Upper Class 6/?

[Gundam Girl]

Thanks for reading, friends. Please review and let me know how I?m doing!

Disclaimer: I disclaim the ownership of Gundam Wing and all characters, storylines, etc. So Bandai, keep your distance, please.

Note: Because of a lack of characters, and my disinclination to make an original one, I have put Gaulron from ?Full Metal Panic!? in this fic. So now it has small cross-over elements. I don?t own ?FMP!? either. Also, Gaulron?s first name is probably not Petrov, but it?s easier if he has a first name. So I gave him one. ^_^

Upper Class ? Chapter Six

By Gundam Girl

Heero dreamt of hair the color of the sun, and eyes tinted by the light of the moon. The comparison was romantic but not exaggerated. He was sitting in the kitchen with Trowa, peeling carrots and potatoes for Catherine, dreaming when he shouldn?t be. He?d cut himself three times already.

?Trowa, put another log on the fire, this water won?t boil in time if you don?t.? Cathy smiled and wiped her brow as her brother followed the order. To think she used to have cooks of her own to fix her food for her. Now she couldn?t imagine ever neglecting the chore she had come to love. Heero had given her that opportunity when Michael died.

Heero, she mused with a smirk. Captain Yuy of the Ivory Damsel. Knave and thief, and most recently a brave kidnapper with no decided course of action. Her silly friend and confused hostage-holder.

That Relena Peacecraft had really done a job on Heero. He rarely was completely silent and these days that?s all he ever was. When asked about it, he had been always saying, ?I?m considering what to do with Miss Peacecraft.?

Catherine shook her head as she cut a loaf of bread. She and every other crew member knew exactly what Heero wanted to do with Miss Peacecraft, or rather, to her. But let no inappropriate suggestion be made, not while there was a lady on board. Heavens no.

It made her ponder. What was life like in London these days? Catherine couldn?t claim to miss it, the bustle of city life with people up and roaming at the most cursed of hours or the never ending social struggle or the politics or the gossip. She had left that behind in the house she had lived in with Michael, and now that she was on the Ivory Damsel, she had no interest in any part of it any longer.

Relena probably enjoyed every brainwashing, soul-swiping word. That didn?t make her a bad person of course, but it made her?stereotypical. Cathy wasn?t sure how fond she could be of a stereotype, no matter how well she could connect with her.

Hearing a curse, she grinned and turned to see Heero sucking at his thumb. ?Four cuts,? she declared. ?You?re doing it wrong. Cut away from yourself, not toward. Foolish dolt.?

?Dolt,? Heero scoffed. ?I?m planning.?

?Planning what?? smiled Trowa knowingly.

?Miss Peacecraft?s ransom.?

?So now we?ll be ransoming her?? Cathy asked. ?I was wondering.?

?I don?t know if we?ll random her or not.? Heero scowled.

?But you said you?re planning it,? Trowa pointed out.

Heero admitted, ?She would fetch a pretty price. But she?d do the same in Singapore.?

?Not another word of that place,? said Catherine sharply. ?You should be ashamed to think of it. Enslaving a living human.? She paused. ?Although I suppose that isn?t new, is it?? She thought of the African American slaves she had seen in England and her heart tore at the seams. She shook her head to clear it. Some things weren?t the concern of pirates.

?You seem very fond of Winner?s fianc?e,? Trowa commented mildly. ?She seems to please more than your eyes.?

Heero cast a frown at Trowa. Perhaps the two of them had been friends for too long now. He didn?t like feeling as though people could read him. Captain Heero Yuy preferred to play the role of the solid emotionless entity. He?d leave the easily-angered dramas to Wufei and the part of the poor clown to Duo. ?She is intriguing,? he answered shortly.

?Aye, she was that from the beginning,? the green-eyed pirate said. ?I?ve no doubt of that. But you won?t refocus off of her long enough to make a definite plan. Usually, we?d have moved on to our next action by now.?

Heero resented him for saying the truth, but, because it was the truth, he couldn?t bring himself to attempt to argue with it. Such a thing would be pointless and make him a fool. If he could just adjust himself to being indifferent to Relena, then he could continue on as he always had ? committed to his ship and chosen lifestyle. He wouldn?t be dawdling over the meager distraction of a silly girl.

Instead, he merely shrugged. ?You?re right.?

Trowa sighed lightly as he reached for another potato. ?I want you to know, I?m getting restless, and I?m sure not the only one. Being the subordinate here, I say that with as much respect as a man like me musters.?

?Hn.? Heero paused in his task to drink from a small flask, not wincing at the bitter bourbon?s taste. ?We?ll most likely be stopping for supplies soon. I want another chicken.?

Catherine laughed. ?You need to get Relena something else to wear as well. That frilly gown of hers must be like an oven. It?s not useful at all.?

?That it?s not,? Heero agreed. ?I?ll wager you?ll not have her go naked either, Cathy??

Cathy shot him a dangerous look over her shoulder. ?Never one to be gentlemanly, are you, Yuy??

?I don?t recollect any gentleman ever living in me.? His grin was quick.

?Harumph,? said Catherine. ?At this point, I wish Trowa would be smitten with Relena. Then at least she would be treated more appropriately.?

Heero lifted a brow at Trowa. ?Any intentions that I should know of??

Trowa smirked. ?Not yet.?

?Good. Because if I decide to,? Heero teased, ?I?ll have her before we?re rid of her.?

---

Petrov Gualron was Russian, and his blood was good. The entirety of the Royal Navy knew this and, though many were disagreeable to having a man from Moscow on an English ship, it could not be denied that he was needed. Duke Treize Khushrenada had hired him after all.

