Part Five;
*Even if You Have a Brazen Destiny, You Still Have a Dream*

         Paato Fuaiv;
         *Atsukamashii Unmei no naka ni Yume*
 

The gods watched from their shining silver orbs, completely nonplused by the war that raged in their midst. Even the great battle god was silenced by that which took place in his realm. Peace in Outer Space was being shattered beyond reclaim.

In the middle of it all, a blue and red Mobile Suit turned and raised one arm towards it's enemies. Unlike Shinigami, nothing could be heard from Nataku over the comlink, no matter what the frequency. A small mechanical semblance of a dragon's head turned itself down over the fist, and then shot out, extending the arm to tear through the head of a Space Leo with ease. The arm retracted and the explosion from the Space Leo glinted off the Mobile Suit's skin of Gundanium Alloy. As Nataku turned, the last enemy was decimated with the dragon's fiery breath.

The fire continued on, searching for more battles to put meaning into it's life. Directly above the Earth, it collided with four other souls; one of golden flame, one of green energy, another of orange energy bullets, and one of a scythe heated red with the pain of battle. The collision resulted in a brilliant flash of whiteness that drowned the realm of the gods.

The light of war had outshone the peaceful light of the stars. One by one five of them fell to the Earth in shame.

Never to return.

Never to feel the peace of space again.
 

Chang Wufei opened his eyes and gave an involuntary gasp. He stared straight up at the night sky, which was dark in reality, not drowned in light. Forcing himself into sitting position, he gazed past the campfire he'd built for himself and the girl at the looming form of Shenlon Gundam.

" Oh, Nataku... " he murmured, his black eyes glistening, " ... what am I doing wrong? "

  [##]

Unfortunately for Rilina, when the area of Old Canada where Hiiro supposedly was came into view, she was met with the sight of a battle.

  [##]

Zechs awoke later to find himself in a darkened room. Night had fallen while he slept. Noin sat to his right with her chin on her chest; fast asleep. From her, Zech's eyes caught sight of a white-gloved hand resting on the back of her chair. From that white hand, his eyes trailed up to the half-hidden-in-darkness face of Treize Kush Renada.

" Treize, " he said quietly, not out of surprise or anger, in greeting.

" Zechs, " the greeting was returned. Treize looked down at Noin and gave a soft smile. " Such loyalty. I wonder sometimes, just what it is that you did, or do, or accomplished, that instills such loyalty. " Treize's blue eyes met Zechs' once more, " Or whether it is returned in full. "

Zechs was left without an answer, sometimes he even wondered.

" Treize, what are you doing here? "

Treize gave that small smile again and looked to the side. " I'm just informing you about your sister, Milliardo, " he said, utilizing Zechs' real name to keep the man's attention, " it seems Rilina Peacecraft has left for Old Canada with nary a word to anyone. "

" Gundam Zero-one. " Zechs face clouded in anger. " She's going to find him. "

" So it may seem. " Treize coupled his hands behind his back and sighed dramatically, " Ah, the impetuousness of youth, eh, Zechs? " He gave Noin a pointed look as she gave the first stirrings of waking up. " How love changes everything. "

Silence stilled the room as Noin woke up. She blinked a bit and then asked, " Zechs, what are you doing awake? " She gasped as Treize reached down and took her hand in his.

Treize bowed at the waist and raised Noin's hands to his lips. " I understand, " he said softly, conspiratorially, " It must be tiring, keeping him in bed so long. " His breath raised the little hairs on the back of her hand as he spoke, and Noin felt a faint flush rise to her cheeks. Treize offered her a warm smile and graced her hand with a gentle kiss, " I commend you. " He straightened up and with a nod at Zechs left the room. " Take good care of him, Noin, I'm not ready to live without him. "

Once the door had shut, Noin turned back to Zechs and furrowed her brow. " What was that all about? "

" Noin, " Zechs leaned forward, " that Gundam pilot Rilina's so attached to... "

" Hiiro Yui, " Noin confirmed.

" Yeah. She's gone to Old Canada to find him, without letting us know. "

Noin made a disgusted sound, though it was more exasperated than anything else.

Zechs reached out and took the hand Treize had kissed previously. " I want you to take a Leo and go after her. If she gets caught in the crossfire of the battle there... it's all over. "

Noin nodded faintly. " But you have to promise me... promise me you'll stay here and get better. "

Zechs stared her in the eyes a long time before finally consenting, " I promise. "

  [##]

Unaware of the plots against her, Rilina ran to the window and began frantically scanning the warzone below for Hiiro's Gundam.

  [##]

" Sir? "

" Lady. "

Instead of names, this time formalities were substituted for greetings as Lady Une met up with Treize outside of Zechs' medical room.

" Zechs will no doubt send the lovely Noin to rescue his dear sister, Rilina Peacecraft, " stated Treize with an eloquence unique to him.

" And...? " prompted Lady Une in confusion.

" And so she will, " proclaimed Treize with an affirmation that could not be disputed. He had said it. It would happen.

" But, Treizesama, I do not understand. Why save Rilina Peacecraft? "

" Ah, my lady, you still have much to learn. " Treize smiled at her, shrouding his secret in more mystery than was really warranted.

  [##]

Rilina gasped and plastered her face against the window when she finally caught sight of Hiiro.

  [##]

Hiiro Yui was not in his Gundam. He wasn't even near it.

He was standing all alone, facing a Pisces Mobile Suit head on as it's pilot pulled the trigger.

Maybe it was fate, maybe it was pure, unadulterated, dumb luck, or both, or neither, but the blind shot fired off by the Pisces pilot at Hiiro missed it's mark, exploding the ground to Hiiro's left.

