Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Mistaken Words ❯ Falling Back on Something Familiar ( Chapter 55 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Mistaken Words

AN: I hope everyone enjoyed the last chapter, and now on to the next! I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my Sensei! Though he may never see this here I can tell him I did, I'm sure he'll be thrilled (laughs)

Thanks again to morgansgirl you're awesome!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing

Falling Back on Something Familiar

Relena sat alone in her room early in the morning on Tuesday the 5th of December, she had gone through the previous day in a distracted fog. Unable to keep her mind focused on the tasks at hand when all she wanted to do was worry about was Heero and where he had gone off too. She had wanted to race after him, but had no idea where to begin looking. It hurt her deeply that he would do something like this, she had hoped he would at least contact her to let her know he was alright. She understood he had called Wufei, but hadn't said very much, or so he had told her. Getting up from the edge of her bed Relena walked across the soft carpet to her vanity where she had placed a laptop earlier, she checked perhaps futilely hoping that Heero might try to contact her.

Opening her email Relena browsed through the subject headings passing up most of them as the usual stuff memos from politicians and other government workers. She sighed dropping her head onto one fist, there were so many of them. She saw it then a single email among dozens there was nothing obvious about the subject line, but she knew immediately it was from him. Opening it Relena's crystal blue eyes scanned over its contents an unknowingly held breath slowly released. It was barely more then a sentence, but it wasn't like she had expected anything longer, not from Heero, she was just grateful to hear anything from him.

Sorry I left without telling you, this is something I need to do. I'll be in touch. Heero

Relena smiled removing the email before closing the laptop down, she had a day to get ready for and she actually now felt that she could deal with her schedule. She very much wanted to see him, to make sure with her own eyes that he was alright. But she understood just what this meant to him, he had been dependant on others for far too long, now was his chance to prove to himself along with the others that he hadn't changed. She only prayed he'd come back soon, she didn't want to spend any more time apart from him than she already had.

WMWMWMW

Heero wandered the streets and alleys of Sank with no direction in mind. He had only been gone for one full day and already he was bored. He wasn't accustom to not having something he needed to do, even the days he had been forced to take off during his physical therapy hadn't prepared him for dealing with this. He watched the people walking around him many hurrying for what reasons Heero couldn't begin to imagine, they didn't seem to notice him in the least as he ghosted through them.

He sighed tiredly, sleep hadn't come to him easily last night he wasn't sure why but the nightmares had been far more persistent. It seemed every time he shut his eyes he was bombarded by images and screams that shocked him awake only a half hour later. Finally he had just given up altogether and had left the hotel room at first light. Heero half felt the need to keep a watch over his shoulder expecting to see a Gundam pilot tailing him, he fought against the urge pushing his fist deeply into his coat pockets and pressed on.

Coming to a stop at a busy intersection Heero paused considering where he wanted to go next. He ducked back into the shadows adjusting the sunglasses he had bought earlier in the day when the sun had broken through the clouds, and just studied his surroundings. People walked with packages in hand all appearing lost in their own little worlds as they hurried this way and that, Heero couldn't imagine living a life like that. His hidden cobalt eyes raised from the throng of people to a large billboard plastered on the side of a brick building and a hint of a smirk touched his face. The image displayed a rather good portrayal of Zero, which didn't really surprise Heero, his gundam had had more than enough recorded time in the news for proper models to be made. What did surprise Heero was the man standing in what he supposed would be a dashing pose holding a helmet beneath his arm.

Is that their idea of a Gundam pilot? he wondered silently almost feeling like laughing at the sight. It was hard to tell from the image as it had been taken, but the man appeared to be tall broad shouldered and far older than any of the Gundam pilots had ever been, or were now for that matter. Shaking his head Heero pulled his eyes from the billboard, pleased at least that it appeared that they wouldn't be portrayed as the enemies. It was in the direction of that billboard that Heero finally decided to head in that road looking a little less crowded than the rest of the city had been so far.

