*...* denotes thought
~~~ text that falls between these lines indicates flashbacks or scene breaks
[...] numbers in brackets indicates footnotes at end of chapter
Embrace The Night Part 5
Earth, Romefeller/OZ Headquarters AC 199
Treize Khushrenada grimly smiled as he read the contents of the thick file clasped in his aristotelian hands. His ginger colored hair was impeccably neat, as usual, his uniform spotless and beyond criticism. Treize closed the file with a satisfied murmur, and tossed the manila folder onto the top of his large, Louis XIV desk.
Glancing at the ornate time piece that rested across the room on the long wall, he punched the intercom button to summon the attention of his personal secretary.
"Ms. Hakio," he said gently.
The perky, if somewhat annoying, voice of Dena Hakio chirped over the electronic device with a, "Yes, Khushrenada - san?"
"Please hold all calls and visitors. I do not wish to be disturbed for the rest of the afternoon."
Ms. Hakio's voice suddenly rose a couple of octaves as she objected. "But sir, you're scheduled to meet with Duke Dermail this afternoon to discuss the Libra Cannon project!"
"Tell him there's been a change of plans," came the smooth reply.
"But -"
"Ms. Hakio, are you happy with your job?" he interrupted.
Silence answered him for a few minutes before a subdued Dena Hakio answered with, "I'll see if Lady Une is willing to take your place, or I will reschedule him for tomorrow morning."
"That's what I thought." Treize abruptly destroyed the connection and turned off his intercom communications panel. He then swung around in his revolving arm chair, to reach underneath the surface of his desk. There he pushed a hidden trigger, which activated his personal security locks.
The glowing green panel on the main door of his office suddenly turned bright red, indicating its security. Satisfied with the results, Treize then pushed another button and the lights in his office dimmed quite a bit, until the only illumination that remained were the tiny tendrils of sunlight that managed to bypass the heavy brocade drapes on his floor length windows.
Without moving his chair's direction, Treize turned his head to the side, and spoke toward the walls on his right.
"It's secure."
A sudden 'whoosh' filled the room, as a hidden door panel slid open, revealing a tiny alcove that led to a dimly lit flight of winding stairs. A dark shadow emerged from the new opening, to slink into the room, until it seated itself across from Treize's desk.
Treize stood up and bowed deeply at the seated figure, bending at the waist with one elegantly clad arm held up to his chest, the other held rigidly behind his back. He sensed, more than saw, the figure wave a hand in a dismissive gesture, allowing him to return to his previous position.
Treize regained his seat, leaning his elbows on the thick, massive arm rests, his fingers lightly steepled together as he regarded the person seated in front of him.
Silence reigned throughout the office until it was broken by a sultry and low seductive voice. "Is everything proceeding accordingly?"
"Yes, Mistress. The pieces of the puzzle are finding their way to their appropriate positions. Soon the game board shall be complete."
"Then it will be time to play." It was a statement, not a question, yet Treize answered.
"Yes, Mistress. You will command those under you just like a queen of a chessboard."
"And what of the king?"
"Even as we speak, he is journeying to the Sank Kingdom, along with his partner."
The figure's voice changed to slight mockery as she said, "Ah yes, the little knights rushing off to protect their precious queen." A quiet giggle, laced with derision, followed this statement, although it was quickly suppressed. When the voice started up again, all traces of humor had been effectively eliminated.
"This war between OZ and the colonies will soon be at an end. A pity. I do so enjoy watching the mortals squirm and writhe as their destinies are stripped from their control. Perhaps we can prolong the inevitable end. As it stands, I seem to have two battle fields upon which I may now play."
"Excuse me for being impertinent, Mistress, but was it wise to send the Triumvirate such a blatant challenge? Even if you are the Vampire Master, they will surely retaliate."
"I'm counting on it," came the simple reply.
Treize was shocked, but he didn't allow his surprise to show on his face, rather maintained his dead panned expression.
The woman continued. "The Triumvirate will undoubtedly enlist the aid of the other Originals, maybe even a few of their subordinates. They will surely utilize every available resource. Perhaps it will be enough to destroy me, or perhaps I shall destroy them. Either way, it will be a glorious battle, one that I fully intend to orchestrate. Everything will proceed according to MY every desire. Relying on unthinking peons last time was intolerable. Hilde was a great disappointment. She allowed bitterness and jealousy to gain the upperhand and left herself vulnerable and weak. She almost managed to completely destroy everything that I have worked so hard to attain. This time, I shall be the one in control. There will no mistakes."
