He stood on the cliff looking down at the great forest that was laid out below him. He followed it down as it turned into a sweeping grassland where cattle slept, and then up again. More forest, and another mountain. This valley was isolated and it's population small. He wasn't surprised that Midii had chosen this as her home. It was distanced from the rest of the world but with just enough people so she wouldn't be alone.

Trowa understood that his decision had already been made. He wouldn't have come here if he hadn't known what he planned to do. He took one final look around, then closed his eyes and leapt off the cliff, spirialing into the blackness.

Midii issued some final orders to the commander's troops using his security clearance. The officier on the recieving end asked for confirmation of the orders. Midii smiled, he was smart to question, these orders would lead him and his men to their deaths. She sent him confirmation and confirmed the orders being recieved. She logged off to find the colonel standing behind her waiting. She had been sloppy to get caught like this.

His face threatened her fate, but there was also betrayal written there. He had loved this delicate fairy of a girl. He had wanted only to love and protect her. Immediately she burst into tears and threw herself into his arms, "I'm so sorry, but I had to!" She tearfully explained her position, "You don't know what they'd do to me if I didn't! They do horrible things! I try not to, but they don't give me any choice!" The colonel softend as he held her trembeling body close to him. He wanted to believe her, wanted to so badly. He took out a hankerchief and dried her tears, "There's still time to undue what you've done. Don't worry about them. I'll protect you." She nodded at him bravely, obviously trying to fight her fear. He sat down at the computer to recend the orders she had sent out.

Midii's tears and fear were quite real. She wasn't lying when she confessed the reasons behind her betrayal, but she also wasn't stupid. She had seen this sides tatical data and knew it was only a matter of time before they lost. Siding with them would only extend her torment. Her actions had been carried out in order to shorten this war, and she couldn't let him stop her. Before he could undue the damage she had caused she withdrew a small knife and with a quick flick of her wrist cut his throat. He wheeled around to face her, hands clutching his wound desparetely as he gasped for air and blood seeped out between his fingers. His eyes questioned "Why?" She stepped back from him and answered coldly, "Because when this is over I'll be free. I can't ever go back there." He fell to the ground with all life drained from his body.

Midii woke up with a start, already in tears. 'Andre hasn't been gone for a day, and already the past is creeping forward to haunt me.' Midii closed her eyes and traced the scars on her wrists to gain strength. Their training had been so horrible she had tried to kill herself, but they had used her beliefs against her. She could still hear the voice of that stern priest explaining to her the damanation that awaits those who throw away God's most precious gift. Midii had wanted to tell him that so far life didn't seem to be such "a gift" but held her tongue fearing a reprisal. The little golden cross she wore around her neck had suddenly become a chain that bound her to them rather than a symbol of love.

But she never let them take it from her, it was her past. After seeing the influential power the priest held over her, they had never tried to take it.

Midii turned to the clock on her bedside table, 5:12am. There was no point in staying in bed, she would never reach a dreamless sleep now. She threw on her robe and walked numbly to the kitchen to make herself some coffee. Though she tried to block it out the quiet kitchen invited the ghost of that day to return to her.

She remembered opening her eyes and finding herself in a sea of white. White nightgown, white sheets surrounding her, crisp white curtains framing a sad little window. The sterile smell of hospital hit her as well as the pain in her arm where they had hooked up the IV, and her bandaged wrists were crying out in agony. Immediately she began to cry. This wasn't heaven. Where was Mama and Papa? A harsh voice startled her away from her bewilderment, "Quit that crying girl! You should be happy to wake up and find yourself alive in a nice warm bed! Do you know where you would have found yourself if your cowardly scheme had suceeded?" Helpless, Midii shook her head and the old priest had leaned in to give her th full effect of his words, "You'd be in hell! Tormented for all eternity! Now how would that suit you?" Again Midii burst into tears, and the old priest raised his hand threateningly, "Hush that crying girl." Barely 11, Midii had learned quickly that when someone told her to do something, it was better for her to do as she was told.

