Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Warrior Children ❯ Jitters ( Chapter 12 )

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

Chapter 12 : Jitters


Trowa-
Hospital-


Trowa walked into the hospital room with Catherine at his side, only to find all the crowded around Shin’s bed completely baffled as to how Shin was suddenly so perfectly well. Three doctors, all talking quite loudly about what had happened and trying to get Shin to say something about the miracle, surrounded shin.

"You all worry too much." Shin smiled serenely at everyone around him. "I'm better, so I want to leave. I really don't understand what the problem is."

"Young man," One of the doctors said, sounding frustrated. "You've just recovered from a wound that should have taken weeks to fully heal. This is a medical miracle! Aren't you even the least bit curious about what's happened to you?"

Apparently, while he had been messing around with Shin, Seiji had also fixed Shin's toothache, taken away all Shins' allergies, and Shin no longer had dandruff. It was all side effects, Trowa believed. Seiji had been so intent on healing Shin that his power had spilled over to correct a few other, minor problems.

"Not really." Shin answered calmly. "Fetch me some clothes, will you? I really should... Ah!" He spotted Trowa and Catherine standing behind the crowd of doctors. "Come in, come in! Don't just stand there. It's nice to see some familiar faces."

Catherine exchanged a look with Trowa and they nodded together. It was time to tell Shin what the plan was, even though they were both certain that he wasn't going to like it one little bit. They forced their way into the small room, crammed full with not only Shin, but three doctors, Xiu sitting next to Shin on the bed, and Touma glaring at everyone from his perch on the wide windowsill.

"This is irritating." Touma grumbled. . "Hospitals are supposed to be quiet places, you know? I can't hear myself think with all this chattering."

"No kidding. How's Shin supposed to get any rest with all this noise?" Xiu and Touma stood up at the same time and glared at the doctors. "Out! Out!" Xiu shouted, pushing one of the older gentlemen out of the room. "He's tired, give him a break!"

Touma backed Xiu up by waving his hands at the doctors. "We'll call if he needs anything, but go away." With a few complaints, the doctors all left and Trowa noticed someone in the room he hadn't noticed a moment ago.

Chang Wufei sat in a corner of the room, in the only chair, reading with small wire rim glasses on and apparently ignoring the noise around him.

Once all the doctors had been chased away, Xiu went back to his seat at Shin's side and Trowa was once again reminded of what he'd heard Catherine say to Wufei when they'd first arrived at the Fan Family Restaurant about how Xiu and Shin were most definitely in love. It wasn't hard to see, looking at how Xiu watched Shin so adoringly.

Touma, however, didn't watch them as Xiu set a basket of food on bed for Shin. Instead, he went back to his seat at the window and silently stared out of the hospital room, watching the birds outside, apparently not interested in the least about Shin

"Mama was worried you wouldn't eat enough in here." Xiu said happily as he handed Shin a rice ball from the basket. He didn't seem to notice that Touma's irritation wasn't entirely directed at the doctors. "She said you're already too skinny and she didn't want you to waste away."

Shin took the rice ball gratefully and began munching, before looking at Trowa. "So, when can I get out of here?"

Catherine licked her lips, knowing that what she and Trowa had to say would be hard for Shin to hear, but they had decided it was the safest course of action. "I think you should stay on Earth." She blurted out Shin without wasting any time.

"What? Why?" Shin sat up suddenly, looking both betrayed and confused. He looked at Catherine. "I'm fine now, no more nightmares, I swear! There's not even a bit of pain from the bullet shot. You can't make me stay on Earth!"

Xiu and Touma looked at Trowa with different emotions. Xiu seemed happy that Shin would be hidden away from danger, and Touma looked, well, pouty. Not that Catherine or Trowa were paying them much attention.

Catherine bit her lip. "Don't think of it as a punishment." She sounded as if she were trying hard to be cheerful, but failing miserably. "Think of it as a vacation. You can go swimming all you like, now, and you'll have lots of time to spend with Xiu."

Touma's eyes narrowed at that and Trowa almost swore he heard Touma start to growl.

'I don't have time to deal with Touma's problem.' Trowa decided. 'He and Xiu will have to work it out.' Instead, Trowa told Shin, "I’m certain that whoever shot you was after me, as you have no enemies. Whoever is looking for me may target you again to get at me. I would prefer it if you were somewhere safe and fairly hidden. I will lure this person away." He looked at Catherine for support.

"Yes," Catherine took Shin's hand. "I'll go back to the circus with Trowa and we're going to tell everyone, even ringmaster and the other circus people, that you'd died. That the REAL Left Clown survived, that's the truth, anyway."

"So you hope to lure the attacker out of hiding?" Wufei asked, looking at them for the first time. "That is a good plan, I believe. You get Shin nicely out of the way and set yourself up as a target. You'll just have to make sure you don't die before this assassin gets to you, also."

Trowa nodded. He fully understood the risks, but he just couldn't let Shin get involved in this anymore than he all ready was. It was not right that Shin should suffer for Trowa. Just not right.

Shin still didn't like it. "You can't put yourself in danger like that!" Shin started to get out of bed, but Xiu silently held him down. "You'll get killed! I'd have died if Seiji hadn't been able to heal me."

"That's why I will go alone to do this. No one but Catherine and the people in this room will know the truth and, I believe, we can trust everyone here. I won't let you get hurt again."

"What am I going to do on Earth?"


Shin-


"You can stay with my family."

Shin was surprised that Touma had even offered and so was everyone else, apparent. They looked at Touma like he'd just grown a second head. Shin could feel the confusion and concern coming from Xiu and Wufei's face clearly showed that he was confused about the offer as well. They were the two who knew Touma best, aside from Touma's brother Quatre, so Shin assumed that they knew this was out of character behavior.

