Kindred

Part Two

Trowa peered over the final batch of passenger lists from the day Midii had left school. It was a tedious process but it was his best lead at the moment and it was about to pay off. "Hmm, Raquel Zealand boarded a shuttle for XJG. That night meant something to you Midii."

Trowa was soon on a shuttle bound for the L2 colony. Once he got there though he was at a loss. The colony had a population of over 200 000 people. By viewing the security disks for the spaceport he had verified that she had indeed come to this colony but he had no idea where she could be now. He needed help, luckily this colony also had a former Gundam pilot and comrade of his. It didn't take him long to find Duo's home.

When he knocked on Duo's door he had expected an enthusiastic, typical Duo Maxwell greeting. Instead Duo almost looked afraid to see him, and instead of inviting him in, Duo stepped out onto his front porch and closed the door behind him. "Hey there Trowa, it's good to see you." Trowa raised a questioning eyebrow, "Really?" "Of course! What brings you here?" Trowa remained quiet a moment considering his friend's strange behavior, "I was hoping you could help me with something, but I can see that may be a problem." Duo looked over his shoulder a little warily, "Trowa I'd love to help you out and if I can I will but there's something you have to know. Hilde's recovered from her coma but she has no idea about any of the stuff that happened so when you come in keep quiet about everything." Duo smiled at the unintended joke he had just made, "Not like I need to tell you to keep quiet, but just in case."

Now Duo's odd behavior made sense, "Have you taken any precautions?" Duo frowned, "Precautions?" Trowa nodded slightly, "When she does remember she might not be too happy to see you. You should prepare for that eventuality." Instantly Duo's good humour evaporated, "There's nothing to prepare for. As far as she knows she was in a coma for months after being in a car accident and we'll leave it at that. Hilde's happy now." Duo's eyes took on a slightly threatening sheen, "And I'm going to make sure she stays that way."

Just then the door flew open, "Duo who are you talking to?" Trowa's eyes flew over Hilde and he noted that she looked healthy and indeed happy. Duo looked slightly bashful, "Hey Hilde this is my friend Trowa. I'm not sure if you guys ever officially met." Hilde shook her head, "No I don't think so. Duo's told me the stories so I knew you were on the Peacemillion but I was kind of out of it." Trowa nodded, "Yes but for a good cause." Hilde turned to Duo annoyed, "Duo what kind of manners is this leaving, your friend on the front porch?" She turned to address Trowa, "Please come in." Trowa did so and Duo shut the door behind him, "So Trowa you're going to stay with us while you're here?" "No, that's all right." I've already got a hotel room." Hilde was now in the kitchen but she shouted out to Trowa, "It's no trouble Trowa! Stay for supper, maybe then you'll change your mind!" She reappeared with a beer in each hand which she gave to them. She delivered Trowa a cheery smile and Duo a small but loving kiss before disappearing into the kitchen again. Trowa turned to Duo with a questioning look in his eyes. Duo nodded, "Let's go sit out back, it's beautiful out today."

Seated in Duo's backyard he quietly waited for an explanation that Duo was quick to provide. He brought his hands up to rest behind his head and grinned sheepishly, "It's a miracle. Everything is perfect! She's totally back to normal, the business is doing great and listen to this," he leaned forward to emphasize his words, "She's in love with me! Can you believe that? She actually fell for a guy like me." Trowa frowned inwardly, he had already delivered a warning, he wouldn't reissue it and destroy that euphoric look in Duo's eyes. Part of him was envious. Suddenly it seemed like everyone he knew had someone special in their life. All of his friends had wonderful women by their side, but not him. He was chasing one down. Discouragement started to seep in, just what was he expecting to do when he found Midii? What was he expecting from her? He gave Duo a small encouraging smile, "It was only a matter of time before things worked out for you two. Everyone was expecting it." Duo leaned back in his chair and gazed up at the clear blue, artificial sky, "Well I wish someone would have clued us into that. But I guess we just had to wait for the time to be right." Duo turned his attention back to Trowa, "Sorry man, this isn't what you came here for. What can I help you with?" Even when he was serious Trowa could still see that ecstatic happiness in Duo's eyes. He shook his head ruefully, "It can wait till tomorrow. Tell me more about you and Hilde."

***

Trowa flopped onto the bed in his sterile hotel room. He had been insistent that he not stay with them. He didn't want to intrude on what was obviously a budding relationship. All evening he had watched as Hilde's eyes shined with love whenever she looked in Duo's direction. Duo was just as bad. Wherever Hilde went Duo's eyes followed her movements. They were both lost in a world containing only themselves. And of course this only made him think of Midii. He knew she was the only woman he could look at the way Duo looked at Hilde, and she was the only woman he wanted looking back at him that way. And then again he wondered just what had gone wrong. Everything had been so perfect at first, even he had been shocked about how quickly his feelings for her returned and deepened. Again Trowa went over the events of their brief time together trying to figure out just what had he done that frightened her away.

