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"Shinigami’s Lot "Written By: t-shirt Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. Written for
pleasure not profit. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU/High School Gang War, Violence, blood,
fighting, violent NCS (rape), language, Bastardized Hiiro (in the
beginning), Evil Dr. J, Evil Relena, Prejudice, angst, OOC, Duo POV,
humor believe it or not! and I'm told this one will give you a freakishly
dark case of the warm fuzzies before its all over. >;^/ Pairings: 2+Hilde, 2+Solo, 2+4, 2+5, 1+3, Rx1
(unrequited), Mx5 (also unrequited), 5x13, 6x9, 3x4, SoloxCatherine,
and yes! 1X2!!!! YeeAAaay! Summary: A small town harbors big trouble as rival
factions face off in a war seemingly bred of predjudice and ill content.
While Hiiro's White Wing Gang tries to banish the gay community Duo
does his best to protect those that have come to be known as 'Shinigami's
Lot'. However, dark secrets and misunderstandings lead them on an
inevitable path back to one another as old feelings refuse to fade
and they discover a love that will ultimately survive. "Shinigami’s Lot "
Chapter 6 Zechs crept on silent feet, stealthily approaching his quarry. His young wife peered from beneath her dark purple bangs watching in adoring admiration as her husband executed a perfect tuck and roll, sliding a huge chunk of ice down Treize’s shirt. Wufei squawked in indignation and rounded on his lover as his ass was suddenly squeezed hard in lieu of the tender caresses it had been receiving a moment before. Zechs and Noin laughed heartily while Treize jumped and squirmed trying to rid himself of the offensively wet rock. “Damn it, Zechs!” Treize wailed. The platinum haired man roared with laugher and ran to hide behind his chortling wife. “You’ve been petting his ass for thirty minutes!” he informed his boss from his safe haven. “Get over it or get a room!” Treize broke out laughing but soon regained his composure while Wufei scowled and rubbed his aching butt. “Don’t be mad, love,” the ginger haired man told his pouting lover. “It didn’t hurt that bad, did it? I’m sorry,” he offered, moving closer to the Chinese boy. “Let me see.” “No,” Wufei refused. Treize cuddled up to him and pulled the reluctant boy into his arms despite his scowling face, smiling as he teased, “I’ll kiss it and make it better!? Hmm?” “Gods. Don’t you two ever give it a rest?” Noin asked, blowing a stand of her purple hair from her face. “You’re one to talk,” Treize grinned, glancing at the hand she was rubbing her husband’s thigh with. She jerked it off the moment she realized what she was doing and scowled hotly as she went back to polishing her glasses. Treize’s eyes settled on the lone girl on the dance floor as she pushed her dust mop and sighed as he pulled his lover closer. “Do you really think this is a good idea? Having her work here? It seems like we’re mocking her,” he sighed. “That is exactly what we are doing,” Wufei sneered glaring at the girls back. “She deserves no less after what she’s done. Perhaps she will finally accept me for who I am.” “I accept you for who you are,” Treize grinned. “You’d accept me if I had no eyes and wore a basket on my head,” the boy chided, smacking him and pulling out of his arms. Treize paused to admire the boy’s tight little ass for a moment, then raised his brows and popped it once, causing him to bark and turn glaring eyes on him but the man grinned unrepentantly. “I’d miss your eyes,” he told him, moving in for a quick kiss that was only half heartedly returned before they went back to perusing the club’s books. Meilan heard them playing but refused to look at them. The fact that she was sweeping the floor with sore hands and an aching back while her husband played with his lover and friends weighed heavily on her heart. Why couldn’t he love her like that? Was she so repulsive? A single tear slipped down her golden cheek as she pushed the pile of dust along the polished floor. By ten o’clock that night, the floor was packed with energetic dancers eager for their shot at the stage. It was the second Saturday of the month and the excitement was doubled by the upcoming competition, setting the club on fire with exuberant bodies. Noin had her hands full just fending off anxious patrons with overenthusiastic song requests while Zechs was silently thanking Wufei for making Meilan work at the club as she was helping set up drinks for the pushy crowd. Treize and Wufei were hard at work keeping overzealous customers from ripping each other’s throats out