"Should we rush into this so hastily, My Lady?"
"This has been the careful compilation of Power and allies that spans over countless millennia. I was ready to act over fifty years ago. Unfortunately, I was thwarted in my earlier attempts because I underestimated those that opposed me and their allies, as well as placing too much trust in subordinates. Fortunately now, that mistake can be easily rectified." The lady paused in her diatribe, as if savoring her fanaticism.
"I have waited long enough. Time may mean nothing to an immortal, but even those who cannot die can become bored. The time to strike is now, especially since Fate has been so kind as to provide the essential piece to the puzzle for a second time. The Triumvirate will finally fall and with it, so will the boundaries that restrain my Power. And finally I shall be allowed full reign over the heavens. Humanity will know what it truly means to be the hunted."
The woman laughed softly, but her humor carried a trace of her ruthlessness, conveying itself to her minion. Treize shivered with something akin to fear, but he quickly shoved it away. This was his Mistress, the one whom he was fated to obey without question or thought. After all, she had his best interests at heart.
Didn't she?
Treize stood up and bowed once more. "Well then, by your leave, Mistress. I shall implement the next stage of your plan. I'll give the information to the scientists."
The woman was silent for a moment, before she answered. "Send it to the ones who are on our payroll. They will follow whatever orders I give them. The others are under other financial backing. They might not be as willing to follow such obvious commands. In time, all of their actions will be directed by me, but for now, their directions are not so easily manipulated. As it is, all of the players shall be arriving in the Sank Kingdom around the same time. I do not wish to leave anything up to chance. Not this close to the finale."
"As you wish, My Lady." [1]
~~~
Earth, Sank Kingdom AC 199
Two chambermaids of the royal palace of the Sank Kingdom cringed in terror and pain as they held fingers in their ears, attempting to stifle an unearthly shriek that rebounded throughout the noble halls. Their eyes were tightly shut, their faces screwed up in suffering expressions. One of the maids nudged another with her knee and motioned with her head. With a brief nod, the two young women managed to escape from the royal wing and into the relatively sound proof servant corridors.
Once there, they took their fingers out of their ears and sighed with relief. The atmosphere of the corridors was chaotic and noisy, servants' voices echoing and rebounding off of the walls, as each tried to accomplish their daily tasks in an orderly and efficient manner. Clatters from the kitchen areas could be heard, pots and pans clanging together in an assault of sounds.
It was music to the two girls' ears.
A meaty hand clamped down on one of the girls' shoulders, startling both of the maids. They turned around to meet the stern gaze of the head housekeeper, a rather large and portly woman who was in the late twilight of her prime. They looked up guiltily, having been caught slacking off.
"Charon, Jenna. What are ya two doin' here? Ya're supposed ta be cleanin' up Her Majesty's royal suites an' chamber. Donna tell me ya two are finished already. Ya two usually take all morning ta clean."
"No, ma'am. We was headin' up to the royal chambers but Her Majesty was in her morning room with her secretary, Lady Noin. She is..." Charon trailed off, even as she continued to wave her hands around in a helpless gesture, as if the word she was searching for would fly into her grasp.
Jenna picked up for her friend, unwilling to let her take all of the blame. "Queen Relena is in one o' her moods, ma'am. She's demanding to see her brother again." the fiery red head said in her thick brogue accent.
Sherry Pergith's stern expression softened in understanding as she nodded her head slowly. The entire staff of the Sank Kingdom's Royal Palace knew what those words connotated. "Ya made a wise decision, girls." With that, Sherry left the two chambermaids to attend to the next task that was in line on her long score of duties.
Wise indeed. Every servant knew that it was better to avoid the young monarch when she was in one of her 'moods'. It was better that she be handled by one of the only two people who could calm her down. One was a man who was named Zechs Merquise, a bold young man who had unfortunately left the kingdom to become part of some secret mission against the OZ Foundation. The other was the Queen's personal secretary, Lady Noin, who more often than not, ended up carrying the brunt of the Queen's irrational behavior and mood swings.
