Breaking Away
Chapter 1
By Kit

A request fiction
AN: This happened during MY HEART IN YOUR HANDS- a little insert, but this is a fic that will stand alone

Present Day:

Her face mirrored against the white computer monitor as text after text scrolled down…

She sighed hopelessly… ‘Why? Of all the time… why is this happening to me now? Now when I thought that everything is alright…’

The chair creaked as she pushed it backward to stand up, her long hair cascading like golden waterfall against the armrests…

‘I need help… I cannot do this alone…’

A sarcastic laugh escaped her perfect lips as she shook her head.

"That is sad…" she whispered to no one in the dark room. "I never thought I’d hear myself say that…"

Knowing that finding at least one of the Gundam pilots is her top priority at the moment, she rushed back to her computer and her hands automatically started typing in the necessary info.

‘Where are you…?’ she bit her lower lip in contemplation as she waited anxiously for the records to- Her shoulders sagged a little bit as Wufei’s face showed up and the words "No Recent Records" appeared…

Well… at least she doesn’t have to stand his proud smirk when she asks him…

"Trowa Barton…" she whispered as she typed his name… She frowned… "He’s on Earth… but where?" her eyes tracked the data received… Finally, she gave up and cleared his name.

Her fingers tapped against the elaborate white desk, "Duo… I hope you’re open…" She would rather have Trowa’s quiet demeanor than this chatter box… but she can’t be picky. Her lithe body bent forward as the records appeared and her lips pressed together in frustration. He’s in the middle of some extensive business deals that may help about 6 weak colonies…

‘I can’t take him out of there… He’s doing something important…’

Two more names are left in her list… She purposely ignored one while she stared at the other one… Dare she ask him? Dare she ask him after what she had done to him before? It has been a long time ago… she knows that he had probably forgiven her, but she could still feel… guilt. Hateful guilt.

Her hands shook as she typed in his full name… Quatre’s full schedule came up on her screen and… she sighed, in a way relieved that his schedule is busy.

But then… that leaves…

"Heero Yuy…" her whispery voice seemed to echo inside her desolate room. She turned away from the computer once again and started pacing… Should she throw away the last straw of her pride and ask him for help?

She passed by her coffee table and saw the red letters with cut magazine lettering, a shiver instantly went up her spine, chilling her blood.

Unwillingly, she reached for it and read the message again…

"People will die around you… the way you let them die…"

The paper dropped from her trembling hands… This was the third threat letter she has received for the past month… At first, she ignored it, but then her instinct had nagged and rebelled until she finally gave in and began to pay more attention to it…

So far, the private investigators she had hired came up with nothing and no one… Asking the Gundam pilots’ help is going to the extreme… but she has this distinctive feeling that they are somehow going to be involved in this… Somehow… or maybe she’s just getting paranoid…

She walked back towards her computer and typed in his name, the tip of her tongue slipping out to moisten her suddenly chapped lips.

‘Swallow your pride… you need him…’ she thought as his face came up and then she learned…

"Quazer Company’s president is Heero Yuy?!" she almost shouted out loud in surprise. She didn’t know…! She knew that the QEC’s president is elusive but she never knew! Her quick fingers hacked into his files, eluding carefully implanted barriers and she finally reached her destination…

‘He’s open!’ she thought almost in relief… Without warning-

"YOU HAVE ENTERED A RESTRICTED AREA…" came out of her screen, blinking bright red…

"No!" she whispered in frustration as she tried to regain control of her computer.

"YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE…"

"What?!" she exclaimed, typing with furor… Suddenly, the screen turned black, and then, her monitor showed water trickling into her screen… Binary numbers appeared and slowly, these numbers were erased!

"Damn you, Yuy!!! Damn you and your stupid virus!" she shouted as she went on all fours and pulled the main plug out of the socket.

She sat on her heels and tilted her head up to look at the computer… a slow smile formed on her lips… She’s good with computers, but once again, Yuy has proven himself better than she…

‘He is the right person…’ she whispered as she stood up and went to her desk. She may not like swallowing her pride, but she- sad to say- needs him.

Her perfectly manicured hands tapped a yellow button, the image of a well-dressed young woman appeared on the screen before her.

"Yes, Ms. Catalonia?"

Dorothy smiled at her assistant’s competent voice- the best assistant ever…

"Amanda, give directions to the Quazer Enterprise Company’s main building to my driver and cancel all my appointments for tomorrow."

Dorothy saw her assistant nod and type.

"Yes, Ms. Catalonia. Anything else?"

Dorothy looked up at the clock and saw the time. She grimaced. "Amanda, it’s after office hours- go home!" she said in a stern voice.

Amanda grinned, going against the all-business demeanor her ‘look’ imparts. "Yes, Ms. Catalonia. I was just finishing up."

"Alright. Good night." Dorothy ended the connection, glancing towards her ceiling high window… her thoughts upon tomorrow… What should she wear? It has been a long time… Will he even listen to her? What if he won’t help her at all?

She walked towards her walk in closet and opened it, her hands instantly going to a gold business suit. She held it out in front of her.

‘I might be asking him for help, but I will not go in there looking like a pathetic, hapless creature.’ She thought as she hung it by the door and walked inside her bedroom.

‘I wonder how he feels about Relena nowadays… They certainly would have made a charmingly odd couple…’

~*~

Amanda smiled as she turned away from the screen… Dorothy always acts as if she’s strong and that she couldn’t care less, and yet, she cares a lot… Nobody knows what she is doing… She herself had only learned of this only two years after she had started working for her… By then, everything she was working on was in perfect order…

Everyone else thinks that she is a methodical and cold woman… But Amanda had sometimes seen a look of longing in those eyes… a look of sadness… Only to be instantly covered once again by a haughty expression.

