Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Life Is Pain ❯ Part 8 ( Chapter 8 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: WufeiNeko 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Supernatural / Occult / Fantasy / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 05.06.2002 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.2K | Visits: 240 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Supernatural / Occult / Fantasy / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 05.06.2002 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.2K | Visits: 240 | Status: Completed
Life Is Pain Part 8
Mwaha. I finally found a title for this chapter! ::does little happy dance:: This is kind of a side-story from Ryu's past about how he 1) got involved with Relena. 2) met Duo. 3) became the ultimate super-villain in this fic. Don't worry, this one does eventually tie in with the rest of the story (tho I have no idea as to when...^.^;;)
Ryux1, Ryux2, RxR, Yaoi, het, kitchen sink, magic, mayhem, death, occasional cuss word, men in tights...
Life Is Pain: Death Meets Death
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
--About Three Years in the Past--
A young man, lithe and pale with blue-black hair, stood in the back of a bar. He'd been there for several nights consecutively, never moving from his chair in the corner.
The bar tender sighed. *Why oh why do I get to be the one to kick him out tonight? He's just a kid. I should let him stay tonight.* he thought as he wiped off the bar. *Hope I get overtime for this, 'cause the last time I had to kick him out, an all out brawl erupted.*
Dragon Wind, or as he called himself now that he had no place to go, Death's Dragon, watched as the bartender tried to get enough courage to tell him to get out. :Hmph. Dolt. Doesn't know that I can kill him as easily as look at him. I've got a meeting here tonight, anyway.:
The bartender walked over to the table and stood there for a second. "Kid, I know it's late, and you've got to leave, but if you've got no place, there's a room in the back you can use tonight," he said quietly, not meeting the boy's eyes.
"I'm afraid you didn't understand me when I came in," Shi-no-Ryu said as quietly. "When I said I was meeting someone here, I meant that I would wait until that person came." He tossed some high level bills on the table. "Take the money and leave the door open. No thief will come in here while I'm awake. I never sleep, anyway."
The bartender stiffened, but took the money and shoved it into his apron.
"OY--barkeep! Gimme something to drink, fast!" a loud young man with a chestnut braid said, walking nonchalantly into the bar. "I was told to meet someone here, and I need something to cool me down!"
Shi-no-Ryu looked at the loud young man. "I'm over here, Duo." He said quietly, his grey eyes riveted on the young man in black.
Duo walked over and sat down opposite the other man. "Why'd you want to see me, anyway?" he asked, drawing little patterns in the wet circles left by Shi-no-Ryu's drink. "I mean, it's not exactly your style to ask a competitor out for a drink, now is it?"
The bartender busied himself behind the bar, watching the two at the table. He made the drink for the one who had been sitting there for so long, and made a drink for the loudmouth. *Lord and Lady, it's -way- past closing time. What are these two -kids- doing here anyway?* he thought as he walked over to them.
Duo leaned over the table and flipped his braid over his shoulder. "If you're gonna be all coy and shit, then I'm leaving." He said, warning the other man with his amethystine eyes.
Shi-no-Ryu simply looked at him. "You're upset about my beating you to that Merchant-Square job." He said flatly, making it more of a statement than a question. "I can understand that. However, I will offer you a chance to take over my business for a bit of information."
Duo felt his jaw drop. "You're offering to let *me* have your slice of the assassin-work around here just for some information?! Man, you're getting gypped if you're serious!" he exclaimed, sitting back in his chair.
The bartender walked over with the drinks, carefully handing the proper drink to each young man. "You've got twenty minutes before I call closing time for real, boys." He said, trying to sound intimidating and failing.
Shi-no-Ryu simply nodded, dismissing the older man.
Duo looked at his drinking partner suspiciously. "So, what's this little bit of information you're so willing to pay for anyway?"
Shi-no-Ryu raised his grey eyes to meet the amethystine ones of Duo. "You know of someone by the name of Heero Yuy, yes?" he asked soberly, his face blank of all emotions.
Duo nodded. *I don't want to tell this guy -how- I know Heero, though,* he thought as he kept his face somewhat neutral. "Yeah, I've heard of him. Why?"
