|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
- Chimera of Life -
Story
Four: Uneasy Alliances
By
Heartfire
***
Ping sighed as she stared at
Wufei's front door. “Are you sure about
this? Wufei is a very…” She tried to think of the best word for him-
“Independent man, Quatre.”
“I’m pretty sure about it,
Ping. Just go on and try to talk to him.” Quatre encouraged as he leaned over
the steering wheel to check if they were in the right apartment. It had been a
long time since Wufei had gone ‘home’, especially since he was Relena’s bodyguard
twenty-four, seven.
“But-”
“Ping, I’ve noticed how he
calms down whenever you are around. You may not know this, but you do have some
effect on Wufei…” Quatre reached out to touch one of her hands. “And Wufei is
only human. I have a feeling he needs someone right now.”
“So do I…” Ping whispered to
herself, but why her? Also, why does she feel so… scared? She looked outside
and saw the orange globe that is the sun, about to set.
Quatre frowned and leaned
over some more. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear. What did you say?”
“Nothing…” She quickly shook
her head. “I didn’t say anything… I was just wondering why… I mean… Why do you
want me to talk to him again?” Quatre never really broached the subject…
actually, now that she thought of it, how was he able to wheedle her out of the
main building to this place?!
Yvan coughed from the back
seat and quickly looked away, knowing what happened yet not wanting to say
anything. Quatre had gotten himself into this, she’s pretty sure he could get
out, too.
Quatre gulped. He doesn’t
want to scare Ping off. He has this feeling that whatever Wufei was going
through, she could help him, though for the life of him, he doesn’t know why!
The two rarely talk to each other since he met the IA’s, rarely spent time with
each other, but… there’s always that something in the air when they were in the
same room! He’s just sure that… something’s up, and with the way Wufei had
acted a little while ago, so much hate and anger… it was time he opened up.
“Please Ping… do this… Just talk to him.”
Ping sighed. She’s not
exactly doing this for Quatre… She’s doing this for herself. “Fine… Fine… I’ll
do it.” She opened the door. “Don’t wait up for me, I’ll find my way back.”
Besides, if everything goes the way she planned, they’d be snuggling cozily in
his bed until tomorrow morning. She glanced to the back and gave a wavering
smile to the red haired woman. “Yvan, take my seat and keep Quatre in line.”
She gave a good-bye wink to Yvan, and her new friend chuckled, then she turned
around and started for the door.
She heard the car door slam
twice and knew that Yvan took her suggestion and changed seats. When she heard
the car start up once again, she had the urge to run back and join them, but
she didn’t… and finally, she heard them speed away.
Alone… She was alone, in
front of Wufei’s house, and she doesn’t even know if he’s in or- “How do I get
in?” Already having decided that she wouldn’t ring the bell and would just
surprise him, Ping slowly walked to the doorway. Halfway there, a sparkle lit
her eyes and her initial worry about ‘getting in’ disappeared.
Wufei’s lock was electronic…
and my, my. She’s pretty good with
‘fixing’ up these types of things.
About ten minutes later, she
had the whole mechanism apart and Wufei’s door clicked open. That was all the
welcome she needed as her hand closed over a knob while another reached out and
very softly knocked.
“Hello? Wufei?” She waited
for an answer, but none came. Now, more than ever, she was curious as to how he
lived. What his house looked like. What his books were, and everything- every
single wonderful and irritating thing about him.
Without missing a beat, she
pushed open the door, and went inside. Instantly, she heard the sound of
flowing water.
He’s in the bathroom… Taking
a shower… Butterflies appeared in her
stomach, though for the life of her, she didn’t know why- especially since she
had already seen him naked! Restraining herself, she looked around.
He had a practical house,
sparsely decorated, and very clean—except for the fact that there was almost an
inch thick of dust on the living room glass table. His apartment was small, but
for a single man, it was enough. She slowly walked into the living room and saw
his unpacked bag and gears littered on the floor. To her right was a small
kitchen and to her left… the clear sounds of delicious showering, plus his
bedroom. The running water, the jumble of Preventer uniform, and combat boots
on the floor leading to the door was clue enough to tell her that it was as she
had suspected.
Yet, aside from those signs
of life, the whole apartment felt so… detached… soulless. She looked around
once again and finally concluded why. Wufei does not have anything of personal
value anywhere- save for the books in the bookshelf beside the old television
set.