over petty squabbles while Duo and his gang hung out at a table near the dance floor. “Come on Duo!” Quatre called for the tenth time. “Just one dance. It’ll be fun!” “You go on,” the braided boy insisted. “Maybe later,” he bargained. He hadn’t been back to the club since the rape and was understandably jittery. It didn’t help that most of the people that usually treated him with open friendship were now only casting timid smiles and halfhearted waves at him. He had decided before he had agreed to come that he wouldn’t be performing, so his friends had also bowed out in support of his decision. They also made sure he never went anywhere alone, especially the bathroom, but since he’d hardly finished one coke all night he hadn’t needed to go in there anyway. Quatre plopped down on his chair with a sigh. “Its no fun without you,” he pouted. “What am I?” Trowa groused. “Depressing?” “You can dance?” Quatre grinned. He hadn’t even thought about the possibility. Trowa just didn’t seem the type. “Let’s see,” the tall boy said moving to stand beside his lover’s chair. Reaching out and pulling the smiling blond from his seat by one hand he slipped his right arm around his waist, guided his left hand to his right then spun him out, snapped him back and caught him in a low dip that left him dizzy and delightfully breathless. “You can dance!” the blond exalted happily. “I know a step or two,” Trowa grinned, setting him on his feet. “Go tire him out!” Duo yelled over the den then amended the thought by shouting, “By dancing!” before Trowa swept the young blond away to the dance floor. “Cheer up!” the braided boy called to Catherine. Trowa had convinced his sister to join them in the hope that she might actually find someone to talk to other than her brother. She spent way too much time on her studies or practicing her knife-throwing act for their summer circus excursions. “Would you like another drink?” Solo asked the oddly somber girl. She smiled and nodded her head “Yes, thank you. Wait,” she added as he stood up. “I’ll come with you,” and they disappeared into the crowd. The show turned out to be a short one that night, as most people were too preoccupied with the airfield competition the following weekend to truly be into the monthly talent show. The crowd started to thin early as the high energy level wore the people down quickly, sending them off to their perspective homes with happy smiles. The club was only about a quarter filled when Wufei made an appearance at the bar to speak to Zechs and found his lover lounging on a bar stool sipping a virgin daiquiri. “You traitor!” the dark haired boy accused. “Here I’ve been busting my ass keeping ‘your’ club safe for the general pumm mmmm.” Treize had his own way of stifling Wufei”s rants. When he pulled back Wufei grinned at him and licked his lips. “Strawberry,” he observed and stole a sip of his lover’s drink. His dark eyes flashed for a moment as he glanced at Meilan who had stopped to watch the scene. She looked away the instant he noticed her and he let the energy drain as he turned loving eyes back on the tall man at his side. Meilan found that moment to be a good one to fetch more ice from the back. “Things are pretty slow,” Wufei stated, softly flicking the hair over his lover’s ear with one long finger. “Mmm,” Treize agreed sipping his drink and trying not to shiver too hard. He wasn’t sure if it was the frozen drink or Wufei”s casual caress that was causing it. It became very clear as a wave of prickles slid down his spine when the boy leaned in and kissed his dangling lobe. He lost all sense of where he was for a moment when the boy sucked the fleshy appendage into his mouth and rolled it around with his tongue. He closed his eyes and pushed his drink away, his arm sliding around the slight boy’s waist as he melted to the man’s side. “Zechs,” Treize said softly sliding off his stool. “Mind the store,” he instructed turning and ushering the grinning Chinese boy toward the back of the club where is office was located. Zechs grinned as they disappeared. Duo walked up and sat his empty glass on the bar, chuckling to himself and shaking his head. “He’s such a pushover,” he chuckled. “Can’t blame him,” Zechs smiled. “He’s in love.” “Yeah, it’s good to see them together,” Duo agreed. “You want another?” the blond asked. Duo nodded and turned to look toward his table. Meilan watched as Treize led her husband into his office. Their lips locked together before the door even closed all the way. Her heart broken, her pride shattered and her station reduced to mopping