His eyes scanned the buildings he passed noting residences and shops sitting side by side some set back with small yards others opening out directly to the side walk. It was early afternoon and Heero was glad that he was walking with the sun mostly to his back, his eyes having been light sensitive since the early morning. A simply lighted sign caught Heero's attention then, he had only glanced briefly towards it before he found himself walking across the street like a moth drawn to flame. He wondered if this might be the answer to his boredom, he certainly hoped so.

WMWMWMW

“Always remember,” Jay announced at the front of the class with numerous little eyes watching him intently, “Advancing you turn 'cause Turn starts with a `T'.” The children giggled at that but it did help them remember, smiling broadly Jay restarted his count in Japanese watching as the children advanced across the floor in low long stances faces becoming intense.

Jay watched them for several minutes, before halting them again, “Your stances are narrowing, I want to see you make nice large `Cs' on the ground.” He demonstrated for them all what he was searching for sweeping his legs smoothly across the carpeted floor, “Pretend you're weaving around dead bodies.” More laughter greeted his words but he had found through years of teaching as odd as it was this was the best way to get through to his students.

It took a moment to refocus them again as it was nearing the end of their lesson, and as he again began his count Jay noted a boy walking into the dojo through the front door. Silhouetted by the sun it was difficult for Jay to make out the boy's face, but he thought by height and size that he couldn't have been more than fifteen or sixteen. As the clock on the far wall struck four o'clock Jay drew his young students to the front of the class and bowed them out. They were all members of a private school within Sank. He had a contract with the school and he taught their student's karate as a part of there physical education and was paid very well for it. The children loved coming and learned much more from him besides just self defense, he had heard about the changes the teachers had found among the children since they had been attending karate classes.

With a smile he dismissed the children to the locker room to get changed before their bus arrived to take them back to class. Once the floor was clear Jay walked across the open area towards his new guest. The boy hadn't moved far from his position by the door, and he appeared to be studying his surroundings. Still unable to make out the boy's face Jay moved closer curious about his new arrival.

WMWMWMW

Heero walked slowly into the dojo silently noting that a class was in session, the sensei standing at the head of the room directing his students in their studies. Taking the time to look about his surroundings Heero noted the belts on display on the wall going from white to black, it was a common display in most dojo's Heero knew though he had not actually been a part of one officially before. The actual floor of the dojo was through an archway Heero stood in what most resembled a foyer, there were a few chairs and hooks for hanging coats as well as a desk with a door behind it that appeared to lead to an office.

After a moment Heero returned his attention to the class that was coming to a close, the children bowing themselves off the mat before ducking into the change rooms on the far left. Their sensei came walking across the mat, his blue eyes watching Heero intently before he turned himself to bow off the mat. The sensei was of average height for a man with short reddish hair that was close cut to his head, he also sported a goatee and a friendly smile. “Welcome,” he greeted walking through the archway a hand extended to Heero immediately, “I'm Jason Kearney.”

“Odin Lowe,” Heero answered having used that alias before.

There was a slight light of surprise in Jason's eyes as he looked Heero over, “Are you interested in joining our club?” the sensei asked then, and Heero simply nodded. “Excellent, have you any experience in the martial arts?” he inquired stepping around the desk and began searching through some papers there.

Heero considered the question for a fraction of a second, he had to say yes he had far to much knowledge to say otherwise, “Yes,” problem was he knew that would bring more questions.

“Great,” Jason smiled looking up, “What form was it?”

“I've done some freestyle and traditional,” it was a vague answer at best, and Jason knew it his eyes studied Heero anew as he slowly nodded his head.

“I see, what belt did you attain?” his next question was a little harder to handle.

Heero remembered the line of belts on the wall, “Brown,” at times his training had been very similar to an actual dojo, but belts had never been introduced to him. He thought that rank would safely explain his skill without drawing attention.

Jason smiled placing a sheet of paper and pen on the raised counter of the desk, “Were you wanting to start today? We offer a free first class if you like.”