Her entire stay in that hospital the priest had come to visit her everyday, always with nightmarish sermans about hell, and how disobediant and ungrateful girls went there when they died. Midii didn't need him to tell her what hell was. She had been living there for the past year. And she knew that she would soon be returning there, but despite his intentions, the priest had actually given her something to hope for. If she just did as she was told, at some point this would all have to end. She had promised herself that day that she would be strong, she would outlast this life they were laying out for her.

But it was so hard. Everytime she showed a hint of rebellion, they brought back the old priest to frighten her, as though their brand of fear needed to be reinforced. Eventually she learned to tune out the priest's fire and brimestone sermons, but some always seeped through, twisting her earlier lessons into a contridictory belief system that always left her confused. She knew that the things they were training her to do were wrong, but disobeying them was also wrong. Since diobediance also meant unspeakable punishments, the latter of the two decisions always won out.

Lightening flashed and Midii dropped her coffee cup. The sound of pottery shattering and sliding off into every direction was a welcome call back to the present. "I haven't been alone for 12 hours, and it's happened twice." She wanted to fall to pieces and cry but she couldn't let go and do that. She would never last the two weeks alone if she let go now. Midii closed her eyes and took some deep breaths, forcing her mind to stay blank. Ghost from her past had been haunting her since the war had ended, but she never got used to these memories flying back at her.

There was one ghost she would have welcomed, even though she hated him in a way. He had been there when times had been good. She had seen him watching, sometimes outside, sometimes even in their house. She had known somehow that she wasn't supposed to see him and hadn't mentioned him to anyone. Sometimes he stayed away for a long time, but he always came back. Except for the last time. He had been there that night. He had watched what happened to Mama and Papa and he watched them take her away. Silently she had begged him to help her, but he had done nothing. As they carried her away she had thought he looked angry, which was strange because he had never shown any emotion before. In the days to come she had waited for him to return, and when he hadn't she had decided he must have been angry with her. As the days passed and the cold reality of her new life sunk in, she grew angry with him for leaving her all alone. She rescented his abandonment.

She couldn't remember his face anymore, nor Mama's or Papa's. By some cruel quirk of her self consious the faces of those who had been kind to her had been blottedf out by the demons that had filled her life ever since. But she remembered his eyes. They were a green that had no name, and when he had been angry, they had become a swirling storm. That was something she could never forget.

Midii swept up the mess of the broken cup and took out another. She filled it to the brim with steaming black coffee, one of her few pleasures in life and brought it into the living room. All she wanted now was to stare at the rain pouring down and let it hypnotize her into a trance where she wouldn't think, couldn't feel.

Trowa couldn't believe it. Everything was so amazing and so new. He brushed some pine needles against his cheek, savouring the prickly feeling. When the first drops of rain hit, he threw his arms up to the sky to embrace them. As the light started to appear in the east Trowa tore himself away from his exploration of this new existance, "There's time later for all of this. I have a promise to keep to you Midii."

Trowa made his way through the open land until he finally stood before Midii's house. He could see her sitting in the window and froze. It seemed as though she was looking right at him but she didn't show any signs of seeing a dripping wet man starring right back at her. He walked a little closer to her window.

Midii was right where she wanted to be. It was her favourite place, this time when she was seemingly lost in thought though in truth no thought was involved, that was what was so perfect about it. Unfortunately the skills she had learned in her youth were ingrained deeply and sensing movement she was snapped back into reality to find herself starring into the face of a well dressed, soaking wet man right outside her window. Midii backed away startled, and realized he was probably stranded out here and needed help. She paused for a moment with her hand on the doorknob, 'He could be a raging sociopath.' Midii smiled a little, 'Maybe he'll make me his next victim.' She threw her door open and shouted through the rain at the man, "Do you want to come in and dry off?" He didn't say anything but immediately he accepted her invitation. He stepped inside and stood there with water dripping off of him.