floors, she turned and headed straight for the nearest phone. “Yes?” Dorothy’s cool voice answered. “I want my life back,” Meilan told her. “Of course you do,” the long haired girl soothed. “Is it time?” she asked evenly. Meilan glanced at the closed door where her husband was currently making love to her boss and answered softly, “Yes.” “Good girl,” Dorothy praised. “Now, relax and let the wheels turn. You mustn’t wavier once the deed is done.” Meilan wanted to ask what she was planning but she didn’t dare. She didn’t really want to know. All she knew was that she wanted her life back. The life she’d been promised and this girl had said she could give it to her. Duo was sipping his coke and wondering where Trowa and Quatre had gotten off to when the he noticed a disturbance at the front door. It took him only a moment to realize there were cops filing into the club. The few people that were still on the dance floor stilled to watch the procession. A stern looking woman with brown hair tied in two small, braided balls at the base of her neck peered out through round-rimmed glasses and demanded that Zechs show her to the owner’s office. Zechs refused, demanding to see a search warrant, which the woman produced, much to his surprise. It took time and a good reason to obtain a warrant like that. He was forced to lead her toward the back office. He tied to speak as loudly as he could but it wasn’t going to do much good, the lovers would never hear it if they were doing what he thought they were doing. When they reached the door he stepped up as if to knock on it with the intention of making a long introduction to give them time to prepare for the intrusion but the woman pushed him aside and kicked the door in. Treize jumped off of his lover with a start, his eyes wide in shock for a moment as Wufei hurried to cover himself. “What is the meaning of this?!” the boy shouted standing with the afghan off the back of the small couch clutched around him. Treize sat on the corner of the couch with a pillow in his lap. “Treize Khushrenada,” the woman said sternly. “You are under arrest for the statutory rape of a minor. Sergeant Miller. Read him his rights,” she commanded, then turned and left as the Sergeant stepped up and began to recite. Wufei spun and looked desperately at Treize; his face contorted in utter shock as Treize slumped in his seat and brushed a hand over his tired eyes. The Chinese boy slowly walked over to sit by him but found himself ushered out of the room by a policewoman who grabbed his pants and insisted she needed to take his statement. He almost refused to go until Treize waved him on. The stern woman in charge identified herself as Police Chief Une and left her card with Zechs. Treize was handcuffed and transported the county jail for processing. He was gone before the officer that had been interrogating Wufei released him from questioning. The club was empty of patrons by the time the last of the police had departed leaving only Zechs, Noin, Duo and his friends and Meilan in the dismal atmosphere. “We’ll get him out,” Solo assured his friend. “They can’t do this.” “Yes they can,” Noin grumbled dejectedly. “But Wufei was a willing party. How can they…” Hilde started but Duo cut her off. “It’s the state that presses the charges in a case like this,” he informed them. “Damn it! We should’ve seen this comin,” he ground out. “How did they know?” Hilde wondered. “What’dya mean?” Noin asked. “Everybody knew.” “No. I mean how did they know that Treize and Wufei were… Well. You know? You said they even had a warrant. They would have to have known, wouldn’t they?” the girl mused. “Someone must’ve told them. Shit!” Zechs barked as Meilan hit the floor. He bent down to see what was wrong with her but his head snapped right back up as Wufei jumped over the bar where he’d been sitting and glared death and damnation down at the terrified girl. “You did this!” he growled. She started to shake her head but decided to bury it in Zechs chest as Wufei raised his hand to strike her. “Stop it!” Noin cried, aghast that the boy would hit his wife for any reason. “She did this!” Wufei spat, reaching down to haul the girl up by the front of her shirt. Meilan gasped and cried as she held onto his wrist and looked at the floor. “Calm down, Fei,” Duo soothed. “We don’t need you getting arrested for beating up your wife as well.” “They can’t arrest me!” Wufei informed them. “Not for disciplining this trash! I’m a member of the Dragon Clan! We do not live by your laws!” he said pulling the frightened girl from behind the