So long getting to know more
about Wufei. How could a woman learn more about the man she set her heart on-
the man she decided to marry? She grinned when she remembered that afternoon
workout. Even her friends were surprised, but when she signaled to them that ‘it’s
yet to happen’, they understood and had waited until the men vacated the gym to
bombard her with questions.
It was not a surprise that
her friends were shocked to hear that she had set her heart on the Commander.
It was presumptuous of her to say that she was married. But she had already set
her goal, and that was to marry Commander Wufei Chang.
With a sigh, she opened her
blouse to reveal a white shirt underneath then dropped the clothing on the
sofa’s backrest. She’s going to clean up this mess, make him coffee, and
surprise the heck out of him before he walks out of that door!
She started with the clothes
on the floor. She grabbed the dark green pants while trying to shut out the
sounds of rushing water and pulled the pockets inside out when a scrap of dirty
white cloth fell out. Curious, she picked it up and was just slightly disgusted
to see clotted blood stains on it. The cloth seemed old and torn for a
handkerchief- it was time to throw it away… She’ll just buy him a new set,
embroidered if he wants it to be. Without another thought, she dropped the
cloth near the wall, to be swept away later on.
…
The soap kept on slipping
from his hands. He hates it so much! He hates all of this-
“Why’d I even have to meet
her?” This was… learning that she was married… it was the same as… putting a
bullet through him. Only this time, it was worse because he didn’t die. He was
living every second of pain.
Just like the time when
Merian died…
He was through with women.
They’re all alike. They twist your head and play you like dolls, then drop you
at the sight of better ones. With Merian, it was war and death, and with Ping…
her affair with him to the reality of marriage.
Damn them all to hell. They
should all burn.
With a quick yank, he turned
off the shower. He breathed in the hot vapors, not wanting to go outside this
small room where he was safe.
Life was unfair… Then again,
he had thought he saw life as that, but Ping had made him see it differently,
and now, she just pushed him back… in a far worse position than before.
He needs to ‘talk’ with
Merian and reassess his priorities in life. Yes, of course. There, the start of
a new day in his life. He was going to plan and this time, he will not waver.
He will not.
With one last sigh, he
opened the shower curtains, dried himself with a towel before wrapping it
around his waist, and then he opened the door. The first odd thing he noticed
was the sensitizing aroma of coffee… being brewed…
Wufei frowned. He knew that
he didn’t set his coffee maker to brew. Curious, thinking that he might have
forgotten, he walked out of his bedroom and took a double take when he noticed
that the table looked as though… dusted? Wait…where were his bags?! He looked
on the floor- where were his clothes?!
Another question was about
to scream in his mind when the door to his small laundry room opened and Ping
came out with a small white basket. Wufei’s eyes widened in surprise. How in
the world was she able to get inside?! How did she know where he lived?! And
what the hell is she doing in his house?! She hadn’t even noticed him, too busy
reading a magazine she found in the laundry-
“Oh! Wufei!”
He couldn’t stop his eyebrow
from rising. She looked surprised- for someone who walked into somebody else’s
house.
“You’re probably wondering
why I’m here…” Ping didn’t know why she wanted to scruff her toe on the carpet
in embarrassment, or why she couldn’t look directly at Wufei after he gave her
that suspicious glance.
“Should I even ask?”
His voice sounded deathly
cold and Ping frowned, confused. “Quatre dropped me off, and… well… uh…” She
couldn’t create a straight path of thought! “I started brewing some coffee. Do
you want some?”
Wufei’s eyebrow rose a notch
higher.
“I mean… this is your house
so… uh…” She tried to amend what was said, but she felt as if she was digging a
deeper hole.
“So you made yourself
comfortable. Should I even say welcome and enter?”
She looked up and nearly
flinched at the glare he was giving her. “I did knock, but you were inside the
shower so I guess you didn’t hear-”
“And you went in without any
permission.” She couldn’t meet his eyes and he knew he was correct. Anger at
having been invaded in his sanctuary churned in him, and it was coupled with
his fury of having been deceived. “What were you doing in the laundry room?”
“I… I loaded some of the
clothes scattered all over the place-”
“You what?!” Wufei’s voice
bellowed as he ran for the room, pushed her out of the way, and slammed a palm
on the stop button of the machine. He quickly opened it, his anger multiplying
in infinitum as he dug through his wet, soap covered clothes. He found his
pants but he didn’t see what he was looking for.
Ping could only watch as he
pulled one pants after the other, dropping them carelessly on the floor. “What
are you looking for?”
Wufei only cursed as pulled
out the last trousers. He never found it. Slowly, he turned around and with
enraged eyes, glared at Ping. “What did you do to it?”
