"A War Worth Fighting"

Written By: SkyLark

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundman Wing, or its characters. I just love playing with them.

Pairings: Eventual 1x2

Warnings: Swearing, angst, violence, angst, torture, did I mention angst?

Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*

Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm and
http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html

Rating: R

Summary: Duo is fighting in the second World War when he's captured by the enemy.

To view the pic by shiyasim that inspired this fic; click HERE

"A War Worth Fighting"

Heero kept his head down behind a large bush as he scanned the field around him and the perimeter of the house a few feet ahead of him. His breath pulled out in puffs of vapor as he quieted himself to listen for the smallest of sounds. Both hands gripping the gun and aiming it at the ground, he was ready to take out anyone or anything that got in their way.

Silently, the sergeant willed Duo to move more quickly. While the home and shed appeared abandoned when they found it, one could never be too careful of a person lingering around. The fact that there was not any commotion from the place when the braided soldier slipped inside was a good sign, but the nerves could not be helped.

According to the American, he was a professional lock-pick and excellent in stealth. Not exactly liking the thought of stealing from his own, Heero was more than happy to give him the job of breaking in and adding to their supplies. Maxwell went off with a grin of anticipation at actually having something that would put his trained skills to use.

This was the survival game, the officer reminded himself. This was nothing personal against whomever owned the property. They simply had to do everything that they could to make it out on their own. It was no different than when soldiers killed each other on the field. They never knew each other personally or had anything against one another besides happening to be on opposite sides of the war.

Kill of be killed. Steal, cheat and lie to make it out alive. This was simply the way the world worked now. There was nothing personal about it.

And an opportunity like this might never come around again in this nearly uninhabited part of the island. They simply had to take it.

Finally, after an eternity, Heero spotted his friend casually opening and stepping through the front door of the shed with four new full packs on his back. Taking a deep breath, the officer was even more cautious of watching their surroundings. Duo retrieved his discarded brush and took his time getting back to the large bush to make certain that his tracks in the snow were covered.

"Jackpot," the American smirked when he reunited with his friend. Gesturing to the packs on him, he commented, "It's more to carry, but this stuff will go a long way for us while we are hiding out there." His braided head shifted to the mountain ranges that they were closing in on.

As the sergeant went through the bags to inspect the items inside, Duo reassured, "I made sure to not clean them out. They still have quite a bit left behind. Enough that it'll take time for them to realize that anyone had been there."

Heero looked up to him with wide cobalt eyes. A small smile tugged his lips at the understanding that his partner had shown over his trepidation of stealing from a 'neighbor.'

Along with seeing that the owner or owners did not starve when they returned, there was the added benefit of their not being tipped off to anything being wrong right away.

It just allowed them more time to get ahead before anyone even knew they were there.

More than satisfied with the non-perishables that were amongst the items in the packs, the officer secured them and slung two of them over his shoulders along with the pair he already had. Doing the same, the private rose straightened himself first and grabbed his faithful brush.

Once they were on the move again, Duo looked over to his companion and asked almost hesitantly, "So... I've been meaning to ask if the Sergeant Major told you anything about how the war was going during your last call."

Taking in a sharp, cold breath at that, Heero swallowed roughly. Really, there was no reason to not answer honestly. But in doing so, it only made the harsh reality that much more real in having to face it.

"Germany will most likely fall in a matter of weeks," he stated simply, looking ahead as he tried not to let his own words sink in. "The Allies are closing in on both sides between the Russians at the east and the Americans at the west. Clearly Hitler has not played his cards the way he should have."

Nearly falling over at the news, Maxwell blinked his wide violet eyes in disbelief. "Really?" was all that he could manage quietly. He continued to walk on only as a means to keep from toppling as he knew he would if he stopped. "Then... there would have to be a surrender here when that happens."

Laughing, he did finally stop and raised his arms in the air to exclaim, "The war's almost over, 'Ro! We just hide out for a few weeks and we won't have to run anymore!"

Heero paused and slowly looked to his friend with a deep frown. Confused by the other soldier's demeanor, Duo tilted his head as a frown marred his own face. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.

"It is not that simple," the sergeant sighed as he shook his head. A new drift of snow began to float down from the overcast skies as he stated, "There will be no surrender when Germany is overrun. That has been made perfectly clear to the military officials by the emperor and head general leading the country."

Shoulders slumping, the American's jaw fell slack. "A-are they crazy!?" he yelled. "That's insane! You know exactly what will happen if all of the focus from the Allies is brought down on the people here! I understand that they see dishonor in surrendering but-!"

Cutting him off, Heero shouted in frustration, "It is out of our hands, Duo! Whatever their reasons behind it, there will be no surrender!"