‘Ah well… She is a great boss, and this is a great job… so why shouldn’t I give my best also?’ she thought as she finished her typing and then picked up her purse to start home.

~*~

2 Years Ago:

Heero frowned. His senses alerted as he heard a scraping sound just outside his door… Silently, he pushed his seat away from his desk, stood up while taking out his gun from his belt and then walked towards the door, plastering his back against the wall…

His door slowly opened, and the dim lighting from outside the corridor spilled inside his dark room, revealing a shadow of a man…

Heero’s frown turned into a glare… ‘Don’t they ever stop?’ he asked himself… ‘People just love to die…’

A man’s silhouette, just a head taller than Heero appeared and Heero acted instinctively as he brought his foot up and kicked the man at the center of his back while shutting the door with his weight at the same time…

He knows his room well, every single inch of it, and he can fight without the lights…

Grunts were heard as Heero tackled the man to the floor, an iron hold on the struggling form…

Heero brought his gun over a calculated position of the man’s head…

"Ungh! Heero! Wait! It’s just me!"

Heero frowned… That voice…!

‘Michael…?’

Not wanting to take a chance, Heero pulled ‘Michael’ with him, both the intruder’s hands in his grasp…. Pulling the intruder towards the lamp, Heero turned him around and placed a hold around his neck…

"One move and you’ll die." Heero whispered as menacingly as he could.

"I know that." The man answered patiently, though with great difficulty, considering the hand holding him-.

Heero turned on the lights…

He stared into a face of a ghost… a man with brown, wavy hair… hazel eyes… a Roman nose, and square jaw…

"Michael…!?" Heero asked, he couldn’t hide the surprise in his voice…

A grin appeared on Michael’s face, "Yeah… I know… appalling, isn’t it?"

Heero slowly let go of him, and Michael’s hand went to his throat while he swallowed to wet his dry throat.

Suddenly, Heero’s right hand shot up, and he held the gun against Michael’s forehead.

Michael didn’t flinch.

"Where have you been?" Heero asked, his voice cold… It’s nearly been 4 years since he last saw him…

Michael looked at Heero straight in the eyes. Knowing how his friend is, he’d just want the basic facts and now more. "I’ve been in a coma, Heero… Dr. J pushed me into an escape pod when the base was attacked… But, the pod wasn’t safely out when the base exploded…" Michael looked away as he now distinctly remember how bright the explosion had been… how he had felt so helpless that he wasn’t able to save everyone… how everyone he knew and belonged to just turned into nothing… His eyes clouded but he didn’t cry.

Heero remained passive, his quick eyes not missing a beat, or a flicker of muscle tension on Michael’s face.

"I was supposed to go to you. Help you… but the blast rocketed through the pod and I hit my head quite hard… and I kinda blacked out…"

Heero’s eyebrow shot up, his hold on his gun not slackening.

"The next thing I knew when I woke up it, has been over three years later…"

Michael looked at Heero. "I spent the last few months trying to learn and cram anything I have missed within those four years, Heero… And then, I started looking for any survivors from our group… I found two… one is a drug addict- Leon, the other an alcoholic, Herl… War had not been a good experience to them…"

Heero remembered the two mechanics in Dr. J’s lab… they were mischievous and loud, but always doing their work… how they had escaped? He doesn’t care at the moment.

"Then… I started looking for you… Word got around that you’re starting your own company, Heero…"

A smirk appeared on Heero’s face. "Now, you’re lying. I can see that slight tilt of your mouth… besides, nobody knows that fact yet, except for four people, and I know that they will never tell a soul."

Michael grinned, "You got me… Truth is, I kinda hacked into your computer programs…"

"So that was you… I knew it had to be someone good…"

Michael shrugged, accepting the compliment. "Hey… I saw this complicated security system and I just couldn’t help myself… besides, I needed to practice my skills so… I hacked through it… then, I noticed the style, and I knew that it would only be you… Of course, once I hacked in, I instantly went out coz I know how your brain works, Yuy."

Heero slowly levered his gun away from Michael’s face. Suddenly, his left foot went out for a kick to Michael’s face!

Michael instantly blocked it with his left hand and countered with a punch. Heero easily avoided his fist and with quick, steps- confusing Michael, his right leg came up with his right fist.

Michael’s eyes widened, but he was able to dodge the blows, moving a couple of steps away from Heero.

Heero crossed his arm over his chest and nodded. "You’re still fit, that’s good…" then he turned away from him. "What do you want, Michael?"

Michael rapidly blinked in confusion, a frown appearing on his face as he stared at Heero’s back. "Huh? That’s it? I mean, don’t you even think that I’m lying to you?"

Heero turned and shot Michael a look that said ‘shut up’. "You are not a good liar, Michael… never had been… I’m guessing that’s why Dr. J sent you away in that pod."

"Hey! That is not a nice thing to say!" Michael protested, almost like a wail.

Heero just shrugged, "I knew that you were telling me the truth… Besides, even if you aren’t, I can easily kill you."

At that tone and unmistakable verbal contract, Michael seriously nodded. "Agreed. Kill me once you think I have done something wrong."

Heero didn’t move. "You still haven’t answered my question."

Michael jerkily walked up to Heero, a bit embarrassed, and then leaned against the old desk… "Er… I need a job…"

Heero blinked in slight befuddlement. "Excuse me?"

Michael looked down at the floor, almost feeling that need to shuffle his feet. "I need a job, Heero… I need to work… The war is over. You’re starting your own company, starting a new life… why can’t I do the same?"

"With your computer skills, why don’t you make your own company?"

