27-June-2000
Title: The Hunt ()()()()()()()() Notes: This is a *direct sequel* to our previous fic, ESO, and picks up about two weeks or so after the conclusion of that story. This is the most recent entry in what I am now dubbing the Frozen Colony Arc (whoo hoo, we have an Arc!!! Doesn't that sound impressive? ^_~). Many references are made to events in the previous fics. I would like to think this would not be annoying to anyone who hasn't read the previous stories, but I might be on crack. In the event that anyone is interested, the *chronological* order of these stories is as follows, and all can be found at GW Addiction. [Discoveries: Her Fallen Count; The Frozen Colony; Down Time in Hell; The Rematch; The Future; The Power of Goodbye; and E.S.O.] ESO SPOILER: for those of you who read ESO or don't mind being spoiled, Wufei revealed to Zechs at the end of that story that Treize was still alive, which events actually happened in The Future. We do not know at this time how many other characters will come into the story. This is a multi-parter, but will definitely NOT be anything like the length of ESO (sigh of relief heard all around).
Author: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and vonceia (vonceia@yahoo.com>
Archive: GW Addiction http://www.oocities.org/fenris_wolf0/ and if she chooses, Darkflame http://members.xoom.com/riouka/gwpage.html
Category: yaoi, angst
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 6x5/5x6 so far, mentions of 1x2 and 5x1x2
Spoilers: Series, Endless Waltz, fics of ours
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here. As with all our fics so far, while our goal is to stay as in character as possible, any discrepancies are our mistakes.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
Warnings: Yaoi, LEMON (graphic sex)- not this part though. No one is intentionally bastardized, but we do not guarantee that our interpretations of characters will agree with yours, so a general OOC warning.
()()()()()()()()
Lady Une sat at her desk and thought. All appointments had been cancelled or rescheduled for the day. She needed time to collect her thoughts.
Glancing out of the window, she saw two birds take flight. "Mr. Treize," she thought, laughing at herself for holding on to the General's familiar salutation. "What has happened to you?"
The birds glided through the air and then began a long arcing dive to the place they had started from.
"I had always assumed that I understood what you wanted from me, but now I am not so clear. There were inappropriate things I thought to give you and in the end, I could only give you loyalty and my devotion." She then stood and went to the window, her arms folded behind her.
"Your lovers were here, just now. Do I call them that? Was that what they meant to you... or something else, entirely? My assessment of Zechs Merquise was that he was your coveted protégé... your pet. Now, after knowing him and standing together with him in battle, I think that when you called him your eternal friend, you meant just that. I have learned to widen my view because of you. It was a shame that the battle did not and could not continue for you. You saw your own future more clearly than I had realized. What is a soldier without a battle? That was the way the world was moving towards."
Lady Une looked down and then back up. "Wufei saved you, restored you to the world and changed you. Did you see him as life? Did you wish to live through him? Or are you now in the midst of plans which will rock the foundations once again?"
Something inside Lady Une responded, "No."
She frowned as another thought occurred to her. "Treize is dead," she said. "Whoever you are, whoever inhabits your body, is no longer the charismatic Treize Khushrenada. Is that the secret to the puzzle, or does the Treize within the man have plans to finish his coup d'etat?"
Looking down, Lady Une saw that the birds had vanished.
Late that night, Une bathed, and dressed in a light, short shift. Brushing her hair, she looked down at the ceramic box Treize had given her two years ago. It held her pins and ribbons but she never wore her hair in braids any more.
Turning off the last light, she moved towards the bed. Then a small sound came from the slim computer on the small table next to the window.
Une froze for a moment and then slowly walked to the computer.
A single word glowed from the dark screen.
"Lady."
Her brown eyes widened and Lady Une reached out to grasp the side of the table to steady herself. The solid tabletop was enough to restore her.. Lady Une stood straight, her eyes never leaving the glowing word and then she sat down in the chair. She reached out, finding the spare glasses on the table and settled down placing the frames on her face. Reaching up, she touched he keyboard and typed.
"Mr. Treize," she entered and hit the return key.
"There you are. I knew you wouldn't be asleep - not this early. Or have things changed so much for you in a year?"
Lady Une sighed deeply, half believing that this was a dream.
"I was on my way to bed," she entered. "I had just finished brushing my hair. How are you, Excellency?"
"Not so excellent any more, Lady. It's time for you to stop using those titles, don't you think? The man who bore them is dead. What remains... merely an old friend who misses you."
Lady Une looked at the words on the screen and felt her heart catch. Once again, he had thrown her. She took a deep breath.
"Very well," she typed, "Then who am I speaking to now? Whatever name you choose to give, know that I miss you as well, and have everyday."
