Part Thirty-six;
*Shadows Cover the Earth. Everyone Prepares for the End*

         Paato Seruteishikkusu;
         *Kage wa Chikyuu o kurumu. Minna o owari ni junbi shite iru*

Throw out Anything you don’t need
   I wander looking for you my soul
   stop the time, shout it out
   I can’t be patient You give me everything
         iranai nanimo suteteshimaou
            kimi o sagashisamayou my soul
            stop the time, shout it out
            gaman dekinai boku o zenbu ageyou

I hate the feeling of the restless city ‘Cause you’re not here
   Pass through the crossroads on the opposite side of dreams Wish I were "Someone halfway there"
         sewashii machi no kanji ga iya da yo kimi wa inai kara
            yume ni mukai kousaten o wataru "tochuu no hito" wa ii ne

I think it feels good to be
   Two completely becoming one
   I can’t even forgive a small gap
   I’ve become a stingy human
         futari hitotsu ni narechau koto o
            kimochi ii to omou uchi ni
            sukoshi no zure mo yurusenai
            sekoi ningen ni natteta yo

I can’t live with you not here
   There’s no meaning Without hot embraces
   Hey, it’s two in one, right
   ying & yang
   You support me
   You set me free
   Like the light of the moon does
   I slip off your back
   (And then I’m ruined)
         kimi ga inai to ikirarenai
            atsui houyou nashi ja imi ga nai
            nee, futari de hitoshi deshou
            yin & yan
            kimi ga boku o sasaetekureru
            kimi ga boku o jiyuu ni shitekureru
            tsuki no hikaru ga sousuru you ni
            kimi no senaka ni suberiochiyou
            (soshite watashi wa tsubusareru)

                      [##]

Rilina walked alone from the Romafellor Foundation. She retained some things, her title as Queen, her integrity, and in some ways her dignity. But what she had lost was her hope. How could she have hope when Hiiro had disappeared and her brother had become an enemy?

                      [##]

Hiiro sat back and held the board he'd pulled from the computer before his eyes.

" I considered including the Zero System in Wing, but decided against it. It was too unpredictable. Your mind can probably handle it, but then again, in any event a moment of weakness happens... well, you saw what happened to Quatre. " Doctor J reached down and took the board from Hiiro with his mechanical 'hand'. " We're rebuilding a Sandrock Kai for the poor boy. He's elected you to have this suit, since you left Wing on Chikyuu. "

" Oz found it, " Hiiro stated, before the doctor could.

" Mm... So far they haven't done much with it. I heard a rumor that Treize Kush Renada has it. " Doctor J handed the board back to Hiiro, who replaced it within the computer.

" Zechs is leading the White Fang. " Hiiro stated, changing the subject abruptly.

" Tsubarov has taken control of the Oz forces in Space, " Doctor J added, " and Treize has replaced Rilina Peacecraft as Oz Representative, reclaiming his old position. Things certainly are turning out quite different than we had planned. "

Hiiro grunted as he replaced the heavy console over the computer. " Nothing ever goes as planned. As soon as Sandrock Kai, Deathscythe Hell, and Atlon are completed, we go to war with Libra. " Hiiro grabbed a screwdriver and twisted onto his back, replacing the screws underneath the console to keep it in place.

" Earth and the Colonies have become one in the face of new events. " Doctor J left Hiiro to his work. " In order to protect one you must protect the other. "

" Mission Accepted. "

                      [##]

Eventually, Rilina found her way back to the Cinq Kingdom. There she was greeted by Noin and Pagan with welcome; all things forgiven. Here she was truly home.

                      [##]

Duo rubbed the back of his head. " You sure this is the place, Quatre? "

Quatre nodded. " I was in touch with Abdul on Earth. This is the circus Trowa contacted before we left for Outer Space. It's only right that we let them know he's not... coming... back... " He lowered his head and closed his eyes. It still bothered him... not even time could heal this wound so easily.

Duo sympathized with him. " Ano... look, the show's about to start. Why don't the three of us watch it first, and then let them know? "

" Duo's right, " Hilde agreed kindly, placing a hand on Quatre's shoulder. " There's no need to disturb the show. Why don't we watch and try to enjoy it? "

" Hai... " Quatre followed the two into the main tent.

