Nanashi

Chapter 9

I do not own Gundam Wing





Midii sat in one of the deep armchairs in her room head resting upon one fist, her mind still turning over what she knew about Draken. Early that morning, though she did not know what brought the thought on, she realised that they had searched everywhere but among their own ranks. And the more she considered it the more she saw that Draken had just as much motive as anyone else. Not to mention small things that he had said, that did not quite make sense. So many little things started to flash in her memory as a dreadful suspicion formed in the pit of her stomach.

She had wondered how he could possibly have known about the assassinations, he had said that an informant had told him, which was not a lie. Argile had been his soldier on the inside. He had made sure Erik had survived, but why? To gain control of the colonies? Yes that was part of it, but why would he need the money, or was it money at all?

Midii climbed to her feet feeling restless, and walked over to the large windows, her crystal eyes looking out through the glass and falling upon the gardens beyond. She ran her left hand through her hair and sighed, unable to clear her thoughts fully of her musings about Draken. Midii's head came up as the door behind her opened, and she looked about, watching warily as Heero walked in.

Turning fully she walked across the room to meet him, she noticed with some interest that there was a strange light in his eyes.

"Heero? What is it?"

He stopped, and did not immediately respond. Midii could feel a sense of fear grip her heart at this unusual behaviour.

"We've made some progress."

The door burst opened and they both turned, as Duo and Sally came in. Any thoughts of what Heero had to say flew from Midii's mind when she saw Duo. Blood stained his shirt down the front of his arm and chest.

"Duo what happened?" He came forward and took her arm in his good hand leading her to the edge of the bed.

Duo sat down drawing her with him.

"We have good news and some bad news."

Once more fear gripped Midii's heart as she watched Duo, trying to anticipate he was going to say. "Duo just tell me what happened." She saw out of the corner of one eye Heero silently leaving the room.

"Draken is the one who has Trowa," Duo started slowly, eyes downcast. "Trowa was here a few moments ago."

"Duo what are you trying to say?"

"I don't know what Draken did to him, but he's calling himself Triton now, he shot me." Duo looked down, seeming unable to meet her eyes.

Midii stared at him for a long time unable to speak or understand, she looked away to Sally, tears coming to her eyes. Trowa was calling himself Triton. He had shot Duo. It all seemed so unreal, what had they done to him?

"How did this happen?"

"Midii." Duo said softly, her eyes fell back upon him and she instantly felt sorry that she had spoken. How could he possibly answer that question.

"Where is he now? Or do you even know?"

Duo shook his head. "We don't know, but we'll have an easier time finding him knowing now that Draken has him, and that Trowa has been the one hiding his own trial."

Midii reached forward and took hold of Duo shirt, feeling the need to focus on something other than the news she had just been given. Pulling the cloth aside she spoke quickly, "We need to take care of this."

"Finally someone else who sees things my way." Sally said kneeling down at the edge of the bed, and placing her bag on the floor beside her. Duo silently rolled his eyes.

Slipping Duo's shirt from his shoulders Midii pulled it free and was about to lay it aside when Sally looked up and took hold of the black cloth tossing it in a trash bin off to one side.

"Hey that's mine!" Duo said indignantly, looking in shocked disbelief at his favourite black shirt.

Sally locked eyes with him, "It's black and bloodstained, you have dozens of them."

Duo simply stared, unable to speak, he remained silent as Sally cleaned the wound as best she could and began to bandage it.

"Where did Heero get off to?" Midii inquired helping Sally in any way she could.

"Quatre still doesn't know about Draken and neither does Wufei. Once everyone's back here we'll most likely begin planning a strike on Draken's base." Sally replied dusting her hands on her legs. She reached into her bag and pulled free a small black case, she drew from it a syringe and began to prepare it.

"Whoa! Hold on, what the hell's in that?" Duo asked suspiciously.

Sally sighed dramatically, "It's an antibiotic Duo, in case you haven't realised, you've only recently been shot."

"Yeah, and unless you can prove to me that that's not some type of drug cocktail put it away."

Duo's eyes narrowed, Midii sat by wondering what was happening, but remained silent.

"You need to be in top condition for when we make a strike on Draken," Sally said. Despite Duo's stubborn resistance she showed no sign of putting the item in question away.

"Well that exactly my point now isn't it?" Duo said, raising one eyebrow at her cynically.