The sympathetic staff always made sure that Lady Noin's supply of aspirin and pain killers was well stocked.
Sherry tsked her tongue against the roof of her mouth as her thoughts started drifting around the tenuous subject that was their queen. She had been the head housekeeper for the royal family for nearly 40 years, yet she had lived her entire life in the palace, some odd 60 years or so. She had seen many of the Peacecraft rulers come and go, some in peace and others in tragedy.
Unfortunately the late Queen Kaitlyn was taken in the past war, as well as her consort husband, and their oldest child, Prince Milliardo Peacecraft. The young princess Relena, heir to the throne, had also been assumed lost to them, but had mysteriously reappeared a few years ago.
The entire kingdom had been overjoyed at the return of their precious princess, and few had questioned how she had survived the nearly successful coup. None had bothered to wonder at the young girl claiming the right to the throne, or the two mysterious strangers with her, a young man who called himself Zechs Merquise and a young woman who was known only as Noin.
It had only been once the girl had been coronated that the strange behavior had started. In the beginning it had only been a few outbursts of temper and confusion here and there, but they had steadily increased in occurrences. It had quickly been learned that the only people capable of snapping their ruler out of her mysterious fits were her two shadowed companions.
And then a year and a half ago Zechs Merquise had gotten a strange request for help and had gone off to join some hush hush organization, leaving the young ruler in Noin's dubious hands. Sherry herself had suspicions about the young man and woman and the girl claiming to be her queen, but Sherry liked her job and wasn't looking to make trouble, so she kept her reservations to herself.
Although, she didn't envy Lady Noin's job one single bit.
~~~
Currently, said Lady was attempting to calm Her Royal Majesty out of her Royal Snit.
[CRASH!!!] Noin darted out of the way, avoiding a thrown projectile, narrowly escaping as the priceless glass statue shattered against a marble pillar that she had been standing in front of.
Noin's lavender eyes went wide as she took in the countless sparkling shards, before turning her full attention back to her enraged monarch. Her dark, cropped lavender hair was in disarray, stray strands sticking out at every conceivable angle. Noin's usually impeccable suit was looking worn and tired, the fabric practically limp from the morning's exertions.
She attempted to soothe the enraged girl in front of her. "Please Your Majesty! You must calm down!"
"I DON'T WANT TO BE CALM! I WANT MY BROTHER HERE AND I WANT HIM NOW!" screamed the aggravated noble.
Noin made a superhuman effort to maintain a quieter tone of voice, wishing to do nothing to further antagonize the hysterical girl, even though her next words were sure to do just that. "Your Majesty, you know your only brother, Milliardo Peacecraft, is no longer with us."
"WELL DUH!!" screamed the blond. "OF COURSE HE'S NOT WITH US! HE'S WALTZING OUT THERE AMONG THE STARS PLAYING TOY SOLDIERS WHEN HE SHOULD BE HERE WITH ME!"
Tears of distress were starting to stream down the girl's face, salty physical manifestations of the twisted torment that raged in her soul. As she stood there in the middle of the room, staring at her usually trusted aide, her shoulders heaving with every wild breath, the girl known to all as Relena Peacecraft, Queen of the Sank Kingdom, reached up with one hand and started tugging worriedly at her hair.
Noin attempted to end the tirade now. "Your Majesty, if you would just retire for a moment to your room, I'm sure -"
Relena glared at her, spite apparent in her large, blue eyes. Her face was flushed a dull red, her anger still perceptible. She sniffed once before saying, "You're just hiding him from me because I'm a girl! You're probably even waiting until my back is turned before you try to replace me with him!" she cried out, sinking into a plush arm chair that was conveniently behind her as the tears once again continued to run down her cheeks.
"Nonsense, My Lady. You know the monarchy has always relied upon the females of the lineage. It's always been a Queen Peacecraft who has sat on the throne, not a king," Noin placated, hoping to draw the girl out of her enraged stupor.
Relena's tears stopped abruptly, before she turned a beaming face up to her purple haired companion. "That's true, isn't it?" she chirped out brightly, all sunshine and smiles.
Noin sighed in relief, sending a puff of air through her bangs as she gazed up heavenwards and gave a silent prayer of thanks to the powers that be. Perhaps today's riot was over.
However, her relief was short lived, for Relena started to get a sad look on her face.