Touma shrugged, not bothering to mask his emotions from Shin or Xiu. He made no pretense of liking Shin in the least. If nothing else, he was an honest guy. "It'll make Xiu happy, so I'll do it. I don't have to like Shin, but I'll do it."

"You don't have to." Shin said belligerently. The last thing he wanted was to have to live with some guy who barely put up with him.

Touma didn't look at Shin, but let the new link between them do all the talking for him. He let loose what little control on his mind that he had and a flood of emotions, jealously, being the forefront and Shin moaned, closing his eyes at the almost physical pain.

Xiu, unfortunately, felt it also and glared at Touma. "Stop it!" He put a protective hand on Shin's back. "Leave him alone, Touma!"

There was a still, tense moment in the room until Touma looked away, pulling all his emotions in on a tight leash, and Shin could separate himself from Touma's harsh feelings. 'God, that hurt!' Shin thought as he sat up properly. 'That jerk didn't have to throw it in my face! We all know he's got a crush on Xiu, he doesn't have to be bitter!' Then again, Shin paused, maybe that's why Touma had been angry. Maybe he upset that Xiu knows but hasn't done anything about it. I wonder if Xiu's even said anything to Touma about it?

"Are you all right?" Xiu asked him, gently.

Shin blinked. "Yeah, I'll be all right. Look," He said to Touma. "I don't want to stay with you anymore than you want to stay with me, to be honest. I'll find somewhere else."

Touma snorted and retreated to a corner of the room, his arms crossed over his chest and still glaring at no one in particular.

Shin looked hopefully at Xiu. "I don't suppose...?"

"Sorry, but Wufei's getting married soon and we're leaving the planet soon." Xiu really hated himself for saying it, but he couldn't let Wufei down, he'd promised to come to the wedding.

Touma spoke up. "I won't hurt your friend, Xiu. You don't have to worry about him at my home...whoa!" Touma's eyes got real wide suddenly, as did Shin's and Xiu's. There was silence as they seemed to stare into space, amazed, before they all got happy, silly smiles.

A wonderful euphoric feeling washed over them, making them feel dizzy and lightheaded. Shin's mind opened and he saw and felt what Seiji and Ryou were doing.

"They're kissing!" Xiu giggled like a schoolgirl until he collapse onto Shin's lap in full-fledged laughs.

"Who?" Wufei asked curiously and Shin was reminded that three of the people in the room had no idea what was going on. Well, probably best to keep it that way.

"Oh, no one." Shin covered his mouth to hide his laughs.


The Date Dojo-


Noin and Zechs both seat at her computer going over the evidence he'd found at the captured rebel base. "So close." Noin said viciously. "I'm so close to finding that ass hole." It was well into the night - passed midnight - and Noin showed no signs of slowing down in her search. She'd visited grandfather Date earlier that night and had seen Seiji there with some boy, and that made it seem even more important that she find whoever hurt him.

"Such language, Noin." Zechs commented, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He'd taken his helmet off a long while ago to be more comfortable. Noin's home was one of the few places he felt comfortable with out the helmet.

"Don't you think I deserve to swear a bit now and then? Especially when Seiji is involved?"

"Oh, yes. This is definitely a swearing situation. I'm just not used to it, you're usually so lady-like."

Before Noin could answer, they were both distracted by an unknown voice in the other room. "Are you sure it's okay for me to be here?"

Noin and Zechs both looked up sharply to listen.

"My sister wants me to make friends, so she will be pleased that you are here."

Noin's eyes almost fell out of her head when she heard the complete sentence from her normally silent brother. "Was that Seiji?" She asked Zechs, astonished. "My Seiji, actually talking to a person?"

They ran into the family room to find Seiji, standing only with the help of a dark haired stranger, looking terribly pale. The stranger gave them a charming smile. "Sorry about intruding like this, but Seiji needed some help to get home."

Noin came further into the room. "Help? What do you mean?" It was then that she saw the blood stains on Seiji's trousers and shirt. "Oh, my God!" She was quickly at his side and ripped his shirt open. "You've been shot! What happened?"

Seiji didn't answer and Noin honestly wanted to hit him for a minute. "You have to tell me what's going on if I'm going to help you! I can't do anything if you don't tell me who did this and why."

"If it helps, he told me a friend did this to him." The stranger said awkwardly. "Some brown haired guy attacked him in an alley."

Noin looked up at him sharply. He was a young man, only about Seiji's age, maybe fifteen, and wearing a kimono that looked as if it had seen far better days. His hair was long and shaggy and his skin was very dark, like he was used to living outside. Now, Noin was only concerned that this stranger had some of the answers she was looking for. "What do you mean, a friend did this to him?"

"Date Noin Lucrecia," Seiji interrupted sharply to give formal introductions. "This is my...friend, Sanada Ryou. I met him at school and he came with me to the hospital to find a hurt friend. I saw grandfather Date, there." He gave her a bleak look and Noin remember how she'd seen him earlier that evening, rushing from the room to fall into some dark haired guy's arms.

Oh, yeah.

"Look, Sei-chan. I meant to tell you, I really did. But, well, it was hard to explain everything and you were such a mess when you first got here, I wasn't sure how you'd take the news." She looked at him guiltily. "I hope you weren't too upset."

"I'll live." Even as he said this, Seiji's eyes rolled slightly and he swayed.

Ryou knelt with him lowering Seiji to the floor. Ryou refusing to let go of Seiji, and to support him, Ryou had to hold Seiji against his chest.

It was Zechs who took command at that point and reached out to examine Seiji's wounds, but Ryou pushed him away roughly. "Don't touch him! Seiji doesn't like people touching him!" Ryou snarled and bared his teeth menacingly.

Noin raised an eyebrow, but spoke in Zechs' defense. "He's trained in field surgery and Seiji has to have those wounds looked at. He could die of blood loss. It's either Zechs or the hospital to see a real doctor."