bar. “Hey, man, I’m with ya,” Duo replied. “If she did rat you out I say burn her alive but wait till your heads on straight. You don’t wanna go making stupid mistakes right now.” The Chinese boy paused and considered his friend’s words for a moment before tossing the girl ten feet out onto the dance floor. “Get out,” he said softly. To everyone’s astonishment the girl’s eyes went wide with terror and she scampered over to cling to his feet begging his forgiveness. He kicked her away and spit on her then repeated his command. “Get out. I want you gone by morning. Go back to your family and let them decide what is to be done with a deceitful, vindictive, selfish cow like you.” “No. Please! I beg of you! Please! I… I only wanted you to love me! Please! Wufei! Have mercy!” she begged through her tears. Her plea’s fell on a cold heart. “Have you any idea what you have done?” he asked smoothly but she only sobbed. He knelt down next to her and forced her to look into his eyes. “I love him,” he told her and knew she finally saw the truth of it. “Have you never felt love for someone?” he asked; his expression softening as he spoke. “I pity you most of all,” he told her. “You will never know the kind of joy he has brought me because you are incapable of self-sacrifice; devoid of compassion and completely unaware that you have created your own prison.” “I only wanted you to love me,” she choked out. “Love you?” he asked. “How could I love you? Could you love someone that would willingly rip your heart out for their own gain?” he asked, but she appeared unable to answer. “Love isn’t about what you can get from someone, Meilan,” he told her. “It’s about what you can give.” Her expression softened as something lit up in the back of her eyes. He smiled at her as if she were a three year old before he stood and told her, “Go home.” Her eyes snapped up as round as saucers, hope and gratitude lighting her face. “Thank you!” she breathed, positioning herself into a low, kneeling bow on the floor in front of him. “I will not pass judgment on you until I have… calmed down,” he said glancing at Duo. “Go home and meditate on what you have done.” She thanked him again then scurried away. “Gods, Wufei,” Hilde started. “Can you really do that?” she asked, sounding horrified. “I could have her executed if I wish,” he told the gapping girl distractedly, then turned and headed for the back office without another word. “Shit,” Solo exclaimed. “No wonder she was kissing his feet.” “He wouldn’t actually do that?” Hilde asked looking from face to face. “Would he?” she asked, seeing their uncertainty. “He lives in a different world than we do,” Duo observed. “Too bad Treize isn’t protected by his Clan,” Solo commented dryly. The front door burst open emitting a small blond streak that ended up firmly wrapped around Duo’s neck as a tall figure ambled in behind it looking more than a little disgruntled. “Let him breath, Quatre,” Hilde instructed amusedly. Duo pushed his over excited friend back and tried to talk to him but the blond was speaking before he had a chance. “Where is he? Allah, are you ok? Who could’ve done such a thing?” he went on and on until Trowa stepped up behind him and ran a soothing hand down his back. “Take a deep breath,” he advised, pulling his distraught lover’s back against his firm chest. Quatre settled the moment he was in Trowa’s arms. Duo gave him a grateful glance. “Meilan turned them in,” he informed the shocked blond. “Oh, no,” Quatre breathed. Duo took in Quatre’s disheveled shirt and the fact that Trowa was in his undershirt and shook his head softly. “Where the hell have you two been?” he asked in a tone that indicated he already knew. Green eyes flashed as Trowa grinned and pulled the blushing blond closer against his chest but neither responded. “Geez” the braided boy mumbled, turning away. “No crevice is sacred anymore.” “Wufei,” Quatre said suddenly as the Chinese boy rejoined them, his dark eyes set with determination. “I’m so sorry, if there’s anything we can do…” “Thank you,” Wufei cut him off. “I must speak with my lawyers,” he went on. Turning to Zechs he continued. “If you could run the club for awhile?” he asked, receiving a curt nod from the tall platinum blond as Noin wrapped her hand around her husbands elbow to show her support as well. “What will happen to Meilan?” Hilde asked tentatively. “I will deal with her tomorrow,” Wufei stated in a cold voice. “You wont… hurt her will you?” the girl went on, her eyes pleading for mercy. Wufei paused as if considering the possibility; there was a tense moment in which Hilde was barely able to breathe while he studied her. “You care for her,” he stated clearly. Hilde blushed when everyone looked at her, answering the question without words. Finally she looked up in spite of her embarrassment, “She just seems so confused that’s all,” she defended. “You can’t just kill her!” she said more forcefully. Wufei raised a brow at her that clearly stated ‘yes I can’ but refrained from the argument and quailed the girl’s concerns. “I will not execute her,” he told her finally. “Though she may wish I had before the end,” he added, causing the girls head to snap up before he turned to his oldest friends. