Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Warrior Children ❯ Junkyard ( Chapter 30 )

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

Chapter 30: The Junkyard

Wufei-

“Wufei, wake up.” Trowa, wisely, hadn’t touched Wufei while trying to wake him. Instead, he stood a pace away and just called out. The room was dark, but Trowa was lit from moonlight, casting strange shadows onto his long face. His placid expression was tense, his mouth held in a tight line and his eyebrows drawn together. “There’s been no word from Quatre. It’s almost dawn.”

Wufei sat up and straightened his back. “My watch, then. You get some sleep.” He thought of Merian and her advice, but pushed the thoughts away. There were other things to deal with. “I don’t like this. He shouldn’t have gone.”

Trowa said nothing, but didn’t disagree.

They tried to wait, to be patient and trust that Quatre would return. Their impatient waiting lasted until Rashid slipped into the room. He stood awkwardly in the doorway before asking, “Has there been word?”

Wufei felt a stab of guilt. “No, sir.” He respected Rashid greatly. The man was strong and intelligent with a compassionate, gentle soul. It was a rare combination and it made Wufei feel ill that he couldn’t tell Rashid anything. “He told you where he was going?”

Rashid looked affronted. “Quatre tells me everything. Have you heard anything from Touma?”

Wufei frowned. "Touma? Is he missing, too?" ‘Fool! Utter fool! This is his home. He should be here. Why didn’t I notice?’

"He left the other day." Rashid said, miserably. "Please, understand. Touma and Quatre are as dear as my own sons. I would give anything for them. I would die for them. If anything's happened... " Rashid shook his head hopelessly and left the room.

“We must not give him details,” Trowa told Wufei, softly. “He would lose his head to go after Quatre.”

“I agree,” Wufei asked. "No good will come from upsetting him. I think we should go to the Kushranada mansion."

"Why?"

How to tell sensible Trowa that Wufei was following the advice of a rather irritating red-haired figment of his imagination? He couldn’t. Wufei didn‘t entirely understand it, himself. "I just have a feeling. My auntie knows that I know Treize's sister, Nasutei, so she might have gone there to look for me. It was from Nasty that I got that tape that proved we'd been betrayed. Une was Treize’s assistant. Also, Treize is our main objective. Doctor J might have sent Quatre to take on Treize alone."

"That would be bad." Trowa admitted, thoughtfully. "Quatre would not be able to do that mission alone. Even if he got in and managed to kill Treize, Quatre would have to deal with all loose ends and try to get passed the security."

‘Loose ends. Quatre will be ordered to kill Nasty and auntie if he finds them there.’ Wufei stood up. "We have to go. I'll give Rashid a communicator and he can let us know if there's any word from Quatre." Wufei felt cold. He didn’t want to kill Quatre, but to defend his family he would. ‘Surely, he won't obey orders from doctor J after I showed him all the evidence of doctor J's betrayal.’

They left after assuring Rashid and Abdul that they would contact them should they find Quatre or Trowa. The two men were exhausted and looked as if they hadn’t slept in days. They accepted the boys promise, but didn’t look happy about it.

“You know someone who lives there,” Rashid said to Wufei. “You have a better chance than I do of getting passed the guards. If you have trouble, if they won’t allow you in, call us. I will FORCE my way in, if necessary!”

Wufei and Trowa left the house and headed for Wufei’s motorcycle. “We won’t contact Rashid if we can’t get in,” Trowa said. “He is a good man, and strong, but making aggressive moves against General Kushranada is not a smart idea.”

“Agreed.”

Kushranada’s home-
Heero-

After arriving at the Kushranada home, Heero and Duo had been ushered into the parlor where Mama Fan fussed at them.

“Poor dears, you just sit and rest yourselves. Yes, that’s right. Let’s lay the girl down. Oh, don’t you just look exhausted.” She shook her head at Heero and frowned. “When did you last eat, child? All skin and bones!” Mama Fan left the room, leaving them with the two tigers and Treize Kushranada. There had been a young woman and a very small child when Heero and Duo had arrived, but she’d quickly taken the little child away for a nap when Mama Fan had asked her to.

Heero paid Kushranada little notice. He was too intent on obeying orders - orders from Mama Fan that he was grateful to have.

He didn’t understand what was going on, but he understood orders and was glad when Mama Fan had sharply told him to sit and rest. It was a harmless order and didn’t contradict any of doctor J’s orders, so it was safe to obey.

As Heero sat and kept as still as he could, there was an increasingly pleasant smell filling the air and it was distracting Heero from his task. He wasn’t sure what was being prepared in the kitchen, but hoped he was going to be allowed to eat. He didn’t think he’d ever eaten anything that smelled like what was coming from the kitchen. Doctor J had been adamant on a diet of bland, nutritious meals saying that anything rich would spoil Heero’s health.

Mama Fan was a wonderful bully and expertly ordered everyone around.

Heero liked her.

"Off the couch, you!" Mama Fan snapped when she bustled back into the parlor and found Kokuen-Oh with his front paws up on the back of the sofa so he could look down at Kay. "We don't need cat hairs on all the furniture."

She had been afraid of the tigers, when they’d arrived. Heero was sure of it. He’d seen it on her face and heard it in her voice. The fear had vanished, but Heero wasn’t sure when that had happened.

Duo, from where he sat on the floor, laughed at Kokuen-Oh’s startled expression.

Kokuen-Oh, however, didn't seem as confused as Heero about Mama Fan’s authority and quickly did as he was told.

It was then that Heero turned his attention to Duo. Duo terrified him. It had been a long time since Heero had indulged in anything like fear. Something about Duo, however, frightened Heero. He was pouting. Duo’s sour expression lifted for a moment when Kokuen-Oh rubbed up against his, but came back quickly. Duo didn’t sit in a chair. Instead, he slouched moodily on a windowsill with his arms crossed over his chest. He’d been like that since he'd woken up and found out that his older brothers hadn't wanted him involved in the battle with the demon Arago.

Mama Fan briskly walked over and, before Duo knew what was happening, took him by the arm, pulled him to his feet and led him to a chair. "Sit and," She gently placed a bag of frozen peas on his head where Anubisu had hit him. Duo winced at the cold on his head and scowled up at her. "Hold that there."

Mama Fan turned to Heero, next, with an expression of concern. She smiled and fluffed a pillow before sticking it between Heero’s back and the sofa. "You just stay sitting, dear. Dinner will be ready in a little while."

Heero just blinked up at her, wondering what she was talking about. He had no idea how to deal with Mama Fan. Never, in his entire life, with the exception of Seiji, had anyone ever taken time to see to his comfort. It wasn't necessary, of course, but Heero didn't object. Necessary or not, the pillow did make his sore back feel a bit better.

"We'll have to fatten you up." Mama Fan reached out and pinched cheek. For just an instant, Heero considered attacking, but there was nothing threatening about Mama Fan's manner. “Treize,” Mama Fan turned to Kushranada, who'd been standing silently in the room the entire time. "You, don't just stand there. Make yourself useful and get some clean clothes for the poor children."

Treize raised an eyebrow. "Madam, this is my house, I'm not used to taking orders..."

She fixed a stern glare on him. "I beg your pardon, young man?"

Treize flinched under her glare, but still tried to assert himself. "I have servants to do that sort of thing."

"It's walking into the other room," Her eyes widened dramatically. "Are you too lazy to walk thirty feet?"