Ryou looked down at Seiji, who nodded vaguely and appeared to get worse by the minute. Ryou looked up. "Well, all right, but only because you trust him and Seiji trusts you." Then he looked at Zechs. "Anything funny, though, and I'll bite your head off. Literally."

Zechs, obviously taking the boy seriously, nodded before looking at the wounds with a professional air. Noin, however, thought it odd that this boy should be so protective of Seiji, especially if they'd only known each other such a short time.

"He's still got two bullets in him. I'll have to take them out." Zechs said. "I have some medical bags in the trunk of my car, will you get them, Noin?"


It was only about a half an hour later when Zechs had both bullets out of Seiji and had put in a few stitches. As Zechs finished the last of Seiji's bandages on his shoulder, Noin persisted in her questioning. "Now, tell me who did this." If the person was still in the city, she had a very good chance of catching them.

"No." Seiji said, slowly standing with Ryou's help. "The person who did this was my friend. I will not have you or him endangered for this. I will deal with it myself."

Noin thought of saying something, but knew how useless it would be. Finally, she shook her head. "You are as stubborn as mother was, Seiji. Never willing to let anyone help you. Well, have it your own way for now." With that, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Go to bed, Seiji. It's late and you need to rest with your wounds."

"I want Ryou to stay." Seiji said, startling both Ryou and Noin. "It's dark out and he doesn't have a family to stay with."

"What are you talking about," Ryou asked with a laugh. "I do have a family! I have...er...uh..." Ryou's laugh faded and his face twisted into an expression of confusion. "I'm sure I..."

Seiji put an arm around Ryou's shoulders. "My room is that way. Help me?"

"What?" The question woke Ryou out of his thoughts. "Oh, sure." Ryou did as he was asked, but Seiji sent a look over his shoulder at Noin that clearly said, 'I'll tell you later.'

When they'd gone, Zechs looked at Noin. "Is it just me or has Seiji's whole personality changed since I last saw him? He's really warmed up to Ryou."

"He's starting to heal, I think." Noin said, almost smiling. "At least he has a friend, now."

"More than a friend, if you ask me." Zechs mumbled.

"What?"

"Well, how many young men invite a friend to sleep over practically the first night they meet? And, Ryou was very sensitive about me touching Seiji." Zechs pointed out.

"Good point. Now," Noin turned serious. "I want to take a trip to the hospital and see if I can find out who Seiji was visiting. Maybe it could lead me to whoever shot him."

"What? Now?"

She frowned. "Is that a problem?"

"Noin, it's past midnight. I really think we should both get some sleep. Seiji is fine now, but you should probably stay with him in case he needs to go to the hospital tonight. I know he doesn't like doctors, but he might not have a choice. I managed to stopped the bleeding, but you should wake him ever few hours to make sure he doesn't slip into a coma or anything." Zechs reached for the helmet he'd earlier set on Noin's desk and put it on. "I'll see you in the morning, Treize has some meeting he wants us all to attend."

Noin, feeling slightly naughty, asked, "And do you have a special meeting for tonight? A private meeting, maybe?"

Zechs blushed, deep red under his mask that went all the way down his neck. "Not that he's told me." The answer was more than a little disappointed.

Noin groaned, irritated. "Come on! I'm telling you, this whole subtle seduction routine will go nowhere with Treize. He's too good at it and he's going to torture you with it for as long as he can hold out. I say you forget seduction. Just go to his mansion tonight, sneak into his bedroom and ravish him before he knows what hit him!"

This, unfortunately, made Zechs blush even more. "I can't!"

"Sure you can. It'll be fun and he'll enjoy it more than you will. Someone finally getting the better of him is just what that stuck-up prig needs." She shook a finger at Zechs. "And make sure you're seme (dominant) tonight. That bastard is in control too much for his own good."

"Noin!" Zechs exclaimed, scandalized. "I thought you were his friend!"

"What? Of course I'm his friend. Treize is one of my best and oldest friends, but you know I'm right. If you want him, just go get him. Honestly, you make this much more difficult than it needs to be."

Zechs fled. Very often, Noin got like that. She wanted only the best for Zechs and she knew that Treize would be good for Zechs and vice versa. If only they would stop playing games and get the relationship moving.

She considered going out to the hospital despite what Zechs had said, but suddenly her eyes felt very heavy. She'd been awake for more than nineteen hours without rest and she did have to get up fairly early in the morning. Well, might as well take Zechs' advice.

Noin stumbled to her bedroom, but was awake enough to hear the mumbled voices from her brother's room. 'How sweet,' she thought, with a soft smile. 'I do hope this Ryo is worthy of Seiji. Well, he seemed to be a nice young man.' She was considerate enough not to mess around in Seiji's business, though she didn't mind fooling with Zechs' relationship.


Ryou-


Seiji's room was spartan, with only one family photo for decoration. The photo showed a smiling Seiji, only about five or six years old, standing next to a younger Noin with long hair and three adults. He had just one bed and a chest of drawers, on which was an old wooden flute, to hold his clothes. Other than that, the room was pretty much empty.

Ryou helped Seiji to lay down and then sat on the bed next to his friend.

"Seiji, why did you say I have no family? I thought I had a family, but when I tried to remember them, I just can't." This had been worrying Ryou since Seiji had mentioned it in the other room, but before, he hadn't even given it a thought. "I'm sure I haven't been living alone all this time, but I can't remember where I grew up or who I lived with after my grandmother died."

Seiji looked up at Ryo in the half darkness and for the first time, didn't mind the dark. Not when he had Ryou to keep him company. "When we touched that first day in school, I could see your memories. I saw five brothers and a little sister. I saw you living in a fantasy world, also, so I'm not sure if it was real or just something your mind was making up. Tonight, when we touched, I could feel nothing of your family. It was as if something had erased a large part of your mind. You know how to read, don't you?"

