4-July-2000

Title: The Hunt
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, 13x11
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.

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WARNING this contain non-yaoi lemon - under-agers, skip it! Also anyone else who dislikes the idea. ^_^
Warnings: Yaoi, LEMON (graphic sex). No one is intentionally bastardized, but we do not guarantee that our interpretations of characters will agree with yours, so a general OOC warning.
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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).

 

 

The Hunt by bonnejeanne & vonceia

Part 9

 

Lady Une got at transmission from Zechs.

"Everything clear. Epyon detonated. Wufei safe," it read.

Lady Une read the message three times. It was short and painfully incomplete to satisfy. She sighed deeply and then stood. No, he would have said, if... she thought. Wearily, she glanced up at the clock. She then remembered that she had not eaten or rested the entire time since she'd spoken with Zechs in her office.

She leaned down and picked her bag up from the floor. It was time to go home. It was late.

Sleeping restlessly, she was awakened in the wee hours of the morning. She didn't know if she'd heard a sound or not. The heavy drapes were not admitting much more than a hint of the early light of coming down and the room was in deep shadow. Suddenly, she realized she was not alone.

Lady Une's eyes widened as she felt her heart race. 'Gun' she thought, remembering that it was in her bag somewhere in the darkness. She sat still for a while and then said, "Who's there?"

There was a slight sound from the chair in the corner, as slight intake of breath perhaps. The silhouette of a man sitting there, head nodding, sat up.

"My pardon, Lady," he said quietly. "Watching you sleep, I think I closed my eyes as well."

Lady Une gasped slightly, her hand rising to her lips. She swallowed. "Am I dreaming?" she said softly.

He stood up, the shape of his tall figure instantly familiar. He moved gracefully to the bed and looked down, reaching out to take one of her hands and raise it to his lips.

"No, Lady," he said quietly. "I'm horribly late, but I did make it after all."

Lady Une squeezed the hand holding hers. "Yes, you kept your word," she said, and stood. Reaching up, she touched his cheek. "Can you sit with me?" she asked.

Treize tilted his face ever so slightly into her hand. "Not yet. I have something I brought here to give to you." He stepped away and picked up something on the floor by the chair and brought it to her, placing it in her hands. It was a device from the cockpit of a Gundam, but unlike any mobile suit central processor she'd ever seen. It hummed faintly with internal energy and soft lights blinked on the surface.

"Processor?" Lady Une asked, "It's different."

"This is the Epyon's CPU central component module," he said. "It contains the most advanced operating system for a mobile suit ever created. I built it to answer my questions. But never gave me the answers I wanted. I thought I had failed. Only over time did I come to understand why it could not show me a future." He reached out and gently pressed her to sit. He sat beside her with the box between them.

"I wanted something that would not only make the operator perfectly without distraction. I wanted something that would push him beyond every limit, and support him at the same time. To do so, the system had to be almost... sentient. So I did something that has never been done. I wrote a program that followed human mental processes. In order to do so, I had to use human EEG's and other readings. I had to select a mind that would accomplish my purpose. There was only one choice I could make - only one mind which complimented mine perfectly, which would support perfectly, take away all distraction, protect the operator with the most perfect capability. I programmed this system to be you."

Lady Une's eyes flew open in surprise and a little dismay. She knew her mind and what it was capable of. She sighed, deeply. "You... you flatter me beyond belief, but I am afraid a more suitable model might have been found."

Treize shook his head emphatically. "No. It was the right choice. It was my greatest creation and my greatest failure. Because it showed me no future. I believed in what I created, Lady. Therefore I believed I had no future. Then it was just a question of finding the most appropriate death, one that could provide some contribution. I gave the suit to Heero Yuy, and he gave it to Zechs. Therefore you were with Zechs through the endgame. The perfect helpmate and support, taking away all his distractions. We almost destroyed the Earth, Lady, you and I, and he. But it was not without purpose or meaning. And you preserved his life."

He took her hand and held it with a feather-light grip. "I've had a... lot of free time in the past year. I decided to try and find out what went wrong with my perfect system. I recreated it, traced everything, always getting the same results. Then I realized where I had made my mistake. I'd done too good a job of putting you into the system. You showed me no future, not because I didn't have one, but because you yourself could not bear to look into it. My perfect system was afraid."