"But I'm not really the true Peacecraft heir, am I, Noin?" she asked hesitantly, as a child might when not sure of the type of response to a question.
Noin drew in a sharp breath before she said earnestly, "As far as these people are concerned, you ARE the REAL Peacecraft heir. You must maintain the facade until your brother, Zechs, tells you otherwise."
Realizing her mistake, Noin quickly looked around the room to ensure herself that there were no eavesdropping servants around. Finding no one, she whispered a short prayer of thanks that no one had heard her small slip. If their position here was compromised, Zechs would never forgive her.
Relena sighed and curled up in the large arm chair, her head on her knees, her fingers lazily twirling a strand of her dull blonde hair. "I know," she mumbled, her dull blue eyes looking idly around the room, before latching onto the older woman.
Her large blue eyes grew wider as tears once again started to well forth. "But I miss him!" she whined petulantly, her voice rising a half octave.
Noin winced and she hastily attempted to avert the impending temper tantrum. "My Lady, you know that the Gundam Pilots are arriving today, don't you?" she said, hoping to distract the young girl.
"Gundam Pilots?" Relena asked curiously, her tears and sadness forgotten as quickly as that.
Noin saw that and quickly pounced, attempting to halt today's latest outbursts of emotions. She loved Relena like her own child, but even she got tired of these unfortunately familiar scenes.
"Yes, those young men who are coming here to help protect you. They'll be your personal bodyguards until this war is ended."
Relena giggled, like an enraptured school girl. "I wonder if any of them are cute..."
A sweatdrop appeared on Noin's forehead, even as her left eyebrow began to twitch.
Relena jumped out of the arm chair and began to twirl around the room, excitedly. Her arms were flung out wide, as she moved in dizzying circles. The room was filled with childish laughter, the previous rage and tantrum having been abruptly, or conveniently forgotten.
Relena stopped dancing as her bright, feverish eyes fell on Noin. Then she looked down at her lovely, if somewhat rumpled morning gown. She let out an unearthly shriek.
"AHHHH!!!!"
Noin sprung into action, appearing at Relena's side instantly, ready to crush whatever Relena had found so disturbing.
"What is it, My Lady?"
Relena wailed, "It's my gown! It'll never do! I have to change it immediately!" With that, Relena skipped out of the room, heading for her personal dressing chambers and calling for her maids.
Noin stood stock still where Relena had left her, before she collapsed into the vacated chair. Her nerves were shot and she was doing her best to keep up with her temperamental and erratic ward.
With her head held in her hands, she muttered, "I'm getting too old for this." [2]
~~~
Somewhere Out In Space Between Earth and Colony L2 AC 199
The vastness of space is rivaled only by its endless silence. The eternal ebony curtain, liberally sprinkled with a scattered dusting of stars, represents both endless possibilities but also endless restrictions. The true frontier that awaits conquest is space, but before humanity can seek out new challenges and tribulations, it must first subdue and overcome the trials at home.
Currently space holds two of humanity's hopes for that goal.
The young man currently known as Quatre R. Winner, co - owner of the interplanetary Winner Corporation, was presently returning to a home that he had left many years ago. As his hands moved confidently over the controls of the massive spacecraft that he had christened Virgo, he glanced over at his quiet companion.
Trowa, known in this era as Trowa Barton, radiated a graceful elegance, even sitting down, strapped into a bucket seat. His long brown bangs were left to casually fall over a portion of his face, hiding one coolly assessing green eye from view. Trowa's profile was strong and solid, his face a stoic expression of patience and contemplation.
Quatre felt a quiet thrumming pulse through his veins in response to his keen observations of his partner. As always, Trowa managed to produce a response in Quatre that no other had ever had before, or ever will.
Quatre's thoughts were quiet, but sadly remorseful. *I know that we are together now, but what if I hadn't come to my senses in time? What if Hilde had managed to...* Quatre's hands reflexively clenched tighter on the control shifts of the shuttle.
"Don't," came the quiet command.
Startled, Quatre turned to his lover and said, "Don't what?"
"Don't start thinking along that path. It's in the past. Leave it there," came the quiet commands.
Quatre looked down, slightly ashamed, and said, "Gomen, Trowa. But I can't help it. Especially now with the recent events."