Michael shrugged. "You know me, Heero… Give me a task and a computer, I can do it… Expect me to head an expedition, I’ll do it… But do not expect me to head business because that will involve too much of politics, and policies… two things I really do not understand, nor will I even try. Besides, I’m no good at it."

Heero couldn’t stop the grin on his face from appearing just as Michael looked up- his jaw slackened as he stared at Heero’s- merry?- grin.

"Well, if you really want a job, do you want to be my partner?" Heero offered to the man just as close to him as Dr. J was- well, considering how very few people can get close to him, that’s quite close. The man who was the computer genius in getting and giving him the information for his missions except for that one time when he was sick and the mission given to him by Dr. J was a fake, resulting in killing the peace delegates… Michael would have sensed that it was all a trap… The man who was his classmate during all those hard training...

At that offer, Michael’s jaw completely fell… "He-He-Heero… are you sure…?"

Heero stared at Michael in the eyes before nodding, his face that unemotional stone once again. "Yes."

Michael’s mouth closed and a grin formed on his lips. "Yuy, with us working together, no one can beat us!"

Heero rolled his eyes… He’s forgotten how carefree Michael is… Almost like that darn Duo… They’d make good friends…

~*~

Over 2 Years Later:

A worker’s eyes widened as he stared at their usually beautiful CEO, now utterly stunning… He didn’t notice that he was heading towards a wall, and collided with it…

Several more gazes locked into the figure as she passed by, but her head was tilted up in the air, without a care to those admiring looks, her nerves too tightly coiled.

She walked into her office and Amanda looked up from her desk, a frown almost appearing on her face… ‘Dorothy is using her ‘power suit’ today…’ she thought as she stood up from the desk and followed Dorothy into her main office with a stack of papers.

She watched as Dorothy went straight to her window and looked outside, her left hand nervously wringing at her right wrist.

Amanda let out her frown… ‘She’s nervous…!’ That’s rarely a sight to see!

"Ms. Catalonia, the interviews and meetings were successfully re-scheduled to next week. Quazar Company is about 45 minutes drive and the driver has the address." She walked forward. "Here are the reports by the Brazillian chemist team about that new product that you’ve decided upon," Then she placed the reports on the desk, "The search for the ‘new look’ is starting by next week, and photographers and magazines are ready."

Amanda finished her report and waited for an order from Dorothy.

"Amanda… Do I look alright?" came that uncertain voice.

Amanda’s eyebrows shot up. She had never heard her say that before!

"Uhm… Yes, Ms. Catalonia. You look… alright."

Dorothy didn’t move from her position in front of the window as she nodded. "Thank you, Amanda."

Amanda blinked. "You’re welcome, Ms. Catalonia. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Yes… Order a new computer to be delivered to my house. You know which brand I want."

"Yes, Ma’am. Anything else?"

"No… That is all for now… I’ll call for you."

Amanda nodded, though Dorothy could not see it and left the room in deep thought.

Dorothy sighed… Today is the day… She’s already having second thoughts… not at all the way she usually is!

Dammit! What is wrong with her!

She walked towards her desk and stared at the stack of papers on her desk… ‘45 minutes to Heero’s company…’ she thought, biting her lower lip nervously… ‘I’ll go later… I’ll just finish my work first…’ she excused herself for the time being in meeting with the perfect soldier… Knowing that she’s just trying to give herself time… time she doesn’t have. She didn’t want to call him and make an appointment… No, that would be unwise of her… She will have to surprise him, catch him off guard… That way, she can be sure that he’ll listen…

~*~

Quazar Enterprise Company:

0700 Hours:

Michael leaned back against his chair with a smirk…

‘Looks like there’s someone out there who has a slight talent to computers…’ he thought as he leaned back to the computer and typed in a few numbers.

‘Hmm… the hacker got into the last level! At Heero’s fake schedule!’ a gleam appeared in his eyes, ‘Impressive!’

He scrolled down and then typed in a few more codes, his hands going so fast over the keyboards that they looked like a flesh colored blur. ‘Ah well… too bad for him… His whole computer system will not be in working order anymore… Not with my program! Good thing he didn’t tap into Heero’s real schedule, or he’ll really be screwed!’

‘Ah well… Appreciate the talented that’s what I always say… So, I guess it’s time to do a little bit of upgrading… It’s been almost 5 months since I had to upgrade that third level! This should be fun!’

His hands typed furiously over the keyboard, the only sign of emotion on his serious face is a devilish grin that would make any woman with the power of sight drool while he imagined what would happen to the hacker when he encounters his programs…

"Michael, Jolestor’s stock… I think we should drop it."

The voice jarred him out of his train of thoughts. Michael blinked a couple of times before looking up from his monitor towards his door, seeing his friend. "Er… huh?"

Heero rolled his eyes in frustration, a tad angered that Michael doesn’t even know what he’s talking about. "I said we need to drop the- erg… never mind… I’ll do it… What the hell are you doing anyway?"

Michael grinned, brushing away Heero’s irate voice. "Well, come over here and I’ll show you!"

Heero nearly shook his head, but his curiosity got the better of him as he walked towards the desk, in front of the computer.

Michael proudly showed his handiwork to Heero who couldn’t help the smile that came over his face at what he saw.

"Nice job…"

Michael grinned, "I know… it’s about time too… I’ve been wanting to upgrade that baby of mine… but no one seems to be able to hack into it… I’m happy someone finally reached the last level!"

Heero looked up to the ceiling- trust Michael to be happy with that! He’ll never understand him! Ah well…

"Michael, I’m leaving early today… Right after Waymeyer’s meeting. I’ll be calling in to check up on you."

Michael leaned back once again as he stared at Heero’s shuttered face. "Come on Heero… you have to tell me! Where do you go every Weekends? I wanna know!"