“I'll pay now,” Heero responded with a shake of his head, “I wouldn't be able to purchase a gi and belt here would I?” That raised an eyebrow, “Lost in a fire a few months back,” he knew it sounded way to convenient but what else could he say?

“Yeah,” Jay nodded and odd expression on his face before he glanced back over his shoulder, “I think I might have something back here that'll fit you, just fill that form out.”

Heero pulled his eyes off the door that Jason disappeared behind and looked down at the piece of paper laying in front of him. The form looked standard enough, it wanted his name age and address, the first two were easy enough to fill in, he hesitated at address and looked down the page at the rest. It all went downhill from there, emergency contact, doctor none of which he could fill in.

WMWMWMW

Jay looked back at the young man standing by his desk as he searched for a gi, in the first few minutes of speaking with him Jay realised his mistake. Odin was not sixteen, he had to be a little older than that, though Jay couldn't be exactly sure. That wasn't what really struck him about the youth, he was small, and thin, hard to tell how thin under the baggy clothes but Jay didn't think it looked healthy. He was also scarred his face and hand, they stood out to Jay and he wondered if they were signs of another young man with a hard life. He had seen many of them come and go over the years, had tried to help them as best he could, and he was pretty sure he had succeeded.

He puzzled over the answers Odin had given to his questions they had seemed oddly convenient, he knew it might have been jumping to conclusions, after only speaking to him for a few minutes; but he had learned to be a good judge of people. He wondered at Odin's skills, had he actually attained a brown belt in any form of martial arts? Jay supposed he'd have to have some skill, only a fool would claim to when he had none. Finding the items he had been searching for Jay returned to the desk where Odin waited the pen resting beside the paper.

Placing the gi and belt on the counter he passed them across to the quiet young man and took hold of the paper. Curiosity drew his eyes to the age Odin had filled in and felt surprised to see that he was twenty, his eyes shot up very quickly to study Odin's face yet again seeing him in a slightly different light. Returning to the paper Jay noted all the missing information, he put the sheet down, “There's a lot missing from this…” he looked directly at Odin.

Odin's expression was unreadable as he looked Jay in the eyes, “You didn't put down your address? A contact? Not even a phone number?”

Odin shrugged his right shoulder “Just moved here haven't actually found a place to stay yet…” it was another convenient answer, though Jay knew it could well be true, but it just didn't feel right.

“Well could I have a number from where you lived before? A contact?” he took up the pen, “Accidents happen, and I like to have a number for everyone, just to be on the safe side.”

“There really isn't anyone,” Odin responded evasively.

“Hmmm…” Jay sighed, looking away from Odin as a barrage of voices broke the silence between them.

“Bye Sensei!” the children smiled and waved as they headed towards the door where their bus was waiting for them.

“See you tomorrow,” he waved goodbye and waited for all of them to leave before he returned his attention to Odin. It looked to him as though the young man had suddenly become agitated, whether that was from the questions Jay had been asking or the sudden passing of the kids the sensei didn't know. He did come to a decision however, Odin looked like another runaway, Jay knew he could be wrong but right now everything was pointing him in that direction, so he'd treat this as he had before.

“So you aren't staying anywhere right now…” he leaned on the counter with the paper and pen in hand, “I have a spare room that I rent out on occasion.”

WMWMWMW

Heero blinked in surprise at the sudden offer, he didn't know what to think of it, or this man standing before him, he knew Jason was watching him closely but he didn't feel threatened. He was, however, cautious though he didn't get the feeling that Jason suspected who he was, but he wasn't about to just accept this wild offer.

Jason chuckled, “It might seem out of the blue, but I've hosted other's before, you're decision of course,” he waited a second before his blue eyes fell back to the form. “You don't have any medical conditions that I should know about?”

Heero shook his head immediately remembering how close he had come to filling in Sally's name and number under the area left for doctor's information. The last thing he wanted was her being called in for any reason, he didn't want any of them to find him. Perhaps Jason's offer was a good one, what were the chances that the pilots would ever look for him here? “That room…” he said a little awkwardly.

“You interested?” Jason asked a smile spreading across his face.