Sally rolled her eyes, and placed the syringe back into the box and climbed to her feet, "You're so suspicious!"

"Keeps me alive, or at least conscience," Duo smiled.

"Fine," she sighed, walking towards the door. "Come down to the living room as soon as you're ready."

"Why were you so suspicious of Sally?" Midii asked walking into the bathroom and wetting a cloth.

"She doesn't like the way we Gundam pilots ignore our injuries, so when we are hurt she tries to give us some well needed rest."

Midii walked from the bathroom and began to gently wash the blood off his arm and chest. "Because of this we've become suspicious when she pulls a needle on us."

"I see." Midii continued to wash the blood from him. "Was Trowa like that?"

She did not know why she asked but part of her wanted to know, even though it made no difference.

Duo took hold of Midii's hand stopping the constant motion, and brought her face about to look directly at him.

"We'll get him back Midii, I promise you."

She nodded silently breaking eye contact, unable to find the words to reply.

***

"Cut all his funding! Hold a press conference announcing I am taking full control of these colonies!" Quatre bit off every word that he spoke, his eyes ablaze with anger and indignation, he knew it was not his sister's fault but he simply could not contain his anger any longer.

His older sister Tamara nodded mutely, fully understanding where his anger was coming from.

"What has he done?" she inquired softly

Quatre drew in a calming breath, before answering though it did little to help. "He had a hand in killing the Bèovel family and he was the one who took Trowa."

"Trowa? What happened to him?" Tamara's eyes widened in shock, all of the Winner sisters looked upon Trowa as a second younger brother.

"He was taken by Draken.and.I don't know." Quatre ran one hand through his blonde hair, finding it difficult to say the words. "They did something to him, he thinks we're the enemy."

"Oh Quatre, I'm so sorry." She whispered covering her trembling lips with one hand.

Quatre rubbed one hand across his eyes tiredly.

"He's calling himself Triton now, he shot Duo."

"No.do you know what they did to make this happen?"

"No, we're looking into it, but I don't hold much hope of finding anything. They have Trowa hiding his own trail. He's the best of us when it comes to that." Quatre sighed, looking away, on impulse he turned back. "How's Erik?"

The corners of Tamara's lips twitched slightly.

"He misses Trowa."

"How can you tell?"

"Every time he sees a flute he reaches for it and begins to cry." She locked eyes with him; her lips still slightly curved.

Quatre's anger had lessened from what it was only moments before.

"Tell the press I'll hold a formal conference once I have finished business on the colonies." His voice grew flat as his eyes turned to steel.

***

"This had better be good," Argile threatened as he walked from Triton's room.

"Sir, it's Draken," a young man said, passing him the phone.

Argile took the phone and placed it to his ear, not even a second passed before Draken started speaking, his words sputtering loudly through the receiver, his anger making itself painfully clear.

"I need you down in my office now!"

"Triton just returned I was in the middle of getting his report."

"Leave him, something's come up, I want you down here in five minutes, and leave Triton exactly as you found him."

Argile stared at the silent phone for an instant wondering what all this was about, but at the same time knowing it could not be good. He hung up the phone and walked towards the door running one hand through his hair as he did.

"Sir, do you want us to take care of the injury?"

Half-turning Argile stopped and stood there for a moment remembering Draken's words.

"No, leave him for now." He opened the door and left, mind not totally focused on what was going on around him. Triton had not completed his mission, that much he had said right off, he had not been too clear however what had caused him to fail. Argile was fairly sure it was not mixed loyalties, more likely it was something he had seen.

He walked down the endless halls, hands crammed deep into his pockets, head down low. Apparently Duo had awoken right as Triton had fired and moved enough that the shot was not fatal. But what had caused him to not fire again? That was a question Argile did not have an answer to, though he did have a few ideas. Looking up he found himself standing outside Draken's office, and for an instant he wondered how long he had been there. Shrugging, Argile walked in.

Draken was seated behind his desk with his chair turned and facing the windows. He moved forward as Argile stepped in, and looked none too pleased.

"They know," was all he said.

"How?" Argile asked, but Draken's silence led him to his answer, "The phone call.shit!"

He dropped down into one of the seats across from Draken.

"Now what?"

"We're not through yet," Draken said leaning forward, he seemed far too calm. "I want Triton on one more mission."

"You know he didn't complete his last one," Argile interjected.

"That had nothing to do with sympathies did it?"

"Hard to say, I don't think so."