*

Quatre's small retreat on New Zealand was perfect. It was quiet, isolated and sitting right on the water. She had been quiet and apathetic the entire trip there, but now he caught her with he mouth open and her eyes wide as she surveyed her surroundings. He wordlessly took her bag from her and brought it upstairs leaving her to have a moment alone. When he came back down she was gone. He found her in the garden smiling at the flowers surrounding her. Her smile was perfect, not forced and not for anyone but herself. The sun glinted off the pale gold of her hair and the breeze blew it gently behind her. That was the beginning of Trowa's enchantment, or at least his reawakening to it. He couldn't deny he had felt something for her all those years ago. That was why she was still alive.

Trowa was reluctant to break this picture but it wasn't long before she felt his presence and turned to him. Her smile faded quickly and the look of wariness he had become used to returned. He sighed to himself, they had to get past this. He felt partly responsible for giving her the life she had lived and now it was time to make amends. He stepped outside and walked up to her. It hurt him to see her back away a step at his approach. She seemed tense as though she was ready to defend herself. He held his arms out to express his harmlessness, "I'm not going to hurt you Midii." She met his eyes defiantly, but her words were quiet and pained, "What makes you think you can?" It hit him then that neither of them was talking about physical violence. Quickly he switched tactics, "Have you ever been sailing?"

*

Trowa watched with a small smile as Midii leaned forward and closed her eyes to meet the ocean spray. Again the little boat climbed the swells of the choppy waves and Midii's laughter filled the air. "Trowa this is so exciting! I love sailing!" Trowa shouted back to her over the waves, "You don't feel seasick?" Midii turned around just long enough to give Trowa a disgusted frown. This only helped his smile to grow, "Midii do you want to steer?" Midii wheeled around excited, "Yes! Show me how." Trowa motioned her over. When she was sitting next to him he took one of her hands and placed it on the rudder. "Here hold onto this." He released it and immediately the small sailing boat started to careen around in a circle. Midii hadn't been expecting the strength of the ocean and fought to regain control. Trowa put his hands over hers and his muscles tensed as he fought the wind and waves to bring them back on course. Midii laughed through the whole process, "This is harder then it looks!" Trowa released the rudder to her again and moved towards the mast to tie down a sail, "If you can't handle it just let me know." Midii gave no answer and as he finished his work and made his way back to her he could see she was using all of her effort and concentration to steer the boat. Suddenly she let go of the rudder and stood up excitedly. Trowa grabbed it and kept the boat from losing control. With one hand he jerked Midii down, "Be careful, you can't stand up like that, you could be thrown overboard." Midii stood up again but this time clung to some rigging. She pointed her finger off into the distance, "Trowa look! Whales!"

Trowa looked towards where she was pointing and than jerked Midii down again, "Stay put, I'll try to get us closer." He positioned the boat in their direction and the wind pushed them forward swiftly. Midii frowned, "We were too slow. I don't see them." Trowa pointed in the opposite direction and Midii squealed with delight as she caught sight of a whale surfacing and blowing its spume into the wind. She turned to Trowa again with a childlike excitement making her eyes glow, "What kind are they?" "Sperm whales. We're very lucky to see them, there aren't many left." Midii half jumped out of her seat again as she spotted another and then another. They both carried on this way for a time while Trowa increasingly lost interest in the whales. He was finding it too hard not to watch Midii. Her eyes were glowing and excited, her mouth smiling and laughing. Her cheeks were pink from the wind and her hair blowing around her like a golden aura. He was disappointed and surprised to look up and see the sun was setting. He started a course for home and as they started to leave the pod of whales behind Midii turned to him frowning, "Where are we going?" Trowa gestured toward the setting sun, "We're losing the light. We have to head back for now, we can come back tomorrow if you like." Midii smiled her agreement and they sailed back in a companabile silence. It made him think of the times before when she was always content to sit by him in silence while he worked. He forced himself to return to the present. He didn't want to think of those times, they were bittersweet.

*

The ice had been broken, but as they walked through the foyer of Quatre's house Trowa felt some of her uneasiness return. She stopped walking and asked him the question he had been waiting for, "Trowa, what's going on? Why am I here? I thought you were just taking me to wherever I was being sent." Trowa turned to face her calmly, "I didn't turn you in. I spoke with the Preventers about you and they agreed to let me do what I thought was best." Midii's response was a mixture of fear and anger, "What you think best? And what is that?" Trowa turned back around, "To make amends. Go get changed and I'll start supper." She wasn't finished though and her voice slowed him down, "Trowa, now that I know this what makes you think I won't leave?" Trowa didn't turn to face her, "I don't know that. I just hope you won't."

***

Trowa lay in his now dark hotel room. He lay above the sheets with his clothes on, completely caught up in the memory of the best day of his life. He felt his body respond to the flood of memories and tried to resist them, knowing of the pain it would cause. In the darkness, alone Trowa curled up in a ball, his voice was hoarse and strained but he couldn't bite back the words that escaped. "Midii where are you? I need you."

AN: Ok it might not have been nice of me to leave it there so sorry but when it's time to stop, it's time to stop. Pushing things will only make it worse. Next time we learn more about just what happened that night and Trowa's search continues.