Shi-no-Ryu grinned slightly. It was a scary expression on his face. "What do you know of his relationship with Relena of Sank?"
Duo raised an eyebrow. "If she told you that she even *has* a relationship with him, she's lying through her orthodontist-fixed teeth."
Shi-no-Ryu raised an eyebrow at the braided one's seriousness. "One would think that *you*, my dear Braided Death, would be the one in the relationship with him from your vehemence."
Duo blushed slightly, covering it with a sip of his drink. "Shove it, Shi-Ryu." He muttered.
Shi-no-Ryu leaned forward and gently brushed Duo's cheek. "I intend to, pretty boy," he whispered in Duo's ear. "Once I find your little friend, that is."
Duo pushed back and away from the table. "You sick son of a bitch." He said, seriously considering going for his gun. "Why are you trying to get information on him, anyway?"
Shi-no-Ryu simply smiled and looked cryptic. "I just want to make sure that my fiancé is safe."
Duo paused. "What?" *I don't like the sound of this--I really don't like the sound of this!* he thought, reaching for his gun.
Shi-no-Ryu stood and walked over to where Duo stood. "I said, I just want to make sure that my fiancé is safe, that's all." His smile turned into a feline grin. "You *did* know that he was betrothed, didn't you?"
*Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.* Duo managed to not look like he had just been punched in the solar plexus. "No, I didn't. That kind of thing doesn't make it out to the public too often, if you get my drift."
Shi-no-Ryu nodded. "Relena wanted it that way, you know. That way, in public, she's got me as her husband, and in private she's got both him and me as her 'boys'." He said quietly, almost taunting the shorter man with his knowledge.
Duo pulled the gun and aimed it straight at Ryu's face. "Stay the hell away from Heero. In fact, stay the hell away from me too. I don't want your damned business. And tell 'Queen Relena' that I'll see her in hell before I ever let her take Heero. I am Shinigami, and he is *mine*." [A/N: Sorry Madamhydra--I love that line! I really and truly do apologize for taking it, but it kinda fit, doncha think?]
Shi-no-Ryu shrugged and stepped back. "If that's how you feel, then that is how you feel. I can't force you to give me the information I seek, but I can make sure that you don't warn your friend about me."
Duo felt the pit of his stomach drop. *I -really- don't like this!* he thought as he saw Shi-no-Ryu suddenly vanish.
The next thing Duo remembered was seeing the bartender over him, water splashed all over his face.
"Kid--you okay? Hey--wake up already. You need to get outta here before I close up." The panic was sincere as he tried to help Duo to his feet.
Duo brushed him off. "I'm okay," he said, brushing himself off, trying to get the dust off of his -formerly- pristine black clothes. "What happened, anyway?" he asked.
The bartender shrugged. "One minute, the guy you were with was there, the next, he was gone and you were flat on the floor like he'd gotten you in the jaw."
Duo sighed. *I gotta go back and warn Heero about Shi-no-Ryu.* He thought as he stumbled towards the door.
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Relena opened the door to her room with a sigh. The last council meeting had not gone well. In fact, some of the oldest of her supporters were voting *against* her engagement to Ryu Shi-no-Kaze. Their only problem with him was that he was five years her senior and an assassin by trade. As if that made a difference in a *King's* duties.
"You really should relax more," Ryu's voice greeted her from the darkness of her room. "It pains me to see you so stressed."
Relena ran to him, flinging herself into his arms. "You had me so worried!" she said, draping herself over him.
Ryu smiled and stroked her hair. "Child, child, you never should worry about me. I just went to gather some information on your other groom." His grey eyes were soft as he looked at her. "I had to exchange my job for the information."
Relena looked up at him. "Your--wait, you mean you gave up your assassin job so that you could be with me and Heero?" she smiled and hugged him. "You're wonderful!"
Ryu nodded. "I intend on going to introduce myself to our third in a matter of minutes, if you'll allow me, dear." He internally cringed. :I did not want to have to give up being an assassin--but that would be the only way Relena would let me rest peacefully.:
Relena smiled and wrapped her fingers in his long blue-black hair. "Of course! I want Heero to be as comfortable with you as he is already with me!"
