Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Warrior Children ❯ Attack in the Dark ( Chapter 11 )

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

Chapter 11: Attack in the Dark


Trowa-


When Shin was rolled out of the operating room, Catherine did her best to keep calm, but Trowa recognized the signs of her growing panic. A calm, practical girl by nature, Catherine didn’t often panic but when she did it usually involved either Shin or Trowa. This time, it was Shin’s turn.

For Shin’s sake, Catherine hadn’t slept all night. She had dark circles under her eyes and her curly hair was limp and unkempt. When she saw Shin, her eyes widened and she put both hands to her mouth. Neither Catherine nor Trowa said a word, but followed the nurses while they wheeled Shin through the hospital to a room.

The nurses made sure Shin was as comfortable as possible after connecting him to various machines - fluffing his pillow and straightening the blankets on his bed - and tried to give Catherine some instructions. When Catherine didn’t respond to anything they said, one of the nurses turned to Trowa.

“You’re his friend, aren’t you? Well, if there’s any problem, just press that button. Someone will come right away. He won’t wake up for quite some time, if you and the young lady would like to get some dinner or rest.”

“May we stay here?”

“If you like. We haven’t any cots available, but you’re more than welcome to sleep in the chairs.” She gestured to the wide, uncomfortable looking chairs in the corners of the room. “The bathroom’s there, but if he wakes up and asks to go, please call a nurse, first. We don’t want him to fall and hurt himself. Do you have any questions?”

“How long should he sleep?”

“A few more hours, anyway. There’s a cafeteria downstairs if either of you are hungry.” She gave Catherine a pitying look. “Maybe some hot coffee or tea.” With that, she and the other nurse left the room, closing the door discretely behind her.

Trowa knew he wouldn’t be able to force Catherine to sleep, not when they didn't know if Shin would survive. He watched while she took Shin’s limp hand and held it tightly. With her free hand, Catherine reached for the blanket, as if she were going to pull down the blanket to look at Shin’s wound, but she hesitated and took her hand away. “A chair?”

“Are you hungry?” Trowa asked, carrying one of the chairs to the side of Shin’s bed for her. “I’ll get you something to eat.”

“No.” Her answer was abrupt. It was probably for the best that Catherine didn’t look at the wound. It wasn’t likely to be pretty. The bullet had punctured Shin's lung, just missing the heart, the doctors had told them. Shin had come out of a surprisingly quick surgery and was now in the critical care unit, with only hopes and Catherine's prayers to help him. Catherine’s eyes red and swollen, as she sat by his bedside in the hospital.

Shin had tubes all over him, machines whining and beeping at the head of his bed. Shin's usually tanned, rosy face was pale and wan. He looked terrible and it only reminded Trowa of how much of a risk he put both Shin and Catherine by his very presence. There was no doubt that this was his fault.

Trowa made himself ready to fight if necessary. If it had been professions who'd done this, they would surely come back to see if they'd succeeded and, when they found Shin still alive, they would probably finish the job. So leaving Shin alone was utterly unthinkable.

Catherine was willing to do almost anything to protect Shin, but she wasn’t a killer and Trowa would rather that she stay that way. Though she was good with her knives, no better knife thrower lived, Catherine was no killer. Even in defense of Shin, she might falter or hesitate. Trowa would not hesitate.

'Shin and Catherine have been the closed I've ever had to a family. I can't let anyone hurt them.' It was only a matter of time before another attempt was made on Shin. 'I will find out who was responsible for this. They will pay and Shin will not be put in danger again.'

Trowa had already pulled the drapes over the windows, so no one could see in and he'd deliberately left the door open, so he could see whoever came and went in the hospital corridor. Catherine had either not noticed or was ignoring Trowa's safety procedures as she'd said not a word, only keeping her eyes on Shin.

"Who are you, Trowa?" Her voice was soft, almost whispered, but Trowa could hear it well enough. So late at night, the hospital was nearly deserted. Slowly, Catherine turned to him, leaning against the door frame. "Why would anyone want to kill you?"

Trowa answered with a question. "What makes you think someone wanted to kill me? Maybe they were aiming for Shin."

Catherine didn't change her grim expression. "It was advertised that Left Clown, you, were performing alone tonight and Shin wore your mask to keep up the deception as it couldn't be changed so close to show time. Whoever did this was looking for you."

"It might have been coincidence." Trowa told her. "Some lunatic who got his hands on a gun."

"Do you really believe that?"

Trowa looked out into the corridor rather than meet her eyes, but she persisted.