A cool, slender hand came up to cover one of his own. Quatre lifted his gaze upwards, only to fall into the cool depths of his mate's gaze. He watched, entranced, as Trowa spoke, words of comfort and compassion ebbing from those gentle lips.
"What happened in the past no longer has the power to affect us. Although sometimes I wish it had never happened, it did, and it only served to make USstronger. We have eternity to be together, let's not taint it with unnecessary sorrows."
Quatre smiled gently, happiness shining in his eyes. "I know. And I'm grateful. I love you, Trowa."
The brunette responded with a quiet, "I love you, Angel." He leaned over from his seat to plant a tender kiss on Quatre's slightly parted lips. Several breathless moments passed before he eased himself back into his seat, leaving them both craving for more.
As the two vampire pilots continued on their journey, their thoughts once again circumventing around the subject of their fellow soldiers. The problems of the present seemed almost trivial when compared to the obstacles they had surpassed in their history, but the war was the focus of their concentration for now.
Quatre spoke up with, "How do you think Duo is dealing with Heero right now?"
Trowa was silent, his gaze focused out the cockpit into the depths of space. He didn't turn to face Quatre as he answered, but rather kept staring out the reinforced glass shield. "I do not presume to know Duo's actions, but I would assume, or at the very least hope, that he is being cautious in any and all attempts to get to know pilot 01."
Slightly hurt that Trowa would be so callous in discussing the chosen pilot of Colony L1, Quatre blurted out, "But what if he is Duo's Heero?! That physical resemblance can't be coincidental."
"But it could be. We cannot be blind to the fact that we are pathetic resources on the subject of mortality. We are hardly experts about what happens to mortal souls when they depart this plane of existence. That is the price of being immortal."
Trowa took a deep breath, more for a dramatic pause than for necessity. "I do not argue the possibility that pilot 01 COULD be the reincarnation of Heero Lowe. If that is the case, I wish Duo the best of luck. He will need it. However, I don't think we should, as humans say, count our eggs before they hatch."
Quatre let out a small chuckle of laughter, startling his partner. His blue eyes bright with merriment, despite the solemn topic being discussed, he corrected his lover. "Trowa, it's 'don't count your chickens before they hatch'."
Trowa blinked... then blinked again... before he broke out in quiet laughter, the tense and solemn mood broken. Male laughter rang through the cockpit of the shuttlecraft, as the two vampires indulged in a lack of discipline.
As the spontaneous laughing session died down, Quatre's thoughts took a veer off the course of his old time friend, Duo Maxwell, and focused in on the other side of the spectrum. "Hmm, I wonder about the other two. I haven't heard from them since their brief appearance and aid over a hundred years ago."
Trowa looked at Quatre as his face slid back into its usual mask of indifference. He said quietly, "Those two are still out on their quest for vengeance and justice. They are still hunting down those who bear the clan name of Khushrenada. Their blood contracts won't allow them to do any less." [3]
Quatre got a funny look on his face as he said, "Doesn't the head of the OZ organization bear the name Khushrenada?"
"That's probably why they became pilots 05 and 06 for Project Meteor. It would be a more honorable way of disposing with their target, then just invading the militant group and assassinating him. I get the feeling that the less those two rely on their supernatural powers, the more glorious their victories are."
"Still... I find it odd that Zechs would leave his sister alone. I mean, we both know how protective he is of her, especially given her mental state, nevermind the fact that she's tied to him," Quatre trailed off.
"She's not alone though. Lady Noin is with her."
"True, and Noin is fanatically obsessive about protecting that which Zechs deems important. Of course, he did save her life in Salem."
"And Relena is the one thing Zechs asked her to protect in return for saving her life."
"Hai. It'll be nice to see that Witch again." [4]
Trowa blew a gust of wind upwards, sending the sporadic air currents to rifle through his bangs. With an amused smile on his lips, he said, "Wonder what color her hair will be this time?"
Quatre answered with an equally amused grin, "Don't know. Last time we saw her it was fuchsia, wasn't it?"
~~~
Earth, Sank Kingdom AC 199
Duo Maxwell swept into one of the massive greeting rooms of the Sank Palace, his hands jauntily thrust into the generous pockets of his black riding pants. Heero and he had arrived in the Sank Kingdom a few hours ago, after a quiet and uneventful journey from Colony L2.