Dorothy chose that moment to walk in. "Madame--oh, so sorry, sir. Miss Relena, I just wanted to let you know that Une and her team are ready for their debriefing."
Relena smiled and winked (albeit discreetly) at her chief mage. What Ryu didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Besides, it was time to let Une and her new *corps* have their orders. "I'll be right there, Catalonia-san."
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Duo gently stirred beside his lover. "Heero, you awake?" he asked quietly, almost meekly.
Heero snorted. "Hai. What do you want, Duo?"
Duo propped himself up on his elbow. "Relena's engaged, you know that?"
Heero snorted again. "Iie. I didn't." He wondered exactly what the boy with a braid was getting at.
Duo looked at him in the dark. "Her fiancé's coming to look for you." He said, almost as if he was afraid to mention it. "I ran into him in a bar tonight. He's an assassin, like I was."
Heero pulled Duo down onto the bed and raised himself up so he was looking down into those amethystine eyes. "Why would he come looking for me? I've done nothing to Relena."
Duo looked up at Heero, the insecurity and anxiety clear in his eyes. "He said that he's also *your* fiancé," he whispered. "Is that true?"
Heero shook his head and lovingly gazed at the braided pilot. "There is only one person on this earth that I would even consider affiancing myself to."
Duo's eyes widened in shock.
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Ierne glanced down at her charge. The viewing window Chen had created was great entertainment and allowed them to watch over their charges. "Oh--how cute! Heero just said that there was only one person meant for him!"
Chen glanced at her Celtic lover. "You are so easily amused. Incase you've forgotten, we're dead, or nearly. We don't get invited to their lives until the very end, remember?" her green eyes were light as she spoke.
Flaming Eagle looked over at the two. "Um, incase you two have forgotten, we're *supposed* to be watching that damned guy--Ryu-something-or-other."
Ierne giggled and threw a bit of earth at the native American. "Spoil sport."
Flaming Eagle retaliated by hurling a rock at the other. "Hey, don't blame me, Sköll's the one that insisted!"
Sköll appeared. "I heard that!"
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Ryu smiled to himself as he slipped into the safehouse of his latest target. :Almost too easy. One would think that he almost invites invasion.:
He walked down the hallway, mentally counting off the doors that wouldn't be his quarry's. :Heero Yuy, you make this too easy for me. I would think that you'd be more careful.:
He paused as he heard someone inside. :Interesting. He's not alone. Probably with young Braided Death. Hm. I wonder if I was correct when I said that he was in love with my fiancé.:
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Heero stiffened. "Duo, shut up." He said quietly.
Duo quieted immediately. "Heero, what's wrong?" he asked in an almost silent whisper.
Heero placed a finger over his love's mouth. "Just be quiet and stay here." He slipped out of bed silently and grabbed the gun that he always had beside the bed. He walked like a cat and unlatched the door quietly. Opening the door as only he could, he found himself face to face with a man with hair that shone blue-black in the minute light.
"Well, if it isn't the Perfect Soldier, Heero Yuy." The man said quietly, as if he knew that someone else was there. "You *do* go above and beyond Relena's description." He reached out to stroke Heero's face, but stopped himself mid-reach.
Heero clicked off the safety and aimed at the other man. "Get out before I blow your brains out." He said quietly.
Duo walked over, clutching a sheet to his body. "Shit. I didn't think you meant you'd come for him tonight, Shi-no-Ryu." He said sleepily. "Didn't you get the message when I said that he was mine?"
Ryu smiled. "Maxwell. My, you *should* wear less." He glanced from the cobalt eyed one to the braided one. "Oh, I seem to have interrupted you two. My apologies."
Duo blushed. Heero glared at him. "You leave now, and you won't need to go to the hospital." Heero said coldly.
Ryu bowed shallowly. "I stand corrected. I will leave, but only since my pretty one asked so nicely." He smiled and turned on his heel.
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Une kneeled before her commander. The five "women" stood at attention behind her.
Relena smiled. "They have their orders, Une. However, when their mission is over, Chen Xia will be part of your spy corps."
The one called Chen nodded. "So it shall be."