"Yes, sure. It took forever to learn, but I finally managed it."

"Who taught you?"

Ryou opened his mouth and then stopped. "I don't remember."

"Did you go to school?"

"Not before I met you. I...I think someone taught me." Ryou was starting to fidget with his hands in his lap, he didn't feel sad at having no family and he thought that he should. Granma died a long time ago, that he remembered so clearly. But, there must have been someone else, right? He couldn't have just spent all those years alone with Byakuen.

"What about Duo?" Seiji asked, putting a hand on Ryou's leg to get his attention.

"Who?"

Seiji frowned this time. "Maxwell Duo. He’s one of your brothers, I remember that from our first touch and he was in our class in school. Do you remember Duo?"

Ryou thought then shook his head. "No. What does he look like?"

"Very distinctive. He's an American with a very long brown braid and you're the same age. He's also, from what I remember, a little hyperactive."

Ryou let his face sink into his hands. "I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about!" He nearly wailed. "I want to remember, but there's just that big blank spot."

Seiji unexpectedly put his hand on Ryou's shoulder and pulled him down onto the bed, gently. "Don't worry too hard about it. I would know if you had amnesia, I think, so it's probably not that. Perhaps there's a psychological reason and you just don't want to remember."

"Huh?" Ryou let himself be pulled down and he rolled so he and Seiji were facing each other.

"It is possible. If something traumatic had happened, you may not want to remember. I felt a lot of love when I saw your family the other day. It would be a shame to lose that. If nothing else, we'll probably see Duo in school on Monday and maybe he'll have some answers."

"Um, Seiji?"

"Yes?" Seiji's eye was closed now, the blood loss must have tired him out so much.

"You're bed is kind of small for the two of us, isn't it?"

Seiji opened his eye. "I am far too polite to let a guest sleep on the floor. If you're uncomfortable, I'll take the floor, myself."

Ryou quickly shook his head. "No! You're hurt, you can't sleep on the floor." How could Seiji even think that Ryou would make him do such a thing?

Seiji replied, "Then relax and go to sleep." He paused for a moment.

They stared at each other for a moment. And then a little longer. And a longer, still. Ryou started blushing when he realized he really wanted to find out what Seiji's hair felt like. Was it as hard and metallic as it looked, or was it soft? Did he dare to touch it?

On the edge of his mind, Ryou felt the other's amusement at him, the others who'd been joined to him through Seiji and now never completely left his mind. They weren't ridiculing him, exactly, but it was still an odd feeling to know that there were other people who knew what he was thinking, including Seiji. Boy, he'd better learn to control what he was thinking or Seiji would hate him!

"You can touch it, if you want." Seiji offered.

Ryou just stared. He didn't know Seiji could read him that well. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"I don't mind."

Ryou licked his lips nervously at the invitation. Somehow, it made him feel slightly sinful to touch the beautiful hair. As if he had no right to defile Seiji in that manner, even if it was just a tiny, innocent touch.

Oh, Seiji had hair of silk! It was softer than anything he'd ever felt before and Ryou couldn't stop himself from burying his fingers in the thick mop of hair. It was a totally sensual feeling, having tiny strands of golden hairs slide under his fingernails and Ryou ended up putting both hands in Seiji's hair, reveling in the sensation.

Seiji lay there passively, just watching Ryou, and didn't move or make any sound at all. Ryou let his hand slip down the back of Seiji's neck, letting it rest there for a moment before going down further down onto Seiji's back. Still, Seiji didn't move, not showing whether he liked it or not.

"Seiji?" Ryou said, starting to get nervous. "Do you want me to do this?" Seiji had such an effective wall built around his mind that it was almost impossible to tell what Seiji was feeling. Ryou didn't want to do this if Seiji didn't want it, though.

Seiji seemed to consider. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out, like he didn't know what he wanted to say.

'Please,' Ryou thought, 'Please don't hate me. I'll stop if you want, but don't hate me for touching you.'

Finally, Seiji lifted his hand and touched the back of Ryou's head. He pulled Ryou closer until their foreheads were touching and Seiji opened his mind. It was just a tiny crack and he only opened it enough to let Ryou see him.

Love.

Beauty.

Warmth.

Fear.

These and more was everything that Seiji saw when he looked at Ryou. He liked the warm touch of Ryou's fingers and the wild beauty that danced in Ryou's eyes. Seiji's heart thundered when he saw Ryou and he felt so incredibly unworthy of Ryou's innocence and kind spirit.

No, he certainly didn't hate Ryou, but he was afraid. Afraid that Ryou would turn away from him if he ever saw Seiji's ruined face. Afraid of being abandoned and alone, again. Seiji had only ever been close to one other person like this, Heero. It was Heero who had turned against him to serve doctor J and perhaps Ryou, too, would turn against Seiji. Seiji didn't want to hurt like that again.

Ryou leaned closer and started to move his hands down Seiji's back again. He would prove that he'd never betray Seiji!

"Stop."

Ryou frowned, but took his hands off Seiji. "What's wrong?”

"The others will feel it and I don't want to share you. Not yet." Seiji reminded Ryou, touched Ryou's temple. "If we try we can feel what they're feeling, so they can feel you, also. They are all trying to figure out who you are."

"What about you? You said they could feel me, but why not you? If we could feel Shin get shot, why couldn't we feel you? I only knew because the attack happened right under the window of my apartment." Now that Ryou thought about it, he couldn't see or feel Seiji unless Seiji wanted him to. That first time had been the only time, and even after Ryou practically carried Seiji home Ryou couldn't get through Seiji's wall.

"I seem to be able to block my mind better than you or the others and I pick up thoughts easier. Until we can all block our minds from each other, I think it would be best if we didn't do anything to embarrass each other."