"I'm not lazy!" He protested. "I pay them to... "

"Stop arguing and get the clothes.” She waved him aside and turned a gentle smile on Heero. "You must have gone through so much. Would you like a bath?" Without waiting for Heero's answer, she shouted over her shoulder at Treize. "Draw them a bath while you're out."

Treize, who had been sulkily on his way out the door, turned back with a very insulted expression. "Now, see here... !"

"What did I tell you about arguing?" The steel was instantly back in her voice.

Treize muttered something vile under his breath, but did go to do as he was told.

"You're good at that." Nasty stood in the doorway Kushranada had vacated without the little girl. She a tall, handsome woman, Heero decided. Not beautiful, as he’d learned to understand the word. Her face was a little too round and her mouth too thin for her to be thought of as a beauty. But her nose was straight and narrow, her eyes bright. "Not many people can get away with talking to my brother like that."

"My dear," Mama Fan said with a hint of pride. "I raised a whole brood of children plus one very stubborn nephew. If I didn't know how to bully, I wouldn't be sane today." She took Nasty's arm. "Let's get some food for them, dear." She looked at Duo and Heero. "The doctor will be here soon. Just relax."

"I'm not hurt." Heero thought of doctor J, of the white lab coat and the whirling and grinding of gears as that metal hand reached closer.

Mama Fan gave him a steady look. "Just humor me, okay?" With that she left the room with Nasty in search of food.

The parlor was quiet until Duo started laughing. It wasn’t a happy, light laugh, but rather something low and dark. It was... unnerving. "You don't have to like me." Duo stretched his long legs out before him, then arched his back as if he’d just woken from a long sleep. “Duo likes you, though. I like you, too.”

Heero frowned, certain he was being mocked. “You are Duo.”

Duo shook his head slowly and a grin spread across his face. "Duo's not available at the moment. Please, leave a message when you hear the beep. BEEP!" He started giggling again and jumped to his feet, almost hopping to the couch where he leaned over the back and looked down at Kay. "She was great, huh? She almost killed us all. I hope she tries, again.”

Heero was a simple person. He didn't like it complications in his life. "Who are you?"

Duo never stopped smiling and reached down to brush a length of hair off Kay's cheek. "Wasn't she glorious? Simply marvelous the way she was cutting down the enemy like that."

"Her enemies were our allies," Heero reminded Duo.

Duo only shrugged, as though it didn't matter. "I think I'd like some of her power." He rested his chin on the back of the couch, shifting his eyes to Heero. "Would you like me to have more power?" Duo's voices seemed to shift down into a purr. "Would you like to see me strong?"

"There's no fighting, now. Why are you here?" Heero felt a sudden cold sweat break out on the back of his neck. Duo was obviously sick.

Duo inched his head closer to Heero, still keeping his chin on the back of the couch. For a moment, Heero's brain flash-backed to Seiji telling him that he should decide from himself what to do about Duo. Seiji said kissing could feel nice, at least it had felt nice with Ryou. Heero stared at Duo's lips, curved upward in that strange way that said he knew a secret he wasn't going to tell. There was a knot in Heero's stomach and it tightened the closer that Duo came. Duo's lips really did look very tempting and made

Heero feel... hungry.

"Duo's just a bit annoyed that he’s being treated like a child. Can't say I blame him, we're going to miss all the bloodshed." Duo said. "He'll get over it in a minute. But now, while he's angry, I'm in control." Duo leaned in close enough that his face was inches away from Heero. "I like being in control, but Duo likes other people to be in control. The others don't know about me, not really."

"Others?" Heero could feel Duo's warm breath on his face and he went from a cold sweat to dead panic. He didn’t understand. Maybe it was normal for Duo to act so strangely. Heero had so little experience with other people - how would he know what was normal?

"Our brothers. They think Duo's a great fighter, but it isn't Duo. It's me." Heero could smell Duo and see the tiny specks of green in Duo's eyes. "All these years they think they've been training him, but I was the one taking the lessons." Duo inched closer, so their noses touched at the tips and Heero felt a strangely pleasant tingle run from his nose down to his toes.

"I don’t understand.” Heero choked out the words; words came out slow and soft. He clenched one hand on the arm of the couch.

Duo raised a hand and put it to Heero's cheek. It was cool against Heero's warm skin and made Heero feel like he was burning. Duo moved his hand slowly, running his fingertips along the sharp angle of Heero's jaw to his ear, drawing one finger infuriatingly slowly around the edge of that ear until his hand wormed its way into Heero's thick, unruly hair. Duo leaned in closer, keeping his nose on Heero's but tilting his face lower until Heero could smell Duo's breath. Heero leaned back, intending to move away from Duo, but Duo just moved with him, half-way crawling over the back of the red couch. Duo's legs were now up on the back of the couch and he balanced above Heero with one hand next to Heero's hip, supporting his weight. Duo nearly had Heero laying down on the red couch and moved his other, soft hand on Heero's waist and...

A splash of cold water shocked them both. Duo leapt up and away from Heero.

Treize stood over them with an empty glass in one hand, a bundle of clothes in the other, and a disapproving frown. “Separate before I turn the house on you. This is a respectable house.” He was glaring not at Heero, but at Duo. “You shouldn’t take advantage of the innocent.”

Duo looked ready to attack him. “If you hadn‘t interfered, he wouldn’t be so innocent. A kiss and a grope - is that too much to ask for?”

"Yes. Now, here are clean clothes. They won’t fit, but it’ll keep you decent until something more suitable can be arranged. The bath has been run.” Again, Treize fixed Duo with a chilly look. “You WILL bathe separately.”

Slowly, Heero sat up and watched Treize. Heero knew that Treize was to be his ultimate target. He’d recognized Treize Kushranada the moment he’d seen him, but he was still unsure what to do about it. His mission was to retrieve Seiji. He had no orders at all about Treize Kushranada, currently.

Four years previously, doctor J had shown Heero a photograph. He’d seen many other photographs of the same man many times since, all of them showing the same ginger haired man with the unhappy eyes.

You will kill him. This is your purpose. He must die. You must kill him.

At the moment, carrying clothes for them that had likely been taken out of his own closet and telling Duo to take a bath, Treize didn’t seem like anyone who needed to be killed. He smiled kindly when he looked down at Kay. As far as Heero could determine, Treize wasn't even wearing a weapon.

It didn’t matter. Heero had his orders. When he was told to kill Kushranada, he would do it. Just as he would follow the orders to disrupt Alliance communications and destroy as many of their bases as possible. Treize was the target. He would die.

Duo grumpily take the clothes Kushranada had offered him and stomp off to a bathroom. Heero patted Kay’s hair and wondered how long it would take doctor J to recall him to his cell. He hoped it would be a while. Mama Fan’s cooking smelled very good.

It was no more than a half hour later, after Heero had taken his bath, that the doorbell rang. Kushranada stood from where he’d been sitting and moved to the door, but stopped and looked over his shoulder at Duo. “I’ll only be gone for thirty seconds. Keep your hands to yourself.” As he left the room, Heero heard him muttering about ‘teenage hormones’.

From the hallway where Kushranada had gone, they heard the door open and a boisterous exclamation of, “DUDE! Treize, my man!”

Duo and Heero both looked up at the same time at the door Kushranada had left open.

“Doctor,” Kushranada’s sour voice answered, “I’ve told you many times, don’t call me that. I am NOT your man. Get your lazy backside in here. Are you drunk?”