Pale in the face, Duo stood there dumbfounded. An entire nation of people was going to have the gauntlet thrown down on them if what his partner was saying came to be. And judging by the certainty in his partner's voice, he knew that was exactly how the final act of the war would play out.

There would be massive deaths on both sides of the battle when it came to Japan. Everyone willing and able in the country would be up in arms to defend themselves and the Americans would answer in kind.

If anyone thought that the war was bad before... there would not be anything witnessed like that struggle. Pride and honor were two things behind the Japanese people- especially their leaders. And it would deal them a terrible fate.

His eyes shimmering, Heero closed them and turned his head away to fight the tears. No matter what, this was his home. These were his people. While he may be acting against their wishes because he believed it was the right thing, he still could not deny that he had a connection to them.

And before long, everything that they had come to know and love was going to be changed forever.

Biting his lip and fighting the sting in his own eyes, Duo closed the distance between them to pull the sergeant close. "We may come from opposite sides of the fence," he whispered fiercely. "But I don't want to see anything like that happen to your home, 'Ro. I swear I don't."

All but collapsing into the embrace, Heero wrapped his arms around the braided soldier and rested his head against a shoulder so his tears would be absorbed. When he pulled back, he met the watery gaze on him and nodded, "I know. Like I said, whatever happens is out of our hands. We just have to do what we must to survive as anyone else would."

There was still a great deal of pain in the officer, Duo knew that, but he let it be. Something like this his partner needed to come to terms with in his own time. Meanwhile, he would just remain the ever present support he had been since they met.

Nodding his braided head shallowly, he took up his brush in one hand and reached out with the free one. Gratefully gripping on tightly to the offered hand, Heero led them on.

Behind them, their tracks disappeared as they were buried under the fresh snow falling as if they were never there. Ghosts to the world except to each other, they carried on.

After a long silence, Duo chewed on the inside of his lip and commented, "It's been just over five days since we left the flat. I think by now the Sergeant Major and Treize have realized that we're gone."

Smirking, Heero chuckled, "I almost wish that I was there just so that I could see the looks on their faces. They're certainly not going to be very happy."

* * * *

Treize had a good look at the batch of soldiers held at Muroran that morning and he certainly liked what he had seen. It was certainly a nice bunch to start with. But then came the news that there was one particularly exquisite prisoner that was being held in a secluded, secured location and his heart started hammering in his chest at the anticipation that began to build.

For the American to be taken to such a place for his protection, he must be incredibly special. Treize was very much looking forward to making his acquaintance. So much so that he requested to be taken to meet him that same day.

Riding in the back seat of the military car with the Sergeant Major, the liaison could feel his blood pressure rising when they passed the lookout tower that stood beside the road they traveled. Small beads of sweat dampened the back of his neck and he fiddled with his hands in his lap anxiously.

At last, his wait was ended when the old man beside him announced, "Here we are."

Looking ahead and past the soldiers in the driver and passenger seats, Treize's gaze fell on the simple looking flat the middle of the forest around them. The snow all around only made the whole scene all the more quaint.

With a smile, the tall man turned to the officer and said in Japanese, "Quite nice. I appreciate your allowing me to stay here. The seclusion and protection will be just what I need to help me… focus myself on helping your country."

The Major cleared his throat and looked away from the eerie smile on Khushrenada's face. It was not a secret to him what the man needed to `focus.' "You are welcome to stay as long as you live up to your end of the bargain," he replied with a hint of warning.

Raising his hands as the car rolled to a stop beside the estate, Treize smirked, "Of course. I will put every effort into looking out for Japan's best interest in the war. You need not worry about that, my friend. We are both on the same side."

Satisfied with that, the old man nodded firmly and adjusted his uniform cap before opening his car door to step out. On his way to the front door with Treize and his two men right behind, he sighed, "It will be good to relieve First Sergeant Yuy. No doubt he has been looking forward to this visit."

Not bothering with knocking, the officer removed the key from his pocket to unlock the door. Kicking off his shoes just inside the doorway, he called into the flat, "Heero. We are here to bring you back to Muroran to receive your reassignment."

When there was not an immediate response, a chill ran up the Major's spine and his dark eyes widened. Something was wrong. There was not even a sound from anywhere in the flat as a sign that the soldier was coming to meet them.

The door was closed behind the soldiers when they stepped in while their commander called for Heero once more. Frowning, Treize stepped deeper into the living room when his usher did the same. Still, there was no response from the First Sergeant.

His eyes narrowing, the old man headed for the cell at the back of the flat. Surely Heero had to be getting the prisoner ready and could not hear his calls.

That had to be the explanation.

In his observation of the grounds of the flat, there were no footprints to be found and so the boy did not leave the facility any time recently. Quick on his heels, Treize and his confused men followed after the Major.