It was true - Ryou could feel the three others on the edge of his mind. Ryou leaned over so they're faces were only inches apart. "I can wait, but not forever." Whatever made Seiji happy.

Seiji raised his head and kissed Ryou. That much he could share with the others in their minds. The physical touch made them both more vulnerable, and Seiji couldn't block himself from Ryou at that moment. The intimate touch opened their minds like a floodgate and, again, Ryo saw a part of Seiji's life.


What Ryou saw-


Seiji crept into the nearly empty cafeteria and his eyes lit up when he spotted Heero. Heero was still small, though he was now twelve. He'd barely changed in the few years they'd been parted so Seiji recognized him at once.

Today, Heero was alone, without guards, in the cafeteria, a sign of how much they must trust him not to run away or cause trouble. Dressed in plain black, Heero as calmly eating the tasteless "healthy" gruel that they were usually given.

"Heero!" Seiji whispered fiercely. He ran to the table where Heero was sitting and slid into a seat opposite of his friend. "I managed to sneak out, Heero. I'm going to runaway. Come with me."

Heero didn't looked up from his soupy meal. "Go back to your room, Seiji."

"What?"

"You can't escape. Go back to your room before I alert doctor J."

Seiji stumbled to his feet, not believing what he was hearing. "But, Heero, if we do it together, we can get out of here. That's what we've always wanted."

Slowly, Heero's eyes traveled up to meet Seiji's. "Go back."

"You wouldn't betray me, Heero." But Seiji didn't sound so confident.

Heero raised a hand to the communicator pinned to his chest. It was a direct link to Dr. J and could summons him instantly.

Seiji ran.

Perversely, he did as Heero had told him. He ran straight back to his room, his prison before anyone had noticed he was missing and fell on the bed. Heero had sided with doctor J, the enemy. Seiji's world fell apart when he realized he had no more friends. Heero was gone, just another tool for doctor J.

Well, fine. It didn't matter. Seiji would bide his time and escape on his own. He didn't need Heero.

Really, he didn't.

So why was he crying?


End of Flashback-


Seiji felt the kiss end and he was still crying. Ryou kissed the tears away with little, light touches of his lips and trying to share him most comforting memories. A spot of laughter, time running through the trees of a mountain, and watching an old woman bake bread. Then it was over and Seiji was left looking at Ryou.

Ryou rested his head on Seiji's shoulder. "I won't do that anymore if you don't want me to."

"I don't mind."

"But you're crying." Ryou protested. "I don't want to make you cry."

"I wouldn't have told anyone if you hadn't found out like that. Noin doesn't know what it was like when I was away from her, and I don't want her to know. It would only upset her. But, I'm glad someone knows."

"That boy, Heero, he was the one who attacked you in the alley, wasn't he?"

Seiji silently nodded.

"Do you really think he hates you?"

"No. Heero doesn't hate anyone. This is just his job." Seiji sighed. "That's what Heero and I were programmed to do, to kill. I really didn't think he'd have given in so completely to doctor J, though." Seiji closed his eye. "I guess I didn't know him as well as I thought I did."


Noin-


Noin woke early, as was her habit, and stretched without opening her eyes. She definitely shouldn't have stayed up so late last night! With a yawn, Noin rolled over, determined to get another five minutes of sleep. She rolled into something large and furry and Noin frowned. That wasn't right. There shouldn't be anything in her bed like that.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, prepared for almost anything, except what she saw.

Noin screamed.

Only seconds later, Ryou and Seiji ran into the room, both only partly dressed, with Ryou wearing a pair of Seiji's jeans, to find out what was going on.

Ryou smiled. "Byakuen! I was wondering where you'd gone." Ryou jumped over Noin and landed on her bed next to the large white tiger to hug him.

Noin stared in disbelief. "No offense, kid, but what's your tiger doing in my bed?" She picked herself up with a little help from Seiji who was just as puzzled.

Ryou nuzzled Byakuen. "He was just looking for a warm place to sleep. You shouldn't scream, though." He gave her a reproving look. "You'll scare him."

"I'll scare him?" Noin repeated sarcastically. Oh, it was going to be a long day.


Duo-


"Do you plan on paying for those, kid?" The sour looking shopkeeper asked Duo.

"Well, sure I was." Duo lied happily. Duo started to pat himself all over. "Money, money, oh, dear. I seem to have left it all my money at the house. Wait while I go get it, won't you?" Duo took off running as fast as he could with his hand full of fruit.

"You brat!" The shopkeeper screamed. "Little thief!"

Duo ran for a while, laughing all the way, before dodging into an alley and running to hide behind a dumpster. That had been wonderful! Duo actually had to hold a hand over his mouth so the irate shopkeeper wouldn't hear him when he ran by.

"Well, I may be a little rusty, but I've still got it!" Sliding down to sit on the ground, Duo put a hand down and was more than a little surprised when it came down on a foot. Duo froze and slid his eyes down to find who he was sharing the alley with.

It was him! Duo's mouth fell open when he saw the sharp face and dark brown hair. Duo remembered the guy from his dreams and had to smile. Abandoned in this world, that now seemed so alien, Duo couldn't believe his luck in finding this guy. Now what to do with the sleeping guy.

"Hey, conscience," Duo called out to that little voice that was supposed to tell you when you were about to do a bad thing. "Where are you?" Sister Helen had told him all about that conscience thing when he was very little.

"Right here, cutie." Duo looked up over his left shoulder. There was a little man with bat wings hovering there, looking at him. The little man had a pleasant smile and innocent demeanor.

"You're my conscience?" Duo asked the little man, er, demon, er, thing.

The little man laughed. "Conscience? Naw, I killed him a day or so ago. I hope you don't mind."

Duo shrugged. "Not really. So, who are you?"

"I'm your evil side."

Duo frowned at the rather cute little man. "You don't look very evil."