"Please. Shin loves you like a brother, Trowa. You've become another little brother to me, also. Don't do this to us. If you have problems, let us help, but don't put Shin in danger." Her voice was filled with sadness and accusation and Trowa knew she had a right to it.

"I will find who did this, Catherine. I promise."

Catherine's expression softened, almost as if she pitied Trowa, before turning back to her vigil over Shin and taking her brother's hand in her own. "It's too late, Trowa. That won't help Shin, now."

Trowa felt his heart sink. Catherine was right, as always. But it was the only thing he could do. He should never have come to live with them in the first place. What was he thinking? Of course he'd only put them in danger.


Seiji-


The night was lit by streetlights and Seiji found his way easily enough. The pull in his mind drew him along, showing him exactly where to go. It was faint, just a feather touch on his mind, but it was enough to tell him where to look. He knew the other couldn't die, not if Seiji could save him.

As he ran, Seiji saw a ghostly image running beside him, a suit of green and white yoroi with a gray facemask and no face behind it. The yoroi felt dark, as if there was some dark magic within it, but it also felt comfortable. Seiji had known the yoroi for a long time and it held no fear for him anymore. It had come to him first long ago in dreams and then when he'd found the small greenish orb in his garden a few days ago, the yoroi had reappeared before him. It had lasted only a moment, late that night, waking him out of a sound sleep. The thing had stood in the corner of his room and just looked at him before vanishing.

'Is he going to be all right?' Seiji thought to the yoroi.

'Suiko will remain intact. The bearer is of no importance. If the bearer should die, we will await a new bearer.' It answered indifferently.

It became apparent to Seiji that the yoroi didn't care what happened to the bearers. They would have to protect each other, because the yoroi surely wouldn't. 'If this other one is like me, then...then what will happen? Does he or she have yoroi, like my own green one? Does it follow them around? Does it care at all or is it nothing but a soulless thing?'

'Watch for Rekka. We need him.' With that last bit of advice, the yoroi was gone, vanished.

Before that moment, Korin, the green yoroi, had done nothing more than sit and look at him. This was the first time it had actually spoken to him. Logically, he should consult a doctor of some kind about the delusions, but Seiji couldn't bring himself to willingly go to a doctor of any kind. Seiji knew he had better keep this information to himself. Luc would be upset if she found out he was seeing things like this, but Seiji had already concluded that it would be best for everyone if he kept this information from Luc.

He ran for a good distance more, faster than he'd ever run before and not stopping for cars when he had to cross the streets. Seiji would simply take his chances and dodge across the traffic. He knew he had to find the hurt one.

Pain!

Seiji collapsed onto the sidewalk when the sharp pain shot through his leg. He, as usual, didn't make a sound of protest, but did look down. His pant leg was starting to turn dark from the blood leaking through and he guessed that he'd been shot. There was no sound, so most likely a silencer had been used.

Ignoring the pain as best as he could, Seiji got to his feet and scanned the shadows, trying to find the attacker. He wouldn't get to the hurt one if he took too much time to deal with the attacker.

The shadows moved and out stepped someone Seiji had known would come sooner or later. Heero, holding his gun firmly in one hand with a stone cold expression. Heero was dressed, still, in the black one-piece flight suit that fit skintight. The one they'd used for training and the same thing Luc had found Seiji wearing when he'd gotten home.

The two stared at each other. "Mission: retrieve or eliminate Hiro." Heero said in a dull monotone, his gaze never wavering. "Will you allow yourself to be retrieved?"

Seiji shook his head. "No." He knew what it would mean to go back to doctor J - torture and pain. Being alone again and thrown into the Dark Room. There was no way he was going to risk that. 'I'll never let myself go back into the Dark Room again!'

Heero nodded once, showing that he understood and aimed for Seiji's heart, a quick death. It was merciful, something Heero didn’t often bother with.

Unfortunately for Heero, Seiji wasn't ready to die, yet. There was too much he had to do. Seiji jumped up, further than was humanly possible, and landed behind Heero. Heero managed to catch him once more, in the arm this time, with another bullet, but Seiji ignored it and swung a fist at Heero's face while his other hand grabbed the gun.

It was a silent battle, but fierce. Heero refused to let go of his gun, grabbing a chunk of Seiji's hair and wrenching it painfully. Seiji grimaced, but didn't give in so easily. Heero suddenly swung his leg and kicked Seiji in the ribs. Seiji, this time, couldn't help but grunt with pain. He recovered quickly and kneed Heero in the gut. Heero's eyes widened slightly, but that was the only reaction.