The boy was thrown by the force of the explosion a long distance-- several metres at the very least-- and bounced and rolled his way to a stop.

Indestructible as he was, Hiiro picked himself up and faced the Pisces again. His facial expression never changed. He was a bit singed, and dirty, but for once there were no broken bones.

The soldier that had warned him (needlessly) of the impending battle, watched on in a frightened awe. That boy, that Gundam pilot... he was incredible! Frighteningly so, but incredible nonetheless! The thing that made it all the worse, was the fact that even this soldier knew, that the Gundam pilot was only helping the lesser of two enemies.

Once Oz was defeated, his attention, and his path of destruction, would turn once again towards the Earth Sphere Alliance.

If there was any of it left, that is.

  [##]

Rilina turned to face the cockpit with a violence that sent her hair flying about her. " Pagan! Take me down! "

  [##]

Duo left his quiet little cabin, in his quiet little corner of the Earth, into the quiet little section of forest that he'd claimed for his own, just as the missile hit.

The cabin exploded into flames and smoke, throwing Duo farther than Hiiro had just set the record for. He bounced off of Deathscythe's right leg, off the 'foot' and then finally met the ground. Dragging himself up, he choked on a mouthful of dust and smoke and held his dislocated shoulder in pain.

Duo, afterall, lacks Hiiro's indestructibility.

" Aw, Dammit! " he cried, dragging the words out in a pitiful whine. " I liked that cabin! " Duo looked up into the sky at the ring of Aries that surrounded him. The thick black smoke from the burning cabin filled the sky, masking the sunlight and leaving Duo in a chilly false dusk.

" Gundam Zero-two, surrender now and relinquish your Gundam. You are now a prisoner of Oz. Try to resist and you will be fired upon. "

Duo's face pinched in insult. He'd just finished touching Shinigami up! He wasn't about to just hand it over to them! " Relinquish my Gundam? " he repeated in disbelief, then let loose with all his indignity in one tactful, diplomatic, ever-loving, peaceful phrase:

" ROT IN HELL!! "

  [##]

When Pagan started to protest, Rilina raised her voice and enforced, " Take me down, Now! "

  [##]

Trowa sat at a plain gray table in a plain gray plastic and metal chair, in a small plain room with gray walls, ceiling and cement floor. There was one window, but it was so dirty it filtered the sun's light into a dull gray itself, where even the dust in the air dared not dance in the stifling atmosphere of the gray room.

Still dressed in his costume from the night previous, Trowa Barton was a spot of colour in this dreary place. What bit of his face could be seen through the cascading tawny hair was grim though, a starker contrast to his brightness than the room.

Lieutenant Colonel Hitori Yuu entered the room, dressed in his deep navy Oz Uniform. He said nothing to Trowa upon entering, nor did Trowa say anything to him.

Yuu was what you might consider a handsome man. He had black hair that was combed back with the exception of two pieces at the sides of his forehead which fell only to his eyebrows. He had piercing blue eyes, and a thin mouth that always seemed to be on the verge of an enigmatic smile.

In contrast, there was no smile on Trowa's face. He sat with his arms crossed before him and his feet flat on the ground. A security camera was mounted on the wall behind him, this he knew, making it impossible to kill Hitori Yuu without being caught.

" So, " said Yuu finally, " it seems we have ourselves a bit of a stalemate. "

" So it does, " Trowa allowed.

" What are you thinking, Trowa Barton? " inquired Yuu after a long moment.

" I'm thinking about killing you, " answered Trowa flatly.

" Oh, " was all Yuu would say in response to that. After a moment a question amended this. " Why is that? "

Trowa offered no response. He had said all he was willing to say.

  [##]

Rilina ran to the door and held on to the handle as the plane began it's descent.

  [##]

Rasid carried Quatre into the dim room and set the boy down on the bed. Taking the quilt from where it was folded at the end, he opened it and laid it over Quatre's small frame. This done, he rested his large hand on Quatre's forehead a moment, then turned to go.

" Rasid... " rasped Quatre.

Rasid turned, surprise etched across his face. " Quatresama...?! " he whispered in awe.

There was no movement from the boy, his eyes remained closed. But his lips somehow formed the words, " There are... others... other Gundam pilots... like me... start the search... find them... only together can we... complete our... missions... "

Then the boy was silent.

Rasid feared he would never wake.

  [##]

Before the plane had even finished moving, Rilina opened the door.

" Rilina! " reprimanded Pagan.

" Go on! Get out of here, Pagan! I'll meet you back at the Cinq Kingdom! " She jumped off the plane, turning in the air to slam the door shut.

Rilina landed on her back and rolled. The plane had still been going pretty fast, and Rilina ended up bumping and rolling around the ground for a fair ways as the plane took off again in a rush of air. Eventually she came to a rest against something, and lay on her face a moment to catch her breath. Finally she rolled over onto her back and looked up at her brace.

" Hiiro... " she breathed, staring up into the face of the boy that haunted her very existence.

" Rilina... " he responded.

The world stopped, oblivious to the battle raging all around them.
 

To be continued...
 Tsuzuku...

**

[~lets out breath exasperatedly~ Finally! I had writers block there for awhile! But now I'm back! My Japanese homework suffered for it, but hey! It's the last class tonight anyway! I can finish it before class yet... yeah... Anyway! Now that Rilina's found Hiiro, will she survive long enough to do anything about it? Will Trowa get around to killing Hitori Yuu? Will Noin catch Rilina? I don't know. Find out in Gundam Wing Mugen no Dansu Part Six! See ya!]

[Written by Inseiko 2000]

Go to Part Six