"Give me a break. So maybe I'm your slightly naughty side. Look what I've got to work with!" The man gestured to Duo. "Now, what's your problem?"

Duo motioned down to the unconscious boy. "What do I do with this guy?"

The man examined the boy. He thought carefully before smiling back at Duo. "Strip him naked and paint him blue."

Duo smiled. "I like it!"

"Wait," The little man warned. "Better take that gun away from him first." He pointed to the gun clutched in the boy's hand. "Those things are dangerous, you know."

"Good idea. Here, you hold it. Say, where am I going to find blue paint this time of night?"


Heero-


Heero woke up and instantly knew something was wrong. As he normally did, he analyzed the situation before he opened his eyes. He was laying on hard cement and it was cold, probably night. There was also something coating his body and it wasn't clothes. A soft giggle.

Heero opened his eyes reluctantly and the first thing he saw was a boy with a long braid over one shoulder which he was twisting with both hands almost nervously. The boy bit his bottom lip to stifle another giggle.

Heero finally looked down at himself. He was striped. Heero blinked to clear his vision and confirm that what he saw was reality and not just a dream. Nope, it was real. Someone, Heero's mind of course chose the braided boy as the most likely suspect, had painted him in blue stripes.

"I didn't have enough paint to do you completely blue, so I settled for stripes." The boy finally spoke. "Do you like it?"

"Where are my clothes?"

The boy's grin grew. "Oh, I burned them up." He pointed to a small fire he'd apparently built. "It was very cold out here."

"So you left me naked in the cold?"

"Yes." He twisted his braid again. "Do you like the paint job?"

Heero considered the question very seriously and stood up to examine his body. Well, although he didn't especially like being painted in general, the work was, in fact, very good. Nice even lines and no mess to speak of. It was a pleasant shade of blue, too.

"Yes." Heero answered honestly. "You did a very good job."

The braided boy practically glowed with the compliment. "Thanks."

"I need my clothes and my gun, now." Heero's mind returned to the business at hand.

"Well, sorry about the clothes, but you can have the gun back, he said you might get upset when you woke up so I took it away from you." The boy pulled the gun out of his colorful robes and tossed it easily back to Heero.

"He?" Heero asked, wondering if there was someone else around here he should worry about.

The boy pointed over his left shoulder. "Him."

Heero looked and couldn't see anyone. He gave the boy a puzzled look.

The boy looked over his shoulder and then back at Heero. "Sorry, he says only I can see him. He's my evil side and he thought you'd look nice in blue." The boy said this all with a cheery smile on his face as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Are you insane?" Heero asked curiously. He'd never met anyone who was insane before so this would be an interesting experience. Perhaps this boy was related to that little girl, Kay. She had seemed to be slightly mad, also.

The boy thought for a minute. "Ummm, I don't think so. My brothers used to tell me that I was nuts, so maybe I am and just never knew it."

The boy's smile started to fade as he mentioned his brothers and Heero vaguely wondered what was wrong. He liked it when this boy smiled and when he didn't the boy didn't seem nearly so intriguing.

"When did you meet your friend? The one who told you to paint me blue."

"Um, it was just today, but he said he killed my conscience a few days ago, just about the time I got kicked out of home." His face fell even more at that, and then he forced a smile. "I'm Duo Maxwell. Who are you?"

"Heero." Heero was surprised that he'd given so much away to a stranger. He wasn't supposed to tell anyone his name. If he developed his sickness after being kicked out of his home, it was most likely that he'd suffered mental trauma and was now suffering from delusions.

Heero also wondered what he should do about clothes. This boy in front of him looked about his size. It would be better than walking around undressed, as that would cause far too much commotion. Hmmm, Duo looked about his size. Duo gripped his gun tightly, ready for action if Duo should decide to fight.


Touma-


Touma carried in the mail, sorting it as he walked up the driveway. Rashid, Rashid, Quatre, Rashid, Quatre, Quatre, Touma, Rashid, Rashid...Wait a minute! Touma went back until he found the one addressed to him. No one ever wrote ho him, but here it was.

Hashiba Touma from...

Touma's eyes popped open when he saw who the letter was from and he instantly dropped the rest of the mail to tear into the letter. This was the one he'd been waiting for weeks now. He nervously and quickly read the short note that was inside the letter.

"YES!!!" Touma screamed happily, jumping into the air before running into the house as fast as he could. Touma didn't get very far before he ran into Quatre. "Hey, Kitty, you won't believe it!"

Quatre smiled at Touma's unusually happy mood. "What's gotten into you?"

Touma shoved the letter at Quatre. "Read it!"

Dear Mr. Hashiba Touma,

I am pleased to inform you that on your entrance exams, you have scored the highest records marks of any applicant. Although at your age, 15, you are to young to be hired by the Alliance, I would be honored to interview you for a future job working as a technician in our Mobile Suit design labs. With the intelligence you have shown along with diligence in your studies, I believe you would be remarkable addition to our group. Please expect a representative for an interview at your home on December 21 at 5:00 P.M.

Sincerely,

Captain Jaing, Alliance recruiting


Quatre-


Quatre stared at the letter, dumbfounded. Slowly, Quatre looked up at Touma who was still hopping excitedly up and down. "You...you want to work for the Alliance?" This just couldn't be happening.

Touma smiled proudly. "I studied for months to get into the exam, it's only supposed to be for college students, but they said they couldn't refuse me because my grades were just so damned good. Just think, Kitty, this could mean a whole new life for me! I might someday make the biggest, most powerful Mobile Suit ever created!"

That was half of what Quatre was afraid of. If Touma really joined forces with the Alliance, it would be a very, very bad thing. Touma had a tendency to just do the assignment and not question what the purpose or morality. The Alliance would make great use of Touma's intelligence, making them far stronger than they were, even now.