“Not yet.” The stranger strolled carelessly into the room and smiled at Duo and Heero. He didn’t look like a doctor. The man was very young, with an earring, a tattoo on his right hand, and pink spiked hair. To Heero's shock, the young man didn't wear a white coat, but a bright orange and green Hawaiian shirt and purple Bermuda shorts with flip-flop sandals. He looked at Duo, then at Heero. His smile was brilliant and genuine. "You guys look like shit."

Duo's eyebrows flew up when the man breezed into the room. "Who the Hell are you?" Duo’s voice changing abruptly into a light, teasing voice. The Duo that Heero had gotten to know so well was back and the other, more forceful one was gone, much to Heero‘s relief. The other one was too unsettling.

"Doctor Butterfly at your service." The man grinned, showing off a gold tooth.

"Butterfly?" Duo asked, flatly.

"Yeah. My real name seems to make the patients nervous."

"What is your real name?"

"Blood Hellbringer."

Duo thought a minute. "Oh, I don't know. I sort of like it."

Doctor Butterfly sort of giggled as he made his way over to Duo. "Mom was doing some pretty weird stuff back in the day, if you know what I mean." Doctor Butterfly carefully parted Duo's hair to get a better look at the injury. "Never saw hair like this on a guy, gotta tell ya."

Heero wasn't sure what he should do. Doctor's should always be obeyed, that was one of his first commands, but this one... was he REALLY a doctor?

"Damn," Doctor Butterfly peered at Duo's head injury. "That's some egg you got." He poked at it several times, making Duo wince in pain.

"Knock it off!" Duo snapped. "That hurts, you jerk!" He aimed a fist at doctor Butterfly, but missed when doctor Butterfly easily stepped away, as if he was used to being attacked by his patients.

"You'll live, dude." Doctor Butterfly said before moving to Heero. "You don't look too bad, just a little banged up." He looked at Treize. "Dude, what you got mixed up in this time?" He gestured all around the parlor, especially at the two tigers. "This is some weird stuff. You finally lost your marbles?"

Treize twitched slightly. "No, they just sort of appeared. I'm doing my good deed for the day by seeing that they get looked after."

Doctor Butterfly snorted. "Yeah. I'm the tooth fairy, too."

"Get on with it. Are they healthy?"

"Yeah, yeah, they'll live.” He looked suddenly serious and gave Kushranada a suddenly serious, hard look. “They’ve been in something serious. You aren’t recruiting kids, are you?”

Kushranada looked appalled. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Doctor Butterfly shrugged and smiled. “By their injuries, I'd say they've been a in a battle, even the little girl. Don't know where, but it was hand to hand combat, not guns or mobile suits." He started to bandage Kay‘s various injuries. "But she'll be fine after some rest."

He left shortly after that, when Kushranada handed him a handful of money with the whispered instructions, "I trust you'll be as discreet."

"Duuuude!" Dr. Butterfly slapped Kushranada cheerfully on the shoulder. "You know you can trust me."

When he had left, driving away in his brilliant yellow car that had bright pink flowers painted all over it, Duo looked at Kushranada. "What flower child graveyard did you drag him out of?"

"He has his uses. He’s very discrete.”

Duo responded with a snort. "If I had to deal with that guy every time I got hurt, I'd be committing suicide."

Kushranada rolled his eyes. "You have no idea."

Rajura-

As predicted, none of them had any trouble keeping up with Zech’s car.

They arrived at Treize's home late in the morning, with the sun almost directly overhead. Rajura thought that if Sh'ten had still been with them that he would have fallen in love with the car. It was sleek and smooth, a powerful roaring machine. Rajura marveled at it. He’d never dreamed that something like that could be built by mortals.

As they neared the house where Rajura remembered meeting the children for the first time, where Anubisu had called down a massive bolt of black lightening and nearly ruined the opulent home there came from behind them another roar, louder than Zech’s car.

It was a far smaller machine with two riders and it wove it’s way down the twisting road until it drew even with them. It was black with bits of shining metal here and there. It had only two wheels instead of the car’s four and the riders rode one in front of the other.

Anubisu, who’d watched the approach along with Rajura, let out a feeling of sheer joy at the sight of it. He admired the power and speed of the machine along with the skill which the riders controlled it. He smiled when he met Rajura’s eyes.


Naaza’s murky humor didn’t improve. His face was blank and Rajura could feel very little of through their link. Though Naaza ran as fast as the others and showed no sign of his former fury returning, Rajura was worried. Naaza was normally calm and always thoughtful, but this dark despair wasn’t healthy. Naaza glanced at the two wheeled machine, then looked back to where he was running.

One who was not pleased by the sight of the amazing machine was Xiu. He groaned and flinched when the thing kept pace with their speed and the driver began shaking a furious fist at Xiu.

“My cousin, Wufei.” Xiu shouted over the noise of the machines and the wind at Rajura’s puzzled look. "He's gonna kill me!"

That could not be allowed. Rajura glanced at the motorcycle riders and dismissed them. They were both small and nothing more than mere humans. “Do not worry, I will kill him before he harms you.”

“No, no!” Xiu protested, his eyes widening. “I don’t mean he’ll really… just forget it. You aren’t allowed to hurt him!”

"Hey," Shin exclaimed, nearly glowing with happiness. "Trowa's with him. I can ask how Cathy is. They’ll never going to believe what's been happening!"

The machine’s riders kept close all the way to a narrow dirt road where Zech’s began slowing his car. They went slowly down the rude road until several uniformed guards crossed their path.

The guards looked suspiciously at the armored warriors as well as the two boys on the motorcycle, but they saluted Zechs smartly when they saw him and let everyone pass. Zechs stepped out of his car with an air of command. He spoke softly with the guards for only a moment before he got back into his car and they continued on their way unmolested.

Rajura recognized the house where they’d found the boys. It was in the process of being rebuilt. Anubisu had done an adequate job of destroying the house. Not perfect, as he’d left a good deal of it standing, but the roof had caved-in rather nicely.

I HAD FUN AT THAT PARTY. Anubisu said. His voice sounding gravely, but amused. LET'S GO TO HIS NEXT ONE.

Rajura caught of glimpse in Anubisu’s mind of using his attack and shattering the roof and several walls. Rajura almost had to laugh when Anubisu recalled the looks on the faces of the people all around him.

I DON'T THINK HE'D INVITE YOU.

WHO NEEDS AN INVITATION? Anubisu's voice, both verbal and mental, was getting rougher. One would think that his mind would stay the same, even though the outside changes were becoming blatantly apparent. The hair that now reaches to the middle of his back is the most obvious change, but there are other, more subtle, changes as well.

There was little time for casual conversation once Zechs stopped his car in front of a small house near the ruined large one. The two wheeled machine stopped near the car and the riders jumped off, pulling them helmets off.

Wufei strode quickly to Xiu, Trowa went to Shin, and both demanded, "Where the Hell have you been?!".

There was a moment of babbling when not only Xiu and Shin, but also Ryou and Touma, tried to explain exactly where they had been. It was finally ended when Zechs opened the front door.

"Shall we go in? I'm sure all this can wait until we're more comfortable." Zechs didn't bother to knock on the front door, showing everyone exactly how close he was to the owner. "Noin said she'd found 'him' the other day, but she wouldn't tell us anything else. She wouldn't even tell us whom, exactly, she found. I think she wanted personal revenge."