The fight was too well matched, it would take too long and Seiji knew he had to hurry or the hurt one would be lost. Seiji made a desperate move to finish the fight early and let go of Heero's gun. Seiji rolled away and into an alley, hoping that the darkness where the streetlights didn't illuminate would confuse Heero for just a moment, long enough to find a weapon. This was the first time in a long time that Seiji hadn't carried his gun and, of course, he was now regretting it, especially as this alley seemed to be completely empty of anything that could be used as a weapon.

Heero walked calmly into the alley, his eyes shifting rapidly, trying to find the tiniest movement to spot Seiji. 'How much Heero has changed.' Seiji thought. Heero was no longer the child with angry eyes Seiji remembered, but a lithe, dangerous looking young man with death in his eyes. 'He is still sweet looking.' Seiji added, but he knew Heero was here for nothing more than to kill him. Any friendship or love they'd shared as children seemed to be gone, from Heero's point of view, anyway.

On Seiji's part, he regretted not one moment of their time together. It had been short, but the only friendship he could ever remember. If only he could get Heero to run away with him instead of serving doctor J.

"You left me, Seiji."

Seiji's eyes widened when Heero said this, but he said nothing to give away his position. Perhaps Heero wasn't as cold as Seiji had thought.

"You left me with them." Heero came further into the alley until he was standing nearly beside Seiji and Seiji raised a fist, ready to pound Heero in the temple, sure to bring him to his knees. Seiji swung, but Heero narrowly managed to crouch in time, avoiding Seiji's fist. They were at it again, fighting for Heero's gun.

Suddenly, there was a sharp *thwack* and Heero's head jerked forward before his eyes rolled into his head and he slumped to the ground.

Ryou was there, the boy from school who'd somehow seen Seiji's mind and memories when they'd touched, dressed in a wrinkled kimono and looking rather strained, as if he'd been crying. He stood over Heero's fallen body with a long two by four board held tightly in his hands. Ryou watched Heero for a moment, just to make sure he wasn't going to get up again, and then turned furious eyes to Seiji.

Ryou was the one that Seiji felt the strongest connection with, but the two by four in Ryo's hands, held like a baseball bat, was threatening and he was glaring at Seiji, not at all like the friendly, yet shy, boy he'd met just a short time ago.

"I should have let him kill you, you know."

Seiji stepped closer to Ryou and cocked his head to the side. "Why?"

Ryou looked down at the wooden weapon he'd found somewhere and said, "You're one of the enemy. My brothers told me so and that whole thing that happened in school is your people trying to confuse me." He looked up at Seiji, with a black look. "You're going to kill my brothers if I let you."

Seiji had no idea what Ryou was talking about, but he still felt close to Ryou. When they'd touched in school, something had happened and even now that they weren't touching Seiji could feel how confused and angry Ryou was. "I want to kill no one."

Ryou nodded. "I didn't think so, but I can't let you hurt my brothers. Who's he?" Ryou looked down at Heero who'd fallen onto his face with the gun still clutched like some treasure in his hand.

"A friend."

Ryou raised an eyebrow. "Do your friends usually try to kill you?"

Seiji shrugged and knelt to roll Heero over onto his back. While he checked Heero for any life threatening injuries, he addressed Ryou. "Do you feel the pull?" Seiji noted the long cut on the back of Heero's head. There was a lot of blood, but it really wasn't that serious. A light touch ensured that the wound healed and that Heero would wake up without even a headache.

"You mean that someone's hurt and we have to do help them?"

Seiji nodded to show he'd heard, but tried to concentrate on Heero. He really didn't want Heero to be permanently hurt.

Ryou continued. "I felt it earlier and some weird things happened."

"What sort of weird things?"

Ryou looked away, unwilling to talk about it. "Doesn't matter. Anyway, I think the person is dying. I plan on letting him die."

Seiji said nothing as he took Heero's gun and slipped it into his jacket. Getting no reaction, Ryou continued. "He's like you, one of the enemy. He's going to hurt my brothers, maybe kill them in the war that's coming and I won't let that happen." Ryou crossed his arms sullenly.

"Then you should have let me die. Heero is very efficient and would have probably done it quite well had you not interfered. He's had more training than I."

Ryou looked uncomfortable and scratched the ground with his toe. "I don't know. I'm just not sure. I...I don't like the thought of you getting hurt." Seiji could almost see Ryou blushing in the shadows and wondered what Ryou would look like with a blush.