“Do to what?” She felt the
inclined to put the basket in front of her like a shield.
He tried to keep a hold on
his temper, though he was having a hard time trying to talk through gritted
teeth. “A white cloth. With blood.”
“I threw it away.”
He couldn’t move. She said
it so… nonchalantly. The only memory of his past, the only link to his origin…
thrown away like some trash-
Ping turned away from him
and placed the basket on the sofa. She started moving around, cleaning to
lessen her tensed state. “It was frayed and full of blood clots so I just
thought that I should throw it away. I’ll get you a new hanky later.”
Wufei’s jaw worked. Anger
raged in him that he could barely speak. “The hell you will.”
Ping stopped from picking a
newspaper from the carpet and frowned over the sofa backrest. “Did you say
something, Wufei?”
His anger erupted. “Who do
you think you are?!”
Wufei’s voice was low but
dangerous and the way he said it… the way he looked at her… it showed her what
she meant to him and it wounded her to the core. She suddenly couldn’t talk.
Did he thought… Was she just… nothing? Was that what he meant by that look? “I…
I…” Her hands started to twist themselves around each other. She’s stuttering!
Oh God, she’s stuttering! She hadn’t done this for such a long time! Why now?!
“I… I…”
“I, I, I, I! I what?!” His
arms flung themselves outwards while fury showed on his face.
Ping gasped and took a step
back just as Wufei moved forward.
“You came into my life,
barged in here as if you owned this place,” he kicked aside his table and his
lamp warningly twirled from the force.
She cringed. It was the very
first time she saw him like this. She was afraid, yes, but in a different way.
It wasn’t of physical brutality, she was sure that Wufei wouldn’t do anything
like that, and she could defend herself, but right now… Oh she couldn’t explain
it!
“And now, you threw away the
only…” Wufei stopped… He almost said wife to her and might have hurt… Wait. Why
should he even care if he did?! She deceived him.
She couldn’t believe the
sudden change on Wufei’s face. Sinister? No… That wasn’t the word she’s looking
for.
“You threw away my wife’s
gift.” Yes… her gift. That was what it was. A most treasured gift that kept him
in line all these years. He couldn’t understand why Ping paled, why her eyes
widened as if in deep shock, nor why she grabbed the side of the chair nearest
to her as if she was about to faint, but he didn’t care. He does not. She will
learn the pain he felt and then they will be on even grounds.
She didn’t hear it
correctly. No… He couldn’t be… could he? Her energy seemed to have drained from
her and she could barely stand. Why? Was that why… he changed so much these
past few days? To tell her that it was all over because he was going back to
his… wife…? She could feel tears threaten behind her eyes, but she forced them
back. “Y-y-you-your w-wi-w-wife…?” Damn her stuttering voice!
Why does he feel like the
lowest crawling animal on the face of the earth? Why does she look as though
she’s in so much pain and it didn’t feel right? “My wife. She will be here
soon…” He was using Merian so badly, but he needs to. “Do you want me to tell
her why you’re here? Or about our affair?”
Affair… That was all she was
to him? She had preserved herself all these years, all through countless of
missions and foreplays just… just for a damn affair?! All those times…
Every second that passed
made him feel so much worse. He wants to take it all back and apologize, but
pride… got in the way.
“I-I-I th-thi-think I
sh-sh-should…”
‘Why the hell was she
stuttering?’ He couldn’t understand why she’s having trouble… She didn’t look
as if she was about to cry, does she? ‘Oh damn… don’t let her cry… please!
Please don’t let her…’ He could never resist a damn crying onna- especially
her. He might just kneel on the floor in front of her and beg for forgiveness!
Ping breathed in deeply,
trying to calm herself. “I think I should go.” There. She was finally able to
say something without stuttering… a good sign… Without looking back at him, and
stifling the urge to sniffle, she started to slowly walk towards the front
door. Why does that door seem so far away?!
He watched until she reached
his door, head held up high, and shoulders back the way she would always appear
to him. She opened it and he was prepared for her to finally leave him in peace
when she turned around. Her eyes sparkled against the sun’s shine… what did
that mean?
She will leave gracefully…
She always does, and this wasn’t the time to not do it. Even with tears about
to leave her eyes, she will not show pain. “She will not know it from me.” Her
voice was lower from trying to fight bubbling whimpers. “I will see you at the
base.” She turned away from him because from the corner of her left eye, a tear
had already dropped.