Draken pushed his chair back.

"Then we have no problems here. I wan him to take out the Winner brat."

"Then let me suggest waiting at least two days, someone shot him, whether it was Duo or someone else, I don't know, and he's not saying. But it needs to be taken care of," Argile said carefully studying Draken's unreadable face.

"No," Draken said shaking his head, "Leave him as is, the worse shape he's in the quicker they'll come to get him back." He slid a black folder across the table, and Argile took it into his hands.

"I hope you know what you're doing," he said coming to his feet, and heading for the door.

"Don't worry about that, just make sure the Winner heir is dead."

***

Midii walked into the living room where everyone was gathered, all sitting at separate computers. All except Sally, who sat near Wufei reading over his shoulder. A full week had passed since Trowa had appeared and shot Duo, but still they were gaining no ground. Even knowing that Trowa was covering his and Draken's tracks did not make finding him any easier. He was a Gundam pilot and with that title came the gift of disappearing without a trace.

"Still no sign of him?" she asked leaning over Duo shoulder, where he sat typing with one hand. Duo shook his head without glancing up.

"How's the shoulder?"

He looked up then a strange light in his eyes, "It's fine," he said tossing her words back at her. He glanced back at the screen for a time; smaller screens flashed by at an amazing rate staying just long enough to read what he needed. After a time he glanced back up at her, "do you happen to know why he chose Triton as a name?"

Suddenly the typing around the room stopped and all eyes were on Midii, she paused not sure whether to reveal what she had been told in friendship and confidence. Perhaps this was not the way she wanted everyone to find out about Trowa's real past but she had no choice. This could help in their search.

She moved around the chair that Duo was sitting upon and eased herself down onto the arm and began speaking softly, her eyes on the floor.

"How many of you thought that Cathy was not Trowa biological sister? You might have thought that it was too much of a coincidence. During the war Trowa suffered amnesia twice, Cathy never did, she knows her little brother."

"When Trowa was born Cathy's parents allowed her to name her little brother, she called him Triton. Why he chose that name now, I don't know, as far as Cathy tells me he has no memory of when he was young, and there is no way Draken could have known that." She looked down at her hands for a time, "Cathy never told him."

"How'd you know?" Sally asked

"She told me for some reason shortly after we met, she did not even seem to know why. But it did us both some good."

Midii sighed dropping her head.

"I want to know what they did to him," she whispered, tossing her long blonde hair out of her eyes and meeting the eyes of each person in the room.

"We haven't found anything yet, but when we do, I'm not so sure you'll want see it," Quatre said gently, clearly looking out for her well-being.

"Let's set something straight right now, when we do get word, I want to see each and every bit of information. None of you had better dare keep anything from me," her eyes were like ice.

Quatre nodded silently accepting her answer, though he did not seem at all pleased. Closing his laptop he came to his feet and walked towards the door.

"I have to talk to one of my sisters, I'll be back." Quatre left the room leaving behind him a void of silence.

Midii sat there for a time simply listening to the soft ticking of the keys about the room, but she found that the longer she stayed there motionless the more she felt the need to be doing something. Finally she came to her feet drawing everyone's attention.

"I'm just going out for a walk I'll be back in a half hour."

"Do you want some company?" Duo asked glancing up.

"No.you're needed here," she turned and walked slowly from the once again silent room.

***

Quatre stood alone in the office leaning hard against the desk, head down, eyes tightly closed. He wanted to see the end of this madness, but for now he wanted to speak to Cathy, he wanted to let her know what had happened. If she was indeed Trowa's sister, she more than anyone save perhaps Midii deserved to know. Quatre did not look forward to being the one to tell her, knowing full well what her temper was like. Still he could not put it off any longer.

"How did this happen.?" he asked the silent room, no matter how hard he tried Quatre could not help but feel as though they were not going to find Trowa, at least not the Trowa they had known. It was almost as if when he started calling himself Triton his personality had changed, he no longer left his usual traces on the computer. And because of this they were still at a loss as to where to find him

A long sigh escaped his lips; so far the world and colonies were unaware of what was transpiring, and he would do everything in his power to keep that from happening. The last thing they needed was the resurrections of old conflicts; the peace was still so fragile. He knew it was human nature not to agree but did they always have to turn to war? Unfortunately Quatre knew the answer to that question all too well.

Quatre's head came up but he did not turn, his breathing slowed, how had he missed it?