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do,” he said softly, receiving several nods before he walked quietly from the room. “Keep us posted,” Duo requested of Zechs. “Wufei will have him bailed out by tomorrow morning,” Zechs smiled. “Then we’ll get this all straightened out.” “I hope you’re right,” Duo responded as the line of friends proceeded out the door. ** Quatre giggled and almost dropped his armload of legal volumes as Trowa chased him up the white marble stairs that led to the upper floor of the Barton house. The couple had gathered as many texts as they could find to help research anything that might help Treize’s case. Everyone had been stunned when they learned the club owner was being held without bail. Wufei wasn’t even allowed to speak to him on the phone and had withdrawn to a point that all he did was pour over books in search of some way to redeem his incarcerated lover. Trowa had only just caught his fleeing lover when his father’s strong voice called from down stairs. “Trowa, I need to speak to you for a moment. Ask Quatre to join us.” The serious tone of his father’s voice caused the pair a great deal of concerned curiosity. The man rarely had anything to say at all, spending most of his time quietly in his study or away on business. Quatre couldn’t actually remember any exchange of words since he’d been introduced, so the man’s request for an audience caught him off guard. Trowa gave his lover a reassuring smile and led him down the stairs and into his father’s study. His own confidence was shaken when he saw that both his stepmother and stepsister were seated on the small leather couch, their faces drawn in serious expressions as his father took his seat behind the huge cheery wood desk. “Come in,” Mr. Barton told them. “Sit down,” he added leaning back in his chair. Trowa chose to remain standing silently pulling his lover protectively to his side. Mr. Barton held his silence for a moment then nodded his acceptance of his son’s decision. “Your trial is set for this Thursday as I’m sure you are well aware,” he began. Trowa waited patiently for him to continue. They were all well aware of his court date. He felt Quatre’s hand tighten in his when the man spoke. “Have you considered the impact your relationship will have on these proceedings?” he asked bluntly. Quatre gasped softly as the sudden realization hit him that this discussion was to be about them, he could already feel the negative energy in the room as Trowa responded with, “I don’t care what they think.” His father nodded. He was aware of his stepmother’s frustration and the severe expression on Catherine’s face. “The Nolan family will try to use it against you,” he conceded, knowing that Trowa would not waver in his decision. “Your defense is not sound as long as you’re seeing each other. The prosecution will use both your involvement with Quatre as well as that involvement being of a homosexual nature to the best of their abilities.” “There are no laws against being gay,” Trowa droned. “It won’t be forever,” Mrs. Barton interjected, trying to be both supportive and firm at the same time. “What won’t be?” Quatre breathed, clinging to his lover’s arm. “It’s only until after the trial is over,” Catherine reasoned. Trowa’s entire body went ridged. “No,” he replied point blank. “You want us to stop seeing each other,” Quatre voiced, wide-eyed and breathy at the very thought of having to be away from Trowa for more than a day. “Just for a little while,” Mrs. Barton sat forward. “If you could say that you aren’t a couple during the…” “No,” Trowa repeated firmly. “Be reasonable,” Catherine advised, her gray eyes flashing in frustration. “Their going to say you killed that boy in a jealous rage! Do you want to go to prison? You’ll never see him again if you do!” “Duo will testify,” Trowa countered. “Duo is a questionable witness at best,” his father replied. “His refusal to