“Good bye, Wufei.” She
closed the door, head still held up high. She took one small step after another
down the stairs while tears overflowed her eyes. She told herself again and
again that she would not cry. That he was not worth crying over. She thought
that he was different but he was like all men- selfish, and just after sex.
Damn the whole male population! With a
sob, her feet grew wings and she ran as far away from Wufei’s house as her feet
could carry her, not knowing where she was going, just so long as it was far
away from him as possible.
…
“Don’t worry…” Wufei sighed as he leaned his hip against his sofa’s
backrest. “I already told her.” His
hand went up to his head. God! His head feels like it’s being split apart!
There was no use trying to
look for the cloth since every trash in this damnable advanced hellhole would
go directly to the recycling bin. It would be incinerated within the first
minute it was sent down the chute, or mixed along with the other soggy
materials.
Unconsciously securing his
towel around his waist, Wufei stared at his door without truly seeing it. He
tried to bar his heart from feeling anything for her. He crossed his arms over
his chest in a physical symbol to stop himself from barging out of the door and
running after her.
He shouldn’t run after her.
She was the one who lied to him first… granted that he never asked her, but still!
His hand went up to his eyes and he grimaced when he wiped away a tear.
Damn that woman. They’re all
alike- selfish and manipulative. Damn the whole female population!
With a growl, he stepped
away from the couch and walked into the kitchen. His body worked automatically.
If there was coffee, he drinks it, and that’s exactly what he’s doing. Cup in
hand, he took a small sip and nearly coughed to death, but he stopped himself
and swallowed the last traces of the deadly coffee.
She doesn’t even know how to
brew coffee!
A couple more curses left
his lips and ran through his head, but even as he did so, he neared the coffee
to his lips and drank some more. It was the first time she ever cooked
something just for him and he was going to drink every last drop of it even if
it kills him. Damn his stinking hide to hell!
…
Quatre sighed as he looked
from Ping to Wufei, who both stood as far away from each other as possible.
“I think you’ve done
enough.” Yvan whispered just behind him.
He quickly turned, an innocent
look upon his face. “I wasn’t… I mean…”
“This is their problem. I
know that they are your friends, but let them figure this one out by themselves
first before you push yourself in the middle.”
How did she know…? Well…
Quatre smiled sadly instead. “You’re right, Yvan. I won’t.” He was rewarded
with a smile before Yvan turned from him to orient herself with the panel of
controls Mariemaia had asked her to operate.
“Commander Chang.”
Everyone looked at Mariemaia
as she stood up from her equipments. She looked calm, but deep inside she was
churning. To have Relena near to death, then Heero missing… Mentally, she shook
her head and waited for Wufei’s attention. “I think I’ve found Mr. Maxwell and
Ms. Schebecker.”
Wufei nodded. Une told him
about that assignment the last time they talked… He’s going to get that Maxwell
for not being here when Relena was fighting for her life! Where the hell was
he?! “Fine. I want you to stay here. Get some people to bring them in.”
Mariemaia nodded, content
with the order. She didn’t want to leave the base, especially with what’s been
going on. “Yes sir!” Besides, she wants to be here in case mother calls. “I
will also need clearance to use a Preventer’s craft.”
“You have it. Just get them
here!” The words almost came out in a bellow and Mariemaia hastily walked out.
From the other side of the
room, Ping tried to understand what was happening. Who were those people-
Schebecker and Maxwell? Why were the Preventers putting so much time looking
for them? And why did it seem that they had trouble finding them?
Quatre, on the other hand,
left Yvan’s side to follow the teen. He didn’t even notice Yvan’s nervous look
around the room, didn’t even think that she may still be a little afraid with
so many new people, what with his thoughts so focused on Duo and Hilde.
“Mariemaia.”
She stopped just before she
opened the doorway, turning her head sideways to acknowledge him. “Yes? What is
it?”
“Where are they?” Quatre
quickly asked with a low voice, not wanting the others to hear.
Mariemaia bit her lower lip
then leaned in closer to Quatre. “Why?”
Yvan looked away from the
scene, trying to tell herself that there was nothing to be jealous of. Everyone
here was Quatre’s friend… they were all close… where does she fit in all of
this? Sure, they were all nice, but she
was the new person while the others… they have shared a past together… They
knew him longer than she had… that was what she was jealous of… that shared
past…
Quatre nodded. “I want to
know. They aren’t likely to disappear, especially in our time of need.”
“I think they’re on Mermaid
Sea Island in the Pacific Ocean. It’s a private island.”