Lady Une nodded, feeling a knot tighten her chest. "Forgive me," she said, softly, "Perhaps... you could factor out that fear."

Treize shook his head. "You don't understand, Lady. The failure was not yours. It was mine. I did not realize... that I knew you well enough to create such a result. I brought it to you because it is yours. There's a piece of your soul in this box. I know I cost you more than one piece over the years. This is the only one I can give back. And ask for your forgiveness."

Lady Une was silent for a moment, then she nodded. "I understand. Thank you for the great compliment," she said and then placed a hand on his chest. "I don't know why you would need forgiveness from me, but it is yours. I would like you to know one thing, though. Those pieces of my soul reside right here," she added, patting his chest. "Where they may remain forever."

Treize was silent, looking down at her. "Lady... Une... he said quietly. "You said there was something you wanted. I am here to provide whatever I can."

Lady Une felt her heart beating wildly. "Yes," she said, quietly. "You have been providing what I needed since I woke up. Tell me. Are you well? Are you all right, old friend?"

He tilted his head slightly. "I am, as you can see. My health is excellent."

"Yes, I see you are in good health. I am grateful to whatever gods who watched over you since we last met," she said and lifted her face to his. "I normally do not have the hesitation I feel now, but I will ...must try."

"Lady, you know everything there is to know about me. I've shared everything, held nothing back. What do you fear?" he said quietly.

"It is not you," Lady Une said, placing her fingers on his soft lips. "So far, everything seems to return to one issue. I thought it was peace, or war, but it is not. Your Excellency, you were once loved by ...many. I was but one of many. Is love a thing you can provide?" she asked.

Treize tilted his head. "Lady?" he said softly, his strong, resonant voice almost puzzled. "You have my love. I thought I made that clear with this," he said, touching the box with a slight caress.

Reaching down, Lady Une grasped Treize's wrist. "I am not a box," she said, becoming very angry at the object. "If you wish to caress me, honor me, treasure my ... brain, they do not live in that box. They are in this body.. this frail, aching, vessel. It cannot give you a future, because it is a machine, an enhanced toy, not a person. The future lies with people." She blinked at her own outburst and then looked down, expecting him to flee from the room, since she could no longer depend on herself to hide in personalities.

Treize continued to watch her, as if trying to understand a complex puzzle. "Tell me what you want," he said.

Looking up, Lady Une shook her head. "You will have to forgive me, but some things are best shown." Reaching up, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed his lips softly. Then, she kissed his cheek and trailed kisses down to his neck until she reached the pulse just under his skin. Lady Une then closed her mouth around it tasting the warm flesh beneath.

Treize's eyes widened, as he felt her soft lips on his mouth, then trailing across his skin. He was startled into stillness for long moments. The sensations were extremely pleasant...

"But Lady!" he said suddenly, his breath coming out in a rapid exhale. "You know... you *know* I..."

"Yes," Lady Une said in the commanding tone that OZ soldiers were so familiar with. Leaning back, she looked into Treize's blue eyes. "I know very well what and who you are. Therefore, I know that your word is your bond. You asked me what I want. I'm getting it now. For the moment, just pretend I'm Zechs." she said and then kissed his neck again.

Treize's chest moved as he took in deep breaths of air. The man who was so intelligent he'd blown every IQ test the military could throw at him was floundering at this moment. Her words filled him mind. His love of this woman and his desire to honor her needs as she had for so many years honored his warred within him with other things... long buried things. Experiences that had placed him on the path he walked with eyes open and head erect.

Looking down he saw the box, still blinking softly. He felt her hair brush against his skin. Her last words repeated in his head. It was... it would be criminally dishonorable! She didn't deserve such treatment from him, not after all she'd given.

Taking another deep breath he lifted the box and placed it on the floor, then shoved it under the bed with his foot. He placed his hands around her face and drew her up to look into his eyes.

"Une..." he said quietly, his voice vibrating with suppressed emotion. "I can't honor your... desires as they should be. Hush, I'm not finished. I can't... but I will... do the best I can. I fear it will be a pathetic return for your gifts of devotion. But I will *not* pretend you are anyone else. You must do the same. I'm a bastard and you know it well. Are you certain this likely-pitiful act is what you want?"