Upon their arrival in the Sank Kingdom, they had been shown to the hangers where they were to store their Gundams until they were needed. Duo chose not to comment on the fact that their guide had said WHEN and not IF their Gundams would be needed, nor on the fact that a kingdom that spouted absolute pacifism would even have hangers that could house weapons of mass destruction.
After the two men had carefully stored their Gundams away, they had been taken to the palace and given their suites. Their rooms were logically in the same wing of the palace as Queen Relena's, granting them easier access to Relena's quarters in case of an emergency. Once they had a chance to refresh themselves, they were asked to come to Lyon Hall, a smaller parlor in a private section of the palace.
After a brief shower and a change of clothing, Duo had made his way steadily to Lyon Hall. He had made a quick stop to Heero's room, ostensibly to pick up his partner so they could arrive together, only to discover that Heero had already left. Unperturbed in the least, he continued on his way to meet his host and his mission.
However, when he arrived in the salon, he received a bit of a shock. Sitting on a couple of lavishly upholstered chairs, talking amicably with a purple haired woman, was Quatre and Trowa! He stood gaping in the doorway for a minute, before the other two young men noticed he was standing there.
The blond and the brunette turned as one to the door, their earnest expressions breaking into smiles as they saw Duo. They all rose and made their way towards the stunned vampire who had regained control over his body and was rushing towards them.
The three men awkwardly embraced one another in a three-way hug before settling down. Duo quickly looked back and forth between the other two pilots before he blurted out, "What are you guys doing here?"
"Same thing as you, probably," Trowa said quietly.
"Our first mission was to journey to the Sank Kingdom and await further orders from the colonies," expounded Quatre.
Duo cocked his head slightly to the side and thought for a moment before he answered, "No, Heero and I are supposed to be protecting the Queen of the Sank Kingdom. The backers to the Gundam projects on L1 and L2 have emphasized her safety above all else."
The three vampires made their way back to the collection of chairs that adorned the private parlor where the other occupant of the room awaited. Duo turned to greet her, thinking that this was their kind host, when another shock gripped him.
He glanced at the woman, recognition hitting him like a ton of bricks. His mouth opened and closed several times, granting him the likeness of a floundering fish. He pointed a finger and waved it in the air at the woman several times as he attempted to regain his speech.
The woman seated on the chair looked up at him with an amused expression on her face. Her light purple eyes seemed to sparkle with a hint of mischief as a low chuckle began to emit itself from her throat.
Duo finally managed to gasp out, "Y-you! It's you! I can't believe it! Wait a minute, didn't you have green hair the last time I saw you?!"
Quatre chuckled behind Duo and said, "And last time we saw her she had fuchsia colored hair. Makes one wonder what her natural shade is."
Noin shrugged her shoulders and said, "I'll never tell."
Duo, who had finally managed to regain control of himself said, "But if YOU'RE here, then that means Queen Relena Peacecraft really is -"
"Yes," Noin answered the unfinished question.
"OI!" exclaimed Duo, who fell down and back against one of the chairs, his hand smacked against his forehead. "This is just getting more complicated by the minute!"
Noin frowned at the braided immortal and said, "Well, what do you think it was like for me to learn that the Gundam pilots were actually vampires that I had met many years ago?"
The other two vampires reclaimed their previous seats, intent on returning to their former conversation. Just as they were about to pick up where they had left off, Duo noticed for the first time that Heero was not in the room.
"Hey, wait a minute. Where's Heero? He wasn't in his room when I checked a few minutes ago."
Noin waved her hand dismissively and said, "He asked if he could have access to the computer terminals of the palace. I had a servant show him the way."
"Computer terminals? What do you think he would need that for?" asked a puzzled Duo.
Noin shrugged and said, "He muttered something about checking in with Dr. J. Geez, Duo. Your lover doesn't talk very much anymore, does he?"
Silence reigned throughout the room; the tension grew so thick that it was almost stifling. Noin looked around with a puzzled expression on her face, clearly confused about the lack of response. She noted that Quatre and Trowa were looking around the room, staring out into space as if they found the abstract fascinating. Duo's head was angled downwards, his gaze fixated on the lush Persian carpeting of the salon.
Noin quickly grew irritated with the growing silence and blurted out, "Aw c'mon, Duo. You two didn't have a fight or something, did you?"