Heero just frowned as he shook his head giving a glare at the slightly blond, slightly brown haired man in a suit in front of him, "Mind your own business." He said harshly, wanting to drop the subject in question.

Michael ignored him. "You know, there’s only one thing- one thing that could hold your interest before… and that was the Gundam… now… since you’re older… I’m guessing, there’s a woman in the picture?"

Heero blinked then his eyebrow shot up heuristically, trying to see if Michael knows anything. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

Michael grinned slyly. "Heh! As if I never notice know how happy you are every time you come back from those weekend trips…" He leaned forward, "So… when are you going to ask her to marry you?"

Heero almost choked, "Michael! Shut up! You’re worse than Duo!"

Michael frowned, "Ergh! Duo! The contract! I almost forgot!!! Thanks dude!"

Heero watched as Michael fumbled around his desk, trying to look for his phone under the piles of paper that has accumulated on his desk…

With a silent sigh, Heero turned away and got ready for the meeting…

~*~

‘4:30…’ She whispered to herself as she checked her watch… The butterflies in her stomach multiplied as she felt her limousine slowing down… then it stopped.

She closed her eyes, willing her body to relax… The door opened and she looked outside before stepping out… Her eyes wandered up to the skyscraper building and smiled as she saw the octagon with the C inside and the slash to make the octagon a Q.

‘Nice building, Heero… Very impressive…’

Pushing her sunglasses up her nose, she entered the building as if it rightfully belonged to her- the perfect attitude. Her outer demeanor didn’t show the nervousness she’s feeling inside as she waited in front of the elevator…

~*~

Michael went outside his office and looked around… Nobody’s around anymore, even if it’s only 4:30… He lets them out early on Fridays… Not that Heero doesn’t know about it. He just doesn’t see the need to keep the workers when this company of his is running like a well tuned engine that can be left for a few weeks and absolutely nothing will happen!

He walked towards Anne’s desk, kneeling on the floor as he opened the lowest drawer, as usual, surprised at how their secretary could keep her files in order.

"Now where is that stupid… Ah!" He pulled out a folder in hasty triumph, making some papers fall under the desk.

Michael sighed as he went on all fours under the desk to reach for it… Suddenly, he saw a pair of gold high-heeled shoes stop in front of the desk… Perfect ankles… calf… His eyes traveled up, but the desk didn’t give him the view he wanted-

"Ahem!"

Michael jerked as he heard the voice, bumping his head against the wood. He grimaced in pain but he still quickly fumbled to get out from under the desk and stood up while tugging his polo shirt down.

"Excuse me…"

Michael blinked as he stared at the vision in front of him… His throat suddenly went dry and his whole body felt warm… He can even feel a blush coming up his neck!!!

Wearing a gold silk business suit with a light gold silk blouse… a short… his eyes quickly scanned down- very short! Tight skirt… a woman of elegance stood in front of him… Straight long pale blonde hair… perfect oval face…

Lush bow shaped lips that at the moment looks frustrated… er…

Michael blinked, "I- I’m sorry… Could you please repeat what you have said?"

He saw the slight line form above the bridge of her perfect nose and Michael had the distinct feeling of a ‘death glare’ akin to Heero’s aimed at him.

The woman’s head tilted higher in the air. "I said, I was looking for Mr. Heero Yuy."

‘Damn!’ Michael thought to himself. ‘Damn it all to hell! Why does it always have to be Heero?!’ He tried his best to appear professional.

"I’m sorry, ma’am but, Mr. Heero Yuy had left the country just today but I can help you just as well as Heero might be able to."

‘You?!’ Dorothy almost spat out. ‘Incompetent man…’ She remembered how she had heard that loud bump when he had hit his head – most probably head- against the desk… ‘Yuy will never do that… This is laughable!’

He saw her eyebrow shot up, and though the heavily tinted sunglasses is obstructing his view of her eyes, he felt as if she were laughing at him…

"You are not Heero Yuy." Dorothy said as coldly as she could. ‘The man may have looks, but he is asinine… how had Heero ever let him in his team… I will never know!’

At that comment, Michael tilted his head a little bit higher, his pride slightly hurt, but more so to show her that he wants to help her. "I may not be Heero Yuy, but I am his friend."

"Heero does not have any friends." Dorothy answered back before turning away.

Michael’s eyes widened. He didn’t know what came over him as he reached out over the desk and grabbed Dorothy’s wrist.

Dorothy quickly looked backward to the blonde man then, her gaze went to her wrist, held tightly…

Michael gulped before letting her go. "Sorry about that… I was just wondering if you would like to leave a message…"

From behind her glasses, Dorothy stared coldly at the man in front of her. Should she leave a message? Heero is the only one who can help her… Reaching a decision, she gave a slight nod.

"Tell him that Dorothy is asking for him."

And with that, she quickly turned around and left the room…

She forced her feet not to run as disappointment flowed through her. She had been expecting too much… she had thought she was smart to try to surprise Heero… but yet once again, he surprised her…

Dammit! Now I have to wait!!!

~*~

Michael stared at the doors where the woman had gone through… then, he looked down at his hands, at the desk, at the strewn papers on the floor, then at his very creased trousers and dress shirt…

"DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!!!!" he shouted as he held on to the edges of Anne’s desk in a frustrated grip.

"Oh great! Nice first impression you made, Michael!!!" he cried out… "I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t think so highly of you! Me! I mean…"

He leaned down to the floor to pick up his papers and then, his anger suddenly stopped, replaced by a feeling almost near to panic…

"Hell! What if she’s the woman Heero’s been seeing all these years?!" he asked himself as he stared blankly at the papers in front of him…

"I only have her first name!!! I’m going to have trouble looking for her… Aaaargh! Now I have to wait for him to come back here before I can ask him!"