Lady Une watched his lips move as he spoke. It suddenly became crystal clear to her and she kicked herself for not realizing it sooner. "You dear man," she said. "I am certain. And now, I am also certain that I know and understand you quite well. You are unique and not like anyone else in the universe. You honor me."

"I doubt you'll feel that way in a few hours," he muttered softly. Then his arms moved around her shoulders and he drew her against him. His mouth came down on hers. For a few seconds he hesitated, then kissed her, parting her lips and letting his tongue move into her mouth.

Her body felt soft and yielding against his and of course that was what threw him. His arms tensed to crush her against him but he didn't complete the movement. He would hurt her that way.

Lady Une felt his mouth on hers and waited to see what would happen. When he parted her mouth, she matched him, sucking on the exploring thing. She felt his arms around her, felt him tense and braced herself for what was to come. When he did not complete, she nodded inwardly. "I will not break, I promise you," she said, softly against his ear.

He cursed mentally. He shook his head. "I regret," he managed to say, "That I will require your help for this as well, Lady..." He reached up and began unfastening the white scarf around his neck.

"It is quite... all right," Lady Une replied. She reached up and helped him to remove the scarf. As she did so, she felt hair brush against her hands. She smiled. "Your.. hair," she said, pulling the scarf down over her head and returning her fingers to the back of Treize's neck. She unfastened the tie pulling it away as well, then slid her fingers into Treize's hair, spreading it out. "It's beautiful."

His head tilted down, then up. "Good..." he said, then thought that was a clumsy thing to say. "You don't dislike it." Her fingers felt very pleasant. He concentrated on continuing to unbutton the closefitting vest and shirt he was wearing. It gave him something to do. He couldn't quite figure out what he was going to do after that job was done.

"I love it," Lady Une said. "It definitely becomes you." Looking up into the blue eyes, she felt sympathy for him. Her eyes fell to his chest as he unbuttoned his shirt. "You are beautiful," she added.

His eyes fluttered up to her at that. He'd been told this many, many times. Usually by men or boys who were in or about to be engaged in some act with him. Swallowing, he said, "So my mother told me when I was six." And when I was twelve... and sixteen... the thoughts completed. He tried to still the thought but knew it wasn't going to work. He shrugged out of the shirt, and took her hand, placing it against her chest. "What have you dreamed of doing?" he asked, turning the focus back to her.

"Well, this for one," Lady Une said, leaning forward and kissing the center of his wide chest. Slowly she moved towards the right, capturing his nipple in her mouth, licking and teasing it. Then she moved to the other side, repeating her actions.

It felt... good. Treize leaned back, the hedonist in him offering himself to the lips and tongue causing those pleasurable sensations. He felt the first stirrings in his groin. Perhaps... Best not to think of it yet. Just feel.

"Lady..." he said softly, and one hand moved up to run lightly through her hair. Such soft hair, like silk. His fingers pushed into the thick stuff, as his back arched slightly, pressing him up to her mouth..

Lady Une felt his fingers in her hair and her name whispered and sent up a small prayer. Her hands splayed themselves around and against Treize's back as she tasted the warm buds of flesh on his chest. She felt her fingernails set into his skin lightly, then warned herself not to be too harsh. Moving her hands down his back, she felt her own breath deepen as she touched him.

Her hands were small and delicate and he felt a twinge of unease, but concentrated on the feeling of her mouth on his skin. The momentary touch of nails was almost welcome. How am I going to do this? he thought, then cursed himself. The great Treize... can do anything but make love to a woman who did everything in the world for him. He shook his head, unconscious that he'd done it. He reached down and fingered the fastening of his pants, pushing himself to move out into territory where the temptation to back away would be more difficult to answer.

"T-talk... to me, Lady," he said, and his voice sounded harsh in his own ears, but the truth was it was only breathless.

Breathing hard, Lady Une looked up. "Beautiful angel," she said, placing her hands over his. "Wait a moment," she said, hugging him tightly.

"Not... a good idea," he managed, but he did not try and continue.

Lady Une smiled. "I understand," she said. "But I think that 'death before dishonor' will not suffice this time. Here, let me up a moment."