Midii closed the door behind him and then appraised her silent guest. He was dressed completely in black, black wool coat, shirt and pants. He looked expensive and important but Midii's instincts told her this man was no danger to her. She sighed, a little disappointed and walked around to face him, "I'll get you a towel so you can dry off. The phone is right there so you can call for help." He didn't move, in fact he looked confused, "Is there something wrong?"

Trowa didn't know what he had expected. Maybe she really didn't see him all those years ago. In that case he couldn't really tell her who he was he knew what happened to people who made such impossible claims. Still he needed to answer her questions, "It looks like there's something wrong with you. Are you alright?" Midii blushed slightly, she had forgotten about her visible injuries, "Yes I'm fine. Give me your coat and shoes and I'll try to dry them for you." Trowa did as she asked and she disappeared with them.

Shortly she returned, now dressed in jeans and a white blouse with a towel. He accepted it and dried himself, fighting to hide the pleasure he experianced from it's warm, fluffy touch. He gestured to the phone and said, "The line is out." Midii nodded, "That happens some times around here." She held out some clothes to him, "You're pretty wet, if you want to change into these I'll dry your clothes." Trowa recognized suddenly that those were Andre's clothes and anger flared through him briefly before he got control of it and accepted the clothes, "Thank you." Midii watched him leave to change and felt strangely apprhensive. For just a moment there had been something about him. Something frightening and familiar. She shivered and lost the tenous hold she had on that something.

Trowa returned just as Midii was finishing building a fire. She stood up and held out a hand, "I'm Midii by the way." Trowa took her hand in his, and if he had felt pleasure at the touch of a towel earlier, this was pure rapture. The warmth and satiny smoothness of her touch made this experiance, whether he was sucessful or not, all worth while. Trowa realized with disappointment she was pulling her hand back and let it go. They both sat down in front of the fire and before Trowa could lose himself in the sensation of heat dancing across his skin he told her, "I'm Trowa." Midii drew her knees up and starred into the fire, "So what are you doing in this out of the way place?" "I'm looking for an old friend.", he answered truthfully. Midii frowned, "Well not many people live around here, there's the Mouilerre's who own the store and the Rogen's whom you probably passed, and of course me and Andre. Is Andre your friend?" Midii stumbled over those last few words as again there was something, something she couldn't explain but felt she knew coming from him. His voice was cold and clipped, "No, he's not." Midii remained quiet, still fighting to put a finger on this strange feeling. She was surprised out of her thoughts when Trowa put a hand gently on her bandaged arm, "How did this happen?" Midii thought quickly and decided on the truth, or a form of it anyway, "It was an accident. I broke the mirror." Trowa nodded his head, "And your cheek? It looks badly bruised." Midii evaded him, "No that's from something totally unrelated."

Trowa frowned, "Something totally unrelated hitting your face?" Midii looked at him angry, "You're pretty curious about someone you just met." Trowa remained blank, "You seem like a nice person. I think one of the problems with society today is that people don't care enough about each other. You seem like someone who needs someone to care about you." Midii was shocked into silence by his forwardness. She found she couldn't avoid his next question "So what hit you, or should I say who?" She looked away from him. His eyes demanded the truth. "It's none of your business. I'm starting to regret letting you in here." Trowa reached out and turned her head to meet his gaze, "What happened?" She couldn't avoid his eyes. They were hynotizing her. "My boyfriend got mad. This is how he resolves his feelings." Trowa caressed her swollen cheek, "And why do you let him?" Midii couldn't break away, "I owe him." Trowa was confused, "Why do you owe him?" Midii gathered up her strength and broke away but she still couldn't lie to him. "I can't tell you that. It's classfied." "The war is over." Midii shivered, "That doesn't matter. You don't know what could happen to me if the wrong people found out. I wouldn't doubt at all that they were still watching." Trowa took both her hands in his, "You don't have to be afraid any more." Midii was trembling, "Who are you?" He was starring deep into her eyes, at that tiny spark begging to be let out, and suddenly he wanted to tell her. He knew she would understand.