Quatre frowned while ideas
started flitting in his mind, and he quickly shook his head while Mariemaia
nodded.
“If you’re thinking what I’m
thinking… I think they did.”
“They never even told us…”
Quatre pursed his lips, not knowing whether to be annoyed or to be happy for
the couple. Granted that he did know the two were going to get along when he
left them on his plane… but still! To just disappear without telling anyone and
with the Morleys still angry at them… it was so… stupid.
“Well, at least they’re
finally together.” Mariemaia sighed. “I had trouble looking for them then I
remembered what happened with Morley, and thought that maybe I should run a
check on honeymoon areas. Then it hit me. MS Industries is Maxwell-Schebecker
Industries, and they have the same initials as 4 private islands. I had the
islands checked and found that Mermaid Sea was rented out, indefinitely, to
only one couple. I tried contacting the island, but no one was answering.” She
shrugged. “I’m just hoping that I’m correct, or else Wufei will get more…”
Mariemaia grimaced. “Sour.”
Quatre nodded as he dared a
glance at Wufei, glowering at the maps on the table. “I don’t know what’s
wrong, but I’m trying to figure it out.”
For the first time since
everything went haywire, Mariemaia gave a cheerful chuckle. “That’s harder than
my assignment… Good luck.” With a small smile, she tapped in the code on the
pad, opening the door, then walked out. She will be back inside soon enough.
Hopefully, by then, Wufei have calmed down. Maybe she’ll even pass by Ms.
Relena’s room, too…
Inside, while Quatre walked
towards Yvan, his thoughts strayed to Cathy and the same sad, depressing
feeling encompassed him. “Yvan, let’s see how Cathy is.”
Without a word, Yvan nodded,
complying with his request. She knew what he truly meant… he wants to see if
the new analyst has a different diagnosis for his friend…
The couple held hands and
started for the door, oblivious to the envious stare from Ping and Wufei.
…
Quatre’s eyes strayed even after he forced himself to look away and the sight of the charred bodies holding each other… It made his stomach churn once again. He wants to throw up… He couldn’t breathe… That time when he dreamt and felt that burning heat…
Yvan noticed his haggard breathing. His palm became sweaty and cold and his face had grown pale. She could feel his pain… Hadn’t she lost her father through a cruel blow? She let his hand go and reached up to cup his face and forced him to look down. “Quatre, look at me…”
Quatre obeyed and looked into her lavender eyes… an anchor- his anchor…
“You are alive… You can do something for him.” She could feel him struggling against her hold but she didn’t let go… She’ll never let him go. “Do you understand? You’re alive… you can make a difference.”
Her words finally made sense to him… Tears fell down his cheeks once again and soft, caressing hands wiped them away. “I’m sorry…”
“There isn’t anything to be sorry about… I understand.” Yvan whispered as she tiptoed up and kissed him on his cheek.
Quatre breathed in deeply then gently pulled away from Yvan to face the fifth doctor he had hired for the past two days. All five had been working independently and… all of them had the same answers for him.
“Do you know the second body?” His words seemed so weak…
The doctor shook his head. “I’m sorry Mr. Winner. All I can tell you is that the second body was a woman… Who she was… what she was doing there… I have no answers…”
Quatre nodded while his hand instinctively went out for Yvan’s and she met his hand halfway to give another reassuring squeeze. “Thank you anyway… Doctor Stantley.”
The doctor nodded, turned, and left… He hated his job… especially when he’s the bringer of sad news, such as this… It made him wonder, why he ever chose this field…
The couple watched the doctor leave then they looked at each other. Their tired, sleep deprived eyes met.
“We still have to tell Cathy…”
Yvan’s use of ‘we’ and not just ‘you’ gave a slight lift to his soul but the fact that he should tell Cathy… “Yes… I know…”
Their eyes strayed to the one-sided mirror that showed them Catherine, waiting sadly with her husband, Keith. Her eyes were just as tired as theirs… If she had not reported to Une that Trowa had been missing… If she had not given them Trowa’s things for the forensic team to gather anything that could distinguish Trowa’s DNA… then… they might’ve never known who was burnt… Trowa might have died without anyone knowing he did…
Yvan watched as Quatre tried to gather his courage- he breathed in deeply, trying to remain calm… Her Quatre has been through so much…
“Let’s go…”
His whispery voice seemed stronger to Yvan. “I’m right behind you…”
“I know…” Quatre answered gratefully and once again, thanked fate that he met her…
They walked out of the room and for a moment, Quatre was able to meet Cathy’s questioning look… a look that became hopeful… then he couldn’t… He stared at the floor while Yvan tried to look ahead.