He rolled his eyes before letting his over 6 feet tall body fall down on Anne’s chair. "Why does this always happen to me…" he cried out in frustration as his mind re-enacted what happened during the time the he saw her… He was a total idiot!!!

"God! Open up the skies and strike me with lightning!"

~*~

Location: Africa

0200 Hours:

The door opened, and a man in a guerilla uniform came inside the dark room.

"Sir, have you heard?"

"Of course I have… This makes our job easier…"

"Well, I just wanted to tell you, sir."

"Thank you, Jeffrey- you may leave."

"Yes sir."

The door closed with a click, and the figure leaned against his chair while he opened his drawer and placed a board with 7 pictures taped neatly in a row on his desk.

Against the faint light, his gray eyes glinted dangerously…

Slowly, he took out a pen and marked an "X" over the picture of the woman after the first picture…

"One down… six to go…" he stood up and then walked to his window where he can see his few select men working out.

"You think you are so strong and smart, Catalonia… but you really are just a weak woman… Too weak… It was because of you that we failed! You deserted us, and you will pay for what you did… You will pay slowly…"

~*~

Monday:

1800 Hours:

Michael paced inside Heero’s office nervously… Heero isn’t in his condo… He didn’t go to work… For the first time too!!!

Not to mention that the whole world is in a frantic frenzy because-

His gaze went to the newspaper on top of Heero’s office with Relena Peacecraft’s picture in the middle and the headline- "RELENA PEACECRAFT- MISSING!!!!" in bold and large letters…

"Where in damnation is that guy?!" he asked in worry… He knows perfectly well how many enemies Heero had made as a gundam pilot… he’s just hoping none of them was able to keep up with his friend…

Biting his lip in anxiously, he decided to wait for a call in his house… He went into his office and was about to leave when the vid-phone started ringing…

Michael bounded across the room, grabbed the cord and started tracing it, finding the phone in no time when he knocked off the papers on his desk.

He pushed the button and Heero’s face with a very tousled hair appeared on the screen…

Michael’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he stared into a smiling- smiling!- face of Heero!!!

"Hey Michael, sorry if I wasn’t in today…"

Michael just stared as Heero looked to his left and then the smile was replaced by a silly- silly lovesick!!!- grin!!!!!!

"I was… have been… busy…"

Finally, Michael felt his voice coming back, "Heero?" he croaked- literally.

Heero smiled once again, "Yes?"

Michael gulped… there are only two possible things that could have happened to put such a face on a man… and he can be quite sure that since Heero’s been going and seeing this lady friend of his, they’ve done it already… so that leaves…

!!!

"Heero! You didn’t go off and got married, did ya!?"

Michael nearly choked as a dreamy looked passed over Heero’s face.

"Not yet Michael… but I’m going to be…"

At that statement, Michael’s jaw fell once again.

"I just wanted to say that I want you to take care of the company while I’m gone… I’m going to be checking up on it from time to time, but I have to go away for a while… Now don’t let anyone get a wind of this… Not even Duo or Quatre… and since I know that you don’t know where Wufei and Trowa is, I won’t even say it… But don’t tell anyone- It’s important that you don’t."

Michael could only nod.

"Okay- well, I better go now."

That was when it struck Michael’s head.

"Heero! You aren’t marrying a girl named Dorothy, are you?"

The dreamy look on Heero’s face disappeared, replaced by his usual stony look.

"I only know one girl named Dorothy, and she is trouble…"

Michael frowned, "She is?"

"Her full name is Dorothy Catalonia."

Michael frowned as he racked his brain for the information… then he remembered… the granddaughter of…! But she didn’t seem so… evil… He actually thought that she looked like an angel…

Michael decided to change the subject. "So, basically, I can represent you, right?"

Heero frowned. "You know that you can."

"Okay, just wanted to have your complete agreement on this…" he said as he looked at the keyboard, ‘Especially with what I am going to do…’

"Well, that’s it Michael. Take good care of the company."

"I will Heero- and Congratulations."

Heero’s grin returned. "Very soon…"

Then the monitor turned black…

Michael stared at it for who knows how long until the shock ebbed in him… then faced his computer, turned it on, accessed the security databank and then typed in two words…

A few seconds later, Dorothy’s records came out- CEO/President of Avalon Cosmetics Company… Her office… just 45 minutes away…

Michael logged out then leaned against the seat… ‘Heero might be wrong…’ he mused as he thought of the woman once again… She struck him in a way he’d never been struck before… or maybe that was the bump in the head… He needs to be sure.

Though it was very faint, he had felt desperation in her… and she needs help- If Heero wouldn’t help her… then it’s up to him… if not to help her…

Michael stood up and walked out of the office to go home-

Then to take her out for a date…

~*~

Four days later:

Michael got out of his car and stared at the white posh building in front of him… A large fountain with the cosmetics logo splashed in the middle of a half moon driveway and the gardening is perfect…

He checked his image in the mirror… good… he’ll pass… He usually dresses nice anyway… it’s just that… when she came over, he was working in the technical room, so he had to roll up his sleeves and bend a lot, among other things…

He walked to the receptionist.

"Ms. Dorothy Catalonia’s floor, please."

The woman smiled, "Top floor, sir, and take a right after you get off from the elevator."

Michael nodded his thanks before turning away…

Minutes later, he stood outside the glass doors of the Avalon’s head chair… Michael gulped and nervously adjusted his tie before going inside.

Right in the middle of a beautifully decorated room is the assistant’s desk and Michael walked up to her.

Amanda looked up and nodded her greeting, "How may I help you?"