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Heero leaned against the door as the uninvited guest left. "I love you Duo. You are mine for eternity," he whispered. It was almost like he was talking to himself, so Duo pretended not to hear.
Duo frowned and put his hand on the other's shoulder. "Come back to bed," he said quietly. "I think we've had enough for one night."
Heero nodded. "I'm going down to the library."
Duo pouted. "Hee-chan, I need someone to protect me from the big scawy evil man!" he said dramatically.
Heero grinned and patted Duo on the head. "Well, Wufei's just down the hall if you need someone to protect you."
Duo pouted some more. "That's just plain cruel and you know it."
Heero nodded. "I won't be gone for long. Go back to sleep."
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Wufei sat in one of the huge chairs in the library of the latest safehouse, reading a book on mythology. It wasn't usually his type of reading material, but it worked for nights when he couldn't sleep. He looked up when the door opened. *Trowa can't be awake--Quatre wouldn't let him after that last injury.* He thought, dismissing it.
Heero walked in, and nearly walked out. "Chang. I didn't expect to see you."
Wufei looked at the other pilot and shrugged. "Couldn't sleep. With you and Maxwell shaking the walls all night, I decided to come here and try and get some reading done. You?"
Heero explained the visitor. "Basically, the ass got through our security systems, so I came down here so I could plan some new security features. I'd sleep better knowing that once we get them set up, no one will be able to enter without alerting one of us."
Wufei nodded with approval. "Want some help?" he asked, genuinely relieved.
Heero shook his head. "Not necessary. I'll probably not be down here for long."
Wufei shrugged and sat back. "Your decision, Yuy. Just don't stay down here too long. I'd hate for that loudmouth Maxwell to come down here and spoil the solitude by looking for you."
Heero smiled slightly and applied himself to his self-appointed task.
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Ryu entered Relena's room and settled himself on the bed. :That boy--Heero Yuy--is enough to make even the most arduous of men want him.: He thought with a sigh as he kicked off his boots. :He's handsome, even if he does have no taste.:
"You look like the cat that swallowed the cream, Ryu-kun," Dorothy said from her hiding place in the shadows. "One would think that you're planning to screw Relena over for a quick fuck with a boy-whore."
Ryu glared at the blonde sorceress. "If I were you, Catalonia-san, I would watch that tongue of yours. It will get you into trouble one of these days." He swept a strand of blue-black hair out of his face. "Besides, the longer she thinks that I have no idea about your little relationship, the more likely it is that I will not have to take you out myself." He looked over at her after examining the strand. "And for your information, that 'boy-whore', as you so wonderfully put it, happens to be Relena's fiancé."
Dorothy tensed and glared at him. "You bastard. You bisexual bastard."
He laughed. "My dear, the only reason I'm putting up with your illustrious mistress is because of what she can give me in return. Besides, if she does not know that I know that fucking you is the worst mistake of her life, then she truly is stupider than I thought." His voice was like a bell in the silence of the room.
Dorothy snorted and walked out the way she came.
Ryu smiled. :Great. Now, to make sure she gets eliminated, I have to be very careful to not make it seem like it was by my hand.:
"Kaze-chan?" Relena's voice greeted him as she walked into the room. "You're back? Did Heero say 'yes' so soon?"
Ryu patted the bed beside him, indicating that she should sit down. "Re-mitsu, don't worry your pretty little head about him. He is modest enough to tell me that he needs more time to think."
She sat down beside him. "Oh, he's so wonderful. Did he say anything else?"
Ryu smiled and pulled her down beside him. "Only that he's a lucky man to have such a beautiful woman after him."
She smiled and snuggled against him. "Oh, Ryu-kun, you're so wonderful. What would I have ever done without you?"
He kissed the top of her head. "You would have managed, I think." Mentally, he added, :Let's just hope that you do not catch on to what I am truly using you for, my dear oblivious one.:
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Now, how's *that* for some answers?
Ryu-kun: You're making me out to be some kind of Akio-clone!
Keiryn-neko: ::giggles:: Well, you *do* act like him sometimes...
Ryu-kun: HEY! I RESENT THAT!
K-n: ::kisses him on the nose:: You know I don't mean it, cutie. I think that this is going well, don't you?
