Part Eighteen; Soft Tears

Gundam Wing Infinite Dance version one

Gandamu Uingu Mugen no Dansu ichiban

Part Eighteen;
*Soft Tears*

Paato Eichiin;
*Sotto Namida*

In the brilliance of space, amidst its shining stars and endless dance across infinity, a majestic mobile suit dropped its arms to its sides in the aftermath of a battle between the light and the darkness. As the light faded, the pilot was unable to see the peaceful light of the stars once again. For his mind was clouded with the darkness of war: a gaping black hole that engulfed Chikyuu in its entirety and swallowed all of Uchuu along with it.

War had consumed humanity.

One by one, five stars fell in shame to the dead void that had once been Earth.

Never to know the peace of outer space again.

Quatre's hand reached to turn off the comlink to Hiiro. Before he reached it, though, his view of the console disappeared and was replaced by the star scattered velvet darkness of space. Quatre gasped, his eyes widening as he took in the hundred billion winking lights that beckoned him to the beyond.

It was terrible and beautiful, the view of the battle previously dreamed. Five powers, meeting in the heart of one girl. Rilina Dorlain Peacecraft. She was so important.

Quatre felt a breeze as the dragon passed him, something impossible in space, but it happened just the same. The pain in his heart was distant as he was surrounded by warm yellow light. Quatre closed his eyes and sank into the oblivion he knew as the beautiful infinite dance...

[##]

If we look up the sky
There are many stars twinkling
They stare at us
Always, constantly
        Miagereba ikusen ni
          Kagayaita hoshitachi wa
          Itsu no hi mo kawarazu ni mitsumeteru
          Bokutachi no koto o

[##]

The rain pattered all around them, filling the air with the scent of life. The forest teemed with subdued noises, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Why couldn't the rest of the world and the colonies just experience this unspoiled beauty just once? He knew the answer. He'd seen it before.

They would only destroy it. Sad.

" Are you sure you can't stay? "

Wufei released himself from his thoughts and looked at Sally as if he couldn't understand why she'd ask. " Yes. I have to return to Nataku. "

Sally smiled and tilted her head back. " Give him my regards. "

Wufei nodded.

Sally looked at Nara. Wufei tried not to do the same. He couldn't ignore the fact that they were standing under the same umbrella.

Nara bowed. " Arigatou gozaimashita Posan. I am indebted to you. "

" Maa, it was nothing. Take care. " Sally waved her concerns away.

Nara bowed again, and Sally left to return to camp after one last nod to Wufei.

The forest was left to its own murmurings. Wufei and Nara were surrounded by soft greens and a continuous sound as beautiful in its simplicity as the most intricately composed music. When the light was starting to fade, Nara pulled out food Sally had given them before leaving and they shared a sparse meal as they walked.

Staring at the bread in her hand, Nara vocalized a question she'd been pondering. " Posan... what's the story there? "

" There is no story. "

" Bull. "

Without any more emotion, Wufei reiterated himself; " There is no story. "

Nara nibbled on her bread, internally debating over whether she actually had feeling about his response, or whether she cared if he was lying or not.

Suddenly Wufei stopped short, and she didn't have to ask why.

Weapons clacked as a troop of Oz Soldiers took aim.

Nara pushed Wufei aside and drew her own gun.

The soldier in front glared at her and stated, " You. That was my brother you killed before, you know? "

Eyes narrowed and mouth straightlined, Nara responded, " Consider it a life for a life. "

Insult crossed the soldier's face. " You will die for that. "

" Wufei. "

He looked at her, making a sound of inquiry.

" Hayaku. Leave the path and go to Nataku. I'll hold them off while you escape. "

Wufei looked miffed. " Nani? "

Nara shifted her feet and swung around to aim the gun at him. Glaring at him over the sight, she intoned, " Go, or I'll kill you myself. Sacrifices must be made in the path to peace. As a Gundam Pilot, you should know that better than any other. I don't know what you've lost in the past, but it was certainly more important to you than I could ever be. "

The lead soldier smirked. " Fire. "

A barrage of shots mingled with the pouring rain. Wufei watched as Nara turned to face it, and a bullet pierced her shoulder, while another grazed it and yet a third cut a path across her cheek. Nara hit the ground, rolled, and fired three rounds as she came up on her knee. Spinning, she shoved Wufei off the path and shouted, " GO! "

Wufei turned and ran, silently vowing to honor her sacrifice, while at the same time cursing her for proving him to be weak yet again.

[##]

I hesitate when I think of tenderness
Because I want to help you that was hurt~
Hontou no yasashisa o omou tabi mayou no wa
Kizutsuita anata no chikara ni naritai karada ne

[##]

Rilina stood still in the turbulent wind that followed as Wing took off, and Hiiro left her alone again. She reached up and pushed her hair from her face.

" Hiiro... " she whispered to the disappearing blue flame that signaled the powerful engines of the Gundam that still stood between her and him. " ...please come back to me soon. "

Sighing, she turned and walked towards the mansion that doubled as the Cinq Kingdom's school. She was headmistress afterall. She couldn't be away for so long chasing soldiers across the globe. Maybe she did belong here, but
that didn't mean she had to like it.

[##]

I am always standing by you
When you are sad or lonely
But I cannot feel your pain
Instead of yourself
        Kanashii toki ya sabishii toki
          Boku wa itsudemo soba ni iru
          Soredemo boku wa anata no itami o
          Kawatte agerare wa shinai

[##]

Epyon raised the beam sabre, holding it poised for the final strike. But the pilot held its hand when the cockpit of the White Taurus opened and the Enemy emerged.