“It'd help,” Heero nodded, “So what do I owe you?”

“Don't worry about that just yet,” he shook his head.

“I said I'd pay now,” Heero returned instantly, not wanting to be a burden to anyone.

The sensei hesitated a moment his eyes flickering over Heero before he finally nodded his head, “Alright, just give me a second.” Taking a piece of paper from the desk behind the counter Jason flipped it over and scribbled down some numbers before passing it over to Heero, “Will that be alright?”

It was less than Heero had expected, and he wondered if Jason was cutting corners for him, for whatever reason, but he just nodded his head and reached into his pocked for the needed credits. That drew another raised eyebrow from Jason but he pulled the money off the counter and quickly put it away in his office, “Well then shall I show you to a locker where you can keep your stuff? Or I could bring you up to the room if you'd prefer?”

“Locker's fine,” Heero nodded and took hold of the gi and belt following behind Jason as he led him through the arch way into the main room. They hung close to the wall walking between the three feet from the wall and the tapped off line of the mat over to the door labeled `Boy's', Jason pushed his way in and walked over to the far wall opening a locker seemingly at random.

“Oh I forgot to mention, my adult classes are four till six Monday, Wednesday and Friday.” Jason explained leaning against another locker as Heero pulled his coat off, “Tuesday and Thursday are five to eight, they're mostly for the senior belts but I've opened it up to some of the more eager juniors as well.”

Heero nodded silently hanging his coat up in the locker while waiting to see if Jason would leave, he didn't think any of his more questionable scars would show if he changed in front of the sensei but he didn't want to risk it. The less questions the better, through the corner of his eye Heero caught sight of Jason glancing at his watch, “I should go back out there, the class will be arriving soon,” he offered Heero a smile before turning back towards the door. Breathing a silent sigh of relief Heero quickly changed into the gi and tied the stiff brown belt around his narrow hips.

Walking out of the change room Heero saw Jason standing in the middle of the mat his body shifting from form to form in rapid succession as he preformed a difficult looking kata. Heero leaned back against the wall folding his arms across his chest, he could remember back to when he had been very young J had used katas to teach him. It had been a starting point of sorts in his training, a fight with boundaries so that he could be come accustom to the feel of a fight. As he got older the fights changed becoming truly random and unexpected at times more than a little unfair.

“Odin,” Heero blinked looking up from his thoughts to see Jason walking towards him, “You said you've done some traditional forms?” he asked and Heero nodded in response, “What sort of katas did you learn?”

Heero searched his memories to see if he was ever actually told names for them, “Bassai Dai, and Kanku Sho…” there were others Heero could remember vaguely, but he felt the first he was most familiar with.

“Really?” Jason sounded pleased, “Are you at all familiar with Empi and Jion?” he asked, his eyes again looking thoughtful as he studied Heero.

“Yes,” Heero nodded those two sounded familiar as well, it had been a long time since he had done any of them, he wondered how well he'd be able to perform if called too.

The former pilot's attention turned towards the door when a large group of people began filtering in, they talked and laughed among each other and he could see immediately that they were a close knit group. Their eager greetings tapered off when they noticed the new face of Heero still leaning against the wall, the vast majority of them looked to be in their mid to late twenties though there were a few far older than that. Jason stepped forward almost immediately and motioned for Heero to follow him, the Japanese man hesitated for a moment but did finally step off the wall.

“Odin Lowe has just joined our club,” Jason introduced adjusting the thin rimmed glasses on his face. He then proceeded to introduce every face standing before them, Heero filed the names away and shook the hands that were offered to him not really saying anything, just nodding his head.

About ten minutes later Heero found himself standing on the mat slowly working his muscles as he waited for the class to begin, a few students had emerged from the change rooms but for the moment at least they remained standing off to the side chatting. In the mirrors that lined the right side of the room Heero saw Jason approach him, “You're not all that talkative I see,” he said with a laugh crouching down beside Heero. The former pilot glanced his way not at all sure what the sensei was expecting, but his lack of response only made Jason chuckle more “Loosen up you'll have fun here.”

