step in the right direction. She couldn't know that the simple fact that he was willing to train her, a woman, was a good sign.
"Good, that saves us some time then," he said, dusting off his pants as he reentered the ring. He continued to speak even as the walked across the small area and removed his shirt, "Show me what you know already so I'll know where to pick up your . . . are you alright?" He'd turned around to see that Usagi's face had turned a deep shade of crimson. Her eyes were wide and she looked as if she might be choking on a boulder. "What's wrong with you, Onna?" he growled, obviously impatient with whatever silly girlish thing might be causing her flush.
"Don't call me that!" she seethed, instantly brought out of the embarrassment of seeing him shirtless, "My name is Usagi-san, NOT Onna!"
"Fine, Usagi-san, come on, we don't have time for you to be standing around like that."
"Alright, alright," she grumbled and moved into the ring. For the first time she thanked Makoto for insisting that she learn some basic moves. But she knew that she would still come out of this training with more bruises than she already had.


~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~


Duo and Trowa stood a bit away from the ring where Usagi was getting a pretty good beating. Both were in a mild state of shock. Not only was Wufei actually taking the time to train a female, but the entire idea of training her in the first place had been his idea. Duo had been thinking that they should do something, but Wufei had been the first to suggest it.
"How long do you think she'll last?" Trowa asked, turning his attention back to his gun.
"Usagi-san's pretty tough, even if she doesn't look like it," Duo responded, eyes glued to the golden-haired girl as she dodged a punch from Wufei, "She'll do great." He twirled his staff in his hands and thought of his energy scythe, a miniature version of the one Deathscythe wielded. He missed that scythe.
"Be careful, Duo."
The braided one turned an indigo eye towards Trowa, who hadn't looked up to speak.
"What are you talking about?"
"Have you noticed how she acts around us? She carries herself very formally, even around you. You've become her friend more than the rest of us, but she hasn't relaxed very much."
"So?" Duo pursed his lips in annoyance, not understanding what the tall boy was trying to say.
"Quatre and I have both caught her staring off into space, always smiling when she does," Trowa paused and finally glanced upwards with a serious eye, "She's thinking of someone when she does that. Someone is waiting for her at home, someone she cares very much about."
It took Duo a few more seconds to figure that out, but when he did there was a strange sinking hurt in his chest.
"So she's got a boyfriend," he choked out, "Why should I care? I don't."
Trowa peered at him a bit longer from underneath those aggravating bangs. Then he shrugged, moving back towards his area and the four or five guns that waited there for him.
"Still," he said on his way, "be careful."
"I'm always careful," Duo replied, tapping his staff against the ground for emphasis. He shouldn't even have to tell the Heavyarms pilot; they all were careful at all times. None of them wanted to get into personal relationships that would most likely end in death and sorrow. Duo didn't know about the other four, but he had lost enough people he cared for to ever risk that pain again. No, he didn't care if Usagi had a boyfriend. It was probably better that way anyway.
He watched her spar with Wufei for a few more moments before he turned away, returning to his own designated area. Practice, yes, that would get his mind off of things he'd rather not think about. The problem was, he'd rather not think about anything. He had no memories that were not painful, no thoughts that did not involve OZ or the Gundams or fighting. He had no dreams that were not drenched in blood.
Damn . . . what do I have to do to escape?


~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~


Setsuna, Sailorpluto, watched the ensuing training from her calm abode in the Realm Between Times. A sigh escaped her, and a smile crossed her stern features. At last the pilots were taking their futures into their own hands. Instead of sitting around waiting for someone to attack them, and expecting the need to protect Usagi, they were preparing. They were teaching her the skills she would need to know, not only for this ordeal, but also for the future war with the Black Moon. Which meant, of course, that those pilots who had lagged were beginning to trust Usagi now. Perhaps not completely, but that would come in Time.
She closed her eyes, thinking over the course she wanted to be the future. In her vision, the trust in Usagi would be only the first step for these pilots towards truly trusting each other. Usagi was easy to trust, easy to become friends with, because of who she was. Her sunny personality and total innocence combined with an innate knowledge of people created an individual who could become friends with the most world wearied of soldiers. Given time, Setsuna thought with a small grin, Usagi-chan could probably make friends with a youma.
All thoughts of the pilots and Usagi were suddenly shattered as the Guardian felt another presence flittering at the outskirts of her mind. She stumbled back, eyes wide; this other mind was dark, immensely dark. And extremely powerful.
What? What is it? What can it be?
There were only a few entities in the universe powerful enough to reach into the Realm with only their mind. There were only a few beings able to enter the Realm physically for that matter. Most of the dark entities that powerful, however, had no care for Time. Most had what they wanted and therefore didn't bother to harass Setsuna or her charge. So what evil being had decided suddenly that they wanted more?
Who are you? She thought at the seeking mind, eye narrowed in concentration and expectation. But at her inquiry the consciousness retreated, and she couldn't tell from what Time or place it came. She searched for it a moment, then turned to retrieve her Time Staff. She must tell the pilots and Usagi . . .
But why? She had no proof that this was in any way connected to them. It was probably a separate situation all together; in fact, the odds were that this was not related to the events occurring on Earth or in the colonies. Right. She would keep her eye and mind out, but she wouldn't tell them of this. They didn't need to know.


