For the Assassin's Son
by Mistress_Tsunami

Archive: you can have it if you want
it, but please ask first. I don't
bite. Much.
E-mail: Mistress_Tsunami@y...
Category: OOC. AU kindof. The war
never happened.
Disclaimer: Sowwy, ppl. I don't own
Gundam Wing or any of the
characters. But I do wish that Duo
was mine! or just his hair, oh what I'd
give for that hair!! Don't mind me.
I'm just the fangirl writing the fic.
Nothin' ta worry 'bout.
Warnings: The usual.
Pairings: 1&2 (Well duh! :p ) and 5 x Meiran
Rating: 13 & up still
Please send feedback!!

Series so far:
Love, Up for Adoption
Wedding Setting
For the Assassin's Son





It's so peaceful here on Earth, and so beautiful, too. But now that
I'm here, I don't know what to do. What's going to happen to Duo
now? How do I treat him?

What do I say?

As I am thinking about this, an email message arrives. Opening it, I
see that it's from...Wufei?

[Mr. Yuy,

I am sorry to intrude on you like this with no warning what-so-ever,
but, to get straight to the point, I need a favor.

My wife Meilan (called Nataku) and I need a place to rest away from
the watching eyes of the dragon clan. I knew of no one else who
would be suitable that I could ask. If you would be willing to help
me out, I would be most grateful. All the two of us really need is a
room for us to stay where the clan won't find us, we can take care of
the rest on our own.

Your friend,
Chang Wufei]

It's been a long time since I last heard from Wufei. I can still
remember when he helped me out so long ago. He had taken me in
without question, and even helped me settle all my accounts with my
stand-in mother waiting nearby.

To him do I owe the fact that I did not turn out to be an orphen on
the streets like Duo did.

Is that why I'm doing this? Becuase Wufei helped me, an orphen in
truth if not in record, is that why I want to help Duo so much?
Because he himself is an orphen?

It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that it matters to
_Duo_. Maybe Chang will be able to help me out and be able to make
Duo happy; be able to make him feel better. He's still recovering
from his...attempt...on the colonies.

[Chang Wufei,

My friend, I would be happy to help you out. You know that you are
always welcome into my home. What you are asking is merely a small
favor between friends. But, I'm afraid that I must ask a small favor
in return. I have another friend who is staying with me who needs
some help. I'm not sure of what I should do, or even how I should
act.

He's been an orphen for a long time now, and just recently tried to
kill himself. Don't put him down for it, his last foster parents
handcuffed him to a bed, which is what set him off. Considering his
situation, I believe that you or I would have done the same.

Any advice you could offer would be greatly appriciated. He needs a
friend, but I am unsure of how I feel about him. I think that I'm in
trouble, Wufei. I think I have a crush.]

Stupid stupid STUPID!!! I'm not going to send him that!!

[Any advice you could offer would be greatly appriciated. He needs a
friend.

All the information you require to arrive here is attached, and I
will arrange for a shuttle to bring you both to Earth as soon as
you're ready.

Best of Luck,
Heero Yuy]

I hope I explained myself well enough, I never was that good with
words. At least I took out the line about me having a crush. What
the hell was I thinking?

I send the edited message.

A new one arrives.

Damnit, it's from the Peacecrafts.

[01;

My name is Zechs. I am contacting you on behalf of my close friends,
the Peacecrafts. I'm sure considering the work that you have done
for me in the past that you will consider them worthy clients. Their
name has been disgraced due to an orphen that was taken in a few
weeks ago. In order to keep up their social standings, they would
like to have the public's attention drawn away from their current
family struggles.

That is why I am calling in your assistance and specific skills. I
would like to have the Winner family's only male heir assassinated.
The timing is opportune because he has been causing a great deal of
trouble within the family already, and I am sure that if you have not
recieved a request from the family themselves, that you will soon.
His name is Quatre Winner. As usual, you will be paid in full
throught the Kushranada funds, and a request fee has already been
placed in a new account for you to use.