reveal his own assailant has left his character in doubt. We can’t count on his testimony swaying the jury in your favor, especially when the prosecution brings their own witnesses to the stand,” he finished with a raised brow that offered some silent information that only Trowa seemed to comprehend. “Hiiro,” the tall boy said softly. Quatre gasped and fell back a step, separating from his lover and staring thunderstruck at his father. The fear in his eyes overlaid his confusion as to how this could be happening to them. “He’ll say you murdered him,” he breathed. “Will he?” Mr. Barton asked quietly looking deep into Trowa’s eyes. “We’ll have to,” Quatre said softly. Trowa turned on him in shock but he held his ground. “I won’t let them take you away,” he said firmly. “It’ll only be for a little while,” he soothed. “You’re asking me to denounce you,” Trowa stated. “I can’t do that. Everyone already knows anyway. What good would it do to pretend I don’t love you? I don’t think I could even if I tried.” Quatre stared at him; his mind battling with his heart over what to do but the decision was taken out of his hands as Mr. Barton spoke again. “Agreed,” he said sharply as if he’d come to some decision. “It will not help your case to attempt to hide your feelings for Quatre,” he stated. Trowa turned back to him, his expression settling so that they bore an uncanny resemblance to each other. It was as if they were two cards from the same deck jealously guarding their secrets with perfect poker faces. “We will let honesty be our ally,” his father added. “But Father!” Catherine objected “What if Hiiro…” “He’s made his decision,” the man retorted. “And I agree with him. He has nothing to be ashamed of. We will present the truth.” He paused and stood for moment gazing directly at his son before nodding slightly and bringing the discussion to a close. Trowa returned the gesture and favored his mother and sister with an appreciative glance before turning to usher his lover from the room. They were silent as the climbed the stairs. Trowa kept one hand on him the entire way as if the contact might comfort in some way. Something to let him know he was beside him. Quatre turned to him to speak as they entered the bedroom. “What if they’re right? What if they take you away an…” Trowa silenced him with a kiss, wrapping him up so tightly and so suddenly that he felt as if he’d been dropped through a spider’s web. “I’ll never leave you,” he promised softly, pulling back and taking Quatre’s smooth face in his hands. “But what if…” Trowa kissed him again, softly, gently, and so sweetly the blond felt as if he might turn to sugar and blow away. “You are my light,” he told him softly, guiding him back toward the bed. “I will always find you.” “Oh, Trowa,” Quatre sighed. He didn’t really feel his legs hit the bed. He was only dimly aware of the slow, methodic removal of his clothes as he let himself sink deep within the safety of his lover’s heart. The only thing that mattered was that he was with Trowa. They were together and that was enough. ** Meilan sat on the stone bench surveying her home. This was her home now, this small patch of Earth on the south side of the Chang dynasty lands. Master O had been sparing with Tau, a boy two years Wufei”s senior and considered to be the only person in the clan besides Master O that could stand up in a match against the young prince. The two had spared many times, easing the tension between them as Tau held a bitter resentment against Wufei for his position. If it weren’t for the dark eyed boy with the tight ponytail, Tau would have been the one to marry the beautiful Meilan and the girl would have had a real husband that could love her for all the wonderful things she truly was. Tau bowed his short haired, dark head to his master for the last time and headed off in Meilan’s direction. “Good day, Lady,” he greeted with a happy smile. She favored him with her tolerant grin. He’d been showering her with attention since she’d come to live in this small corner of the world, but his affection only left her longing for a love she knew she could never have. “Your practice went well,” she observed, moving so he could sit. “You saw?” he grinned. “I wondered if you were watching.” “Could you not see?” she asked. “Your eyes are always so sad,” he responded. “It’s hard to tell what they see.” She smiled demurely and turned away. “He has no honor,” the boy groused huffily. She turned back to him, her eyes hardening in warning. She’d heard his arguments before but had learned her lesson. You cannot force