Catherine’s eyes were just focused on Quatre, awaiting news of her brother… Yvan saw Cathy flinch… saw her shake her head… Her lower lips tremble…
They reached her.
“Then… he’s really…” The
soft voice wavered.
“I’m so sorry… Catherine…”
Quatre whispered as he squeezed Yvan’s hand for support and strength. He was
sorry he gave her hope that the Preventer’s doctors might have been wrong… and
he was sorry that he was in another country because whatever Trowa was doing,
he had probably tried to contact him for help and he wasn’t able to…
More tears flowed down from
Catherine’s red streaked eyes, following the path of her dried tears. Then she
turned around and hugged her husband as she cried openly.
Quatre slowly looked up and
saw Catherine hugging Keith’s chest while her whole body shook in tears… He
couldn’t do anything… not a thing… If he could only turn back time…
“Quatre… do you still have
those doctors around?” Catherine’s broken voice reached him from Keith’s chest.
“Yes, they’re still here.”
Cathy pushed herself away
from Keith then wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Bloodshot eyes met
Quatre’s own and he saw so much courage and strength in them. “I… I want to
know if… Trowa and I are… related…”
That surprised him… He
blinked then stared at her while Yvan frowned in confusion, wondering – aren’t
Trowa and Cathy brother and sister?
“I… I know that it’s a one
in a million chance… but… what harm could it do? I’ve always wanted to know
where my lost brother was… Even if Trowa isn’t… him… He will always be my brother…”
“He will always be mine
too…” Quatre answered in a whisper. “Cathy… I would be honored if you will
accept me as a brother… The whole Winner Family will be honored if you’ll
accept us…”
A faint smile appeared on
Cathy’s face… A thankful one upon Keith’s and a proud one on Yvan’s at what
Quatre had said… He was trying to show Cathy that they were in this together…
“Thank you… Quatre…” Cathy
stood up with Keith’s help then faced the doors Quatre just walked out of a
while ago. “Are they in there?”
“Yes…” Quatre whispered as
he remembered the charred bodies…
Cathy nodded then started to
walk toward the door with Keith’s arm around her waist for support.
“Cathy…”
Catherine paused at Quatre’s
call.
“Don’t worry… I won’t rest
until I find out who did this…” He saw Catherine nod her head before she
disappeared behind those doors. Then Quatre couldn’t look anymore… That was all
he could promise… that was all he could do…
He turned away and walked
down the hallway with Yvan as his support, just as she had been when he walked
into Relena’s room and saw her in a coma… just as she had been when he walked
into the observation room and nearly threw up at the sight of his best friend’s
body… just as she had been when he received the fifth report from the third company
he had hired…
The only thing that was
stopping him from going crazy was Yvan beside him. His friends were brought
down by this organization and he will find them… Even if Heero was the first
one to find them, at least he knows that Heero will make sure each one will be
eliminated.
They reached a metal door
that instantly opened and walked inside the Main Room. Some Preventers and a
few of the Alliance Intelligence assigned to the mission, turned around just as
Mariemaia swiveled from her transmission console.
Quatre shook his head then
looked away. He didn’t even see Mariemaia’s sad look…
“Quatre… please sit down…”
Yvan whispered as she pulled him to a seat.
He complied and sat beside
her then placed his head in his hands.
Ping looked away. She
couldn’t imagine how it was for Quatre, but she tried to relive that feeling
she had when she first saw the bodies and imagined it three folds for Quatre.
Mariemaia bit her lower lip while Wufei mentally scolded the blonde Arabian for
looking at Trowa’s body again, even knowing how much it would affect him.
“I just don’t understand…”
Quatre’s soft, chopped voice
reached Wufei’s ears and he was just thankful that Yvan was beside his friend
to lead him to a seat. “Wha… what was he doing there? Why did Trowa have to go
there? Why did he have to disappear on us like that? Trowa…”
The door opened and closed,
but Wufei’s eyes were only trained on Quatre. The soft, hopeless voice…it
didn’t seem right. He was stronger than that! Much stronger! He shouldn’t let
this affect him too much… With tears stinging his eyes, Wufei turned away.
“I think I might know where
Trowa Barton is. That is, if you still need to find him.”
Wufei’s body went rigid. At
that moment, perfume of the highest quality reached his nose. He knew that cold
voice, but Quatre beat him to the punch-
“Dorothy?!”