Seiji took Heero under the arms and pulled him behind a dumpster where he wouldn't be seen from the street. At least he would be fairly safe here until he woke up, but there was little more that Seiji could do. Heero would probably wake up shortly anyway and starting hunting for Seiji again.

Finally ready, Seiji looked at Ryou with his one good eye. "I have to go now."

Ryou frowned. "I'm not going with you."

"I didn't ask you to." Seiji took off running again, as well as he could with two bullets still in him. Pain could be ignored, but blood lose was harder to deal with. He'd have to bandage himself when he got to wherever he was going.

Before Seiji had even gotten out of the alleyway, he was blocked, bumping into something hard and furry. A tiger. A giant white tiger.

Ryou rushed passed Seiji and embraced the huge animal. "Byakuen!" Ryou shouted happily. "Oh, I missed you so much! How did you get here? Can I go home?" The tiger, of course, didn't answer, but licked Ryou's face almost lovingly. Ryou sighed. "All right, then. Keep your secrets, Yaku-chan."

The tiger looked at Seiji, seeming to think about him. Seiji stood as still as possible, though he knew Ryou probably would not consort with killer animals, it was better to be safe than sorry. Byakuen sniffed Seiji's hand and then walked slowly around him before looking back at Ryou. This continued for a few minutes before Byakuen purred loudly and rubbed against Seiji's leg and licked his hand with a sandpaper tongue.

Ryou seemed surprised. "He likes you, Seiji."

Seiji couldn't wait for this! He stepped passed the tiger and started running again. He had wasted to much time with Heero and then Ryou. The other needed him!


Ryou-


Ryou, still kneeling with Byakuen, watched Seiji run. "He's the enemy. That's what the others said." Ryou watched Seiji go, sadly. How come, just when he found the guy of his dreams, it turned out to be an enemy? Life was unfair! To top it all off, Seiji was running off to save another enemy and Ryou had no idea how to feel about anything anymore.

Byakuen remained silent, but stared after Seiji with Ryou.

"I mean, I really shouldn't help him do anything, right? I should kill him if I can." Ryou paused, sorry when Seiji finally ran around a corner and vanished. "Even if they don't love me anymore, I still love my brothers and killing Seiji would help to save them."

Ryou really -REALLY- wanted to go with Seiji and help whoever was pulling at his heart. Ryou could feel the pain of the other person so clearly that it almost hurt him, too. Ryou didn't like it, as if a part of his was dying with the other one. The poor person was in such pain and Ryou knew if he went with Seiji he could help make the person better, but it was an enemy. Seiji himself was an enemy, and Ryou definitely shouldn't be feeling this way about enemies. Not even mysterious, silent enemies with such unusual golden hair. Not even enemies with a perfect, beautiful violet eye.

But, if Ryou's brothers didn't want him because he'd started to fire to fight the their emperor, Arago, then maybe he was now their enemy, too. Oh, it was just too confusing.

Byakuen turned and leaned into Ryou, as if trying to give comfort and Ryou took what he could, returning the hug. "I just don't know what to do."

"Ryou no Rekka, you are in too much pain to deal with what is about to happen." Ryou turn quickly at the familiar voice and found the old man who had given him the orb that first day of school. The old man with the flat hat and monk's robes with the magic feeling staff in one hand. "I am going to make the pain go away." The old man lowered his staff and aimed it at Ryou.

Byakuen slowly stood, as did Ryou, and eyed the stranger warily. The large tiger started to rumble it's uneasiness and took a step toward the old man. "Be at ease, youja." The old man said in a soothing tone. "I will not hurt your friend. I will simply make his inevitable choice easier."

Ryou's eyes narrowed and he tried to jump out of the way, but the power was too fast and caught him in the chest. The blast of power froze Ryou for just a moment, holding him with a look of pain on his face, but it quickly ended, leaving Ryou to slump slightly and stagger a bit, but not quite fall.

A heartbeat of time passed.

Ryou blinked and looked around. He was in an alley, but why? Byakuen nudged Ryou cautiously and Ryou absently patted Byakuen's head. "Come on, Yaku-chan, we've gotta go help that other guy." With no concerns at all, Ryou took off running.


Byakuen-


Byakuen watched Ryou go for a moment before turning to the shadows and growling. He'd not expected to find his dear friend like that when he'd gone to the ningen sekai. Byakuen wanted to bring his missing friend home, but none of the other humans in the other world would open the gate for him. He was forced to open his own gateway; a trick he'd learned long ago. Ryou felt changed now, as if his mind had been altered, somehow.