Your client,
The Peacecrafts]

How dare they! The fools! All just to keep their precious social
stature! I will not accept this mission. They disgust me. I will
accept a diffent mission. Me and my friends will do our best to
_protect_ that heir.

If we can.

Correction, if I can. This mission must be accepted alone.

[Zechs,

I will not be accepting any missions for quite some time due to
personal matters. I'm sure you understand.

The request fee will not be taken, and you are free to use it as you
will.

Please inform me of any other missions that you would like me to
embark on.]

I look over to the room where Duo is sleeping. I want this man,
friend of my enemies, and the Peacecrafts themselves, to know true
fear. I don't want them to sleep at night, but I can't be too
obvious or else they'll send someone after _us_. I can't surpress
the smirk that rises to my face.

[Best of luck.

Don't fear the reaper,
01]

After sending the message, I switch over to a new account,
shinigami@s... . It's a new account that I created
in honour of late father. I've felt the need to use it before, but
now it seems oddly appropriate.

I send a one line message to both the Peacecraft account and Zechs.

[Death is Hell.]

After sending it with a little surprise attached, I switch back to
the other account. I'll check that email tomorrow. Annoy them by
not replying to anything that they send. The phrase is one that I've
heard very often since my parents died. Wufei tried to scare me into
living by telling me that 'life is heaven, death is hell.' He always
said that no matter how rough my life was, it was heaven compared to
the life after, but the Peacecrafts don't need to know that, because
for them, I will make sure that it's not true.

They will suffer like no one ever has before.



I feel so refreshed. It has been so long since I've been able to
sleep in for as long as I want. Both Heero and I have dropped out of
school. Officially, we're being home-schooled, but we don't have any
tutors or anything. Heero really has been a saving angel for me, and
a friend as well. I need to do something to repay him for all that
he has done, but what can I, a street urchin, do?

I crawl out of bed, not quite managing to surpress a yawn as I do.
How is it that no matter how long you sleep, you're still tired when
you wake up?

Anyway, that doesn't matter at the moment.

How do you repay a God who's just saved your life?

I exit my room and find Heero typing away at his little black
laptop. He looks up at me, and, for a brief moment, his eyes flicker
towards my wrist. No, Heero, I haven't hurt myself again. The words
catch in my throat, and all I can do is smile and hope that he can't
see straight through it.

He smiles back. "Good morning."

"Good morning." I smile wider and walk over, closer to him. I have
to be cheery. Everything _is_ ok. I _am_ alright. How can I not be
with Heero right here?

"Sleep well?"

I nod. "I feel great."

"Good. Hungry?"

"Oh yeah! Where's the kitchen again?" It's so hard to remember
where everything is in these houses!

Heero gets up and offers me his hand, a trace of a laugh on his
face. "Come on." I take his hand, and he turns to lead me. I can't
help but wince when he turns his back. He doesn't trust me alone. I
can't say I blame him, but he could at least give me a chance!

Not that I don't _like_ him by my bed every night until I go to
sleep; no, I really do like that.

It's just that...I can't help but feel like I'm just a big pain to
him. He tries so hard to make me feel better and make sure that I
don't hurt myself, intentionally or not, and I don't do anything for
_him_.

Why am I doing this to my angel and God?

It's so hard to tell where one leaves off and the other begins.
Sometimes I think he's an angel because a God is _too_ good for him,
so good that it would almost be bad. But other times, it's like
being a God wouldn't do him justice. He would have to be more.

Maybe he's both.

That's it, he _is_ both. He's my God of Angels, and he's fixing
breakfast for me.

I sit down at the table, feeling completely and utterly useless.
Look at me, the wonder of the world who can't even fix himself a
decent meal.

There's not a thing that I'm really good at.

Maybe I could learn something, but what?

Heero places a plate of pancakes before me, and I barely manage to
say 'thanks' before I dig in. It hits me then. I have no manners.
Gods, what if I've offended him? He doesn't _look_ offended, but I
can't be truly sure...