She was battered, possibly broken. Defeated. She stood atop the scarred white metal and stared up at him with blue eyes filled with... concern. Not fear.

Her lips moved and he read the words, " Zechs... I'll never fear you... "

Around him, within the helmet, the heightened computer systems shut down, losing their fuel in the Pilot's loss of drive. Removing the helmet, Zechs shakily got up and opened the cockpit. Looking down, he stared into the eyes of the woman who had undying faith in him, even when he had long ago lost that faith himself.

" Noin, " he said, relying on the wind to carry his voice to her, " I'm sorry. "

" Iie, " she said: and this was the end of the matter.

[##]

If we look up the sky
There are many stars twinkling
Maybe stars' look is the true tenderness
        Miagereba ikusen ni
          Kagayaita hoshitachi no
          Manazashi ga eien no yasashisa kamo shirenai ne

[##]

Treize didn't know how long he'd slept until Dorothy found him and gently shook him awake. He blinked at her in the way of a true pilot and greeted, " Dorothy. "

" Treizesan. " If she was at all concerned about his state or affected by it in any way, she didn't show it. " I just received a report citing that Rilina has returned to the Cinq Kingdom. I shall return today as well. "

Treize straightened up, his curiosity aroused, " And the pilot of Unit Zero-One? "

" He headed away from the kingdom, towards the last known position of Unit Zero-Five. "

" So, " Treize considered this information, " it seems our foes are converging. Perhaps the climax is yet to come... "

He looked at Talgeese. He would be ready when it came.

[##]

A coincidence that we meet in this planet
Becomes courage to open the door to tomorrow
Kono hoshi de bokutachi ga meguriau guuzen wa
Ashita e no tobira o akehanatsu yuuki ni naru ne

[##]

Hiiro closed his eyes and sighed. Alone again. Sitting up straight, he ran through the information that Quatre had sent him. It was frightening how much information Oz had. Specs on the Gundam, estimated height and weight of the pilot, a complete rundown of skills and, derived from this, a psychological profile. If Oz had this kind of information on one pilot, it was sure to have it on them all.

A disturbing thought. But Hiiro disregarded it in the same breath. No matter how much information Oz had, he would still destroy it. It was his mission, and he would accomplish it. Things were no more complicated nor simple than that.

[##]

Stars will disappear
Because the day breaks soon, but
They are waiting for the future calmly
Even if they are in the light, or the darkness
        Mou sugu asa ga otozuretara
          Hoshi wa mienaku naru keredo
          Yami no naka de mo hikari no naka de mo
          Shizuka ni mirai o matteru

[##]

Duo's free hand traveled over the controls with a mind of it's own. He stared straight ahead, waiting for Deathscythe to start up. When it did, he removed his arm from the sling, barely wincing as the pain shot through him.

" Mission... " he said, as deadpan as anything Hiiro had ever uttered, " Accepted. "

[##]

Sometimes a smile
Saves a dream drowning in the darkness
Better than a word does
        Toki ni wa kotoba yori mo
          Hitotsu no hohoemi ga
          Kurayami de oboeta yume tasuke dashite kureru

[##]

Trowa felt shattered. He felt empty. A whole cacophony of thoughts rushed through his head, yet he thought of nothing.

He couldn't return to the circus. No, not yet. He needed companionship of a different kind. Perhaps what he needed was someone to talk to. Someone to understand and feel in a sense what he was going though, even though he didn't understand it much. He'd killed many times before. Why was this bothering him?

" You're a Gundam Pilot... how much peace have you found? "

Quatre...

Somewhere amidst all the chaos he thought of the smiling kind boy who had taken him in before. Trowa altered his course, barely registering that he was even flying. It wouldn't be too hard to find Quatre. He and the Maginak seemed to stick to the desert areas pretty much.

[##]

He was warm. Content. Nothing mattered anymore, because it was so beautiful.

Utsukushii, his mind repeated over and over again, totemo Utsukushii...

[trans= beautiful... very beautiful]

The pain was distant, so far away. The Uchuu no Kokoro within him throbbed with pain as lovely as the infinite dance it longed to join.

When it ended, Quatre finished his motion of shutting off the com and slumped forward in his seat.

" Quatresama! "

" I'm alright, " he answered quietly. Looking up, he read the screen and smiled.

The Maginak in the room with him looked over his shoulder and smiled as well. " It looks as though your friend does not need searching for. Unit Zero-Three just escaped and is heading in this direction. "

" Hai. " Quatre smiled broader. Trowa... I can't wait to see you again my friend

[##]

Let's become the stars' look
Hoshi no manazashi ni narou

[Saa... that's one of my favorite GW ballads.... anyway! ^^* Hiiro's dropped Rilina off, and she already misses him! Oi! Is Nara going to die?! Kaious! I hope not, I kinda like her. (and I think Wufei does too... ~wink~) Zechs didn't kill Noin, but now what's he gonna do? Will Treize finish upgrading the Talgeese in time for the big climactic battle? Will I ever get to one!? Keep reading to find out!]

[Written by Inseiko, 2000]
[Song: 'Stars' Gaze' by Orikasa Ai
Lyrics found at http://www.gundamwing.org, altered slightly by Inseiko for corrections]

go to part nineteen