"I am sorry." The old human man stepped out into the light more. "But he needs to be confident to win the coming battle."

Byakuen grumbled angrily. How dare this human touch Ryou with magic?!

"Don't be too angry." The old man said. "You have no reason to trust or like me, but I do this for the world and all mankind. This is the way it must be. He will survive better this way, with no one to depend on but his team mates."

Byakuen debated quickly on whether or not he should attack the old man. It would be simple to kill the monk, he was old and feeble, but Ryou was getting away and going toward the ones he'd just said were his enemies. The old man deserved to die for touching Ryou and taking away such treasured memories, but Ryou needed him more. What if these others tried to hurt Ryou?

Byakuen contented himself with roaring at the old man and swiping at him with his claws, before taking off after Ryou.


Trowa-


"What do you want?" He demanded to know. He remembered as Xiu, Shin's best friend, from the morning at the beach. Xiu had arrived running down the hall in such a state that Trowa nearly brought out his gun just as a precaution.

Xiu looked much healthier now, but he was obviously worried and shoved passed Trowa without a word. Trowa was more than a little surprised to be thrown into a wall by Xiu's seemingly unthinking push. Xiu was immensely strong, almost unnaturally so.

Catherine looked up at the noise and broke out into a smile. "Oh, Xiu! Thank goodness you came! How did you know we were here?"

Xiu didn't take his eyes off Shin. "I just had a feeling. What happened?"

"He was shot during a performance." Catherine choked a bit. "We...don't know if he's going to make it."

"What!?" Xiu looked horrified and afraid, but went to the other side of the bed to sit with Shin also. "What can we do?"

"The doctors did all they could, but..." Her voice trailed away and the room was, once again, silent but for the steady beep of the heart monitor.

"Please," Xiu whispered. "Don't die, Shin. I have things I need to tell you."

Trowa turned away from the intimate scene, and went back to watching the hall. Another person was walking very quickly down the hall, one of the other people from the beach, Xiu's cousin, Wufei. Wufei didn't look at all happy to see Trowa waiting in the hall. Wufei said nothing to Trowa, at first, but gave him a look that said, 'you people, again?'

Wufei looked into the room and seemed relieved to see Xiu. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but changed his mind. Instead, he looked back at Trowa and motioned for them both to go out into the hall. Trowa followed and let the door close behind him. He was absolutely certain that neither Catherine nor Xiu would hurt Shin so he was safe in there.

"What happening?" Wufei asked suspiciously. "Xiu collapsed at home and told me that someone was in trouble and he had to go help. What happened to Shin and how did Xiu know that he was hurt?"

Trowa shook his head. "I don't know, but I am beginning to think it has something to do with the 'treasure' Shin brought up from the ocean floor." He was careful of what he told Wufei, a total stranger. Trowa didn't know Wufei, but he felt like he could be a dangerous person.

Wufei looked thoughtful and put a hand to the bridge of his nose, an unconscious sign that he was thinking. "A treasure? What was it?"

Trowa saw no harm in telling. "A small, pale blue glass ball."

"So you know about them, do you?" Wufei and Trowa were both surprised to find someone listening in on their conversation.

"What are you doing here, Touma?" Wufei asked his friend. Well, really, Touma was more Xiu and Quatre's friend, but Wufei respected Touma's intelligence, if not maturity.

Touma was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and leaning against a wall. "Shin is hurt and I came to see if I could help."

"How did you know? Xiu said the same thing." Wufei sounded very irritated at all the mystery.

"I just know. There are two others coming, too, but I don't know who they are yet. Excuse me." Touma walked passed them and into the room where Shin was.

Wufei was nearly ready to explode. "I hate mysteries! Why won't they explain what's going on?"

"Maybe they can't." Trowa suggested. "It could be that they don't understand what's going on themselves."

"Possibly." Wufei conceded, but then looked at Trowa shrewdly. "Perhaps you can explain yourself, then."

Trowa said nothing but he was now on guard. Did Wufei know about his work with the Gundams? How could he? As far as Trowa could tell, Wufei was just a normal kid who worked at a restaurant. Then again, he'd only known Wufei for a few hours so anything was possible.

When he got no answer, Wufei stepped a little closer. "I can see how you move, like a trained fighter. You've closed the curtains, a good strategic move if you don't want anyone to see in. I know you have a gun under your coat, the outline shows when you lean right, and you are guarding the door of a shooting victim. Is it possible that you know a little more about this than you're telling? If I remember what Xiu told me, you and Shin work as a pair during your act, like doubles. What do you know?"

