The battered ambulance bounced along the seaside road, Heero
Yui gazing out the front window intently. He had a mission to
complete, a lost Gundam to deal with. He knew what he had to do,
where he could acquire the weapons to destroy it.
The bike came up the other side, and Heero met the eyes
concealed beneath the helm, recognizing them from the flash of
swords. 'Arisugawa,' he noted, even as she sped by him.
The bike smoothly slid to a stop, the kick-stand going down
in one strong motion. The young woman took her helmet off, shaking
out her long orange hair as she saw the ambulance disappear over a
rise. "Heero Yui?" Juri murmured, a thoughtful expression on her
face. With a little shrug of her shoulders she climbed on her bike
and was gone.
The party was already in full swing as Juri brought her bike
to a gentle halt in the driveway. The oversuit she wore was swiftly
removed and folded away into a compartment on the bike, leaving the
clothes she had chosen for the party revealed. She swept her hair
back, grasped the invitation in her hand and went forward.
"Miss Releena," one of Releena's friends approached her to
asked, "do you think that Miss Arisugawa will come?"
"I do hope so," Releena smiled, her long brown hair flowing
down her back, her light pink gown hugging her slim body.
There was a disturbance at the entrance, and they turned to
look only to gaze in shock. Arisugawa Juri strode through the
doorway, the dark colored men's suit clinging to a clearly feminine
body. A red rose in the pocket, and she carried a bouquet of flowers
in hand. She scanned the crowd, then moved forward through the mob
towards Releena.
Juri smiled slightly as she offered Releena the
flowers, "Happy Birthday, Releena. I'd have picked up a more
suitable gift, but there wasn't time."
Releena took the bouquet in her hands, bringing them to her
face. She breathed deep of the scent, them smiled up at
Juri, "They're wonderful, thank you."
"You're welcome," Juri said to her gently. With a bit regret
she said, "I won't be able to stay too long." She thought of Heero
Yui with a flash of pure irritation as she added, "There's something
I need to do this evening."
Releena frowned, but quickly masked it. "I hope that you'll
stay for the dances, please," she smiled, "everyone is so looking
forward to it." Two older people came from downstairs and she smiled
wryly, "My parents, please excuse me."
Juri watched her go thoughtfully, then look a look at the
students around her. A good percentage of what could be thought of
the elite of the school was gathered here, all in Releena's honor.
With a bit of nervousness she noted the adoring looks that the
girl's were giving her, and the glares coming from the boys.
Juri sweatdropped. 'It's going to be a long night,' she
mused.
Releena's mother smiled slightly as the girl neared
her, "Who is that striking young man with the long orange hair?"
Releena blushed slightly, "Sorry, but that's a girl, mother.
Her name is Arisugawa Juri."
Her father's eyes widened slightly as the name triggered a
memory, something from a confidential document. "From Ohtori
Academy..."
Releena looked up at her father, "Do you know her?"
"No, no," he quickly shook his head, looking out at Juri
with the oddest look on his face.
Releena looked up at him, about to ask him again when there
was a disturbance at the front door. The young military officer made
his way over to their side, and Releena just knew what was going to
happen. He drew her father aside, and they talked for a few moments.
"... but it's my daughter's birthday!" her father finished
forcefully.
Releena smiled wryly, knowing how that discussion was going
to have to end. She put her hand on his arm, "It's all right, daddy.
I know your work is very important."
He hesitated, then gave her a relieved smile. "Thank you,"
and with that he seemed to change, becoming the diplomat he was.
With a intent expression he left, force in his stride.
The music for the dances started, but Releena just stood
there, lost in her thoughts. She was startled when a gentle hand
rested on her arm, and she looked up to meet Arisugawa Juri's
expressive eyes. "Could I have this dance?" Juri asked softly.
"Yes..." Releena answered softly. Juri pulled her out into
the middle of the large room, ignoring the murmurs of the crowd.
Releena relaxed, quickly discovering that Juri lead the way she
fought, both light on her feet and with great skill.