But, more importantly, what would happen to Touma? Touma was, Quatre knew, not the most stable of people. Because of his past, Touma tended to withdraw from people and throw himself into the challenge of any kind of work. That meant that the Alliance would have a genius working for him that didn't want to stop working.

Quatre, himself, had plans for the Alliance. He was one chosen to become Gundam pilots to destroy the power forces of Earth and make life safer for the colonies. That meant he'd be working against Touma and, even if Touma didn't know it, Touma would be creating weapons to kill Quatre.

"You should refuse." Quatre said quietly, knowing that it would hurt Touma. Quatre folded the letter and handed it back to Touma.

Touma stared at Quatre, confused, and his happiness drained away. "What? Why?"

"I just don't think you should be so eager to work for the Alliance." Quatre said. "They've done things that are...questionable."

Touma started to get angry, snatching his letter back from Quatre and clutching it tightly. "I don't believe this! For the first time in my life, I have the chance to make something of myself and you don't want me to take it. I have a real chance to do something, to change the world and you don't want me to even try?"

"No, Touma, that's not it..."

"Do you want me to be dependent on you and Rasid for the rest of my life, Kitty? To always be the poor, pitiful Touma, the one you rescued and took in?" His voice was becoming bitter as he got angrier and angrier. He knew it wasn’t true, but couldn’t seem to stop himself from talking. "I'm not going to do it! I want to be someone! I want to..."

"Touma!"

Touma and Quatre both turned to find Rashid standing in the doorway. Touma, sure that Rasid would be happy for him, quickly went to his foster father and showed him the letter. Instead of what he'd expected, though, Rasid looked even more disapproving that Quatre, but remained silent.

"Come on, sir." Touma was half begging. "I...I worked hard for this. I studied for months just to get a chance at the exam. I wanted to make you proud."

Rasid shook his head. "I'm sorry, Touma. I don't approve of the Alliance and I don't want you working for them."

Touma shook for a moment and then exploded. "I'll take the job! I won't pass up this chance just 'cause you don't want me to do it!" Touma ran outside and took off into the woods before Rasid or Quatre could even say a word.

For a moment, neither Quatre nor Rashid said anything. Finally, Quatre made his way to the telephone and dialed quickly. "Hello. I'd like to have a word with Mr. Treize Kushranada. Tell him...tell him Quatre would like a word in private."


Touma-


Touma scowled up at Orion, the hunter, holding his bow; cocked and ready for...for whatever he was waiting for. It was Orion who'd brought the Orb and the link to the others to Touma. Orion who' d set him on this path that he didn't know the destination.

"What am I going to do?" Touma asked himself out loud. He'd worked so hard for the chance to make everyone proud of him, not just pity him. So long and hard and now the very people he wanted to make proud were set against his plans! "They could show just a little support." Touma grumbled and settled himself onto the edge of the cliff.

This was his favorite spot, buried deep within the forest that surrounded Quatre's mansion; the cliff loomed high over a river and was he best spot for miles to watch the stars.

A feeling invaded Touma's thoughts, a warm touch, uncertain of it's welcome, but concerned. This was the one Touma hadn't met, yet. The one that was with Seiji. While he was familiar and comfortable with the mind-touches from Xiu and, to an extent, the distant Seiji, this other was a bit of a mystery. Even Shin, whom Touma didn't much like, felt right and comfortable when he was in Touma's mind.

Still new at this whole thing, Touma tried to stretch his mind and reach out to the other one and found it remarkable easy, almost natural. "I'm okay, don't worry about me." Touma said out loud, though he was almost positive the other would only feel emotions, as he did, and not actual words or thoughts. Touma relaxed as much as he could, thinking about the stars and not the letter or his family.

The other, now appeased that Touma was all right and didn't need help, slid back into sleep, not yet ready for the day. Seiji's mind opened to him, coming out from behind the shield, and touched Touma, reassuringly. He wasn't so easily fooled as the other was into thinking everything was alright. Seiji knew something was wrong, didn't ask questions, but simply sent comfort. Touma was grateful for that more than anything.

Xiu, so far away, Touma knew Xiu was now traveling in the stars up above to the colony where Wufei's clan lived, felt as if he were right next to Touma. Xiu, also, was upset about something, but it wasn't something dreadful, just a worry. Still, he rubbed Touma's mind in a friendly, familiar fashion. Like two cats rubbing against each other, their minds touched and Touma, once again, was jealous of Shin.

Touma knew that Xiu was in love with Shin the moment he'd seen the two together and it hurt, badly. Xiu was everything Touma had ever wanted. Strong, honest, happy, and wonderfully innocent. Then Shin comes along...

"Hello. Are you all right?"

Speak of the devil.

Shin sat down gracefully next to Touma, drawing his legs up to his chest and looking, not at Touma or the stars, but down at the raging river below. Touma had hated Shin, at first, offering his home to Shin only for Xiu's sake. Shin was handsome, smart, graceful, kind, and sweet. It was no wonder that Xiu had fallen so hard for him. It just didn't seem fair that Shin had come out of nowhere and taken Xiu away like that!

It was worse that everyone knew exactly what he felt!

But, Shin was so wonderfully kind and sweet-natured, it was nearly impossible to hate him. Over just the past few days, Shin had worn down Touma from hating him to just disliking him.

"I have an interview for a future job as a technician in the Alliance tomorrow." Touma told him.

Shin smiled happily. "That's wonderful!" But when Touma didn't stop frowning at the sky, Shin looked up from the river. "Isn't it?"

"Sure, it's great, but Kitty and Rasid are set against me on it and I don't know why."

Shin inched closer to Touma, warring between the fact that Touma didn't like to be touched and his own need to comfort and help. Shin settled for just sitting as close as possible without actually touching. "I think you should go for it." Shin advised quietly.

"Really?" Touma looked up suspiciously, even though he knew that Shin wasn't lying, the link was good for that sort of thing.