Ryu-kun: ::grumpily:: I guess. Stay tuned for part 9. Though I've got no idea what else will happen.
Mwaha. I finally found a title for this chapter! ::does little happy dance:: This is kind of a side-story from Ryu's past about how he 1) got involved with Relena. 2) met Duo. 3) became the ultimate super-villain in this fic. Don't worry, this one does eventually tie in with the rest of the story (tho I have no idea as to when...^.^;;)
Ryux1, Ryux2, RxR, Yaoi, het, kitchen sink, magic, mayhem, death, occasional cuss word, men in tights...
Life Is Pain: Death Meets Death
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
--About Three Years in the Past--
A young man, lithe and pale with blue-black hair, stood in the back of a bar. He'd been there for several nights consecutively, never moving from his chair in the corner.
The bar tender sighed. *Why oh why do I get to be the one to kick him out tonight? He's just a kid. I should let him stay tonight.* he thought as he wiped off the bar. *Hope I get overtime for this, 'cause the last time I had to kick him out, an all out brawl erupted.*
Dragon Wind, or as he called himself now that he had no place to go, Death's Dragon, watched as the bartender tried to get enough courage to tell him to get out. :Hmph. Dolt. Doesn't know that I can kill him as easily as look at him. I've got a meeting here tonight, anyway.:
The bartender walked over to the table and stood there for a second. "Kid, I know it's late, and you've got to leave, but if you've got no place, there's a room in the back you can use tonight," he said quietly, not meeting the boy's eyes.
"I'm afraid you didn't understand me when I came in," Shi-no-Ryu said as quietly. "When I said I was meeting someone here, I meant that I would wait until that person came." He tossed some high level bills on the table. "Take the money and leave the door open. No thief will come in here while I'm awake. I never sleep, anyway."
The bartender stiffened, but took the money and shoved it into his apron.
"OY--barkeep! Gimme something to drink, fast!" a loud young man with a chestnut braid said, walking nonchalantly into the bar. "I was told to meet someone here, and I need something to cool me down!"
Shi-no-Ryu looked at the loud young man. "I'm over here, Duo." He said quietly, his grey eyes riveted on the young man in black.
Duo walked over and sat down opposite the other man. "Why'd you want to see me, anyway?" he asked, drawing little patterns in the wet circles left by Shi-no-Ryu's drink. "I mean, it's not exactly your style to ask a competitor out for a drink, now is it?"
The bartender busied himself behind the bar, watching the two at the table. He made the drink for the one who had been sitting there for so long, and made a drink for the loudmouth. *Lord and Lady, it's -way- past closing time. What are these two -kids- doing here anyway?* he thought as he walked over to them.
Duo leaned over the table and flipped his braid over his shoulder. "If you're gonna be all coy and shit, then I'm leaving." He said, warning the other man with his amethystine eyes.
Shi-no-Ryu simply looked at him. "You're upset about my beating you to that Merchant-Square job." He said flatly, making it more of a statement than a question. "I can understand that. However, I will offer you a chance to take over my business for a bit of information."
Duo felt his jaw drop. "You're offering to let *me* have your slice of the assassin-work around here just for some information?! Man, you're getting gypped if you're serious!" he exclaimed, sitting back in his chair.
The bartender walked over with the drinks, carefully handing the proper drink to each young man. "You've got twenty minutes before I call closing time for real, boys." He said, trying to sound intimidating and failing.
Shi-no-Ryu simply nodded, dismissing the older man.
Duo looked at his drinking partner suspiciously. "So, what's this little bit of information you're so willing to pay for anyway?"
Shi-no-Ryu raised his grey eyes to meet the amethystine ones of Duo. "You know of someone by the name of Heero Yuy, yes?" he asked soberly, his face blank of all emotions.
Duo nodded. *I don't want to tell this guy -how- I know Heero, though,* he thought as he kept his face somewhat neutral. "Yeah, I've heard of him. Why?"
Shi-no-Ryu grinned slightly. It was a scary expression on his face. "What do you know of his relationship with Relena of Sank?"