Duo didn't raise his head as he softly muttered, "Or something..."
Noin's irritation abruptly shifted to slight alarm as she turned her gaze to the blond vampire sitting across from her. She asked sharply, "What happened?"
Quatre's expression softened and a remorseful look overcame his pale complexion. He took pity on the confused witch and said, "Gomen, Noin, but that man you met... he's... he's not..." Quatre floundered around for the most appropriate way to describe the tenuous situation to the white witch.
After searching for the elusive explanation, he gave up with an apologetic shrug and said, "He's not the same man you met before."
Intuition flooded through the woman's brain and she said in a subdued tone of voice, "Oh. Heero didn't accept the Dark Gift then, did he?"
Duo flinched imperceptibly, his shoulders jerking with a sharp movement as he clenched his eyes shut. He whispered, his voice aching with sorrow and loss, "No. He didn't."
Noin lifted her eyes upwards in a thoughtful gesture, her brow creased as she thought. "So that man, Heero Yuy, is nothing more than a physical look a like? I had wondered why he'd changed his last name."
Trowa shrugged his shoulders and uttered, "We don't know for sure. It could be just coincidence, or it could be something more. Only time will tell."
Noin muttered to herself, "If he's just a physical match, why does his aura resonate with a familiar signature?"
Even softly uttered, Duo's superior hearing picked up whisper. His violet eyes went wide with surprise and something akin to burgeoning hope. "What did you say?"
Pierced to immobility by Duo's sharp gaze, Noin could only raise her hands in a supplicating gesture. "Gomen, Duo, I didn't mean to say that out loud."
"But you did. Explain," came the curt demand.
"Well, uh... it's only that when I met him a few moments ago that I thought I recognized the patterns of his aura. I'm almost positive that the soul is the same."
Duo rose to his feet in one graceful gesture, excitement starting to build in his heart, as he stared at the other occupants of the room. "Did you hear her?! He could be-"
Trowa sharply stood up and grabbed the other man's shoulders. "Duo! Listen to what she said! There's still a chance that he might not be what you wish him to be. You can't just assume!" he almost shouted, his tone rising to match Duo's.
Duo turned feverish, almost hysterical eyes on the other vampire. Trowa roughly shook his shoulders a few times, attempting to replace the gleam with some semblance of rationality and logic.
Quatre rose to his feet with languid grace and said, "That's enough, Trowa. Let him go." Quatre's tone was calm and pleasant, but held an underlying thread of steel underneath the composed voice.
Trowa's hands dropped from Duo's shoulders and he once again sat down on the chair behind him. His mask of indifference once again fell upon his face, albeit an undisguised interest in the proceedings marring the perfect facade.
Quatre, satisfied that Trowa had been pacified, turned back to the longhaired man. Quatre raised his eyes to stare into the slightly taller man's gaze. Although a few inches shorter than the American, the blond radiated an authority that quelled the taller man.
Quatre started to speak, his smooth, flowing speech compelling all those in the room to listen silently.
"Duo, whether or not Heero Yuy is the reincarnation of your former husband is yet to be completely determined. Granted, Noin being a White Witch, she is more perceptive to the tones and flavors of mortal souls, and her expertise does tip the scales in your favor, but you must not lose your perspective."
Duo made as if to argue and Quatre raised his hand to halt him before he could utter a single syllable. "I am not refuting her claim of Heero's familiarity, but even if he does prove to be the reincarnation of your lover, your choice must still remain the same as before. If he is Heero, you must make the choice whether or not to reveal yourself and your true nature to him a second time. You must ask yourself, are you willing to lose him again?"
Duo's shoulders slumped as Quatre's words burned into his brain, clearing the haze from his thoughts. Although hope still smoldered in his heart, regret and despair started to emerge from the shadows.
Quatre turned to look into Duo's amethyst eyes, his own bright blue serious and firm with an inner strength. "If he remembers you, you must make the ultimate choice. Will you allow him to keep his mortality, or will you offer him the Dark Gift and condemn him to a life in the shadows of humanity?"
Duo retreated back to his chair, slumping down on the rich brocade fabric. He leaned on his knees, his head in his powerful hands. Keeping his head down, he sadly whispered, "As much as it hurts to exist without him... I don't know if I could survive losing him again."