" You know, Hilde, I must say that I like you a whole lot better than Hiiro. He'd never say I was right. Nope, not ever. "

" Consider it a one time occurrence, Duo. "

Duo sighed. " Should have known... I get no respect. "

Quatre sat and watched as the Ringmaster came out and began to show. Months had passed since he'd first used the Zero System, since he and the others had escaped Oz. In those months, the pain hadn't subsided in the least, rather, each day only compounded the guilt he felt. Trowa... he'd killed Trowa. Him. The circus performers passed by his eyes as a blur. He was numb, his senses dulled by overpowering guilt.

" Now, Ladies and Gentlemen! I present to you one of the foremost acts in our company. The Lovely and Daring Kathrine Bloom, who never errs in her aim. She is the mistress of knives, as dangerous as she is beautiful: watch as she amazes you with the help of her assistant. " The spotlight grew, spreading to encompass not only the Ringmaster, but the knife-thrower and assistant in question.

Duo leaned forward in shock. " Is that--?! "

Hilde leaned forward as well. " It couldn't be!! "

Quatre looked up, and saw the ring for the first time. Dressed in a flamboyant clown suit, with a half-mask obscuring the face beneath long tawny bangs. An impassive hazel eye stared out across the crowd without seeing. Quatre's own eyes widened, and brimmed with fresh tears. " Trowa...? "

                      [##]

Rilina turned to Noin and stated firmly. " Noin-san. I've been thinking on the way back here. I want to go to space. "

Noin blinked in surprise. " Rili-- "

" Hello there, " Howard interrupted, appearing very suddenly in the doorway.

                      [##]

Nara ventured to inquire, " Would he really...? " She trailed off, the horrible implications staying the question before fully asked.

" Would he really do it? Yes, " Treize said severely. " This is no idle threat. Deliver a message to Romafellor for me, please: rally the forces and gather all the men we can spare. Tomorrow we go to war. "

                      [##]

Noin regarded Howard suspiciously. " Who are you? "

" Name's Howard, but you wouldn't know that anyway. I was told that if anything were to go astray I was to come here. "

                      [##]

Quatre dashed down the stands after the circus had ended with Duo and Hilde hot on his heels. In his rush he leaped over the partition separating the stands from the ring and ran across the dusty enclosure to the back.

" Oi, Quatre! Matte! " Duo called futilely from behind.

Quatre skidded into the back area and ran directly into the Ringmaster.

" What are you doing back here? This is off limits! "

Quatre paid him little heed and looked frantically around. Spying the object of his search, he darted around the Ringmaster and cried, " Trowa! "

The other boy stopped at Quatre's voice and looked back. He didn't answer, didn't smile, didn't even acknowledge. He just stared, impassively as Quatre ran up to him and clasped his hands.

" Trowa! Trowa! I can't believe it's you! Where have you been? Are you alright? " Quatre was sobbing by then, he broke off and tried to calm down, wiping his face with his palms.

" I'm sorry... Do I know you? " Trowa asked quietly.

Quatre gasped and looked at him, his heartbreak renewed. " Pardon...? "

                      [##]

Just like A windless sea Every day was boring
   If you can imagine the flowers’ colors had been fading Until I met you
         choudo kaze no nai umi no you ni taikutsu na hibi datta
            omoeba hana mo iroaseteita yo kimi ni au made wa

Oh... the radio was on. Someone must have set it as an alarm. Wufei paused his katas and contemplated turning it off. In the end the music remained. It was a welcome distraction, much as he hated to admit it. The doctors were still working on remaking Shenlon into Altron, and claimed to not need him yet. He was fine by that, if a little put out. It was his damned suit, shouldn't he at least be able to watch?

Not that he'd seen Shenlon being made. But that had been another time. Another life. It never ceased to amaze him how far he'd gone from being that boy he'd been back then. He thought the word with contempt, and would have spat it out loud were he speaking. His foot deftly pierced the air, carrying his weight around with the momentum, throwing his body into a spiral that twisted him around to land facing the other way.

From scholar to soldier, Wufei had seen war from both sides. It was the soldiers who were to blame. It was the soldiers who must die.