"There's no need for you to conceal yourself."

He glanced back over his shoulder and watched as Trowa moved from his concealment, as expected he held a gun in his hand. Quatre fully turned to face his friend and in clear view of his weapon's sights. "I won't stop you from what you're here to do Trowa." He was offering his friend a clean shot.

"Why do you call me that?" Trowa asked, eyes narrowing.

"That was the name you gave when we first met."

Quatre watched Trowa's eyes but saw no sign of any recognition within their glassy depths.

Trowa raised the silenced gun, his hand tightening upon the trigger, "I know you only as a terrorist!"

"Have you forgotten everyone? Your sister? Midii?" Quatre felt no fear as he faced off with his one time friend. He faced him now as calmly as Trowa had faced him when he had lost himself to grief and the Zero System. And just the same as Trowa had he was willing to sacrifice himself to bring his friend back to the way he had always known him to be. Nothing passed through Trowa's eyes but his finger did pause upon the trigger.

"I will not let one terrorist run free!!"

Trowa pulled the trigger back towards his body, seconds later the bullet tore through Quatre's chest. The former pilot of Sandrock stumbled back falling to his knees, as blood spilled forth over both chest and back.

Feeling as though his time was short Quatre locked eyes with his former friend and comrade and spoke softly, "I.hope something.something will awaken the nice.nice guy I once knew."

His breath faltered, and he fell to his side unable to support himself any longer, but still his eyes did not close, nor lose their focus.

"I don't blame you Trowa.I know you would never.have done this.on your own." his eyes closed and darkness surrounded Quatre, he could hear and feel nothing, it was as though the world never existed.

***

Triton staggered back as though he was the one to be shot, one hand clutching his chest. The terrorist's words echoed through his head repeating themselves over and over. He tried to shut them out but they persisted in their torment. They seemed so familiar to him, as though he had once spoke them, but that was impossible he had never met the man who lay before him, in a pool of his own blood.

Anger overpowered everything, and Triton threw himself into the raging emotion. Allowing it to wash away the memories of what had just happened, he backed slowly away from the unmoving body, eyes not looking at it but at the same time resting on nothing else. Slipping out the window Triton left the room behind without a second thought, his mission had been completed. The Winner heir was dead.

He waited for a time in the deep shadows that spread forward from the house, not a sound could be heard from within. Triton however knew the house was far from empty, and so extra caution was needed. Once he was certain no one had seen him and no one was watching, Triton moved forward, legs carrying him across the opened distance. It was not long before he had left the silent home behind him, and he was once more travelling unnoticed through the streets of the colony.

Triton blended effortlessly into the mass of people moving slowly down the main streets, drawing no attention to himself, for many it was as though he did not even exist. Triton however saw everything around him, ever alert for any signs of danger. As his eyes scanned the men and women around him for what had to be the hundredth time he saw a small figure duck through the crowd, long blonde hair streaming behind her.

Something about her struck Triton and he followed without really understanding why, only knowing he had to. She moved with surprising agility through the crowd, the men and women seeming to part allowing her small form to pass seemingly without notice, much as he himself moved. Triton followed a step or so behind, careful not to appear to be following her.

She moved from street to street without any real destination in mind, at one store she stopped, and had Triton not been carefully studying her he might have thought she was looking at the wares. He knew however that was not the case, she had somehow sensed his presence. Ducking down a small alley Triton vaulted up onto the roof of the building, his right arm burning with the effort it took to heave himself up. He slowly made his way to the edge. Glancing down he saw the blonde women looking about though he still could not see her face.

Shrugging thin shoulders, the young lady walked on as though nothing had happened. Triton continued to follow her movements from roof top to roof top, keeping out of sight, so as not to raise suspicions with the people below. One small hand ran through the silky blonde hair, and Triton suddenly had the urge to run his fingers through the golden strands himself. He paused in the process of following her wondering where that thought had come from, but even now his fingers could remember the silky coolness of her hair.

Triton looked up, the feeling passing as quickly as it had come. She was gone! For an instant he wondered which direction she had gone, and looking about he narrowed down the paths she could have taken. Something from memories long forgotten, or perhaps memories he never had, he sensed which way she would take and moved off in that direction.

Racing across the rooftops Triton glanced down continuously so as not to pass her by, he wanted to see her face, to understand why she seemed so familiar to him. He could not remember ever having met a blonde haired woman in his life, nor had he ever really thought about women in general, his mind more focused on the missions he had to complete. He saw her then walking slowly down a silent alley head down; it seemed as though a great weight rested upon her tiny shoulders.