WHAT A WOMAN. Anubisu though with admiration. SHE'S SO STRONG FOR A MORTAL.

FOOLISH. Rajura responded, trying to hide the worry he felt. SHE SHOULD BE SMART INSTEAD OF STRONG AND KEPT HERSELF OUT OF TROUBLE.

The whole party followed Zechs into a large room only to find Duo sitting on the floor with his head lounging on Kokuen-Oh's side and Heero sitting next to Kay. It was getting to be quite the gathering.

Rajura had just opened his mouth to say something when a large, familiar woman walked through the door, carrying a tray of tea. She took one look at Xiu and then one at Wufei and time froze. Xiu’s mouth fell open at the sight of her and Wufei cringed, as if he knew what was to come. The woman threw the tea tray up in the air with a scream, "MY BABIES!" The tea tray crashed to the floor.

"Jeeze, mama!" Xiu winced at her scream and cringed away from her. "No need to yell."

Instantly, she was on him alternatively shaking her finger at him and hugging him. "Don't you sass me, boy! Where have you been all this time? I was worried sick. You, Freeze!" She rounded on Wufei who had apparently been trying to slink back out the door they’d come in through. "Don't you dare think you're getting away from me, young man! You up and left me just like Xiu did!"

"Mama, I had to go save the world." Xiu protested in a whine.

Ah, the power of women. A good woman can make the strongest of men dissolve into a puddle of mush.

Mama Fan fixed him with a glare that put Sh'ten's famous death glares to shame. "Don't give me that! I want the truth from you!" She grabbed him by the ear and gave him a yank.

"Ow! That hurts, mama!"

"It's supposed to! Chang Wufei, you come, too. You're not getting off that easy." Mama Fan stalked out pulling her son by his ear.

Wufei hung his head before pulling a gun out of his jacket and handing it to Trowa. "I don't think she needs any more weapons that necessary. Hold it for me, will you?" With that, and a properly guilty and doomed expression, Wufei obediently followed his aunt and Xiu into the kitchen.

Shin sighed happily. "It's so nice to see families reunited."

Duo stood up, the first movement he'd made since they'd come into the room. He looked absolutely furious, and Rajura wasn't entirely surprised. He would have been angry if he’d been in Duo's shoes. Duo's hands were clenched at his sides and he opened his mouth to say something when Ryou suddenly tackled him with a hug.

"I was so worried about you!" Ryou shouted when he threw his arms around Duo. "I never thought I'd see you again!" Ryou degenerated into tears. "You should have seen it, that huge demon thing, and there was so much fighting. I was so scared I thought I'd wet myself!"

Duo's anger faded quickly and his eyes calmed. “You always get so worked up. I'm fine." He gave a goofy smile and patted Ryou's hair. "And Byakuen is all better, see?" The next instant, Ryou was knocked to the floor by his white tiger friend and was having his face vigorously scrubbed with a sandpaper like tongue. "And Kay's fine." He looked at Rajura. "The doctor said she'll only need sleep, but she'll wake up in a little while."

"That's what I'm worried about." Rajura muttered. Duo's sudden attitude change was nothing new; he'd always had violent mood swings like that. The last thing Rajura wanted was for Kay to wake up in the same state of mind that she went to sleep in. "She may wake up just like... "

Kay looked so innocent asleep. Rajura went to her wanted badly to hurt Saranbo. She wouldn’t likely forget what had happened to her - whatever torments Saranbo had put her through. Perhaps she would never play with dolls or laugh so freely as she once had.

'I couldn't help her.' Rajura sank onto the floor beside her. ‘All my power and I couldn’t do a thing to help.’

Nasty-

In her bedroom Nasty sat on the edge of her bed, with the curtains pulled closed to let Lai have her nap.

Nasty loved children and she couldn't wait to have a few of her own. Nasty smiled as Lai took a nap on her bed. Admittedly, she could hear Mama Fan in the kitchen yelling about something, but Nasty was sure that it was nothing terribly important. Mama Fan had let Nasty take care of little Lai, giving her a bath and dinner, while Mama tried to take care of the little girl, the two boys, and two tigers who'd suddenly appeared.

Nasty was actually grateful that Mama Fan had let her baby-sit. Living alone with grandfather, while giving her a very happy childhood, had left her kind of in the dark about a lot of things. She'd never seen a baby before she'd met Mama Fan, except on TV. "You're so beautiful." Nasty cooed, looking down at Lai. The tiny girl was absolutely beautiful with black curls and dark skin, like her mama and cousin.

Speak of the devil and he will come.

"Nasty?"

Nasty looked up, surprised by the voice. "Wufei, what are you doing here?" Her heart started to beat a little faster.

Wufei came in a closed the door behind him. The room was almost dark, except for a small bedside lamp and it gave Wufei a wicked cast to his face. The thin boy came in and sat a respectable distance from her on her bed. "I was looking for a friend of mine. I was told that he'd be here, but I guess not."

"I hear Mama Fan yelling. What was that all about?"

Wufei ducked his head, embarrassed. "I kind of neglected to tell auntie where I was going that day I came here to get that video tape, about Une and doctor J. She was a bit worried and was letting me know how worried when she found me here." Wufei rubbed his backside. "I have no clue where she hides Bad Ass, but she has it everywhere."

Nasty couldn't help but giggle. "You got a spanking?"

"No, just a whack. Xiu, though... " He gave a slight grin. "He won't be able to sit for a week." They sat there in the dim light, quietly. "Thank you for helping auntie. I know she appreciates it." Wufei looked at Nasty from out of the corner of his eyes, shyly. "I'm glad you get along with her so well."

"Well, she kind of makes me think of what my mom might have been like. My mom died when I was very young, I really don't even remember her. Is your mom anything like her?"

Wufei looked sad and then glared at his lap. "My mother died about two years ago. Auntie Fan’s been taking care of me since then."

Nasty felt terrible for having brought up such a sensitive subject. "I'm so sorry, Wufei. I shouldn't have asked. I'm surprised to find you here, I wasn't expecting you to come by."

"I was looking for auntie and I sort of thought she might have come here looking for me." Wufei blushed in the half darkness. "I think I worried her a bit when I just took off the other day."

"Well, you deserve what you got, then." Nasty replied. "It's been a while since you came here for that video tape, where've you been since you left here, if you didn't go home?"

Wufei didn't look at her. "A friend's house."

"Did the tape do any good?" Nasty asked. "You never told me what you need it for."

Wufei said nothing, just kept glaring at his lap, his mind lost in whatever he was thinking. Nasty wanted to be able to make him talk. She knew something was bothering him, but she really didn't know how to help. In the end, she took his hand and they just sat together, watching Lai sleep.

Anubisu-

'When I find Saranbo, I think I'll gift wrap him and give him to Rajura.' That was the first though that entered Anubisu's head when he saw Rajura's hunched form over Kay.

Mother hen mode: activated.

Naaza had kept close to Shin, strangely enough. Even now, Naaza stood apart from Rajura and Anubisu, but had his arm around Shin. Anubisu knew without a doubt that Xiu, Touma, and Shin had a relationship of some sort, but that didn't seem to stop Shin from giving Naaza comfort. From their reactions to what Shin was doing, Xiu and Touma didn't seem to mind, either. It was like they were lending Shin to Naaza.