Man, I must be a glutton for punishment. I mean, really, thinking of
Heero like that!

If he knew my thoughts he _would_ be offended.

Wouldn't he?

How does one know if one is perverted in such a way? And, most
importantly, how does one know if the object of his desires also -
how do you say it? - swings _that_ way?

I... I need help.

"Duo, I... umm... need to tell you something."

Ohmigod, he really can read thoughts! He hates me! "Yes?" I _try_
to sound as calm and cheerful as possible.

"We're... um... going to be having some company. It's a friend of
mine and his wife. I hope you don't mind?"

"Not at all Heero! That's great!" This is a godsend! Somebody up
there loves me! I can finally ask someone else about Heero and get
soem advice about any kind of relationship with him! If I can get up
the courage to ask...

And, I can also find out some way to repay him.



Incoming message:

[Zechs,

I will not be accepting any missions for quite some time due to
personal matters. I'm sure you understand.

The request fee will not be taken, and you are free to use it as you
will.

Please inform me of any other missions that you would like me to
embark on.

Best of luck.

Don't fear the reaper,
01]

Incoming message:

[Death is Hell.]

Voice code accepted.

Message deleted.

Outgoing message:

[01,

If the opportunity arises, you will be informed.

Zechs.]

Outgoing message:

[03;

My name is Zechs. I am contacting you on behalf of my close friends,
the Peacecrafts. I'm hoping that you will consider us worthy clients
and accept this job, as well as future jobs that will arise. The
Peacecraft name has been disgraced due to an orphen that was taken in
a few weeks ago. In order to keep up their social standings, they
would like to have the public's attention drawn away from their
current family struggles.

That is why I am calling in your assistance and specific skills. I
would like to have the Winner family's only male heir assassinated.
The timing is opportune because he has been causing a great deal of
trouble within the family already, and I am sure that if you have not
recieved a request from the family themselves, that you will soon.
His name is Quatre Winner. You will be paid in full throught the
Kushranada funds, and a request fee has already been placed in a new
account for you to use. Attached is how to reach it and remove the
funds.

Your client,
The Peacecrafts and Zechs]

Incoming message:

[Zechs,

Mission accepted. Payment for deposit: 29000000 credits, plus the
fee already collected. Payment upon completion: 100000000 more plus
the cost of weapons and suplies.

Kushranada funds acceptable.

Mission will be completed within one week of initial deposit.

Assassin 03]

Voice code accepted.

Last message stored.

Voice code accepted.

All unstored messages deleted.

System shut down commencing.

Now safe to turn off system.

Have a nice day.



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It feels so much fresher here on Earth. The air somehow... cleaner,
even though it is a proven fact that it is not.

Though I do see why he arranged a night flight - the sky _is_
beautiful - I will have to talk to Yuy about the rightful hours of
sleeping and waking. He seems to have mixed them up, which is not
only an injustice to us, but to the members of the crew that had to
fly us here.

Naturally, Yuy met myself and Mei-sorry, Nataku when we arrived. He
also brought his new friend with him. Which is, needless to say,
unexpected. As is his response to strangers considering
his...circumstances.

"Hey there! You must be Wufei and Nataku! My name's Duo, how are
you? I'm a friend of Heero, here and since I was staying with him he
said that I could come and greet you too, so I did. I don't get out
much 'cause Heero's been _really_ protective since we got on Earth,
almost like he's waiting for someone to jump out of the shadows, but -
"

"Duo?"

"Yeah Heero?"

"Enough."

Thank whatever gods exist. I never thought that boy'd shut up, but I
didn't want to tell him that in case he got offended. The boy
actually had the decency to look _sheepish_.

"Sorry."

Meiran yawns next to me, but she tries her best to hide it. I don't
think Yuy or... Duo heard it, or even noticed, so I speak up for
her. Women are so weak. "Yuy-san, if you don't mind, could we head
toward our resting quaters while we talk? Nataku and I have had a
long journey and would like some rest, if possible." I bow as I say
this, hoping it comes out right. I stumbled over Meiran's self-given
name, but I don't think anyone noticed. Yuy might have, he has a
sharp ear.