someone to love you and she didn’t like the methods the boy used trying to win her. Demeaning Wufei after he had once again graciously allowed her to remain, even after what she’d done, only served to infuriate her. “You deserve a place in the palace with servants and fine clothes,” he went on in spite of her dark gaze. “I can’t believe the elders haven’t banished him for his crimes.” “Crimes?” the girl asked. “He beat you!” the boy half shouted in indignation before his expression softened. “And that man,” he added in distaste. “He brings shame to the entire Clan with his wanton ways. It’s an insult to the Gods what he is.” Meilan looked at the boy and felt as if she’d suddenly looked into a mirror. Was this how she looked when she had uttered the very same words? “But not for much longer,” Tau whispered. Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?” she asked curiously. Suddenly he was on one knee holding her hand in his and looking up into her eyes, his expression one of desperate hope and promise. “Soon, things will change, Meilan, and when they do, please do me the honor of considering me as an alternative.” She looked at him in shock and wondered what the hell he was talking about. “What are you saying?” she asked again. “What’s going to happen?” He stood and looked down at her, his expression hardening in a dark determination. Slowly he reached out and touched her cheek. “Soon all will be well, Lady. Once he’s gone, we’ll be free to live our lives with honor and dignity…like it was meant to be.” She started to ask where he thought Wufei was going, but he shushed her with a touch to her red lips. “Soon,” he smiled softly before turning and leaving her alone on the bench to ponder his words. -~- “Hiiro! Wait! I’m coming!” Silvia called, her blond hair trailing behind her as she ran to catch up with the boy she’d had a crush on for the past year. He’d never shown any interest until the day before when he’d asked her if she could help him with his history. She knew it was just a reason to get her alone. Hiiro Yui didn’t need help in any subject! He glared at her with his usual blank expression but she paid it no heed. She knew now it must be a mask to hide his true feelings for her. Why else would he go to such lengths to acquire her company? “I thought I’d missed you,” she breathed, bounding up next to him. He stood for a moment and looked at her as if he might say something but never opened his mouth. “Is something wrong?” she asked shyly. Maybe he’d changed his mind? “If something’s come up we could do it another day,” she offered, giving him the out her heart prayed he wouldn’t take. Something sad brushed across his intense blue eyes before he offered her his arm and turned to lead her down the sidewalk. She smiled and breathed again, satisfied that whatever it was, he’d tell her in his own time. She was just happy to be spending time with him. She’d been trying for ages, much like many of her friends, to get him alone but he was never out of the company of one Duo Maxwell. She wondered for a moment where the long haired boy was as he too was a favorite of the young girls in town though neither of the boys seemed at all interested in social activities. Unless they were together. They reached the modest home where Hiiro lived with his stepfather. The man had given her the creeps the one time she’d met him at the school science fair. Hiiro and Duo had won with a modified model version of an Aries mobile suit that year. She smiled, remembering how the little suit had vaporized half the show before the boys got it back under control as he led her inside. He offered her a drink, which she accepted, then led her to the study. She sat her tea down on the table and unpacked her bag. “Your home is lovely,” she complimented. “Has it been in your family for long?” Hiiro stood silently and watched her for a time until she realized he wasn’t going to answer. She looked up and noticed he didn’t have his books. “Where’s your text?” she asked. “You did mean for us to work in here?” she asked, pausing for confirmation. He looked at her for a moment longer. She was so young, sweet and innocent and full of life. She trusted him without question and had followed him to his home on good faith. He swallowed the lump in his throat and forced himself to reply. “I’ll go get it.” She smiled sweetly and continued to set her things out. Noticing that he still hadn’t turned to leave she glanced up at him curiously. Once again he looked as if he might say something but finally turned and left in silence. He closed the