"I’m Michael Glessnor, Quazer Enterprise Company’s Vice President. Ms. Dorothy Catalonia saw us last Friday, I’m afraid we weren’t able to fulfill her… needs… I’m hoping that if I might have a word with her."

Amanda frowned… ‘Oh yes she didn’t get what she needed… She’s been frustrated all week long!!!’ she glanced down at Dorothy’s schedule and saw that there wasn’t anyone scheduled for a meeting at the moment and afterwards… Should she take the chance and tell this man where she is right now?

Amanda remembered how Dorothy had nearly bitten her head off on Wednesday and shivered inwardly… It has been a bad week… Dorothy was completely not acting herself especially when she saw the headline that Ms. Peacecraft is missing!

"I suggest that you come at another time, Mr. Glessnor."

"Does she have an appointment at the moment?" Michael asked, not wanting to give up.

Amanda looked away, "er… no-"

"Then what’s stopping you?" Michael pursued some more.

Amanda gulped…. She doesn’t usually do this but, going against her instincts, she told him. "She’s in the basement floor. Go to the door on your left and walk five doors and turn to your right. Enter that room and she will be there…"

Michael smiled at the woman. "Thank you."

Amanda watched as the man turned away from her, guilt eating her… "Er, sir!"

Michael turned around, "Yes?"

Amanda looked towards the doors then back at Michael, "Please be careful…"

Michael frowned but nodded at the woman. "Yes, of course, you too."

He grinned and almost skipped at the thought of meeting her again- Dorothy… The moment he saw her, he knew she was special… call it love at first sight if you want but it was a once in a lifetime experience for him! And he wants to make sure that it’s real… he’s looked too hard and too long, and now, she had come into his life, hitting him on the blind side…

~*~

Michael counted the fifth door and then turned right… and few more minutes later, he reached a metal door… He frowned as he slowly opened it, and was surprised when he didn’t hear a single creak from it!

He walked a few steps, his eyes adjusting to the slightly dim lights when he stopped and his jaw slackened…

There she is… under the dim lighting, her long pale blond hair flowing out of the helmet- almost like silver… wearing the traditional white habit for fencing, and holding an elaborate sword…

He watched her do her forms in perfect coordination and grace… Suddenly, she stopped in one of her steps…

Dorothy frowned… Someone’s inside her gym… she can feel it… Her quick eyes saw the form among the shadows… Her heartbeat quickened as she thought of the threat letters.

‘No time to do anything but show him that I’m not scared.’ She thought as she twisted her sword around, changing her grip.

Michael frowned as she changed her grip on her sword…

‘I’ve never seen Heero do that…’ he thought curiously.

Suddenly, Dorothy twisted around, held the sword to her shoulder and threw it aimed straight at Michael’s head!

Michael’s eyes widened as he stared at the incoming sword to the center of his face, but he didn’t close his eyes nor did he move from the spot he was standing on as he calculated how far the sword is…

He felt the slight turbulence in the air as the sword passed his ear by mere millimeters, and then the he heard it stop-

THUD!

Michael breathed a sigh of relief that he was correct, and couldn’t help but double his admiration to this Dorothy…

"That was just a warning… Whoever you are- I can easily aim straight for your face…" Dorothy said coldly, but her panic rose… She had seen that the man didn’t cower at the sword thrown to his face! What can she possibly do to disgruntle such a man?

"Yeah… Sure of it." Michael answered as he walked towards the sword and took it out of the padded wall, then he turned to Dorothy and walked into the dim lighting.

Dorothy stared as the man walked to her in slight fear, then she felt her anger course through her whole body as she stared into a familiar face… She thought that he was her damn terrorist!

"What the hell do you think you are doing here?!" Dorothy spat out as she took off her helmet and then threw it at Michael.

Michael easily caught it and grinned at her… She is even prettier when she’s mad… her face flushed, and her eyes sparkling… Finally… he can see her eyes…

‘Sky blue… more to the point- ice cold sky blue… almost as cold as Heero’s was before…’ Michael thought as he stared into her eyes.

"Well?! I’m asking you a question!" Dorothy demanded.

At that, Michael’s grin widened, then he bowed in front of her. "I’m at yer service, Mademoiselle."

Dorothy frowned. "What do you mean?"

Michael straightened. "You were looking for Mr. Heero Yuy last week, sad to say, he won’t be coming in anytime soon. Therefore I had asked him if I can fill his shoes, and he willingly complied."

Michael walked towards Dorothy who was looking at him as if he’d grown another head then gave her the sword and the helmet.

Understanding dawned upon her… Relena’s missing… then of course Heero will look for her! ‘Good luck, Heero…’ Dorothy whispered in her mind. ‘I hope you are safe, Ms. Relena…’ Her thoughts were interrupted by Michael once again.

"Being that you were looking for him, I thought that it will be for the best interest if I represent him and try my best."

Dorothy’s right eyebrow shot up.

‘Him?!’

Then, she felt her self shake slightly… Her lips quivered… she couldn’t help herself as she tilted her head back and laughed hysterically.

Michael frowned in confusion…

Dorothy gasped out as she pointed at him, "You?!" she laughed some more, holding herself tightly around her waist as her sides ached.

"Well… yes… There’s nobody else around here." Michael said as he looked around, trying to ease off the embarrassment he’s feeling.

Dorothy’s laughter doubled and she almost fell on the floor.

Michael sighed, "Are you going to laugh all day, Ms. Catalonia? Because if you are, let me get a chair first so I can sit on it and not get tired just standing around."

At that statement, Dorothy stopped laughing and stared stonily at Michael. "Need I remind you, sir-"

"Michael Glessnor." Michael prompted, wanting his name pronounced by the woman in front of him.