Stepping into the holding room, the officer threw the light on and froze with a sharp gasp. Before him, the cell lay open and empty. "No," he breathed, eyes wide in disbelief over what he was seeing. All but spinning on his heel, his eyes narrowed as he shouted in rage to his guards, "Search the area!"

Treize bit his lip to cover his amusement as the armed men behind him all but ran each other over in their scramble out of the room. Clearing his throat, he folded his hands behind his back and stepped into the opening of the cell. "No sign of struggle here or anywhere in the rooms we passed. No stench of death or even a trace of blood anywhere. It would appear as though your guard stationed here made off with the prisoner."

Violently shaking his head, the old man cried, "That is not possible! Yuy is one of my most reliable men! He would never do anything like this! There must be some explanation!"

Peering out of the corner of his eye, the tall liaison smirked, "Of course there is. There was an escape. I do not believe that this Sergeant Yuy would allow himself be taken by the prisoner against his will. And if he was, he would not have done such an effective job of covering his tracks outside."

Face burning, the Sergeant Major turned back to the door just as his men ran back in. Panting and clearly worried, the pair looked to each other before the soldier closer to his superior swallowed and frowned, "Sir, there is no sign of First Sergeant Yuy or the American."

Nervously rubbing his hands together, the second guard added, "We also found that the pantry looks to have been raided along with the clothing supply in the bedrooms."

Dumbfounded, the old man's shoulder fell along with his jaw. Pale faced, there was a piercing buzz in his ears from the overload of thoughts running through his head. Chuckling, Treize shook his head, "Any further doubt that you have been had by one of your own?"

With a deep growl, the officer pushed his way past his audience for the only telephone in the living room. Only until he called every lookout tower and had the confirmation from each soldier stationed there that there was nothing out of the ordinary- no signs of Yuy or that private- did he slowly lower the receiver and allow the reality of the situation sink in.

Heero had betrayed him… his country for that prisoner by escaping with him. And there was no telling which way they retreated or how much time ahead they had in their move.

Fists clenched tightly at his sides, the Sergeant Major turned to face Treize and his men. "I am going to return to Muroran to inform every soldier available here to search for them," he gritted very slowly. "They are not going to get away with this."

Treize folded his arms and snickered, "Well, I certainly hope that they are more successful at finding them than you were at holding them. I am not sure how much faith I can put into your country's decision makers when one of your rank can have something like this happen right under his nose."

Livid, the old man's face burned again as he gritted, "Mister Khushrenada, I do apologize that I was not able to secure the number of soldiers that had been a part of our agreement. However, there will be more soldiers taken in as prisoners."

A dark smile tugged his lips when he continued, "Until then, you will stay here and look over the reports that I have brought with me. You will hold up your end of the bargain as we fulfill our own. Until then, you will not see a single soldier and you will not leave here. There will be a ring of my men close to see that the prior mistakes are not repeated."

His eyes widening, Treize stammered, "Y-you cannot do that!"

"Oh?" the other man replied with a raised eyebrow. "I thought that we were on the same side. We have an agreement and I will see that we have the specifics of your terms met. You wanted thirty soldiers. We only have twenty-nine now. The moment we have the last one to replace the one we lost, you will be notified. But this will also be a means of protection for my people in seeing that you do not decide one day to just pick up and leave us behind."

Leaning in, the Major grinned, "Surely you have no qualms in proving that such a thing was never your intention by sticking around here until we can see your needs are met as they had been requested?" At either side of the liaison, the soldiers placed a hand on the handles of their pistols at their hips and glared at him.

Suddenly finding himself trapped in a rather precarious situation, Treize did well to cover his rough swallow while straightening himself. With a firm nod, he answered, "Of course not. I simply was concerned of how I was to fend for myself if I am to be alone here."

Waving a hand, the old soldier reassured, "All you could ever need will be provided for you. Now, I best go and dig up those reports that are waiting in the car. You will have plenty of time to go over the maps and options with all of the privacy and protection you need to… focus as you so put it." That said, he turned and headed from the flat.

"Of course," was all that the liaison could manage as he watched the retreating back.

It took every effort on Treize's part to refrain from screaming in rage at that point. `Well, well,' he thought to himself. `This was certainly an unexpected turn of events.'

* * * *

Later that evening…

Panting heavily from their efforts to cover the most ground they had in one day, Heero and Duo stared up at the steep slopes of the mountain ranges they had been trekking for.

Finally. They'd reached their haven for however long they needed to hide out before they reached the city of Hokkaido. From where they stood, they could see the many crevasses and caverns in the sides of the rises where they would be able to take refuge without being spotted in the setting sunlight.

Smiling at one another, they finally breathed their first real sigh of relief since leaving the flat.

At last, it really looked like they were going to be all right.

TBC

 

chapter 25

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