The scene pulled at Triton's heart, he suddenly wanted to relieve the weight the held her head down. He wanted to be near her, though he could not say why. Jumping down from where he knelt on the roof Triton landed before her and slowly straightened, looking her full in the face for the first time. What he saw brought memories never lived back to haunt him.

An angelic face stared at him from within a frame of blonde hair, crystal blue eyes stared at him with both shock and fear, and instantly he could remember another time when just such a look had been upon her face. They had been much younger then, he could hardly recall the time, but he had loved her even then, though they were much to young to express it. She had betrayed him; he could not fully comprehend why. She had wept, that too was lost to him, he had never felt anything, at least that was until he had met her, she had brought back something that had forever been locked within him.

He had stood before her then, emotionless once more, unable to understand why she cried, and unable to comfort her. He had simply stood, eyes dead once more. She had had something to lose he had nothing.or at least that was what he had thought at the time, but had he actually looked he would have seen he was losing her. He had turned not knowing what to say or do, and slowly walked away her sobs following close behind him, but they fell upon the ears of an emotionless killing machine.

Triton's eyes widened, what were these memories? He had not lived them, it was impossible, he had been raised in the base, serving as a child soldier. Where had these memories come from? Why did they circle about his eyes refusing to be forgotten? So many question and no answers to be had. Triton stumbled back one hand covering his eyes, but he could still see the surprised look upon her face, soft lips half parted as though she were about to form a name, her crystal eyes reflecting his image.

"Trowa?!"

With a cry of pain Triton turned away from the woman, pain searing his mind. He ran down the alley putting as much distance as he could between himself and the woman, but the name still echoed through his head drawing memories, similar to the others from the deep recesses of his mind. They played before his vision and it was everything he could do to force them away.

-Trowa!!- The name screamed itself in his mind. -What the hell is happening to me?!-

***

Midii made to give chase to the fleeing form, hardly able to believe who it was she had just seen. She had felt someone watching her on the street but could not see anyone suspicious, and so continued moving. However the eyes still followed her, she had moved down the quiet alley in the hopes of drawing out her stalker. Midii had never for a moment allowed herself to hope that it would be Trowa. She did not want to believe it was him, he looked so different, thinner than before if that was possible, face pale and drawn as though he were ill.

Trowa dashed around the corner, his emerald eyes, the eyes she had fallen in love with, had been terrifying to look into. There was such a terror within them the Midii could find no words to describe it, she wanted more than ever to understand what they had done to him. She ran down the alley but skidded to a halt when her cell phone rang, pulling it from her pocket she glanced back the way Trowa had run before flipping it opened.

"Yes?!" she said only slightly exasperated.

"Midii!" Duo's voice sounded frantic. "Quatre's been shot, where are you?"

"What?!" Midii started running back in the direction she had been walking in, knowing that here was nothing she could do for Quatre on her own, but she ran all the same.

"Trowa was here.just after you left."

"I just saw Trowa, he was following me, he's gone now, I don't know where."

"It's best you don't know where yet, you're lucky to be alive." Duo said with a sigh of relief.

"How's Quatre?" Midii demanded, shoved her way through the crowds, without a second thought.

"Sally's really worried, she said this is the closest any of us have ever come to dying, it will be some time before we find out if he'll pull through. He took the bullet right in the chest."

Duo paused for a moment, "Where are you I'll pick you up, the others are already on their way to the hospital."

"I'm almost back to the house just be waiting in the car."

Midii shut off the phone and continued to run, arms pumping hard, this all seemed to her to be so unreal. They had to get Trowa back before it was too late.

Midii raced around the corner onto the street the Bèovel home was located on, she could see Duo leaning against the car. Even from this distance he looked greatly distressed. Quatre was like a brother to all of them, and losing him would impact them all greatly. He saw her coming and climbed into the car, tearing recklessly down the driveway. Duo barely came to a rolling stop beside her, giving Midii only enough time to climb in before gunning it again.

"Did he say anything when you saw him?" Duo asked not taking his eyes off the road.

"No," Midii shook her head, "He looked terrible! What did they do to him?"

"I don't know but they'll pay, if Quatre dies, there won't be enough of them left to bury," Duo's voice was deadly.