"Mr. Glessnor-"

"Michael, please."

Dorothy’s eyes turned to slits, "MR. Glessnor." She said once again.

Michael crossed his hands over his chest, "Michael."

Dorothy’s eyes shot daggers at him, but Michael didn’t cower, and met her eyes instead. Then, she tilted her chin up as if she was the one who decided to call him whatever she wants and spoke.

"Michael-" she said with all the venom she could muster.

Michael grinned happily. "Yes Dorothy?"

Dorothy’s hands turned to fists as she fought to gain control of her anger. She straightened her back and stared at Michael dangerously.

"AS I WAS SAYING…" Dorothy cleared her throat. "It was your choice to come to my office, and therefore, you are at the liberty of being a guest to be offered a seat, or not when I want you to sit down."

Michael shrugged, "Fine with me." He said as he pulled his trousers up a little bit and then sat down on the matted floor.

Dorothy’s eyes widened as she stared at the man in front of her in disbelief- that he would outlandishly show such disrespect to her! In her own building!

"What do you want anyway?!" she asked out loud as she placed her hands on her hips.

Michael looked up with a smile. "I want to help. I can do what Heero Yuy can do- well… most of it… And since I’m next in command of Quazer-" He was cut off as Dorothy laughed out loud once again.

"You’re the Vice President!!!??? Oh this is hilarious!!! How did you ever get Heero to give you that position!" she cried out.

Michael frowned and tried to make light the embarrassment she is trying very hard to make him feel. He has patience… tons of it, so he won’t fall for her so easily! Besides… He had already fallen…

"Well… it is a little funny…" he said almost too innocently.

Dorothy tried to smother her laughter as she shook her head, trying to calm herself. My! She hasn’t gotten this good of a laugh for a loooong time!

"I don’t think you’re qualified enough for the work, Michael." Dorothy said as she turned away from him, "You may leave."

Michael leaned back, "I don’t want to."

Dorothy frowned as she turned back to face him, "Excuse me?"

"Well, I came here for two reasons… One to offer you my services in replacement of Heero’s- which you just swatted back to my face- and the other is to ask you out for dinner."

Dorothy gave him an incredulous look, "You think I’d go out with you?!"

Michael shrugged, "You can if you want to. I would really like to eat dinner with you."

Dorothy turned away from him, "In your dreams." She muttered before putting on her helmet and then holding her sword once again. "I am not going to leave this place until you leave."

Michael shrugged yet once again as he noted a telephone by the corner. "Suit yourself." He said as he stood up.

Dorothy saw that he stood up from the corner of her eyes… She suddenly felt… disappointment and sadness that he is leaving… ‘Well, what do I care anyway?’ she asked herself as she tilted her chin up and then practiced her forms to let out her anger…

She waited to hear the clicking of the doorknob but no sounds came… Curiously, she changed her forms so she would have to turn around and face where Michael had been before…

She saw him by the phone- talking while looking at her… He gave her a drop-dead smile and waved.

Dorothy blushed but only huffed as she quickly turned away from him- almost losing her balance because she did it so quickly.

She forced herself not to change her steps anymore, and followed through with her usual and when she turned around- as was the right time to do so, she saw Michael sitting on the mat once again, just looking at her with his chin propped in between his two hands…

Dorothy nearly fumbled with her sword… That stare of his is unnerving!

‘Don’t let him get to you, Catalonia….’ She whispered to herself, just as she had always done so when she had faced an adversary before. It was the only way she was able to survive her horrid past… And she’s not about to let anyone get near her once again… It’s too painful to love only to lose those people once again…

She didn’t know that her passion is showing through her gestures but Michael did, having watched Heero practice a million times… Dorothy’s forms are more… of her release to frustrations…

Suddenly, there was a knock from outside the door and Dorothy’s concentration broke… She frowned, if there was one thing she hates the most, it’s when her concentration is being overridden! And her decisions!

Michael stood up. "I think that’s for me." He said cheerfully.

Dorothy looked at him from behind her helmet, ‘For him?’

The moment he opened the door, the delicious aroma of freshly baked pizza filtered through the air…

Dorothy’s stomach growled and she remembered that she hasn’t eaten anything except for some hot cocoa that morning…

Michael came back inside with a medium sized pizza box, smelling it. "Ummmmm!!! This smells so good! Would you like some, Dorothy?"

Dorothy gulped but she forced herself to turn away from him… When was the last time she had eaten a pizza? Far too long… she’s only eaten formal dinners- not really enjoying herself… but then…

"Pizza’s are fattening and oily. It makes you perspire more oil, which clogs your skin pores. Not to mention that it will give you heartburn." She muttered, more to tell herself that she didn’t want any of HIS pizza, then turned away from him.

Michael smiled… He heard her stomach growl a while ago, so he knows she’s hungry… It’s just a matter of time…

"Pepperoni… YUM!" he said almost too loudly…

Dorothy started her form but couldn’t concentrate… The food… him… what is up with this?!

"What do you want from me, anyway?!" Dorothy asked once again as she turned around, her hair flying in an arc around her body. Her gaze fell on a man in an impeccable business suit, munching on a huge slice of pizza, sitting on the mat… the sight is laughably cute- if she wasn’t in a position where she could kill someone.

Michael chewed on his pizza as he looked up at her. He gulped it down, "I already told you what I want."

Dorothy sighed. "IF I eat dinner with you, will you leave me alone?!"

Michael smiled, ‘for now, yes… in the near future, don’t count on it…’ he thought but he only nodded. "Yep."

Dorothy gave out a loud sigh as she took off her helmet while walking towards him. Then, she unceremoniously sat down on the floor and placed the accessories beside her. "You said eat… That doesn’t necessarily mean I have to do some talking, so I won’t." Dorothy said as she took off her gloves.