"Of course," Yuy answers me, motioning for his car. A woman drives
over to the group, and Yuy and Duo pack our bags into the car as we
all crowd into the seats. "Ready, mother," Heero says. I see he has
still retained the services of the woman I appointed to him when we
first met. For some reason, that makes me feel almost _proud_.
Don't ask me why.

Meiran shifts next to me, and, for the first time since we've
arrived, I notice that she not only tired, but _upset_.

It crosses my mind that I should ask her what's wrong, but I shrug it
off. She should be strong, as Nataku. She can take it.

I'll ask her why when we settle into Yuy's house.



How dare he ignore me! That stupid, stupid Wufei!

I deserve more respect than that! I am the future of the clan and I
should be treated as such!

So why does it hurt so much? Why am I near tears?

It is so cruel, the way my path takes me. He didn't even ask me if I
wanted to come here, just packed me up like one of his _books_ and we
left.

It didn't help that he had the elders support, although they did
argue for a bit over our destination. I think he has yet to tell
them where we are. This sucks.

And what was with 'Duo'? If that had been anyone else, Chang would
have told them to shut up before the second sentence had even been
finished. Chang knows something, and he's not telling me. I'll
probably have to drag it out of him tonight, if he even bothers to
acknowledge my presence.

It's not fair! I'm so strong!

But if I'm so strong, why do I even care what he thinks? I should be
able to rise above this on my own.

Only problem is, I don't _want_ to. I want him to be in my life,
just...not like this. I want to be worthy of him.

Well, I've had enough of this dumb game he's playing with me! From
now on, if he wants my respect, he's going to have to _earn_ it! So
what if he's smarter?

So sad, too bad! I don't care anymore, I'm the better fighter, we
can duke it out!

Man, I'm so tired. Simply staring out the car window at the moon has
me dozing off. It surprises me that Duo speaks to me, but at first I
can't hear him well enough to understand.

"What? I'm sorry, did you say something?"

"I said, it's beautiful, isn't it?" He must mean the moon.

"Yeah, it's hard to believe that there're people up there when the
moon looks so small from here." It's true. The moon is only in it's
first quarter, and looks like only a small sliver.

"I know what you mean, but that moon is special."

"Hm?" I wonder why, and hope he elaborates. He does.

"Well, you see, I used to look at the simulation moons on L2, but
they weren't as pretty. Then I nearly killed myself - " He nearly
WHAT? How can he say that with a straight face? " - and Heero
brought me here to see the real thing so I wouldn't be sad anymore.
So that moon's special 'cause without it I'd just be 'nother orphen
and never have gotten to meet Heero."

That's so sad... "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Be _happy_. That's why we live, isn't it? To be happy.
And besides, you don't look so good when you're sad." I have to
laugh at that, and he joins me. He leans closer to whisper, "I don't
know 'bout you, but I think Wuffei and Heero would look _really_
scary when they're sad!" We both burst out laughing agian. I don't
even know what's so funny, it just feels good to laugh. Maybe it's
because I'm so tired. It _could_ be the image of Wufei with a pouty
face and tears in his eyes, but I'm not so sure.

I look over and see Wufei talking to Heero, and so I decide to
continue my conversation with this energetic boy. "So is there a
big, dark secret behind that braid of yours, or is that a happy
story?"

He laughs. He looks almost like a girl when he does that, but it's
still cute. "That story's somewhat similiar, but at the same time
completely different, know what I mean?" I nod, fully engrossed in
his tale once more and silently encouraging him to continue, even
though he has barely started. "Well, ya see, before the orphanage
found me my parents had died. They were both in the house and me and
Rugs, my dog, were outside when I heard a loud crash. I didn't think
much of it 'cause momma was always dropping dishes, but when the fire
trucks and all these other people came, I ran around front to see
what was going on. I saw the entire front of the house, and it was
on fire.