Trowa remained silent. So much for thinking he was just an ordinary boy.

A sudden movement caught them both unaware and yet another person was walking down the hall with a purposeful stride and faint limp. A tall, pale young man with bright golden hair. "Who are you?" Trowa asked, barring the stranger from entering the hospital room.

The stranger looked down at the arm barring his path and looked as if he was debating with himself whether he should fight or talk at this point. Any confrontation was avoided when the door behind Trowa opened suddenly, showing a bright blue head.

"Hey, Seiji, right?" Trowa didn't turn from the uninvited guest when Touma, Quatre's friend, spoke. Touma touched Trowa's arm. "You can let them in. This is Seiji, I've seen him at school. He's safe."

"How do you know?" Wufei asked.

"He's one of us." Touma replied. "Come on in, Seiji. He's in here."

Seiji went passed Trowa and the soldier noticed that Seiji was bleeding, quite a bit from wounds in his leg and arm, and didn't seem to care. Seiji walked with a slight limp, but made no sign that he noticed his clothes were soaked with blood.


Seiji-


Seiji put a hand over the wound in Shin's chest. The minute their skin touched, the circle was complete and the reaction was dramatic. Xiu put a hand to his head, Touma bit his lip, and Seiji almost fainted while Shin smiled even in his sleep. They could all feel Ryou's mind join with theirs, also. They were complete and together, as they should be. They all knew everything about each other.

Seiji closed his eyes and concentrated, letting all of his power flow into the wound. Shin groaned, but Seiji didn't stop. For several minutes they stayed like this, until Shin's eyes opened and he looked at Seiji.

"I knew you'd come." Shin whispered, before his eyes fell closed again and his whole body relaxed.

The girl Shin knew as Catherine was beside herself. "Oh, my God!" She shouted. "What was all that? You...you were both glowing green!" Her eyes were wide and frightened, but she looked at the machines attached to Shin and saw that he was completely healed. She turned back to Seiji. "Who are you?"

"A friend of his." Seiji pointed to Shin. He indicated Touma and Xiu who watched him with amazement. The circle that connected them had faded slightly when Seiji had taken his hand off Shin, but it was still there.

"If you can heal Shin so easily, why don't you heal yourself?" Wufei asked.

Seiji had no idea what was happening to them, but accepted the fact that it was. He didn't know how he was now mentally connected with the four others, but he was. He knew Wufei was Xiu's cousin and that Touma was a little worried about what his adoptive family would say once he got home.

"I have never been able to heal myself." Seiji answered. "I can only heal others." He said this as he kept his eyes on Xiu. They all knew that Xiu was in love with Shin, now that they were connected, and it was easy to see in his reaction. Xiu was just smiling and touching Shin's face with his big, meaty hand, tenderly as if he were afraid he was going to hurt Shin.

Touma and Xiu were smiling, now and happy to see Shin was going to live. They didn't question Seiji's ability, they just accepted it and for that, Seiji was glad. He started to back out of the room now that everyone was coming in to see Shin.


Wufei-


Trowa and Wufei both came into look at the medical machines and, yes, they were accurate. Shin had been healed in seconds, and was now just sound asleep. When they turned to ask Seiji a question, he was gone.

Wufei grunted. "Now we'll never see him again."

"Yes, we will." Xiu told him confidently. "He just doesn't like big groups of people very much, so he left. He'll be back." Xiu went back to stroking Shin's cheek while Touma, for some reason, seemed happy enough to rub Shin's feet.

'Funny.' Wufei thought. 'I thought Touma didn't like Shin.'


Seiji-


Seiji found the room completely by accident. He was retracing his steps, trying to find the exit when he found the room. It was pure chance that he happened to turn his head at the right time and see the name on the door of the hospital room. Date Shigeru.

Seiji paused and frowned. Grandfather? Luc never did tell him exactly where grandfather Date was.

Seiji pushed open the door and went in. The room was quiet and the lights dimmed. Only one bed was in the room and the patient was laying down with the usual steady blipping of the heart monitor. Seiji went to the bedside to find a face that was barely recognizable, thin and withered. The old man was nearly bald, not with the long white hair Seiji remembered. He was connected to several machines by tubes and wires were taped to his forehead and heart. On the table next to the bed was a crystal vase full of wildflowers.

Slowly, the old man's eyes opened and he looked at Seiji. "Who are you?"

"I am Seiji, grandfather."