Michael grinned, ‘Well… at least I got her to eat with me…’ he thought happily. He has ways to make people talk…

"Nice place you have here…"

Dorothy’s eyebrow shot up but Michael ignored it.

"Hmm… although you need to be more careful where you point your sword- look at the slash you did over there…" Michael said as he pointed at the place where her sword was struck after she threw it at him.

He looked over at Dorothy who was looking down at the pizzas and saw that her lips are tightly pressed together in frustration as she chewed.

"And you know… the floor is going to be greasy later, oil is seeping out of the box… You better eat more carefully next time…"

He saw her hands turned to fist.

"And gee! Look at this! My! Is this the queen of cosmetics, eating greasy pizzas?"

That did it! Dorothy stared up at him with her eyes blazing hell’s fury. "What the hell do you mean by that!!! And those are all your fault!!! I am just eating here to get you out of my hair!!!"

"And what beautiful hair it is…" Michael said right after.

The words Dorothy was about to say disappeared from her mind along with her anger…

"Don’t flatter me…" she said, grasping for anything to say… but inside, she has a warm feeling… and it’s not because of the pizza…

"Oh, you deserve the praise, your hair is very well maintained…"

Dorothy frowned in confusion at the man in front of her… First they were talking about pizzas, now its her hair… and what is up with that grin?!

"Why are you grinning?" she asked haughtily.

Michael grabbed another pizza, "Because I got you talking…"

Dorothy blinked, then she frowned in anger… ‘Why the dirty little…’ she didn’t finish her train of thought as the funny side of the whole thing dawned on her… and instead of shouting at him, she smiled her first genuine smile and she looked down on the pizza, suddenly feeling a little shy around him…

Michael’s jaw dropped as he looked down at Dorothy who now looked like an average woman with that slight smile and head tilted downwards… She almost had an innocent air around her! And he was thankful that she wasn’t looking at his direction to see him gawking at her…

"Yes… you did get me to talk… and gotten me mad, not to mention that you got me to eat with you even when I said no… Not many people can do that… But don’t think that you can always do so…"

"Of course not." Michael said honestly.

Dorothy looked at him in the eyes and saw how clear his hazel eyes are… no malice, but the promise of fun and laughter… She shook her head… She has some things she has to do… People to look for… Budgets to approve…

She stood up. "I think we have to cut this short. I still have many things to do."

Michael sighed inwardly… Of course he wasn’t expecting a long dinner… but then, who can stop anyone from dreaming?

"I understand… same here…" He picked up the pizza and then took some paper napkins from the bag. Holding the pizza on one hand, then the napkins on the other, he started to clean the mat.

"What are you doing?" Dorothy asked in confusion.

Michael finished and then stood up. "It was greasy, I didn’t want you to slip there just in case your cleaners misses a spot."

A smile tugged at Dorothy’s lips but she suppressed it. "Well… thank you. But please… go."

Michael nodded. He’s imposed on her too much already… "As you wish, Ms. Catalonia. It has been a most memorable evening." He said before turning around and leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

‘And it won’t be the last…’ he thought as he skipped once and then walked cheerfully towards the entrance.

Dorothy stared at the door as it closed… She must admit that it’s flattering to catch a man’s attention once again… No man has ever really held her interest… But this one certainly has…

She let the smile on her face appear as she herself walked outside the room minutes later and went up to her floor.

"Hello Amanda!" she greeted her assistant cheerfully before passing by to go to her office.

Amanda’s eyebrow shot up in confusion, then she smiled… ‘Well, I guess that man was able to do it… whatever it was…’ she thought cheerfully, happy that her boss had finally gotten over her angry state…

~*~

The next day, Dorothy stopped in mid step as she stared at the heap of red roses on her table…

"Amanda! What are those red roses here for?!"

Amanda smiled… it’s very romantic- that’s all she’d say… "A man delivered it this morning… there’s a card attached to it."

Dorothy frowned… Not that she’s not used to receiving flowers… but she knows that she’s receiving them when she did… this one is out of the blue… She didn’t go to any fashion parades… or spoken to any crowd… why the roses then?

She reached out and took the card with her name.

"Dorothy, I really enjoyed our little dinner yesterday, I hope we can do it again… although next time, I hope there’ll be candle lights to make your hair shimmer- Yours truly, Michael."

Dorothy blushed as she tried to stop the smile forming on her lips… Sad to say, as much as she wants to hate this guy, she was actually thinking of him last night- she couldn’t concentrate as well as she used to on reading the proposals…

But then again, that’s bad… She has to forget about him… There are just too many things happening at the moment…

She frowned as a red envelope peeked out from under the roses… Dorothy’s hands turned to ice, but she still reached for it…

"Very soon… one by one… what you have worked for will be destroyed…"

Dorothy paled as she grabbed for her chair and tried to breathe…

‘I need to find and stop this!!!’ she thought as she willed herself to calm down. She forgot about the flowers, about Michael as she stared into her computer and started working…

~*~

Michael frowned… It’s been three days now, and no word from Dorothy… not that he was expecting any, but he thought that she might call him or something…

He wants to see her again, that’s for sure… but then, how can he know her schedule?

"Duh!!! Computer Genius, sometimes you are so dumb!!!" he cried out as he faced his computer and started typing…

‘Hmm… she’s eating with Ulysees Company this Friday at the restaurant just around the corner… maybe I’ll drop in…’ he thought mischievously… His mind now sound with the thought of seeing her once again…

(AN: *grin* So people... hehehe, how'd you like Michael here? Whatcha think is this devil gonna do? Do you like the story? Tell me! KIT)