"I have to go," Juri finally said softly, bringing them to a
stop. She took Releena's hand and gentlemanly kissed it, then she
smiled slightly. "Happy birthday," she repeated, then turned around
and strode out of the room.
Juri left the front door and took the steps down to where
her motorcycle waited just as she left it. She pulled the oversuit
on to protect her suit then climbed on the bike, pausing when she
felt a gaze on her back. Looking back she was Releena on the steps,
the door open behind her. Juri waved once, then was off.
The bike ate up the road as she gradually sped up, following
in the direction that she had seen the battered ambulance speed off
to. She didn't know what was going on with Heero, but whatever it
was bothered her enough to check it out. In the distance along the
shore she saw a flash of light, and her eyes widened.
"The munitions supply base," Juri muttered softly, opening
up the throttle and racing ever faster down the highway.
Heero stood beside the lift, the rack carrying a bundle of
torpedoes. "This should be sufficient to destroy even a Gundam," he
muttered, bending over the controls intently. There was a flash of
motion and he drew his gun, pointing it coolly.
"What are you doing, Yui?" Arisugawa Juri asked, looking at
the gun the boy carried warily. 'A military Otaku,' she quickly
assessed him, all dressed in the olive and gray garb those sort of
boys liked. The gun looked awfully real, though, so she was going to
treat him with caution.
"Somehow, I was almost expecting someone else," Heero
murmured before pulling the trigger, the gun discharging loudly.
The bullet cut through the air, but Juri wasn't there. She
ducked and rolled, coming up nearby him only to find the gun pointed
at her face. 'Shit,' she cursed silently, meeting his gaze calmly.
"Not bad," Heero's finger tightened on the trigger when a
shot rang out. He gasped in pain, staggering backwards as red
blossomed on his shoulder.
"Ah, ah," the young man in black smiled, his white clerical
collar gleaming as he leveled a gun at Heero, "can't have you
shooting defenseless ladies."
"I'm not that defenseless," Juri murmured, trying to get a
better look at the face hidden beneath the boy's black cap.
He gave her an impish smile, "Sorry, Miss," A flare blazed
to life just above him, nearly blinding Juri as she took a half step
back, shielding her eyes with her hand. "I'll just be taking the two
Gundams and be going now."
"No!" In that moment of distraction Heero moved, his pistol
coming up.
Juri jumped on him, the two fighting for the gun as the boy
in black looked on. Juri met those wild eyes, a desperation and
complete commitment to a purpose in them. They wrestled for the
weapon, hands clambering over it, then suddenly a shot rang out.
Heero's grip eased as he fell backward, blood spreading out
over his shirt as the gun slid into the dark waters. "I didn't
mean..." Juri stammered out, "didn't want him to..."
Heero grabbed her hand, squeezing weakly, "OZ... the
Specials... my mission..." He slumped, life escaping him as he
slumped.
The boy in black puffed out a breath. "Thanks," he muttered
softly, "you may have saved my life." He knelt down, shutting
Heero's sightless eyes before pulling Juri to her feet. "You'd
better get out of here, Miss."
"Arisugawa," Juri shot back, looking down at Heero's
body, "he was fighting against OZ too. We didn't even need to be
fighting."
"Fighting OZ," the boy in the cleric collar murmured as out
in the bay two robots began to rise, one black and the other
gleaming white. "Duo Maxwell," he introduced himself as he gave her
a push forward. "You have to get out of here before the army or
police arrive."
"Right," Juri marshaled her self control as she made her way
over to her bike. She climbed aboard, pulled the helmet on, then
frowned slightly as Duo stood up there on the platform studying her
intently.
A grim smile on Duo's face, "I'll be seeing you, Arisugawa."
Juri wheeled the bike about and was gone in a squeal of
tires. She made her way overland, bumping roughly over stone and
greenery, but away from the roads the armed forces would be using to
get to the base. She made her way across the moonlit terrain, and
every moment considered what she had just done, the life she had
accidentally taken.
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