Their enchanting moment was shattered by the sudden jangling of the telephone. Midii looked from the phone to Trowa, "Looks like the phones are working." Midii tried to get up but Trowa held her in place "Don't go." Midii shook off his hands and grabbed the telephone like it was a lifeline. "Hello?" Trowa stood up and followed Midii to the phone, "Oh Hi Andre." Trowa stood in front of her, forcing her to look at him, "Midii, please." Midii quickly held the phone back from her ear as Andre could clearly be heard yelling at her, "Who the hell is that? Midii what the hell are you doing? MIDII!" Midii looked up at Trowa, and everything became so clear, his eyes, she should have known by his eyes. "Mon ange sans nom," she whispered. Trowa took the phone from her hand and placed it on the reciever, "Oui"

Midii brought her hands to her face and sank to her knees, "How...it can't be" Trowa leaned down but quick as a flash Midii was on her feet backing away from, "No, get away from me! I don't care if it's true! Where have you been? You left me! Why did you leave me? Get out of here!" Trowa advanced on her retreating form and backed her into a corner, "Midii please, you're right..." Midii was breaking down, "You didn't help me, you left me with those people! I was just a little girl! How could you leave me alone?" Trowa grabbed her hands away from her face, "I couldn't help you then, I wanted to but it wasn't possible, but you're right I was wrong to leave you. I should have stuck by you but I was afraid at what you made me feel. When I found you again I promised I would never leave you alone again. Please Midii." Midii shook her head, tears streaming down her face, "You don't know what you left me to face Trowa, you don't know what I had to do." Trowa tried to wipe away her tears but she batted his hands away, "I know some of it. I know you had to spy on people, and kill some of them." Midii shook her head, "Oh that isn't half of it. Let me fill you in a little on how they taught me to do that. I was so lonely, and so frightend, they gave me a puppy and it was wonderful. I loved that puppy, I named her Mary, but one day they took her away from me. I cried but later they came back and gave me a kitten. They waited until I loved her enough and then they brought Mary back and told me I had to choose. I had to choose one to live or they would kill both of them. I didn't understand, but they kept telling me so I chose Mary. They took the kitten and strangled her in front of me, but they lied, they took Mary and did the same and they made me watch. That's just how they got started and I was alone. Alway alone!"

Trowa shook his head feeling her intense pain, "I can't take it back Midii, I could never effect things in this world until now. I came here to try and make it up to you. It wasn't you're fault, none of it was. You have to stop punishing yourself with this life, with Andre. Midii fought to get herself under control, "I told you I owe him. It's my fault he's the way he is. I killed his father and he never got over it. He knows that I killed him, do you understand the kind of forgiveness it takes to love a person knowing that?" Trowa carressed her cheek gently but his words were fierce, "Is this what you call love? Do you love him?" Again Midii was caught in his eyes and the swirling storm that was taking place there, "Everyone I've ever loved is dead, as well as anyone who ever loved me." Trowa shook his head ashamed of himself and his inability to help her, "I'm here and I'm never going to leave. If you kill me I'll come back, I know how. I won't ever let you be alone again Midii." He took her in his arms and crushed her to him. She fought to be released but he was immovable. He let her cry until she couldn't anymore.