The old man seemed to think, trying to focus on something that he just couldn't quite understand. "Seiji? I don't know any Seiji."

He was grandfather Date! Seiji was certain of that. Despite how much older and more feeble he looked, that was grandfather. "Don't you remember me?"

"No." He shook his head weakly. "No. I don't know any boys like you. Would you like to meet my wife? She's around somewhere..." His voice trailed away as his eyes wandered the room. "She promised that she would come to see me."

Seiji felt his heart starting to thud hard in his chest when he realized something was wrong. His grandmother had died more than twenty years ago. "I...I believe grandmother is gone, grandfather." He said softly. How could grandfather forget?

"She's right here. I know she is. Wait," Grandfather Date paused. "Is she dead? I...I forget so much now. Is she dead, boy?"

"Yes."

"I need my newspaper, boy. Where is it? Those nurses are always hiding it on me." He started to feel around on the bed with his hands, getting agitated. Seiji found the newspaper on the bedside paper and handed it to his grandfather. His grandfather promptly put it down and didn't even glance at it. "Who are you? Do I know you?" He looked at Seiji again, for all the world as if he'd never seen him before.

"I am Seiji, grandfather." Seiji repeated.

"I don't have any grandchildren, young man. You must have the wrong room. Go away now, I want to read my newspaper. Have you seen it? Those nurses are always hiding it on me." He began to futilely search for it again, not noticing that it lay only inches from his hand where he'd just set it down. "My wife knows where it is. Have you seen her? My wife promised to visit today."

Seiji, started to back out of the room, completely overwhelmed, and let the door close between his grandfather and himself. The old man didn't notice and just kept looking for his newspaper and asking for his wife, so long dead.

In the hall he bumped into someone and turned to find Ryou standing there with a worried frown. "What's wrong? You're pale and shaking." Ryou put his hands on Seiji's shoulders, to comfort him. "I felt that you saved the other, Shin, but you're so upset."

Seiji didn't give a thought as to why Ryou was here. He didn't think about how Ryou had said he would let Shin die or about enemies or the magic that bound them together. His only thoughts were on the shell of a man he remembered as his strong, confident, witty grandfather, reduced to a hospital bed and endlessly searching for his newspaper and his long dead wife.

Seiji opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He tried again, but his eyes were burning and his throat clenched shut. Failing to speak at all, just when he thought he should speak, Seiji started to cry. He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to stop himself from trembling and trying to be strong, but...but..."My grandfather didn't know me." He managed to choke out.

Arms wrapped around Seiji as Ryou pulled him in close, hugging him tightly. "Oh, Seiji, I'm so sorry." Was all that Ryou could manage to say and Seiji broke down in tears. He could feel them running down his face and was shamed. Weakness. Nothing but weakness. "Seiji, you're bleeding!" Ryou had seen the large wet spots of blood on Seiji.

Seiji mumbled, "I want to go home."

Ryou draped one of Seiji's arms over his shoulders and let Seiji lean on him as they walked away. Neither of them said anything, as it really wasn't necessary. Thanks to the newly strengthened link, Ryou knew where Seiji lived and knew that Seiji's sister would be waiting for him. He knew Seiji wouldn’t want any of the hospital’s doctors examining him.


Noin-


Watching from down the hall, Noin was in tears herself. She held a bouquet of wildflowers, her grandfather's favorite, and a newly found picture of her grandmother, taken shortly before her death. It would make grandfather happy. She had wanted to tell Seiji about this herself, but she kept chickening out. Noin had always prided herself on her courage, so she hated that she'd done this to Seiji. She hadn't meant to, of course, but she really didn't think he'd find out by visiting the hospital, what with his fear of doctors.

Their grandfather Date had developed Alzheimer’s several years ago and it had slowly gotten to the point where she couldn't take care of him anymore. Fortunately, this hospital had a private wing for this sort of case and Noin could afford it. It was worth the price to have him comfortable in his last days. She knew it wouldn't be long before he left this world.

She'd come to the hospital after Seiji had run off earlier, she honestly didn't even know that he'd come here. Seiji was very good at eluding followers. Noin had to come to check on their grandfather, as she did every week, and it was just coincidence that she'd seen him there.

After watching Seiji walk away with the help of his black haired friend, Noin wiped the tears off her face and straightened her shoulders. That was the most emotion Seiji had shown since he’d reappeared. She walked to the door Seiji had just come out of and knocked before going in. "Hello, grandfather. I thought I'd come for a visit and I brought you some new flowers."

"Who are you?"