~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~


Apparently word spread quickly in the Sanch Palace. As Hiiro and Quatre perused one hallways after another, searching for the potential whereabouts of the elusive princess, servants everywhere smiled at them. Correction: They smiled at Hiiro.
He scowled, not liking the attention, no not one tiny little bit. He hated it. It was just what he needed, to be recognized by every citizen of a country so any person on the street could identify him for OZ. Yes officer, I know Hiiro Yui! I just saw him not five seconds ago! This was a disaster.
Not to mention the fact that the Sanch Kingdom's security wasn't worth the training that went into their guards, if any. No one had barred their entrance into the town, and the sentries at the gate had been only too happy to let them into the palace. Now he and Quatre were walking aimlessly about the building, who knows what they could be doing, and no one seemed suspicious enough to stop them. Now, Hiiro wanted peace just as much as anyone, but there were just some places where the line had to be drawn, dammit! Give him a day with the guards and he'd have them whipped into shape in-
What am I thinking?!? It's not my mission to train guards for Sanch! My mission is to destroy OZ!
He nodded and, now renewed in his knowledge of his destiny, turned a corner as confidently as if it were his palace.
And ran right smack dab into the middle of a very large, very mean looking person dressed in the formal diplomatic uniform of Sanch. Had he been anyone else he would have gone crashing into the ground. But, he was Hiiro Yui, and he rolled when he hit and was on his feet again three quarters of a second later.
"Who are you? What do you want in the palace?" the man rumbled, looking down on the two young pilots with the only suspicious eye in the entire kingdom. He was easily five times the size of Hiiro, and not just vertically, but horizontally as well. Beside him, Quatre gulped, wide-eyed.
"W-we're here to see the princess."
"The princess is busy at the moment," the gruff man eyed Hiiro as the boy began to move forward, "and she cannot be disturbed." Evidently word had yet to reach this burly bodyguard, for if he knew who Hiiro was he would most likely show them straight to the princess. This was a challenge. And Hiiro loved it. He had no plans to tell this guard who he was.
"You don't understand!" Quatre cried to Hiiro's undying horror, "He's Hiiro Yui!"
Damn.
Bubble Man, for that was what he most resembled, leaned forward and squinted at the brown-haired boy, his lips twisting into the most horrid expression of thoughtfulness. At last his face broke into an even more hideous grin and he slapped Hiiro hard on the back.
"So you're Hiiro Yui!" he echoed the words of the guard at the gate, "Well then, that's another story all together! Her Highness will see you right now!"
He took both boys by the shoulder and led them further down the hallway and through so many twists and turns that even Hiiro wasn't sure that he would be able to find his way back. All the while Bubble Man gabbled on and on about something or another that Hiiro ignored. Once he thought he might have heard the tail end of the princess's name, but he wasn't sure. Quatre was smiling and nodding politely, though his expression looked a bit uneasy. He probably didn't like being in the grip of a man who could easily crush him with a flick of his finger.
"Here we are," Bubble Man finally said, stopping before two great white doors, "I'll go in first and announce you!" he continued, grinning and looking extremely proud of himself. Apparently he didn't get to announce visitors to the princess every day.
He knocked first, then opened one door and stepped through. They heard his booming voice inside declaring the presence of "Mr. Hiiro Yui and guest." There was a muffled reply in a tone that was distinctly feminine, but he couldn't make out the actual words. There was, however, something in what he did hear that suddenly put Hiiro on guard. In a moment Bubble Man reappeared.
"The princess is very excited to hear that you're right here in Sanch Kingdom! She'll see you now," he bowed as well as his frame would let him and swept his overly round arms in the direction of the open door.
Hiiro saw Quatre take a deep breath and start forward. Then the blonde paused and looked to Hiiro. Obviously the Wing pilot was supposed to enter first. After all, it had been his name that had gotten them this far. Hiiro scowled and stepped into the door, expecting to see some middle-aged woman in a gown much too fancy to be real and a crown upon her head.
What greeted him instead was the very familiar face of a teenage girl who wore, instead of the regal garments of her station, the simple school uniform that he remembered.
"Hello, Hiiro." Relena Darlian/Peacecraft smiled at him and stood from her seat behind the desk.
Hiiro swallowed, suddenly forgetting why he was there.


End Chapter Ten