Duo raised an eyebrow. "If she told you that she even *has* a relationship with him, she's lying through her orthodontist-fixed teeth."
Shi-no-Ryu raised an eyebrow at the braided one's seriousness. "One would think that *you*, my dear Braided Death, would be the one in the relationship with him from your vehemence."
Duo blushed slightly, covering it with a sip of his drink. "Shove it, Shi-Ryu." He muttered.
Shi-no-Ryu leaned forward and gently brushed Duo's cheek. "I intend to, pretty boy," he whispered in Duo's ear. "Once I find your little friend, that is."
Duo pushed back and away from the table. "You sick son of a bitch." He said, seriously considering going for his gun. "Why are you trying to get information on him, anyway?"
Shi-no-Ryu simply smiled and looked cryptic. "I just want to make sure that my fiancé is safe."
Duo paused. "What?" *I don't like the sound of this--I really don't like the sound of this!* he thought, reaching for his gun.
Shi-no-Ryu stood and walked over to where Duo stood. "I said, I just want to make sure that my fiancé is safe, that's all." His smile turned into a feline grin. "You *did* know that he was betrothed, didn't you?"
*Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.* Duo managed to not look like he had just been punched in the solar plexus. "No, I didn't. That kind of thing doesn't make it out to the public too often, if you get my drift."
Shi-no-Ryu nodded. "Relena wanted it that way, you know. That way, in public, she's got me as her husband, and in private she's got both him and me as her 'boys'." He said quietly, almost taunting the shorter man with his knowledge.
Duo pulled the gun and aimed it straight at Ryu's face. "Stay the hell away from Heero. In fact, stay the hell away from me too. I don't want your damned business. And tell 'Queen Relena' that I'll see her in hell before I ever let her take Heero. I am Shinigami, and he is *mine*." [A/N: Sorry Madamhydra--I love that line! I really and truly do apologize for taking it, but it kinda fit, doncha think?]
Shi-no-Ryu shrugged and stepped back. "If that's how you feel, then that is how you feel. I can't force you to give me the information I seek, but I can make sure that you don't warn your friend about me."
Duo felt the pit of his stomach drop. *I -really- don't like this!* he thought as he saw Shi-no-Ryu suddenly vanish.
The next thing Duo remembered was seeing the bartender over him, water splashed all over his face.
"Kid--you okay? Hey--wake up already. You need to get outta here before I close up." The panic was sincere as he tried to help Duo to his feet.
Duo brushed him off. "I'm okay," he said, brushing himself off, trying to get the dust off of his -formerly- pristine black clothes. "What happened, anyway?" he asked.
The bartender shrugged. "One minute, the guy you were with was there, the next, he was gone and you were flat on the floor like he'd gotten you in the jaw."
Duo sighed. *I gotta go back and warn Heero about Shi-no-Ryu.* He thought as he stumbled towards the door.
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Relena opened the door to her room with a sigh. The last council meeting had not gone well. In fact, some of the oldest of her supporters were voting *against* her engagement to Ryu Shi-no-Kaze. Their only problem with him was that he was five years her senior and an assassin by trade. As if that made a difference in a *King's* duties.
"You really should relax more," Ryu's voice greeted her from the darkness of her room. "It pains me to see you so stressed."
Relena ran to him, flinging herself into his arms. "You had me so worried!" she said, draping herself over him.
Ryu smiled and stroked her hair. "Child, child, you never should worry about me. I just went to gather some information on your other groom." His grey eyes were soft as he looked at her. "I had to exchange my job for the information."
Relena looked up at him. "Your--wait, you mean you gave up your assassin job so that you could be with me and Heero?" she smiled and hugged him. "You're wonderful!"
Ryu nodded. "I intend on going to introduce myself to our third in a matter of minutes, if you'll allow me, dear." He internally cringed. :I did not want to have to give up being an assassin--but that would be the only way Relena would let me rest peacefully.:
Relena smiled and wrapped her fingers in his long blue-black hair. "Of course! I want Heero to be as comfortable with you as he is already with me!"
Dorothy chose that moment to walk in. "Madame--oh, so sorry, sir. Miss Relena, I just wanted to let you know that Une and her team are ready for their debriefing."