door to the study slowly behind him, his hand holding the cold metal knob for a long moment as he pondered his sin. The sound of steel set on hard marble echoed through the entry hall followed by a footstep that led into another clank of steel on marble as his stepfather, Dr. J approached. He felt his stomach knot as the familiar, vile aroma of the man filled his sense threatening to turn his stomach inside out. He steeled himself; he had no choice, so he turned to face the man that haunted his days like a living nightmare. Dr. J grinned, his mechanical eyes flashing in the light as he moved his cane to his side with his disturbingly clawed hand. “Very nice,” he ground in a gravely voice that sounded as if he had been screaming for days. Hiiro shuddered at the sound of it but it was unperceivable to the man standing in front of him. He’d never let him see how he affected him. He’d like it too much. “Where’s the boy?” the man demanded. Hiiro said nothing, his eyes darting to the study door for a moment before coming back to rest on his stepfather. Dr. J grinned chuckling evilly. “An offering?” he mused. “Very well,” he said, turning toward the closed door and walking slowly toward it. He stopped in front of it and spoke into the solid wood, “But I still want the boy,” before he opened the door and disappeared inside. Hiiro heard soft voices for a moment then turned and walked as fast as he could out the door. ** Hiiro stood looking out the study window. There was a light blanket of snow today, making the world seem fresh and new. A bright red cardinal bounced along in the white fluff looking for its bits of twig and twine as the door opened, emitting two young girls of his acquaintance. He didn’t bother to look at them; he knew the snobbish expressions they always wore well enough already. “There you are,” Relena sighed. “We were wondering if you’d forgotten us,” she said, entering and taking a spot next to him at the window. Dorothy followed her into the room and sat gracefully in one of the chairs. “Are you prepared for tomorrow?” Dorothy asked without preamble. Hiiro didn’t move an eyelash when he responded. “Of course.” “It’s bad enough you had to be there to witness that boy’s murder,” Relena groused stepping up to remove a nonexistent piece of lint from his shoulder. “It’s a shame you have to relive it in front of all those people.” He scoffed gently and turned from the window, walking over behind the desk and sitting. She frowned and leaned against the window with her arms crossed over her chest. “Murder,” he said softly. “A strong word.” “Strong words are necessary when circumstances call for strong actions,” Dorothy smiled. “Surely you don’t intend to allow Trent Nolan’s murderer to go unpunished?” “Trowa didn’t murder him,” Hiiro defended his friend. “Trent was going to kill Quatre. You know that,” he said spinning his chair to look out the window again. “So Mr. Maxwell has said,” the long haired girl conceded. “There are two other witnesses that seem to recall it a little differently,” she informed him. “And?” he asked without looking at her. “And as long as your story matches up with theirs there should be no doubt that Nolan’s death will be righteously avenged,” Dorothy smiled. “You’re an evil bitch. You know that don’t you?” he replied smoothly. Her lips grew thin as the smile widened in response. “And ‘why’ would I wish to commit prudery?” he asked, still watching the little cardinal outside. “Perhaps you are unaware of the Winner contract for disarmament in the Earth Sphere government?” she said coolly. Receiving no response, she went on. “That contract is scheduled for implementation three weeks prior to the contrary proposal being presented by Mr. Darlian and my father. Unless of course, the Winner and Barton factions are tied up with appeals in the murder case of one of their sons and need to reschedule,” she grinned. “So you want me to lie,” he stated calmly. Dorothy looked properly affronted for a moment before Relena cut in, “Think about your future,” she told him. “If Father’s proposal goes through, you’ll be the top pilot in the Earth Sphere. You’ll have legions at your command!” “We’ll go to war,” Hiiro commented without emotion. Dorothy’s eyes sparkled “Yes,” she said a little too brightly. “And you,” Relena purred, coming to sit on the desk where he couldn’t possibly miss her slender shape, “will lead us to victory.” Hiiro watched silently as the little bird outside lifted into the air on scarlet wings and took flight. tbc...
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