He obeyed her words, watching her in the shadowy darkness.

Lady Une stood. Looking down at Treize she said, "Remove your clothes. You have done it countless times before me when I drew your bath, so it should not be so difficult?"

Treize breathed deeply, almost sighing. He stood up quickly, his body as lithe and graceful as ever. He took her hand and pressed a kiss into the palm. "You... *do* understand," he whispered, a bit wonderingly. Then he turned his back to her and removed every piece of clothing, as well as his boots. He remembered the baths. That had been the first thing he had ever asked her that he later realized went quite a bit beyond the pale. He'd had male cadets acting as aids and had given it no thought whatsoever. In time he'd noticed her heightened color and strictly controlled expression but by then it was clear she desired to keep her position with fierce determination and he felt that any change would be insulting to her. So it had continued. Then other things had occurred.

He turned, naked, and stretched his arms out, smiling slightly. "Next, Lady?" he said softly.

Lady Une, who had gathered his clothing and placed it, folded neatly in a nearby chair, smiled. "Lay down. The bed is soft, the sheets are silk," she said, watching him.

He nodded and reclined on the bed, feeling the smooth silk against his skin. He remembered her reaction to his silk sheets. She'd been surprised. Even disapproving at first, until she'd watched him endure every necessary hardship that had been called for. And seen how little he actually slept in those sheets, how many twenty hour days he piled one to each other. Then she'd stopped frowning when his back was turned and made certain everything he asked for was done to perfection.

Sitting down beside him, Lady Une turned to her bedside table. From it, she removed a bottle of lotion. Opening it, she smiled inhaling the rose fragrance deeply. She poured a little into her hands, rubbing them together to warm it. "Close your eyes and enjoy," she said, quietly. Then, starting at his neck, she gently rubbed the lotion into his skin, slowly, taking her time.

His eyes closed and he began to relax. His hands were strong and her touch not too soft. He felt himself drifting on a thin cloud of pleasant sensations.

"Yes," Lady Une said. "Relax, you have been out in the field too long." Moving her hands over his body, Lady Une massaged his arms, hands, legs, and every part of him that she could reach. Her eyes drank in every part of him, watching his most intimate parts slowly shift and move of their own volition.

As her hands moved along his thighs, his cock stirred. He shifted, and a slight smile curved his lips. "Lady," he breathed. "It feels good. But there are places we have to go that... "

He reached up suddenly and his strong hands closed around her arms, and he pulled her across his body and down to the other side of the bed. He leaned up over her, then his eyes widened, realizing she was now naked. His mouth opened and he drew in a breath suddenly. His face suddenly shuttered hard. He bent and pulled her against him, this time crushing her a little with his strength.

Lady Une's eyes widened and she gasped feeling herself crushed against Treize's magnificent body. Her arms snaked around him, holding on.

This is going to be too hard for you Lady, he thought. "Are you certain?" he whispered hoarsely in her ear. "It's not going to be..."

"Perfect?" she finished.

"Yes.." he said, and laughed harshly against her neck. "Far from perfect. I may hurt you. I don't want to."

Lady Une laughed. "Oh god, is that..." she began. Leaning back, she looked into Treize's eyes. "Hurt me." she said, "I want you and nothing you can do will turn me away."

He cursed softly. "No challenges, Lady," he managed. Then he pulled her arms from his body and caught her wrists together, pulling them above her head. His mouth came over hers and he kissed her, his tongue invading, more aggressively now, hardly waiting for any response simply plundering her mouth as if it were something taken in battle.

Une felt her body flash with heat. Yes, she thought. Finally, someone who understands.

He lifted his mouth, looking down into her eyes and she could see a battle going on in his. He grimaced and turned her over, still pinning her wrists above her head. His free hand ran down her back, stroking, until it reached her softly curved bottom. Strong fingers grasped and kneaded her flesh and then moved back up to the nape of her neck, starting the whole sequence again. His mouth brushed her neck. "If you need someone to curse when this is done, her name was Melissa."

He stroked the length of her over and over again, caressing her skin, then kneading her round bottom.

Feeling her body heat from the skin, he pressed his hand between her legs and pulled them apart. Then his long fingers delved into the wet cleft between them.