Relena smiled and winked (albeit discreetly) at her chief mage. What Ryu didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Besides, it was time to let Une and her new *corps* have their orders. "I'll be right there, Catalonia-san."
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Duo gently stirred beside his lover. "Heero, you awake?" he asked quietly, almost meekly.
Heero snorted. "Hai. What do you want, Duo?"
Duo propped himself up on his elbow. "Relena's engaged, you know that?"
Heero snorted again. "Iie. I didn't." He wondered exactly what the boy with a braid was getting at.
Duo looked at him in the dark. "Her fiancé's coming to look for you." He said, almost as if he was afraid to mention it. "I ran into him in a bar tonight. He's an assassin, like I was."
Heero pulled Duo down onto the bed and raised himself up so he was looking down into those amethystine eyes. "Why would he come looking for me? I've done nothing to Relena."
Duo looked up at Heero, the insecurity and anxiety clear in his eyes. "He said that he's also *your* fiancé," he whispered. "Is that true?"
Heero shook his head and lovingly gazed at the braided pilot. "There is only one person on this earth that I would even consider affiancing myself to."
Duo's eyes widened in shock.
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Ierne glanced down at her charge. The viewing window Chen had created was great entertainment and allowed them to watch over their charges. "Oh--how cute! Heero just said that there was only one person meant for him!"
Chen glanced at her Celtic lover. "You are so easily amused. Incase you've forgotten, we're dead, or nearly. We don't get invited to their lives until the very end, remember?" her green eyes were light as she spoke.
Flaming Eagle looked over at the two. "Um, incase you two have forgotten, we're *supposed* to be watching that damned guy--Ryu-something-or-other."
Ierne giggled and threw a bit of earth at the native American. "Spoil sport."
Flaming Eagle retaliated by hurling a rock at the other. "Hey, don't blame me, Sköll's the one that insisted!"
Sköll appeared. "I heard that!"
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Ryu smiled to himself as he slipped into the safehouse of his latest target. :Almost too easy. One would think that he almost invites invasion.:
He walked down the hallway, mentally counting off the doors that wouldn't be his quarry's. :Heero Yuy, you make this too easy for me. I would think that you'd be more careful.:
He paused as he heard someone inside. :Interesting. He's not alone. Probably with young Braided Death. Hm. I wonder if I was correct when I said that he was in love with my fiancé.:
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Heero stiffened. "Duo, shut up." He said quietly.
Duo quieted immediately. "Heero, what's wrong?" he asked in an almost silent whisper.
Heero placed a finger over his love's mouth. "Just be quiet and stay here." He slipped out of bed silently and grabbed the gun that he always had beside the bed. He walked like a cat and unlatched the door quietly. Opening the door as only he could, he found himself face to face with a man with hair that shone blue-black in the minute light.
"Well, if it isn't the Perfect Soldier, Heero Yuy." The man said quietly, as if he knew that someone else was there. "You *do* go above and beyond Relena's description." He reached out to stroke Heero's face, but stopped himself mid-reach.
Heero clicked off the safety and aimed at the other man. "Get out before I blow your brains out." He said quietly.
Duo walked over, clutching a sheet to his body. "Shit. I didn't think you meant you'd come for him tonight, Shi-no-Ryu." He said sleepily. "Didn't you get the message when I said that he was mine?"
Ryu smiled. "Maxwell. My, you *should* wear less." He glanced from the cobalt eyed one to the braided one. "Oh, I seem to have interrupted you two. My apologies."
Duo blushed. Heero glared at him. "You leave now, and you won't need to go to the hospital." Heero said coldly.
Ryu bowed shallowly. "I stand corrected. I will leave, but only since my pretty one asked so nicely." He smiled and turned on his heel.
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Une kneeled before her commander. The five "women" stood at attention behind her.
Relena smiled. "They have their orders, Une. However, when their mission is over, Chen Xia will be part of your spy corps."
The one called Chen nodded. "So it shall be."
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Heero leaned against the door as the uninvited guest left. "I love you Duo. You are mine for eternity," he whispered. It was almost like he was talking to himself, so Duo pretended not to hear.