Perhaps it wasn't so odd, after all, that Shin had gone to stand with Naaza. Since Sh'ten's death, Naaza had been teetering on the edge of insanity and he had been close enough to that, before. Shin seemed to lend Naaza a kind of strength and that made Anubisu both bitterly jealous and grateful. 'I wish Naaza could find that from Rajura or me.' But he knew why Naaza didn't. Naaza was feeling betrayed and didn't want their help right now. 'At least he's getting over the thoughts of suicide.' That was why Anubisu was grateful for Shin's presence. Anything that could save Naaza was a good thing.

Over all that was going on, Naaza raised his eyes and met Anubisu's gaze, cool as always. I STILL DON'T WANT A NINGEN IN THE FAMILY.

What could Anubisu say to that? He couldn’t deny what he felt for Noin, especially not now that he knew Rajura felt the same way. I'M SORRY. I LOVE HER.

I KNOW AND I HATE HER FOR IT. Naaza's eyes narrowed. WHY SHOULD SOME NINGEN BE HAPPY WHEN SH'TEN IS GONE? THEY CAUSE NOTHING BUT PAIN AND YOU'LL BE HURT WHEN SHE DIES.

IF SHE DIES.

Naaza's eyes widened, surprised, when he realized what Anubisu was implying. ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Anubisu looked away. I WON’T DECIDE LIGHTLY. THIS SORT OF THING TAKE TIME TO MAKE A CORRECT JUDGEMENT. Thankfully, Naaza doesn't pursue the subject.

K'S GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT. I CAN FEEL IT. He said it in a way that was meant to be reassuring and Anubisu smiled at him. Naaza was rarely wrong when it comes to a person’s health.

SHIN SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN A SHINE TO YOU.

Naaza didn't answer, but Anubisu could sense his wonder at Shin's kindness and compassion along with his ability to think of Naaza as anything other than a snake. HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

Anbusiu squirmed at the mental probe Naaza was giving him. I'LL SURVIVE, I SUPPOSE.

IF I CAN, YOU CAN.

Somehow it comforted Anubisu to know that he wasn't alone in the changes and his's smile widened. As much as he love Rajura, Anubisu knew Rajura really didn't understand. Though Naaza's transformation was slower, he'd grown almost accustomed to the changes each year brought. If anyone knew sympathize it was Naaza.

Kay's eyes fluttered open and she stared at Rajura.

Everyone froze, praying that she was back with, instead of that killer they'd had to fight.

Very slowly, Kay looked around. "Where are we?"

Anubsiu let out a breath and knew that everyone else had done the same.

Kay tried to sit up, but there was pain written on her face, and it was no surprise. She was laced with injuries and probably wouldn't be able to move much for a few days without help. "I thought it was just a nightmare." Kay's eyes started to get watery. "I hurt all over." She looked at Naaza who was barely in her field of vision. Kay knew Naaza was a healer and doctor. He was always the one who made all the pain go away when she got hurt, so of course she looked to him for help, now.

Naaza instinctively stepped forward, but stopped himself. "I think Seiji ought to do this. She doesn't need more pain."

Not long after-

Anubisu was barely paying attention when Touma handed the disk to Treize and said, "We'd hope that, with the Alliance computers, you'd be able to find exactly where Noin had gone."

Anubisu was too concerned with Kay to be interested in what these others were doing, but I turned quickly at the mention of Noin's name. Duo's eyes snapped up suddenly, but it wasn't Noin's name that had attracted his attention. "Alliance? Did you say, Alliance? What’s the Alliance?"

"How can you not know what the Alliance is?" Treize looked questioningly at Duo. "The Alliance governs the Earth and the colonies, it has for the past fifty years or so."

Duo bared his teeth, and a familiar madness coming back into his eyes. "You killed them."

"Killed who?" Treize asked. "I'm accused of it so often, lately." Though he said it lightly, everyone who had even the least bit of training could see that he'd automatically put himself in a defensive position. Zechs took a step toward the unexpectedly threatening situation, but he wasn't fast enough.

Duo lashed out, catching Treize in the jaw with his fist. "You killed them all!"

Ryou grabbed Duo and demanded, "What are you doing?"

Ryou had always disliked fighting, even with his training, but his other three brothers didn't move to interfere staying, instead, at Kay's side. They knew better than anyone did how dangerous it was to interfere with family squabbles.

"Get off me." Duo snarled, pulling away from Ryou violently. "The Alliance destroyed our orphanage, Ryou. Sister Helen told me when she was dying." He turned teary eyes to Treize. "You killed her! She was practically my mother and you killed her!" Duo choked back a sob before continuing. "I was born on the damned doorstep and my mom was buried in the back yard. That was my home!"

Ryou stepped away from Duo, shocked. "He... he killed... "

"I saw them." Duo turned back to Treize. "I saw all the bodies. Dozens of children and Sister Helen, all burned up and half buried under the rubble. Why?" This was directed at Treize who stood still with a wide-eyed expression of shock, apparently not even noticing the blood dripping from the corner of his mouth where Duo had hit him. "Why'd you have to kill them, they never did anything wrong. Little kids and nuns?"

Treize turned and walked stiffly out of the room without saying a word.

"You coward, you fucking coward!" Duo screamed at his back. "Come on, face me like a man! You murdered all those little kids and nuns, don't you have the guts to look me in the eye?!"

Trowa-

When Treize had left the room, Duo tried running after him. Tried until Zechs got in the way. "Leave him alone." Zechs ordered firmly.

"Get out of my way." Duo snarled. "I'll cut down anything in my way and that includes you, Birdman."

Zechs didn't move, not even when Duo raised a fist to punch him. The punch rang out loud and clear on Zechs' metal mask, as did Duo's grunt of pain. He should have taken a moment to think and he would have realized that punching metal would hurt.

Zechs swung a sidekick at Duo, but Duo easily jumped back to avoid it. They were at a stalemate and everyone watched tensely. "I won't let you hurt him." Zechs said calmly.

"I won't let you protect him." Duo replied. "If it takes me forever, I will kill him."

Rajura spoke up, "We need Treize alive. I can't let you kill him, Duo. Not yet."

"Why?" It clearly shocked Duo, that he wasn't allowed to kill.

Seiji was the one who answered. "I need my sister, Duo. If Treize can get her back, I need him to live."

Treize-

“General!” Master Sergeant Iram Baker's face broke into a broad grin when he saw Treize. “It's been a long time since your last visit, sir.”

"Yes. I'm sorry I haven't been able to come by more often. How are things?" Treize spoke into the small computer screen that was now on his lap and was the only light in the darkness.

“Excellently, sir. We're having lots of fun with all the training and Leslie set a new underwater swim record last week.”

"Really? How far did she make it this time?" Treize was honestly curious. The soldiers of OZ were his people and he didn't care what the rest of the Alliance's army or the rest of the world thought about them. Treize took care of his people. Master Sergeant Baker was Treize’s eyes and ears at the Lake Victoria Base. When Treize couldn't be there, he was the one who made sure everyone was doing what they should be doing.

“She made four laps, sir.” Iram replied with a proud smile. He was an older man, more than ten years older than most of the OZ recruits and therefore had taken a fatherly interest in most of them.

"That's wonderful. Give her my congratulations."

“Will do, sir. She'll be happy to hear from you.”

"Now, down to business. I have a little work for Lieutenant Gerald. Is he busy?"