Until my wet body Completely melts away
   I won’t leave you day or night
   What do you really think now
   About the time we passed
   From the bottom of my heart, your name’s
   Cried out It’s my soul
   My empty shell trudges
   Along the merry city
         nureru karada toketeshimau hodo
            hiru mo yoru mo hanarezu ni
            sugoshita toki wa hontou na no
            kimi wa ima nani omou
            hara no soko kara kimi no namae o
            sakende tobidashita It’s my soul
            kara no karada ga tobotoboto
            hashagu machi o aruku

Nara paused in the hallway on her way to deliver the message to the Romafellor Foundation members. It was a song that had caught her attention. A song with lyrics that made her stop and forced her to listen. " It's my soul, " the song had said. How very true. Everyone's soul relied on another to survive. It was the basis of the 'soul mate' theory. She sighed and turned her gaze upwards, her mind painting a picture of the stars and heavens as they appeared on a clear night. She ached. She needed to know.

Treize understood her. That was the thing that had shocked her the most, and made her become so agreeable to her. He understood. A brief meeting had instantly connected their souls. Be it fate or apathy... they had to meet again. Just once. She needed to relieve the burden on her soul.

They needed truth. All three of them.

They needed truth to continue living.

My want grew up too much
   I forgot the thing I love
   I was creating an almighty phantom of you
   Inside of me
   Throw out Anything you don’t need
   I wander looking for you my soul
   stop the time, shout it out
   I can’t be patient You give me everything
         hoshii kimochi ga seichou shisugite
            aisuru koto o wasurete
            bannou no kimi no maboroshi o
            boku no naka ni tsukutteta
            iranai nanimo suteteshimaou
            kimi o sagashisamayou my soul
            stop the time, shout it out
            gaman dekinai boku o zenbu ageyou

Wufei had to prove it. Had to make it true.

If every life he touched was destroyed, it was time Treize too met that fate.

                      [##]

Hilde too pushed past the Ringmaster to stand next to Quatre and grip Trowa by the shoulders. " Trowa! Don't you remember? " She reached up and pushed his hair aside from his face, her eyes pleading with his. " Have you got amnesia? "

Duo looked questioningly at the Ringmaster, who shook his head sadly. " It's no use, he stumbled in here about a month or so ago, dressed in a space suit with a blank look in his eyes and no memory. Kathrine took him in and has been helping him recuperate. "

It was at that moment that Kathrine herself entered, wearing casual clothing and carrying her performance dress. " What's going on? Who are you people? "

" Don't you remember anything? " Hilde was demanding, panic driving her voice higher. " Gundams? The Mercurious? Don't do this to me Trowa! "

" These people seem to know Trowa... " the Ringmaster said slowly.

Kathrine let that sink in. Her expression darkened and she rushed forward to push Hilde and Quatre away from Trowa. " You're here to take him away again! You're going to force him to fight again, aren't you?! "

Hilde and Quatre looked shell-shocked, at a loss for words.

" Kathrine? " Trowa questioned.

" I won't let you! " Kathrine shouted vehemently, " I won't let you take him away again! "

                      [##]

" So, " Howard summed up, " If you want to go to space, Miss Peacecraft, I'm willing to take you and Miss Noin along with my crew. "

Rilina looked at Noin, then back at him. " I'm coming with you. "

                      [##]

I’m always loving phantoms
   I don’t understand anything
   Can you hear the sound
   it’s my soul
   I will give you
   anything, anything you want
         maboroshi o itsumo aishiteiru
            nanimo wakarazu ni
            Can you hear the sound
            it’s my soul
            I will give you
            anything, anything you want

**

[Just me or are the chapters getting longer? Maybe just because the songs are. GAH! Lots happened in this chapter, and at the same time, not much. Will Trowa remember anything? Is Wufei really gonna kill Treize? (or at least try?) The war for peace in the Earth Sphere starts NEXT CHAPTER!]

[Written by Inseiko, 2001]
 [Song: "Love Phantom" by B'z
    Lyrics taken from The Memorial Hall of Translations with permission from the translator, Mina-P]

Go to the next chapter!