Lady Une bit her lip, feeling Treize's fingers touch her. Her breath came in ragged and her hips began to rock back against him as he touched her. She closed her eyes, unable to suppress moans of pleasure as her mind turned the name *Melissa* over and over in her mind. Soon, the name moved to the deeper recesses of her mind as sensation pulled her back to Treize above her.

He felt her response and felt his own... the beginnings of rage that he used his whole being to suppress again. Lady, I am sorry, he thought. His fingers moved deftly, bringing her close to completion, then leaving her there. He released her wrists. His free hand had been coated with the sticky wetness from her body and he rubbed it along his length. His cock was becoming fully erect, which released one fear he'd had, but there were others yet to overcome. He coated himself, then, biting his lip, slid his fingers back into the wetness, then moved them along the cleft, passing the soft wet opening and finding another between her milky hips. With experienced precision he teased it with a wet finger and began the slow invasion.

Lady Une felt her body shudder in response to the invasion. There was a little pain, but she took deep breaths of air and ignored it. Her whole body felt on fire with hunger, desire and need. Yes, of course, a part of her mind thought, rationally. She pressed her face into the silk covers, biting down on them as she felt her body, slowly move against him.

Her opening was tighter than anything he'd encountered, but he knew how to coax flesh, and he did it with precision. Using her own body's liquid to ease the passage, he stretched her with one, then another finger, moving to a third. He was moving fast, a bit too fast but it would have to be. Bending in mute apology, he kissed the pale skin on her back, down to her hips, and licked the area he was tormenting so ruthlessly, never letting his tongue stray further down to the steamy depth below. Her scent was strong in his nostrils and it battered at him, trying to release a flood of unwanted memories but he simply began murmuring, "Lady... Lady..." over and over, pulling memories of her to balance the older, painful ones of another. He might not be able to give her what she deserved, but he would give what he could.

He moved between her legs, letting her feel his heated, stiff flesh against her skin. He rubbed himself along the cleft between her full hips. Looking down, he smiled slightly. She *was" beautiful this way, her back smooth, her hair tossed across the bed, her curved bottom rising helplessly to him.

Bending, he kissed her neck, and said softly, "Lady... hold on."

The next thing she felt was the head of his cock pressing against her rearmost opening, demanding entrance.

Lady Une moaned, feeling a moment of sheer panic. He is too large, she thought, then squeezed her eyes shut. You wanted this, soldier, she thought again, then braced herself for what was to come.

He went slowly, feeling her body stretch, and knowing the pain he was causing her. Reaching beneath, his fingers found the bud of flesh there and his fingers danced across it expertly, bringing her pleasure to mingle with the pain of his entrance. He waited for protests, but wasn't surprised when there were none. She was a true as the sun. She would never protest nor ever cry out against the pain.

He felt her slowly adjust around him. I can't even give you the pleasure I could give a man, he thought, not realizing a little water was leaking from his eyes. But I will give you my pleasure. It's all I have.

He began moving inside her, slowly but increasing his pace as he felt she could handle it. Her entrance was so tight he was squeezed in velvet heat. It felt... good.

Lady Une squeezed water from her own eyes as she felt Treize fill her. Her body shivered in pleasure and sweet agony as she felt him move within her. Gradually, her body adjusted even further and her hips rocked back and up against him, impaling her further on his hardened flesh.

Feeling her rock back against him, he nodded and began to release the tight control he had held over himself. His hips moved faster, thrusting into her warm body, and the friction was so delicious he moaned softly. He held her supported with one hand and continued to stroke her pleasure spot with the other. His pleasure increased, spiraling, and his hips jerked suddenly in staccato as he began to hit his climax, releasing himself into her with tight, deep thrusts.

Lady Une cried out, feeling her own climax moments later. She felt her body bear down against Treize and flutter lower. Her mind attempted to record each moment, but ultimately failed in wake of the primal dance. As she felt her body quiet, one thought traveled through her mind. Just let him be ok,' she thought.

He was ok enough to feel her body clenching, with some surprise, his lips curving. Breathing hard, he moved back and out of her, resting his face against her back for a moment as she eased.

After a few moments, he slid down beside her and helped her turn, pulling her against his chest. He kissed her forehead, then briefly, her lips. Brushing hair from her face, he looked down, seeing the shine of tears on her cheeks.