Noin firmly kept the smile on her face and refused to cry. She was used to this by now. She shouldn't be so upset, should she? "I'm Lucy, grandfather." She said, using her hated childhood nickname. "See, I brought a picture of grandmother." She held it up in front of his face so he could see it properly.

"Oh!" Grandfather Date delightedly reached out with her skeletal hand and took the photo. "Oh, my dearest." He stared at the picture lovingly, though she knew by morning, the photo would be both lost and forgotten. This was the way it always happened. Noin swallowed hard, she couldn't cry in front of grandfather Date. It would only upset and frighten him.

She would cry later.


Later that night-


Noin sat in the study of the home she shared with Seiji. It was getting to be quite comfortable, now. Not that any of that was Noin's doing, it was all thanks to Seiji. He had spend many, many hours rebuilding the failing house, returning it to the homey environment she'd known as a child. She'd even bought herself a computer so she could work from home.

A knock at the door jarred her attention. It was Zechs, still in his fancy clothes and shining bird-like helmet, holding some small package in his gloved hands. Anyone who didn't know Zechs would pass him off as a fop, but Noin had known him for far too long to do something that reckless. Zechs was very intelligent, cunning, and just as dangerous as he was eccentric.

"Come in." Noin welcomed him with a wave of her hand. "I wasn't expecting you today."

Zechs stood there awkwardly, which was unusual for him, and said nothing for a minute.

"Is something wrong, Zechs-kun?" Noin asked, concerned. If he had any problems, she was the first one to rush to help him.

"Not exactly. It's to do with Seiji."

Noin frowned. "What is it?"

"An Alliance crew found a base on a moon several days ago. There was a small battle and they captured the base, but everyone on it got away. They believe it was a rebel base that is planning something against the Alliance, some kind of military strike. I had a contact who gave me so interesting information. Nearly everything was destroyed during the attack, but there was something I think will interest you." Zechs handed over a small envelope. "I should show it to Treize, but I think you need to see it more."

Noin opened the envelope and let a computer disk fall into her hand. She cast a look at Zechs before going to her computer and loading the disk in.

The contents of the disk were enough to turn her stomach.

Entry 1: Subjects taken today. Code names, Heero Y and Hiro
D Male subjects, approximately 6 years old good
physical condition. Heero Y was bought from a
mercenary for fifty dollars. Hiro D was taken from
a street corner while waiting for family (be warned
to watch for family looking for him)

Several files were corrupted so Noin had to move to the next complete one she found.

Entry 17: Both subjects respond well to training, though
Heero Y is far superior in obedience. Hiro D must
be constantly coerced into every aspect of
training. Dark Room Therapy deemed necessary for
Hiro D.

'What the hell is Dark Room Therapy?' Noin asked herself.

Entry 18: I've put the two subjects together as a team,
tonight. They will learn to depend on each other
and be, I believe, a very effective fighting
Force. Heero Y will encourage Hiro D's obedience
while Hiro D will Teach Heero Y patience.

Again, the disk had missing files, so she skipped to the ones she could find.

Entry 31: The soldiers who guard him raped Heero Y last
night. I will have to give them a stern talking
to. This was not supposed to happen until Heero Y
and Hiro D were ready to mentally deal with it.
Still we were planning it eventually. They will
have to be used to this sort of treatment if they
are ever captured and they will both have to learn
to deal with both the emotions and pain of rape so
They will not crumble under this sort of
interrogation. Hiro D attacked this morning after
finding out who raped Heero Y. He is a grave
disappointment, even in this. I wouldn't have
minded so much, but he lost control and attacked
without orders. Then he attacked me and I had to
punish him and accidentally took his eye.
Cybernetic eye will perhaps replace the real one.

Noin felt herself start to shake and her vision was turning red with rage. 'Seiji? My Seiji!? This sick bastard took Seiji's eye!'

Entry 32: Cybernetic eye was a failure. Hiro D.'s body
rejected the implant and I have decided to put his
training on hold. He is practically useless with
only one eye, so Heero Y will be taken to another
part of the complex to be trained alone. Hiro will
be kept as back up.

The entry's continued in a sort of journal fashion and Noin kept getting angrier and angrier. So know she knew basically what had happened to Seiji, but she still didn't know whom had done it. Not only that, but there was another child out there somewhere and, perhaps, they were still imprisoned by this monster. She read the disk several times over, taking almost two hours to make sure she had all the information she needed off it, before she turned and looked at Zechs, standing so still and quite.

"Tell me everything you know." She grumbled, her fists clenching and unclenching.