"The police tried to catch me, but I knew my parents were dead, and
the police scared me, so I ran. I never could cut my hair then, but
I didn't want to anymore. Momma always had long hair, so I wanted my
hair to grow out and be like hers so that I wouldn't forget her.
When the Maxwell Church found me, they let me keep it long, and
Sister Helen even braided it for me. We always thought it was funny,
though, that I was a Maxwell and I was found by the Maxwell Church.

"But the braid itself has no deep, dark secret, Meiran. Straight out
truth, I never lie."

I feel so sorry for him, but I manage to smile. "I'm glad you
finally found a home and some friends, then." Wufei squeezes my
hand, and it takes me a minute to realize that I was the one who
reached for him, although I have no doubt that he heard the whole
conversation.

Wufei hears _everything_. It's unnerving at times.

And if Wufei heard it, then I have no doubt that Yuy did, too.

"Yeah," Duo whispers in answer to me, "so am I."

I'm _so_ glad that the rest of the ride was silent.



I can't believe I did that! Stupid!

Ok, so last night I was nervous, that's no excuse for blurting out my
entire history to some stranger!

I don't care that she's not technically a stranger.

I don't care that it wasn't exactly my _entire_ history.

That never should've happened.

I think I made Heero feel bad, and I'm pretty sure he heard at least
a lot of that. I talked to her about things that I never told him.
I should apologize. He's been so kind to me, so generous. I never
gave him his reward. I never found out what he _wants_. He has
money, I know that, and he obviously has some better friends than I
am,

What do you give to someone who saved your life?

I've heard some corny stories about the hero and the saved falling in
love, getting married, living happily ever after, blah blah blah.
Thing is, we're both guys, and while I, personally, don't mind, I
think he mihgt.

I've got it!

I know how to fix this!

I'm going to need some money. Maybe I can borrow some from Wufei if
I promise to pay him back as soon as I can...

I just hope that this is what Heero wants...

 (Suggest listening to Tears of Pearl by Savage Garden
either before, after or during this part, but so that you can hear
the words. They really suit this part, or so I've been told.)

While I know that we came here to rest, I can't help but wonder if
that life that Heero leads is more stressful than my own.

But then again, he never had to deal with a 'wife.'

I couldn't help but wonder what Duo was planning when he asked to
borrow a large amount of money from me. I gave it to him, telling
him that he didn't have to pay me back, but he insisted that he would.

Maybe he needs a tie to this world, a reason to live if something
happens to Yuy, but of that I am unsure.

My studies of the mind never included one that had been put through
such an ordeal.

Duo insisted that he didn't need any help, so maybe it is a tad
unfair of me to follow him, but considering all that has transpired,
I feel that it is within my _rights_ to come. He is, after all, in
need of a friend. Maybe more like 100 friends.

I am, needless to say, shocked when he walks up to a surgeons
office. I follow, just close enough to hear what is being said, but
even so I miss the first few words.

"Mr. Maxwell, what you're asking is an extreme process. Are you
certain that this is what you want?"

"Yes. 100%."

"Very well, I expect to be paid in full before the operation. And I
expect that you have someone to escort you home, seeing as the first
few days after this change most people find it very difficult to
adjust to daily life. I assume that you have prepared yourself?"

"Yes."

"Tomorrow then."

"What time?"

"7:00 pm. Nothing to eat or drink twelve hours before. I'm sorry it
has to be so late at night, but this _is_ an unneeded, and un-law-
supported procedure."

"S'ok. I understand."

Duo walks away, and I follow.

I want _answers_. I approach him and lightly grab his shoulder. He
starts, but calms when he sees that it's me. "Hey Wu-man! What're
you doin' out so late?"

"I could ask you the same question." I hate to do this to him. He
looks so nervous! "I want some answers, Maxwell. WHo was that
surgon and what in the name of Shenlong is the surgury?"

"Well..."

The End. Kinda.

TBC. Sorta.

I don't know. But not really.

So that's kinda, sorta, but not really. ^-^