"Your devotion is something I don't deserve. Nevertheless, it warms me.. And if you were also angry with me, I would not blame you. Know that you have been in my thoughts a great deal through the time that has passed. And understand that I could not contact you before now. I was bound by a promise."
Lady Une shivered as she read the thoughts on the screen. She found herself pulled in two directions at once.
"What has changed?" she asked.
"He broke his silence. That frees me to break mine. And so I speak with you now."
Lady Une closed her eyes for a moment and then typed.
"What can I do for you?" she typed.
"Tell me what is in your heart."
"Conflict."
"Understandable. What would resolve it?"
Lady Une bit her lower lip. She could no longer feel the old perspective shift, which once took care of conflicts. She was now whole and felt every pain and nuance course through her.
"I need to know," she typed, "What you are going to do... I want.. Tell me what you feel."
"Many things, Lady. But hatred is not included in the mix. Is that what you fear?"
Lady Une shook her head. "Not really," she said aloud.
"Thank you, that was helpful. My fears, however, live inside a broken heart." she typed and then moved back from the table as if it would bite her.
"It is the condition of that precious vessel that gives it such grace and power. Tell me what you fear."
'Tell him,' a voice said inside. 'The time is now!'
Lady Une looked down at her hands.
"Losing you," she typed.
"I understand. I would have asked that of you once. I did, in fact. But time changes many things. The imperatives that drove me died at the end of the war. I've been forced to find others. What remains... may not be the man you gave your heart to. But I still need you."
Lady Une read the lines twice over.
"I am changed as well. I would very much like to know what remains, but it was never a condition of our...friendship. How can I help you?" she typed at last.
"Trust me."
Lady Une felt all of the air expel from her lungs at once. Her head dropped and she saw the image of Wufei in her mind. 'Yes, I think I begin to understand you,' she thought.
"You have it, eternally," she typed.
"Then that is all I need. Now tell me what you need."
"To see you... to talk with you... to touch you," Lady Une typed, feeling her chest constrict.
"Can you wait a little while?"
"Yes, I can," Lady Une typed.
"Then I will promise to give you what you need. It won't be long."
Lady Une brushed away annoying tears from her eyes.
"I wish to be honest with you. I am head of the Preventers. It is a job that I hold dear to my heart. People like the Peacecrafts and others trust me. I don't think I need to tell you what conflicts I feel at this moment, Treize."
"Treize is dead, Lady. Do you believe me to be your enemy or theirs?"
"What do I call you, now?"
"Until we meet, call me old friend. It's not like you to evade a question. Have you truly changed in this?"
"No," Une typed, smiling. "I have not. I do not believe you to be my enemy. I believe that you could have some grievance against the new order of things. Do you plan on doing anything that would be considered an act against this peace we have fought for?"
"Lady, I have no grievances against the new order. How could I? My actions brought it about as much as any others. I cannot answer your last question. It doesn't lie in my actions but how they are considered and that I have no control over."
"I understand and please forgive me for discharging my fears to you."
"Only if you discharge them all."
Lady Une placed her head in her hands for a moment.
"I fear that you will harm Zechs and Wufei. I know that you have loved them both."
"Harming either of them is not now nor has it ever been my intention. Why do you fear that I would do so?"
"They have both turned from you and anger would be a logical emotion to have."
"Have they indeed? I rather thought they were turning towards me at the moment. However there is one thing that you are not taking into account. I have gone to a great deal of trouble to bring them together."
Lady Une's eyes widened.
"Why?"
"I'm surprised you would ask that. Because they need each other."
Lady Une sat back for a moment as the words worked their logic in her mind. Her head tilted at the very simple statements on the screen.
"I was going to say what a great deal of trouble for you to have gone through, but you are like that. Bravo, old friend."
'Have I alleviated your fears?"
"Yes, you have."
"Then may I ask you for a last favor?"
"Please."
"You have given me your trust. The only other thing I can ask you for is your silence. Keep our communication to yourself until that time I have promised. Will you do this?"
"Consider it done."
"As always, you surpass me. I hardly dared hope for what you have given me tonight, after all this time. I'm more grateful than you can know. And I will not forget my promise. We will meet, Lady."
"Good. I look forward to that time."
"As do I. Sleep well, Lady."
"You too, old friend."
The screen went dark.
Lady Une reached up and touched the computer. After a moment, she stood and walked back to her bed and slipped under the covers. As she closed her eyes to sleep, a small smile played across her face replacing the sad expression that usually accompanied her to sleep.
End of Part 3 - TBC
Sure would like to hear what you think of this!
bonnejeanne & vonceia
Please send comments to: bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com