“No, he'll be honored that you want to speak with him, sir.” Sergeant Baker, a large black man with his hair completely shaved off, to show off a tattoo that covered half his scalp, turned and yelled with his unnaturally high-pitched voice, “Ger, get over here, the boss is on the line!”

The boss. How cute.

Treize waited for just a few minutes before Gerald, a young man with a very thin face and very thick glasses appeared on the screen of my small, portable computer. "Hello, Lieutenant. How are things at Lake Victoria?"

“Fine, sir.” He said brightly, showing off his braces. “I've just come in from practice and the sky is clear with a thirty percent chance of rain.” It was one of Gerald's little quirks, that he always knew the chance of rain. No one knew why, Treize didn’t think Gerald even knew why, but that didn't change the fact that he was the most incredible computer wizard Treize had ever met. Gerald had put on his application that he was nineteen, but Treize would have lay money down that the boy's no more than seventeen, at the very most. His face is even still covered with the nightmare of all teenagers: pimples.

"That's nice." Treize told him politely. "I have some information I need you to analyze." Treize held up the disk that Trowa had given him so Gerald could see it. "I'm going to feed it through on a secure line, no one is to see it but you. Understand?"

“Understood, sir. Um, just wait a minute.” His face vanished from the screen, but I could hear him moving around and voices faintly in the background. After a few minutes, “Right.” His face appeared again, now in what looked like one of the barracks. “I'm alone, sir. Send it through.”

Treize put the disk into his computer and did exactly as Nasty had taught him. Without Nasty, he would have been completely lost when it comes to computers.

“I've got it, sir.” Gerald said, his face getting serious. “What am I looking for, exactly, sir?”

"One of my officers is missing, Lieutenant, and I want her found."

The young man's face became instantly worried. “Missing? Who?” Then his eyes got even bigger. “Not Lieutenant Noin, sir? Everyone's been wondering where she was all this time. We haven't seen her for ages.”

Treize shook his head, really not wanting to give away to much information. "Lieutenant Noin is spending time with her family, she's just met up with a long lost brother. As I was saying, The officer in question had gone out looking for a man, approximately fifty years old with cybernetic implants, and she hasn't been seen since. He's known to be a highly dangerous individual with possible insanity. It's imperative to get her back as quickly as possible."

Lieutenant Gerald nodded sharply. “You know I'd do my best for any Ozzie, sir. I won't leave our officer out in the cold.”

Ozzie. It was a nickname the troops have given themselves. Treize couldn’t discourage it, really. It was good for moral for them to have something that links them together, even if it was a kind of derogatory nickname. "Yes, as I would expect any member of OZ to do." Treize replied. "All the clues that we have are on that file, but I'm afraid it isn't much."

“Don't worry, sir. I'll drag what you need out of here if it kills me.” He told Treize seriously.

"How soon?"

He thought for just a moment. “Give me fifteen minutes, sir. I'll contact you as soon as I have anything.”

And so it was that Treize was in the dark laundry room, sitting on the washing machine, with his tiny computer. There was no light in there, except for the little that snuck in through a tiny window. Treize had always found the room an excellent place to hide.

‘It's not my fault.’

‘It's not my fault.’

‘It's not my fault.’

Treize kicked off his long boots while he waited for Gerald. Those bloody boots, so terribly uncomfortable. 'What I wouldn't give for a pair of sneakers.' It wouldn't do, though, for Treize to be seen in public wearing something as common as sneakers.

The laundry room, although kept immaculately clean by the maids, had never been used so Treize felt perfectly safe relaxing there. Leaning his head back to rest against the bare wall, he started to hum tunelessly. 'I always wanted to be a singer.'

Treize sang softly, fearful of someone hearing. The house was abnormally full of people lately and he didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to himself. While he sang, he remembered a day that seemed like a lifetime ago when his grandmother had caught him singing in the bathroom, using a hairbrush for a microphone.

"You are destined for greater things that prancing around in front of peasants, Treize!" His grandmother had snapped, tearing the hairbrush out of Treize's hands. "I won't have you wasting your life as some kind of rock star!"

That had been the end of that little fantasy.

‘Rock star, indeed. Bah! I want to be a country singer.’

Not that it had mattered, his grandmother had been right in the end, predicting that Treize’s life would be more meaningful that that of a singer.

After their parent’s funeral, the same day, Nasty had been taken to live with Grandfather Yagiyu and Grandmother Kushranada had taken Treize to Lithuania, their father's homeland, where he had started his training in the political life - the most horrible years of his life.

Treize set down his still silent computer and began to strum his fingers across the strings of an imaginary guitar.

‘Yeah, a big guitar in my hands with the lights shining on my band and I as the audience roared around us. I want a big white cowboy hat and a white jacket with rhinestones and white pants with fringe down the sides. Yeah... Zechs can play the drums and I'll have Noin with a fiddle. I think I'd grow my hair long, too, just like Zechs.’

"I thought only Xiu did that.”

Treize turned in horror at the unexpected voice.

Mrs. Fan stood in the doorway with a basket of laundry on her hip and looking at Treize with an amused smile. Treize let his arms fall back to his sides and quickly jumped off the washing machine, managing to stub his toe when he landed. Treize cried out hopping around on one foot.

By that time, Mrs. Fan was laughing and Treize really couldn't blame her.

"Um... I'm not used to people using this room. The laundry service usually picks up the washing once a week, you really don't have to do that, Mrs. Fan."

She waved that comment aside. "Put your shoes on, young man, unless you want to hurt yourself again."

Treize quickly did as she said, just wanting to get away and try to forget that someone caught him acting like an incredible fool. "If you'll excuse me… " Treize tried to step passed Mrs. Fan, but she blocked his way with a friendly smile.

"You're fine, young man, just stay where you are till I load this one." It was a small room so Treize was forced to wait until she was finished. "I like having a bit of company when I'm working. It's just not the same without all my little ones."

"Little ones?"

"My children. I lost seven children on A0206, only two survived along with my nephew."

‘It's not my fault.’

‘It's not my fault.’

‘It's not my fault.’

"I'm so sorry." Treize told her, honestly. He couldn't have stopped it, nor did he have anything to do with it really. But...

Mrs. Fan smiled slightly. "Nonsense, young man. I'm sure you would have stopped it if you could have."

"They were my troops, my OZ." Treize explained. "Someone, a traitor, gave them orders in my name." It's the most he could offer. Treize knew very well that he couldn’t even guarantee that it wouldn't happen again. He’d made it a rule never to make promises he couldn’t keep.

"I believe you." She answered before turning a sly eye on Treize. "I'd like to know what's gotten you so upset, though."

"I don't know what you mean." Treize lied without hesitation. "I'm checking on some information to help find my friend, I just wanted some privacy."

"You're lying, dear." She informed him while pouring a cup of detergent into the wash. "I really don't think you hide in laundry rooms when you want to do a little research, you could have gone to your study. I know you have one, I just passed it and, I have to say, it's in need a good tidying. Now, why not try the truth. It's easier in the end."

"Not always."

"Oh?"

"Why are you doing the laundry, Mrs. Fan?" Treize had to change the subject before he said something he'd regret.

"Why did you run away from Duo?"

"You're worse than most diplomats I know, answering questions with questions." Treize managed not to react too badly that she'd heard what Duo had said. "You know what he said?"

"Of course I know." She said calmly. "I was standing at the door when Duo started to yell."

"You never struck me as an eavesdropper."

