Chapter Five: Friends or Enemies

 

            *As Shade walked out of her meeting with her Father, Darien, she sighed inwardly. She was to make friends with this new boy, this Hiiro Yui. Of course she still didn’t trust him. And he was strong. Strong enough to keep her on her toes for over a half hour. Even Darien hadn’t been able to perform such a feat.

            Not that she was complaining, no, she wasn’t in the least. It would be…fascinating in the least to learn more about this Hiiro boy. Something about him had her captured. Something she blindly recognized. But now was not the time to think of these matters. Now was the time to concentrate on relaxing. She had only returned home the day Hiiro had appeared, and what with his amazing abilities, she hadn’t been able to get more than an hour of sleep a night.

Barely able to drag her feet to her room, she punched in the security code at the door and shut it behind her. Finally allowing herself to succumb to the aching in her feet and back, she shrugged off her heavy black army boots and the heavy black belt around her waist. Quickly turning on the bath taps, she let the tub begin to fill with fresh, clear water as she pulled her hair pins out and let the blonde mass tumble free of the tight constraint she usually kept it in. Shrugging her lose black shirt and pants off, she stood in her black bra and underwear, gathering up her towel and a book to read in the bath.

“You let your guard down too easily.” She whirled around, dropping all she had been holding and grabbed her gun. Pointing into the shadows near her vanity table, she spotted a dark figure. How the hell had he gotten into her room? Damn him.

“Most knock before they enter another’s room you know.” She glowered at him.

“Hnn.”

“Did you come here just to tell me that, or did you just miss me?” She chided sarcastically.

“You let your guard down too easily.” He repeated, stepping into the dim light. It was an awkward position for him as well. She was standing in nothing but her bra and underpants- neither of which were the most conservative pieces of clothing. To top it off, she had a gun pointed directly at his head, finger readied on the trigger. He had to admit to himself, he had been foolish to ever think her a boy.

She probably had the most beautiful figure he had ever seen on a woman, including one of his comrade Duo’s many girlfriends. Long, wavy sun-kissed golden locks dripped in torrents down her shoulders, back and waist while her undergarments highlighted each and ever divine curve of her perfectly sculpted form. No doubt, she was a looker. And dangerous too he had to remind himself.

This little petite woman had been able to keep him occupied in a hand-to-hand fight for over twenty minutes. He had thought no one save maybe another Gundam pilot would even be able to do so. But she had. There was something alluring about her style and technique as well. She could have had the advantage in some ways, he was sure. She had, however, held back and kept the fight fair. No dirty tricks, just plain clean moves. But she was dangerous. He should kill her here and now- get her out of the picture, away from the mission. She was a distraction, but she could take her out no problem now before she became too much of an issue. So why wasn’t he shooting?

“Tell me something, Hiiro Yui.” She had dropped the gun from aiming at him and was now swinging it around her index finger. Her other hand was on her hip, and she had the tiniest of smirks gracing her blood stained lips. “Where did you learn your fighting skills?”

“Hnn. You ask to many questions.”

“I believe it is only the first of many. However. Do not feel obligated to answer any. I will find out one way or another.” Her gun stopped spinning.

“Then I should kill you now and be done with your many questions for good.” He threatened. She threw her gun to her bed and laughed. In his ears it sounded like bells, a chorus of soft faeryish bells. She gracefully sauntered up to him.

“You could. Or you could let me take my bath.” She pulled the gun from his limp grasp. In his weathered face she could see many years of training had pushed all personal feelings back to make way for his fighting abilities. He was hardened, as she wished she could be- completely detached from all those whom had suffered at his hands the fate of the doomed and damned. She could read in his eyes the strength and determination to ignore her as much as possible and complete his task. Yet he stood, unwilling to make a move against her. If he was so practiced at being a hardened killer, why did he stop at her?

Hiiro was vaguely aware that she had just disarmed him, yet he ignored his trained instincts and let his primal ones take over. His breathing became shallow, heart pounded, palms sweat. Even under his cool, crisp appearance, nerves racked his system as they never had before. No. He would not let this vixen of a woman create such a mess of him.

“Shade. You ask me where my training comes from. I will not answer. I will ask you. Why do you work for Darien?” He inwardly smirked when she shied back slightly.

“Darien is my Father. He raised me, I owe him my life and more. I work to repay the debt he has placed me in.” She turned away, shocked he would ask such a question. Of the entire clan, none of her brothers had ever asked her why she worked for Darien when she was the only female fighter.

“Hnn. You work only to repay a debt? How long will that take?”

“Until I am released. No more questions, I tire of you. Leave Hiiro Yui.” She ordered him. She, a small girl-child, was ordering him around. It was a new experience; that was for sure. He knew he had hit a keynote when he had asked about her reasoning about working for Darien. She was repaying a debt of life. Something was added to the picture that had previously been missing. The motive behind all of Darien’s little ‘children’ became clearer than ever. All were helping him because he had saved them. J needed to hear this.