Resting his chin on the top of her head, he said softly, "Lady... are you all right?"

Lady Une smiled briefly, then her arms squeezed him tightly. "I'm... fine," she said. "I'm... oh god Treize, I am so sorry. Making you do this..."

He looked down at her quickly, frowning. "That bad, huh?" he said unhappily.

"No," Lady Une replied in a little impatient whine. "You were wonderful. This was... great, terrific, earth-shattering. I loved it. It's just that.. I understand what you must think of me... what I want. I'm not trying to do something moronic like *turn* you or anything.."

Treize laughed softly. "That thought had not occurred to me," he admitted. "Lady... I'm just a remarkably bad lover where women are concerned. It needn't worry you, except that you probably should develop a taste for something more accommodating. You deserve better than my clumsy efforts. I hope... you'll be free to seek that someday."

Lady Une shook her head, as her fingers tapped on Treize's chest. "No. no. Who told you that you were a bad lover? That Melissa person?"

Treize looked down, an ironic little smile curving his lips. "No one had to tell me. Lady, I don't want to hurt you now, but you know... women's bodies... don't... do a great deal for me. As for Melissa... I'm surprised you haven't figured out my cryptic little secret. I thought you knew everything there was to know about me. Melissa was my mother's name."

Lady Une's eyes widened. "Of course, I knew her name... I just thought. My god," she said. "Your efforts were not at all clumsy and deserve is something that never comes to pass. I've had a lot of that." She kissed Treize's chest. "Of course, I'm not exactly your body type and I am hoping you didn't suffer through that too badly."

He bent and kissed the end of her nose. "Lady, if I'd been suffering, I couldn't have completed my task," he said, with suppressed laughter in his tone. "You have beautiful skin, do you know that? And a sweet bottom. Your hair is soft and smells like..." he smiled, "Roses. You have a warm, responsive body. And though I'm certain it hurt you more than you'll admit, your heretofore virginal rear was a lovely place to play inside of."

Lady Une chuckled. "I'm flattered, thank you," she said. "And I also thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me to touch your magnificent body. You have such strength. I could feel the power."

Treize looked down at the lady in his arms. "I regret it could not have been more," he said softly. "Perhaps... even without... 'turning'," he said, his lips pulling in a wry smile, "I might find comfort in these arms from time to time, and perhaps might give some in return."

"I would be honored," Lady Une said, smiling back.

"Perhaps some day we should try leaving honor out of it," he said softly. "I have no idea where I will go from here. This was the only thing I could think of that I simply had to do."

Lady Une sighed. "You are always welcome here," she said. "We even like the same bath products."

Treize smiled. "Preventer Une... and Treize... I doubt that would go down well. I think I'll stay Tianrui a little while. Try not to be unhappy when I go, will you?"

"I promise," Lady Une said. "I will be a little sad, but not blindingly unhappy... Tianrui."

He nodded. "My daughter..." he said softly. "Is she happy?"

Lady Une sighed. "Once we extracted her from the late, Dekim Barton and placed her in a more normal atmosphere, then she blossomed like a flower. She is a very smart little girl who has been used and confused. I believe she will be just fine," Lady Une said.

He nodded. "Watch over her, Lady," he said quietly. "As you have been. I didn't foresee the use that would be made of her. I underestimated the stupidity of the Barton family. When she's older... if it does not seem like it will harm her, we will meet. For now, she needs something more stable that I can give."

"Do not worry. I will take care of everything," Lady Une said. Then she smiled. "Now, may I offer you a bath, breakfast, or both?"

Treize yawned suddenly. "Actually I would cherish a few hours of sleep. I haven't had any in... a few days. Of course I could go to a hotel, I suppose..."

"Not while I'm breathing," Lady Une replied, "Besides, no hotel features silk sheets."

He smiled. "Actually the Astoria used to... but it's been a while since I've checked. Probably safer to stay here." He eased down into the bed, pillowing his head on his arm, close to her shoulder.

Lady Une sighed again and gently moved his head to her shoulder. "Smarty," she said, settling down to sleep.


End of Part 9 - TBC

Sure would like to hear what you think of this!

bonnejeanne & vonceia

 


Please send comments to: bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com

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