Finally she lifted her head to look up at him, "I saw you, you were my special friend, and when you left I thought you were mad at me." Trowa pushed the hair out of her eyes, drinking in it's silky feel, "I knew you could see me. That's why I was so frightened, I wanted you to see me. You made me feel things. When I saw you again I knew I had to be with you. I found you yesterday. I was here the whole time. I'm not going to let any of that happen again. Do you understand Midii? It's over." Midii shook her head sadly, "I can't let it be over. I told you I owe him. I'm all he has." Midii took in her breath quickly as Trowa leaned down and kissed her. He had seen this done so many times but never understood the kind of paradise that could be found on earth until now. He could taste her and feel her and he never wanted to live without this feeling again. She broke away from him to catch her breath and Trowa realized for the first time his need for air. Precious tears formed in her eyes again as she looked up at him. Trowa kissed them away, "Midii leave here with me tonight. Let me show you the world the way I've seen it. There is so much beauty in life and I want you to see it with me." Midii shook her head, "I know it doesn't make any sense but he really does love me. I'm the only thing he has in this world and if I leave it will kill him. I can't live with any more pain caused by me, please don't ask me to." Trowa kissed her again this time with a desparate intesity when he finally broke away they were both breathing heavily, "Midii...please, don't do this to yourself anymore. You've given more than any person should ever be asked to." He kissed her again, pressing her against the wall, needing to feel her everywhere. He broke apart to plead with her again but she cut him off, "No more, just kiss me. I want to feel alive again." She led him towards the back of the house and Trowa knew exactly where they where going and he couldn't wait to feel for the first time the love he so needed to show her.

He was warm. He opened his eyes and smiled gently at the girl wrapped in his arms. Her hair was tickling his chest and he knew he would never be happy unless he could wake up every day like this. He watched the even rise and fall of her chest absolutely content until suddenly he felt a cool draft in the room. He couldn't see anything but he was absolutely sure that one of them was here. He thought for a moment and then he addressed the unseen visitor, "I know you're here. I can feel you." He was quiet for a moment thinking, "It's Duo isn't it? You must be wondering what's going on with first Heero and now me. I can't explain why but it's worth it.

Midii stirred and looked up at him with an adorably sleepy grin, "Who are you talking to?" Trowa couldn't help but look down and kiss her. She forgot her question as she was takin in by him again. She broke their kiss to tell him what she had decided last night, "Show me the world Trowa. Take me away with you, and promise not to leave me alone again." Trowa smiled at her, it was something he was finding that he was doing a lot, "I promised you before you knew I was here." Midii giggled, "I know, but I need to hear it." She looked around her, suddenly calculating their escape, "We'll have to leave soon. I don't have much to take with me but-" She was cut off by the sound of a door slamming in the living room, "MIDII! Where are you, you little bitch!" Midii's eyes widened in fear, "He came back early!" Andre stormed into the bedroom and took in the scene as Trowa sat up and Midii threw on a robe.

Midii approached him knowing it was helpless but needing to try anyway, "Andre please, don't lose control-" He cut her off by punching her in the face,"Don't lose control? I go out of town for one day and you start fucking some other guy?" He towered over her until Trowa whirled him around and punched him in the stomach. This had almost no effect on Andre who now turned the bulk of his rage on Trowa. Trowa had never fought anyone before, never understood the reason for violence until now. Now it was absolutely clear as to why you sometimes have to fight to protect the ones you love. Andre picked him up and started to throttle him. Trowa's world started to go dark as he fought for breath. He brought up his legs and kicked out with all of his draining strength. Andre lost his breath from Trowa's kick and fell to his knees. He recovered faster than Trowa and grabbed him by the neck again as he rained blow after blow upon his face. Midii watched all of this in horror. Trowa couldn't stand up to him, he didn't know how and Andre was so big, there was only one way to stop him. She was not going to be left alone again. He promised. Midii dug through the closet frantically, she knew it was in there. She threw a shoe box over her head revealing the cold metal that had been her only friend for so long. She turned around. Trowa's face was bloody and Andre was in the way, but she had been trained well, and her aim was as true as ever. The violence in the room ended when her finger pulled the trigger. Andre never knew what hit him as he fell to the floor in a lifeless heap. She ran to Trowa and he wrapped his arms around her, "I'm sorry Midii, I'm so sorry." Midii covered his face with kisses, "Shut up Trowa. Are you OK? It doesn't matter if you're OK." Trowa couldn't believe his angel, "Midii let's go, right now today." Midii nodded everything would always be OK now. He had fallen for her.

It was hard to capture the same tone in this story as in the first part because it takes place in the real world, still I hope it came out OK. You can send me feedback at jaimelynn1978@yahoo.com.