Fun? Heero attempted to think of the definition of fun, he knew it was something Ash had tried to introduce him to on more than one occasion. But could he honestly say with any form of normalcy that he actually understood, that he had `fun' in the same way as the men and women joking and laughing around him? Somehow Heero doubted it, shaking his head subtly Heero got to his feet and moved to the head of the class where Jason was gathering everyone to bow in. He hoped the class would be a challenge, but considering what he was used to dealing with he doubted it.

Jason formally bowed them all in, and within a few minutes the class was on, Jason took his time warming everyone up, there were some jokes and a couple of complaints as the warm up continued getting progressively harder. The sensei just laughed, “You think this is bad?” he asked them all, “Just wait until after Christmas I'll be getting in shape even if it kills you!” there was more laughter than groans in response to that, they really were a close easy group.

Heero remained silently on the outside of it all on the edge of one of the rows that had formed up, watching the men and women around him carefully. Likewise he could feel them watching him they were curious no doubt, but it all felt friendly. Jason pared them up to finish off their warm ups and Heero found himself working with a tall young man named Alan. His brown hair and red beard stood out to Heero's eyes along with an easy smile, “Welcome to the club,” he greeted.

“Thanks…” Heero nodded.

“How long have you been training?” Alan asked as they continued to work.

Briefly considering his answer Heero settled on, “Off and on,” it was vague as he felt he was going to have to be during his time away.

“You'll like it here,” he offered Heero a hand as they both got back to their feet, “We always go out Saturday nights to a local bar, you're more than welcome to come.”

He was saved from having to make an answer when Jason suddenly had them forming up in their lines again. Heero felt good, this was a nice change from what he had been doing back at the agency, and he was eager to see what Jason had in store. He hadn't learned in this sort of environment but he had to make it seem like he did, an advantage he had was knowing Japanese, all the requests were given in their traditional form if pronounced a little oddly. When it came to the katas Heero became hyper aware he was not as familiar with the first few, and watched the men and women around him so he could continue to move as they did.

The sensei pushed them harder and harder, he wasn't going to let them make mistakes, each time he saw one they all dropped for ten push ups. The longer it went on the more mistakes he saw, Heero's breaths began to shorten as he worked at keeping his movements sharp and strong. He wasn't going to let this wear him out, he would go as long as the class did, he needed to be able to push himself as hard as his body could stand and then beyond. He hadn't really been able to do that so much back at the agency, he was going to do his best to discover his limits while he was here.

WMWMWMW

Jay watched as the last of his students left the dojo after their lesson. He had stood talking with a few of them as he usually did all the while watching Odin through the corner of his eye. The young man had remained out on the mat for a long time after the class had ended working on his stances and running through a few of the katas they had done as though he were refreshing himself on how they went. It wasn't until after the last of his male students left the change room that Odin walked in himself. He had wondered about that a little but told himself he was being too paranoid. This had seemed like Odin's first class in a while it was just as likely he had lost track of the time than he was trying to hide anything by waiting.

Jay was folding his well worn black belt when Odin re-emerged from the change room, his heavy winter coat on hands hidden deep in his pockets. His unruly hair hung damply in his intense cobalt eyes, Jay couldn't remember the last time he had seen anyone with such intense eyes. “Did you enjoy the class?” he asked as the young man came close.

Odin nodded his head mutely, remaining as he had been for almost the entire class, silent.

“I'm preparing them for a grading coming up in January so classes are getting tougher,” he loved gradings it was a time to push his students to the edge and see just how many of them really wanted this. To his surprise most of his students liked these times of the year as much as he.

Odin made his way slowly to the door, “Do you spar often?” he asked, and Jay found himself surprised that he had even spoken.

“Yes, in fact I have a hard time getting the students to go a week without it,” he laughed walking along side the young man, “We'll probably be sparing tomorrow actually, is it something you like?” Again Odin mutely nodded, Jay could see this wasn't going to be easy but he was determined to offer Odin whatever assistance he needed. “You headed out to get your things?”