Duo frowned and put his hand on the other's shoulder. "Come back to bed," he said quietly. "I think we've had enough for one night."
Heero nodded. "I'm going down to the library."
Duo pouted. "Hee-chan, I need someone to protect me from the big scawy evil man!" he said dramatically.
Heero grinned and patted Duo on the head. "Well, Wufei's just down the hall if you need someone to protect you."
Duo pouted some more. "That's just plain cruel and you know it."
Heero nodded. "I won't be gone for long. Go back to sleep."
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Wufei sat in one of the huge chairs in the library of the latest safehouse, reading a book on mythology. It wasn't usually his type of reading material, but it worked for nights when he couldn't sleep. He looked up when the door opened. *Trowa can't be awake--Quatre wouldn't let him after that last injury.* He thought, dismissing it.
Heero walked in, and nearly walked out. "Chang. I didn't expect to see you."
Wufei looked at the other pilot and shrugged. "Couldn't sleep. With you and Maxwell shaking the walls all night, I decided to come here and try and get some reading done. You?"
Heero explained the visitor. "Basically, the ass got through our security systems, so I came down here so I could plan some new security features. I'd sleep better knowing that once we get them set up, no one will be able to enter without alerting one of us."
Wufei nodded with approval. "Want some help?" he asked, genuinely relieved.
Heero shook his head. "Not necessary. I'll probably not be down here for long."
Wufei shrugged and sat back. "Your decision, Yuy. Just don't stay down here too long. I'd hate for that loudmouth Maxwell to come down here and spoil the solitude by looking for you."
Heero smiled slightly and applied himself to his self-appointed task.
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Ryu entered Relena's room and settled himself on the bed. :That boy--Heero Yuy--is enough to make even the most arduous of men want him.: He thought with a sigh as he kicked off his boots. :He's handsome, even if he does have no taste.:
"You look like the cat that swallowed the cream, Ryu-kun," Dorothy said from her hiding place in the shadows. "One would think that you're planning to screw Relena over for a quick fuck with a boy-whore."
Ryu glared at the blonde sorceress. "If I were you, Catalonia-san, I would watch that tongue of yours. It will get you into trouble one of these days." He swept a strand of blue-black hair out of his face. "Besides, the longer she thinks that I have no idea about your little relationship, the more likely it is that I will not have to take you out myself." He looked over at her after examining the strand. "And for your information, that 'boy-whore', as you so wonderfully put it, happens to be Relena's fiancé."
Dorothy tensed and glared at him. "You bastard. You bisexual bastard."
He laughed. "My dear, the only reason I'm putting up with your illustrious mistress is because of what she can give me in return. Besides, if she does not know that I know that fucking you is the worst mistake of her life, then she truly is stupider than I thought." His voice was like a bell in the silence of the room.
Dorothy snorted and walked out the way she came.
Ryu smiled. :Great. Now, to make sure she gets eliminated, I have to be very careful to not make it seem like it was by my hand.:
"Kaze-chan?" Relena's voice greeted him as she walked into the room. "You're back? Did Heero say 'yes' so soon?"
Ryu patted the bed beside him, indicating that she should sit down. "Re-mitsu, don't worry your pretty little head about him. He is modest enough to tell me that he needs more time to think."
She sat down beside him. "Oh, he's so wonderful. Did he say anything else?"
Ryu smiled and pulled her down beside him. "Only that he's a lucky man to have such a beautiful woman after him."
She smiled and snuggled against him. "Oh, Ryu-kun, you're so wonderful. What would I have ever done without you?"
He kissed the top of her head. "You would have managed, I think." Mentally, he added, :Let's just hope that you do not catch on to what I am truly using you for, my dear oblivious one.:
~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~
Now, how's *that* for some answers?
Ryu-kun: You're making me out to be some kind of Akio-clone!
Keiryn-neko: ::giggles:: Well, you *do* act like him sometimes...
Ryu-kun: HEY! I RESENT THAT!
K-n: ::kisses him on the nose:: You know I don't mean it, cutie. I think that this is going well, don't you?
Ryu-kun: ::grumpily:: I guess. Stay tuned for part 9. Though I've got no idea what else will happen.