She gave Treize a very prim look with a teasing smile. "Well, I never! Eavesdropping, indeed!"

Treize had to smile.

"There," She said, triumphantly. "A real smile. You ought to do it more, you know. You're quite a good-looking boy when you don't have that awful fake smile on. Now," She leaned against the now rumbling washing machine. "Tell me your problems, young man."

"I thought you didn't like me, Mrs. Fan. Why are you taking such an interest in me?"

"Whatever gave you the idea that I don't like you?" She looked honestly puzzled.

"Well, you do yell at me quite often..."

"I yell at everyone when they need it. Why was Duo accusing you of killing?" She persisted.

"I really can't tell you. It's a very dangerous world I live in and I don't think you'd like to get involved."

"Let me make my own choices, young man. Besides, I know how to keep my mouth shut."

Treize really wanted to talk with someone and Mrs. Fan seemed to be a trustworthy woman. ‘Well, I can always have her killed later if she betrays me.’ Now there was a disturbing thought. "Duo thinks I have more power than I do. He thinks I can control the whole world."

"Oh? I'd heard that you have quite a bit of power, too. Aren't the newspapers always saying that you control the Alliance?"

Treize laughed, bitterly. "No, Mrs. Fan. A house of twenty delegates controls the Alliance, and I am only one and the youngest of them all. What I am is the figurehead for the Alliance. You see, they need a pretty face to show the public. I'm young, good-looking, and people tend to like me, for some bizarre reason."

"Not to mention the fact that you're modest."

"That, too. Anyway, I look good on TV so they all got together and told the world that I was in charge. Not outright, of course, but in subtle ways they put across that message. I was the one who spoke to the public, I was the one who had all these little badges and metals strapped to my chest, and I was the one who took credit for everything, good or bad."

Mrs. Fan looked thoughtful. "I'd always presumed that you'd earned those metals in battles. You are a general, aren't you?"

"In name only. I'm only twenty-two. I haven't got time to be in wars with all the political work I've got. With all the metals they've given me to wear, you'd think I was a fifty-year-old veteran! I can fight, sure, but only very basic self-defense. If you want to see a real fighter, well, that's Zechs. He's the one who should be a general, not me." Treize sighed and felt like crying. He would have to ask Dr. Butterfly for more anti-depressants. Annoying as he the man was, he was rather useful. "I don't control all of the Alliance, as much as everyone would like to blame me for its evils. All I really control is OZ, but I'm doing what I can to make things better. I can't stop what the others do, yet, I simply don't have the power." Treize looked down at Mrs. Fan. For some reason, it seemed important that she believed in him. "I have to wait until my army is trained, but I will take down the Alliance."

"That's treachery, you know." She said flatly, though not disapprovingly.

"It's necessary. The Alliance won't change left on its own. They hate change; I've learned that much. All those old men with their old family money, they hate change more than anything and they'll do anything to avoid it. I have to force it." How ironic, Treize didn't have enough power to stop them, but he was the only one powerful enough to try.

Mrs. Fan’s large hand touched Treize’s face and he stepped away. "Don't be hard on yourself, young man. Are you sure you're doing the right thing? You're talking about war and that will get a lot of people killed. Think about it. This time you won't be able to say, 'its their fault, not mine'."

Treize met her eyes firmly - confidently. "Yes. I know what this means, but it is the right thing to do. It's because of the Alliance that your family was murdered. It's because of them that Duo is suffering so much. They're too corrupt to be allowed to continue as they are. I may be able to do it without bloodshed, but I'm not sure. I will try as hard as I can to make this a peaceful change."

Mrs. Fan nodded. "Then do what you think is right, that's what I always tell my children. Why don't you tell Duo what you just told me?"

"No, that would endanger my plans. No one can know what I'm up to.” He smirked. “I shouldn’t have said a word to you. I’m afraid you’re a bad influence on me. I’m sorry. It’s a danger to you as well as myself. I had no right to do that to you. If the Alliance suspects anything… well, better that you forget what I said."

She winked. "You're secret is safe with me so long as you're a good boy. Now, what about OZ? I've heard so much about what a great force it is and how it's the secret weapon of the Alliance. The whole world is terrified of OZ. They wouldn't give their military to a puppet, surely."

"Have you ever seen OZ in a real, actual, military action?"

She shook her head.

"That's because OZ is a threat and nothing more. The Alliance never really expected to use OZ. Secret weapon, my as... anyway. They make all that hype so no one will know that OZ is designed for the washouts that the Alliance doesn't want in it's pretty army. They hide the misfits in my OZ so no one will see them and the Alliance can tell the world that's where they send all their elite soldiers. In fact, the first time OZ was ever ordered into combat was at A0206, the attack of your family's colony. OZ is a dumping ground for the misfits and unwanted who aren't good enough for the 'real' army." Treize had to laugh when he thought of who he’d gotten out of the Alliance's waste pile. Zechs had been an emotional cripple with a split personality and he had ended up one of the greatest pilots ever seen. Then there was Noin who'd come to him an orphan and almost suicidal with depression and a guilt complex that rivaled my own. She'd ended up not only an excellent pilot, but also an inspiring teacher.

It was Treize’s favorite task, looking though the lists of rejects he was sent and trying to envision what would become of the people who were given to him. The Alliance was the only military power in the world and has no enemies. Therefore, it likes its soldiers to look pretty more than anything else. Treize preferred actual skill.

"The Alliance will never know what it gave up when it gave me OZ, until it's to late. It's with the misfits that I'm going to destroy the Alliance." Treize looked at her seriously. "You can't tell, not even your family, that I told you all this. I can't have anyone endangered for this."

She slowly nodded. "All right, but I don't know how you're going to deal with Duo. He's out for blood."

"I'll deal with him like I deal with everyone." Treize let his face slip into its usual passive expression with a little smile. "With a mask."

Treize’s computer beeped at him and he turned his attention to it immediately.


Treize walked by Mrs. Fan back to the parlor. Whether or not he wanted to face Mister Maxwell, really wasn’t the point. Everyone turned to look at him when they entered and Treize, out of habit, forced a smile. "Mrs. Fan, please take Kay to the kitchen. I'm sure you must be hungry, young lady."

The pretty child, with huge dark eyes, turned silently to Rajura.

Rajura nodded quietly and gave her a small, encouraging sort of smile.

Kay stood slowly, still dressed in soiled clothes she’d arrived in. She was tiny and delicate, like a little doll. At Rajura’s permission, she stood and followed Mrs. Fan away to the kitchen where, Mrs. Fan promised, she could learn to make the Fan family secret tea.

Treize didn’t quite know what to make of Rajura or his brothers. He had seen Anubisu’s incredible power - the black lightening that had nearly destroyed his house - and he saw the respect they all paid to Rajura. Zechs had told him how they had easily run along side his car while going to Treize’s home. He didn’t understand, but decided that it really didn’t matter. They would tell him or not. Either way, all he could do was accept it.

As soon as Mrs. Fan and Kay gone and the door swung shut behind them, Duo spat at Treize and plopped himself down on Heero's lap. He put his arms around Heero, even though Heero stiffened at the embrace, and contented himself with glaring at Treize.

Ryou was taking the whole situation much better than Duo was, but he ended up in a chair with his arms wrapped around himself and cast unfriendly looks at Treize. Seiji, Noin’s quiet younger brother, was placidly comforting Ryou. He sat on the arm of the chair Ryou sat in and petted his hair and the back of his neck.