“Yeah, I should be back in an hour,” he nodded glancing over his shoulder as he opened the door to walk out into the darkness.

“Would you like a ride?” he offered knowing it was cold out there, and probably feel colder still with Odin's damp head.

“No that's fine,” Odin answer before stepping through the doorway.

“Alright I'll be upstairs when you come back, just come on up,” his only response in return was a nod of the head as Odin walked down the lamp lit sidewalk.

Jay remained where he was for a few minutes after Odin left, he was an odd one there was no two ways about that. But he couldn't just remain here until the young man returned, giving his head a shake Jay made his way to the back of the dojo and the carpeted staircase that lead up to the second floor and his home. He needed to make a call, he had a friend in the Defense Corp whom he contacted every time he took in a runaway. He would quietly have a report filed on the child he had taken in, and through the Corp make contact with the child's parents.

Seating himself down in front of his vid phone Jay dialed the number and waited hoping his friend would be in, he didn't exactly keep a nine to five schedule. The minute the black screen lit up Jay smiled, “Evening Wufei, I think I've got myself another runaway.”

Thanks for Reading!

Half Truths:

“Alright,” Jay stepped away reaching for a pair of well worn gloves hanging from the wall, “Do you want to lightly spar while we wait? Help you warm up?”

Slipping the other glove on Heero nodded his head while tightening them both into place and moved closer to the middle of the mat watching Jay as he did the same. He settled himself into a fighting stance and watched as the sensei in his black gi calmly walked towards him clearly not ready to begin the fight. Reaching out Jay tapped his gloves against Heero's and then stepped back, “Just a courtesy,” he smiled. As Jay set himself into his own fighting stance Heero reminded himself that this wasn't like with the other pilots he was going to have to be careful.

Jay made the first move coming at Heero quickly testing him trying to make and opening, Heero gave him nothing blocked his attacks while returning his own. They moved across the mat using the open space, Heero kicked out with lightning speed and Jay jumped back with a gasp of surprise. The Japanese man kept himself evenly matched with Jay but as they both warmed up, their muscles getting looser they picked up the pace, it was an unspoken agreement, Jay began to move a little faster and Heero was more than content to match him move for move. He wasn't sure what to expect from Jay, and that made it interesting, new, he could see in Jay's eyes that he felt the same way.

Jay was quick, and that surprised him it felt like the sensei was trying to gain the upper hand to put Heero on the defensive. But Heero wasn't about to give in that easily, he still had a lot more he could give. His breathing remained deep and even, and he felt as though he could go like this for quite a while. He knew however that it wasn't due to the fact that his endurance had raised but rather because he wasn't fighting against another pilot. Though neither he nor Jay were going all out, he wondered what that would be like if they did, could Jay give him a run for his money?

Heero's face remained an impassive mask, he avoided Jay's fakes his cobalt eyes remaining fixed on Jay's chest watching for the slightest movement. Through the corner of one eye Heero caught sight of movement, as he ducked a punch throwing one of his own, the students were beginning to arrive. The sensei jumped back, “Your skills are impressive,” Jay complimented as he straightened up his stance relaxing, “I'd like to spar you longer, when I have the chance.”

Heero nodded in response, walking towards the far side of the room, he could feel eyes watching him and in the mirrors he could see several of the students standing on the edge of the mat. They had been watching the end of the match, and still seemed routed in place he tore his eyes away from the mirror and began calmly stretching his now warm muscles. He also removed the gloves from his hands, and tossed them to the floor as Jay walked up to him.

“Your skills are up there Odin, you've had a lot practice with sparring?” Jay asked after a moment, once the students had moved off to the change rooms.

He shrugged, “It came naturally.”

“You weren't giving it your all were you?” the sensei was yet again looking at him as though in a new light.

“Neither were you,” Heero thought Jay had the potential to be a lot faster, and he knew he hadn't seen everything Jay could do.

The sensei chuckled, “Fair enough.”

Morganeth Taren'drel