Shin nodded, focusing his eyes on the river below, again. "Sure. I can feel how much you want it and, although I think Quatre and Rasid must have good reasons, perhaps they don't understand how much you want to do this. Or, you could tell them that if they'll give you a good reason, you'll think about not taking the job."

Touma stood abruptly and started pacing along the cliff. "I just don't know what's going on! Kitty and I have had all the same training our whole lives, Rasid and Abdul have taught us to be warriors, and I thought I knew everything about them. Now they're holding something back! It seems so stupid, too. It's just a job, after all. There's no reason to keep information away from me."

"All you can do is ask them."


Wufei-


Wufei was currently in the bathroom of the shuttle that was taking him and the Fan family to L5. Wufei carefully set the ornamental hat on his head and pulled on the ceremonial robes. They would arrive on A0206 very shortly, the colony where Wufei had been born and raised. It would be so good to see Meiran again. To hold her tiny hand.

"Hey, Wuffers, you done yet?" Xiu shouted through the door of the shuttle's bathroom.

"Nearly." Wufei replied, refusing to be baited by the nickname, he was in far too good of a mood.

Xiu came in, closing the door behind him, and admired Wufei's outfit. "Wow! You look great!" He went behind Wufei and started to straighten his cousin's robes, smoothing out the back. "Mama's jumping at the chance to meet Meiran, you know. I hope she doesn't mind bear hugs, you know how mama is." Xiu started to rub his forehead.

"I think Meiran will survive it." In the mirror, Wufei noticed something sparkling around Xiu's neck and he tapped the mirror where he saw the small orange glass ball. "What's that?"

Xiu fingered the small ball that was hanging on a silver chain, but didn't quite answer. "I'm not really sure." Xiu grimaced and squinted his eyes for a minute. "I found it the other day in the alley."

"Trowa said that Shin found a small glass ball when he went into the sea that day." Wufei slowly turned around and looked Xiu right in the eyes. "Does it have anything to do with that?"

"Well...Um...it sort of does."

"Sort of?" Xiu never lied, he was far too honest, but it was rare for Xiu to not answer directly. "Come on, tell me what's going on."

"I just found it in the alley a couple of days ago. Not that important, is it? I just thought it was pretty."

"Pretty?" Xiu was normally far too 'manly' to use words like pretty. He considered them sissy words, odd as that may sound.

"Yeah," Xiu became suddenly defensive. "Pretty!"

"Okay, whatever you say." Wufei decided to let the subject drop, but he wasn't about to let the mystery go quite as easily. Xiu was involved in something Wufei really didn't understand and that was not to be allowed. Not with his cousin. "Is something the matter?" He finally asked, watching Xiu massage his forehead again.

"Touma's upset, but I don't know what about." Xiu answered. "I'm trying to calm him down, but he's really worked up."

"That 'link' thing again, huh?"

"Yeah, this is really weird. I know he's upset and that everyone else knows, too. I don't know enough to be worried though. For all I know, he's just having a nightmare. Shin's going to check on him."

"Should I wear my glasses or not?" Wufei asked, picking up his reading glasses from the bathroom counter, more to change the subject rather than out of vanity. He didn't like this talk of telepathic links and other mystic nonsense he didn't understand. Wufei was all for religion and faith in the unbelievable, but it was different when it came to his own family. Xiu shouldn't have been thrown into something like this. It was better to take the subject to safer grounds.

"I'd wear them if I were you. They make you look really smart."

Well, that was decided. Wufei looked at himself in the mirror and he was ready for the biggest day of his life. Marriage. Responsibility. Children. Forever and forever and forever... Wufei suddenly got a queasy feeling in his stomach. "I'm going to throw up.”

Xiu panicked. "What? You can't. We'll be there in twenty minutes! You don't want Meiran to see you toss your cookies, do you?"

The thought of Meiran only make the situation worse and sent Wufei's head spinning. "Oh, no." He mumbled. But Xiu was right; he really didn't want to humiliation of having Meiran see him throwing up. Wufei put a hand to his mouth.

"No! No! No!" Xiu waved his arms frantically. "You're in your fancy clothes. Hold it in, man! Hold it in!"

"I can't." Wufei sunk to his knees, desperately searching for the toilet. He'd decided that this was the perfect time to change his religion and, if he could only find her, he'd start worshipping her almighty holiness, the porcelain goddess.

Finally, finding it, Wufei grabbed the sides of the toilet and happened to look up to see the photo of Meiran he'd taped up on the mirror. Oh, she was so beautiful, with her sweet smile. Her eyes were so bright. 'Oh, my stomach!'

Wufei heaved violently, emptying his stomach into his new goddess, and he dimly heard Shu scream, "Mama!" The bathroom door opened and slammed shut.

For a moment, Wufei was alone in the bathroom, smelling his own vomit and feeling like an idiot. "Please, let me die." He mumbled.

Strong arms wrapped around him and a hand started to rub his back. Wufei hadn't had someone hold him like this since his mother had died. "Poor baby." Auntie Fan was holding him and whispering comfortingly in his ear. "Everything will be alright. You just relax, sweetie."

Wufei's eyes were watering from the horrid smell and he let himself be drawn back into her vast bosom. He closed his eyes and begged. "Please, just kill me now."

Auntie Fan laughed. "I don't think that would be a good idea, sweetie. Meiran would be awfully upset to find herself a widow before she was bride, don't you think?" Her large hands smoothed back his hair.

Unfortunately, the thought of his future wife didn't help Wufei's stomach. He groaned miserable, but managed not to throw up again.

"I've never seen such a fast case of wedding day jitters." Auntie commented, sounding mildly amused.

"Jitters? This can't just be jitters. I'm dying!"

She smiled kindly down at him. "Trust me, sweetie. This is just jitters and you'll be fine in just a minute. Take a few deep breaths."