Heero watched Seiji and Ryou intently. Then, as cautiously as if he were about to touch a wild beast, he reached for Duo. Duo, though sitting on Heero, was paying no attention to him. He didn’t see Heero’s half-way frightened expression and he certainly didn’t see Heero’s hand inching closer to his braid. Heero’s courage lasted only a moment before he put his hand back down on the arm of the chair without having so much as laid a finger on Duo..

Rather sad, in Treize’s overly romantic opinion.

Seiji and Heero's eyes met at one point, but Heero looked away, as if ashamed that he couldn't do what Seiji was doing so easily.

"What have you found?" Rajura asked briskly.

"My computer expert has found a clue," Treize said without preamble. "It's slim, but I think you should all hear it. The man Noin was following appears to be suspected of several illegal pastimes, involving human experimentation and mind-control. I don't have anything else, I'm afraid." Treize looked around the room, meeting the eyes of everyone present. "I have no idea where she might have vanished to. All my people could come up with were old addresses that have all ready been abandoned. Whoever this man is, he's very, very smart."

"Turn on the TV!" Nasty suddenly ran into the parlor and made a bee-line for the small television. Her face was pale and she was shaking. "You've gotta see this! I just saw Noin and Quatre!"

"WHAT?!" Several voices demanded at once.

Treize’s attention sharpened at the mention of his cousin. Noin… an Quatre? What did Quatre have to do with the whole thing? Briefly, Treize glanced at Touma. He’d visited the boy not too long ago for an interview to get the boy into OZ. Normally, he wouldn’t have been troubled with such a minor chore, but it had been a request from Quatre.

Flashback-


“He wants to get into the Alliance,” Quatre told Treize over the telephone. “I won’t have it! He can do as he pleases, but I won’t have him working for those people!”

“All right,” Treize had answered, doubtfully. “I can understand that well enough. What do you want me to do about it?”

He could almost hear Quatre grinning, “Why, I want you to take him into OZ. He’ll be happy. You’ll get a brilliant mind to work with.”

Treize, naturally, was suspicious. He liked Quatre, most everyone did, but he didn’t trust the younger boy. “What’s in this for you?”

“I’m hurt,” Quatre sounded like he was pouting. “I just want the best for Touma.”

“Really? Have you even told him that you and I are related?”

“No. That doesn’t really matter, does it? Just come by and meet him. I promise you’ll be impressed.”


End Flashback-


Impressed, Treize had been. Still, from their puzzled expressions, none of Quatre’s friends had known that Quatre even knew Treize.

Nasty squatted down in front of the television and switched it on. “Look! There!” She pointed at the television, a frazzled looking reporter stood on the street, biting her cheek.

“You saw it here, folks! I can't believe it, the police have been called, but this young mad man seems to have complete confidence in what he's doing.”

The camera swiveled away from her face to down the street where the back of a young man could be seen just as he turned the corner. One couldn't see his face, but he was dressed in a tight fitting black outfit and had fluffy blonde hair

"Quatre!" Touma, Trowa, and Treize exclaimed simultaneously. Both Touma and Trowa blinked at Treize, puzzled.

The reporter spoke again, “Several bystanders said they saw him shoot at a young woman, age approximately nineteen to twenty-one. He shot her once in the leg, but she kept running. We don't know who this young woman is or why she is being attacked. When confronted the boy, reportedly, shot and killed three police officers point blank without breaking stride. No one's managed to get a clear view of his face, yet, so we don't know who this is. Police advise, keep off the streets at all costs and do not confront this boy. More police have been called and they assure us this will be taken care of in the most efficient manner possible.”

"He was chasing Noin," Nasty said certainly. "I saw her very clearly for just a second on the kitchen television."

"Kitty would never do that." Touma said in a disbelieving voice. "He... he's so gentle. He'd never hurt anyone and he'd rather die than kill innocent people. I... I just can't believe... "

Xiu put his arms around Touma. "I know. Quatre's a real gentle guy, but if that guy Noin was after was into mind-control, it's possible that Quatre doesn't know what he's doing."

"Yes," Rajura said, thoughtfully. "The mind is a delicate and powerful weapon. Any little change can affect it and for a ningen to mess around with the mind is very dangerous.” He leaned back and stared into empty space. “When we retrieve Noin and this boy, we will have to see if permanent damage has been done to him or not.”

Treize felt ill. The day was not improving as it moved along.

With everyone watching the television, Treize left the room to hunt for aspirin.

Zero-

Zero methodically searched the waste facility even as dawn approached. It had been searching for some time and knew that the enemy was near. There were no sounds by nearby traffic and no movements detectable with Quatre’s eyes. Still, It searched, determined to kill the woman that was a threat to Quatre and Itself.

Zero's task was made easier by the fact that It had managed to shot Noin in the left thigh and she was now unable to move faster than an adrenaline inspired limp.

'She's clever.’ Zero thought, more as an observation than a compliment. 'She's injured and frightened, but not panicking.' Zero had rather expected to hear the clattering of garbage as she looked for a hiding place, but the yard remained quiet. 'Perhaps she is all ready dead.' But that outcome was highly unlikely. She'd made it so far that Zero thought it unlikely she would give up.

Images began flashing across It's mind, showing every possible outcome.

1. Noin manages to escape over a wall. Mission continues.
2. Noin kills Zero. Mission failed.
3. Zero kills Noin. Mission complete.
4. A large blue tiger bursts through a wall and kills Zero. Mission failed.
5. Quatre wakes up and takes control. Mission delayed.
6. Noin finds a second exit and escapes that way. Mission continues.

The list went on and on, showing every outcome from the very likely to the absurd, but possible. Zero ran over the list several times before settling on the one with the most likely outcome.

It would wait until the woman lost more blood. With no medical aid for her injury, she would bleed into unconsciousness quickly and Zero wouldn’t have to deal with her fighting back when It killed her.

Noin-

Noin huddled between a broken-down car and a wall nearly fifteen feet tall. She concentrating on being still. She held her hands over the wound in the back of her leg, but it just kept bleeding. In the end, she'd had to take off her shirt to staunch the bleeding. At least that seemed to be working and it didn't hurt so much, anymore.

'Damn, this wasn't supposed to happen.' Noin thought ruefully. 'All I wanted to do was kill that guy. How was I supposed to know his pet psychopath was going to end up killing me?'

That's no way to think. Defeatist talk would get you killed. At least, that's what Treize always said. 'Wish I'd waited for Treize and Zechs.' Noin wondered, though, if her two friends would have lived this long, though. Treize, as smart as he was, was no fighter. Zechs, for all his skill, was too proud to run away when given the chance. No, maybe it was better this way. If she had to die, at least she wouldn't be dragging her family down into it, with her.

Noin closed her eyes for a minute, growing light-headed. 'I can't faint. I'm dead if I faint.' Noin blinked several times to wake herself up, but felt the telltale signs that she was going to pass-out, whether she wanted to or not. Her head felt heavy and she felt like she was going to throw-up. 'No! No! Who's going to take care of Seiji if I die? He doesn't have anyone else to look after him!'

Noin heard something behind her. The crunch of someone walking on glass, and the person behind her came just a bit closer. Noin held her gun tightly to her chest, ready to fire.

He stepped around the car and Noin met his cool eyes. He said nothing, but raised his gun.

To be continued...