“As you wish, Princess.” Hiiro smirked and mock bowed to her. He walked up to her and pushed her with just enough pressure to knock her off balance. She landed on her bed. He then picked his gun from her hand and strolled out of her room.

Shade was taken by surprise when he bowed and called her ‘Princess’. She was the Perfect Mercenary, certainly no Princess. The he had the gall to knock her over. Yet her body refused to follow her train of thoughts to hurt him. It simply allowed him to retake his gun and walk out.

After he had left, Shade stayed laying on her bed for a moment longer. This Hiiro Yui was too much of an enigma to her. With all the luck she had had with reading people’s characters before, she had thought he would be a clear-cut case: he was dangerous and strong, should be eliminated right away. But now she was beginning to doubt herself.  Never before had anyone taken her by such surprise as he. Never before had anyone made her heart pound as it was. Never. How could she kill someone who made her feel things new and strange? Especially when she wanted more? Shaking her head and standing, Shade once again collected her towel and book. She then entered her bathroom and locked the door, hoping she would get the decent peace she needed for a relaxing bath.

>>>)(<<<

            As he strode down the hallway towards the game room, he took in a deep breath. He felt good. Not relaxed. If anything he was more alert than ever. But all the same. His heart was still racing and the adrenaline pushed his imagination to remembering his most recent encounter with the Perfect Mercenary, Shade the Princess. Ironic nickname he had picked for her, yet it fit.

            And so now here he was, trapped in a new and confusing world, emotions he had never known he owned raging out for the first time since the war had ever begun. How was he going to deal with this and at the same time manage to distance himself from the situation enough to kill and destroy the entire place if need be? Maybe she should tell Dr. J mission failed and ask for a transfer. But then he would have to explain to Dr. J why. How could he tell the old man his emotions were resurfacing?  The Doctor would probably try to rape him of the little humanity he had gained so far. But what else could he do?

            “Hey Hiiro-man!” Duo waved as he fell in step beside Hiiro.

            “ Hnn.” It dribbled from his mouth so naturally that he neglected to let it register on the scale in his mind. Duo. Duo Maxwell. Braided idiot of the Gundam 02. His comrade from the war… his best friend… the closest thing to a lady’s man he knew of.

            “I see things haven’t changed with you.” Duo began to shoot off his mouth.

            “Duo. What are you here for?” Hiiro asked.

            “Well, I heard about your mission and knew a few of the guys here. Decided to check in on you and see how things are going. So? How are things going?” Duo explained with a cheerful grin on his face.

            “Fine.”

            “That was very descriptive! More so than your usual grunt! I’m so proud!” Duo joked around. “No, seriously though. I hear you just had a run in with Shade. He’s supposed to be the best fighter around. Better than us. How is he?” Duo lowered his voice to be serious.

            “Shade is good. Good enough that I couldn’t defeat her. We fought for forty-five minutes straight, she didn’t give once.” Hiiro informed him.

            “She? Wait, you couldn’t beat a girl?”

            “Shade is not just a girl.”

            “Hiiro’s got it for a girl who beat him! Oh man, this is rich!” Duo was laughing, talking, and walking all at the same time. Hiiro ‘accidentally’ punched him in the gut. Duo, of course, shut up right away. But it didn’t keep him quiet for long.

            “So? Is she pretty?”

            “Hnn.” Hiiro responded. But then… if he told Duo, maybe he’d get some help… at the expense of his pride. Well, which was worse, failing a mission or losing his pride?

            “Come on Hiiro, what’s she look like?” Duo pleaded.

            “Stunning.” Hiiro managed to grunt out. Duo’s eyes widened at the prospect of the Perfect Soldier having his eyes set on a girl. This Shade must be something if she had caught Hiiro’s eye.

            “Describe her. You know, hair color, eyes, the whole thing.” Duo commanded. Hiiro sighed.

            “Long blonde hair. Blue eyes. Height, 5’3”, weight, around 110…”

            “No!” Duo cried out. “I mean describe her. In detail.”

            “Can’t.” Hiiro shook his head in a negative sign.

            “Why not?”

            “Impossible.” Hiiro choked out.

            “She’s that good looking? Damn!”

            “She’s not a dog Duo.” Hiiro glared at his friend. Duo spoke like all women were for looking and touching. If Hilde knew… “If Hilde knew…” He told Duo smirking. Duo’s eyes widened.

            “No, honest! Sorry Hiiro. You know how I get. Love those women.” He grinned insanely. “Come on old buddy. Let’s go get a drink. You can tell me about Shade on our way.” Hiiro, with nothing better to do, had no choice but to submit to Duo’s order.*