Noin, having watched the volley back and forth, could no longer remain silent. She rose up from her chair only to fall to her knees in front of the despondent vampire. Laying her hands on a free part of his knee, she looked up at him earnestly.
"Duo," she said quietly, commanding the weary immortal's attention. "There's no telling whether or not Heero would refuse the Dark Gift a second time. You could very well end up being together forever this time, if he is your soul mate."
Duo spoke back, childlike worry etched in his tone. "But what if he doesn't? I don't think I could bear the pain again."
"Duo, nothing worth gaining is ever attained without pain. It's what gives things their worth. Fate has given you a second chance to attain something that's within your grasp. Don't waste this opportunity. Fate is hardly ever kind a third time."
"She's right, Duo." Trowa's quiet statement broke through the couple's rapport, turning their attentions to him. The brunette vampire flashed a rare smile and said, "You only regret what you don't try. You don't want to go through eternity regretting a missed opportunity like this."
Duo gave fleeting glances at the three other immortals' earnest faces and broke into a genuine smile. "Thank you guys. I really needed this pep talk."
The four immortals shared in the serene rapport that flowed between them, remaining silent for a reflective moment. After a few moments, the group separated and returned to their previous seats.
Duo, his expression much lighter, asked, "So, where's the object of our mission? The present Queen of the Sank Kingdom?"
Noin looked a bit guilty as she said, "Um... well, Relena won't be seeing you today, unfortunately."
Quatre raised one pale eyebrow and asked, "Oh really? And why is that?"
"Well, after I told her that you were coming, she got a little hysterical with her maids and the conditions of her clothing. I thought it would be for the best if she... um... took a nap," she finished helplessly.
Trowa's eyebrows were raised this time and said incredulously, "A nap?"
Noin's sheepish expression turned defensive as she said, "Well, she was cranky!"
Duo burst into laughter, his merriment filling the room. In between his chortles of glee he managed to gasp out, "Yep, that sounds like the Relena we all know!"
Quatre just shook his head in resignation and said, "Poor child. It's too bad about her condition. I feel so sorry for her."
"I feel more sorry for poor Noin here. Left to manage and care for the invalid all by her lonesome. How did Zechs ever manage to talk you into it?"
Noin stammered as a healthy, rosy flush spread across her cheeks. "Well... he didn't actually do any... talking..."
Three pairs of startled eyes turned to her suddenly shy figure, one pair sparkling with mischief and the other two filled with comprehension.
Duo chuckled again as he winked incorrigibly at Noin, increasing the depths of her blush. "Ah, so that's the way it is."
Noin furiously fought her spreading blush as she retorted with, "Hey, even White Witches are allowed their fun! It's only fair!"
"Speaking of justice, is Zechs coming back anytime soon? Believe it or not, I've actually started missing him and his partner's rants about justice."
Surprised silence met Duo's off hand remarks, mouths gaping open in shock.
Duo smiled and finished his statement. "Those rants are soooooo easy to make fun of!"
Three sets of sweatdrops appeared as their owners' face vaulted. Noin recovered first and was about to answer Duo when a sudden knock on the salon door interrupted her.
"Come in!" she called out.
The heavy doors swung open as a servant entered the morning room. Noin looked up in expectation as she hushed her companions. "Yes?"
"Excuse me for interrupting you, Lady Noin, but I wanted to inform you that your final visitors have arrived."
Noin's face lit up and she exclaimed, "Terrific! Show them in here immediately."
The servant bowed and said, "At once, ma'am."
The doors closed behind the servant and the three men turned to Noin with questioning looks.
Noin beamed at them and said, "Finally. The other Gundam pilots have arrived."
"You mean -"
"Yes. Zechs and Wufei have returned home."
TBC...
[1] Can anyone guess who the Vampire Master is yet? Don't ruin it for the others! If you think you know and want to gamble on me telling you yes or no, email me and I might answer 0_0
[2] THAT'S gonna be an understatement of the year ^_^;;
[3] Yeah! I finally got around to introducing the last pair of pilots!
[4] GOTCHA! Bet you thought I was going to make Noin a vampire, huh?! (silence echoes through the ML and a lone tumbleweed blows across the screen) uhhh... guys? Awww, c'mon, can't you take a joke??? Umm... you might want to put down the hanging rope now and disband the lynch mob.
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