As good as his blood were his navigational skills. Gualron had a small faction back in Russia, all devoted to him and his goal. What that was, he hadn?t quite figured out yet. When he did? Gualron smiled and reclined on his small cabin bed, hands beneath his head. No one would keep it from him.

He preferred the dim and cramped cabin to the wide and open deck. He wasn?t like the homey, dreaming weaklings that infested the Navy ship Jessenta. In places that light could not reach, plans were made and schemes were forged. Mercenaries had to be very good at that, and Gualron was the best there was.

He did it now, staring at the ugly brown ceiling, and thinking of tactics. They were heading on a deliberately Northern course. In three or four hours, they could pass Milliardo Peacecraft and Quatre Winner?s ship. They were not nearly as much a threat, with their seamen mediocre at best, as the other rumored ship after the Ivory Damsel. Gualron, although he had only been in England for a year and a half, knew of the Italian ship Belladonna, and its captain, the cunning Dorothy Catalonia. Because she was a woman, she and her crew did not go unnoticed, however common their style of plunder was. They invaded, they ransacked, and then they escaped, leaving the attacked ship poor and forced to return home, clearing the ocean of one less boat.

Gaulron admired Catalonia for her always-stretching ambitions. She was a woman who often wanted what only men got; treasures and riches, and, one day perhaps, land of her own. But that, he suspected, would be in an area that was warm, relaxing, and very far from the police. And the present day of course.

Yes, Dorothy was a threat, but if the time to meet her came ? and it had to ? Gualron was not overly worried about it. She may be a good pirate, but she was still a woman. And women fell quickly no matter what kind of person they were.

As for the Baron and Governor?s ship, well? Gaulron chuckled, his voice deep. The only thing that secured their chance at getting to the Damsel first was the funding they had put in for that Quinze?s ship. And Victor Quinze was a joke through both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Quinze had never been to the others). But the rage that no doubt filled both aristocrats could fuel any man. And rage worked well on the ocean, which was nothing but rage itself. Oh, it could be calm and quiet sometimes, Gaulron mused, but always, beneath the shimmering surface that lied, there was always anger ready to turn up and toss aside whatever ship it could reach first. With that rage, Peacecraft and Winner just might be able to harness the energy needed to get back the Baron?s little sister.

Yes, Gaulron knew of Relena Peacecraft. Anyone who had ever lived in England in the past year knew who she was. She had been the most impressive debutante in London, possibly all of Britain, the year she had come out. The Queen herself had invited her to tea, or so Gaulron had heard. And her engagement to Governor Quatre Winner?

He was forced to applaud Captain Yuy. If there were a maid to swindle away, Relena Peacecraft would be the best choice.

Of course, that didn?t make it right. No, no. Treize Khushrenada had seemingly thought that, anyhow, and Gaulron had learned from the Duke himself that he was a friend of Quatre?s. And when one has the resources, Treize had smirked, one must use them to aid others, correct?

Treize would be aiding him as well, Gaulron thought. With the large fee he had charged for this operation, he would be able to get back to Russia and do something with his organization.

Perhaps by the time this ?adventure,? was over, he would know exactly what that would be.

---

It was a race. Even though Milliardo knew of no other participants but him and Quatre and Heero Yuy, it was still a race, one that would, if he were to lose, cost him his sister.

He didn?t like the thought of Relena being considered a prize to be won by the greatest man, but if that were going to be the case, then he would be sure to be the greatest. He had lost his parents at a young age. He would not suffer the same fate with Relena.

He had practically raised her, he mused. Even he had to admit that he had been over-protective, but because of that, her manners were immaculate, earning her the role of most eligible woman in the country. And Quatre had been the lucky man to be blessed with her in marriage.

Quatre was beginning to worry Milliardo. The young Governor was closing in on himself. He barely spoke unless it was to Quinze about their distance from the Ivory Damsel or to Milliardo himself about Relena. He refused food more times than he accepted it, and spent the majority of the time leaning over the side of the deck and brooding while he stared at the waters below.

Sometimes Winner seemed to merely break down. As though, while he despaired, he built up pressure and every now and then, that pressure forced outward. Quatre would kick or punch the wood of the mast or deck, muttering vulgar curses unrivaled by even the lower-class sailors. At these points, Milliardo was usually inclined to add in a choice oath of his own.

But Relena did that to people, Milliardo thought as he sat on the small set of steps on deck. She reached into people and rearranged their emotions, molding them into better citizens. Milliardo had known that his whole life, and Quatre was still unused to it. Both of them were missing it.

He nearly sighed. He was far better at containing his feels than the governor and so he remained silent. Part of him felt a bit guilty, focusing so much on Relena, when Luchrezia, Agatha, and his nameless and sexless child were at home, worrying. Lu?s eyes had been so tired when he had last looked at them, and somehow, so very, very sad.

Of course she was sad, Milliardo reminded himself. Her beloved sister-in-law has been kidnapped by a band of ruthless pirates. Yet, he still felt as though that had not been all to trouble his wife.

Milliardo was shaken out of his reverie by a tension-filled hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he met the currently quiet, green-blue eyes of Quatre Winner. Taking a deep yet subtle breath through his nose, the baron prepared for another declaration of how he could not understand how she was gone.

What Quatre said was very different from his prediction. With both yellow eyebrows narrowed seriously, his hair mussed and signifying he had been scooping his hands through it again, he sat beside Milliardo. He did not hurry to speak, but waited patiently for Milliardo to give him his undivided attention. When he had that, Quatre opened his mouth and told him softly, ?I intend to have him die.?

Milliardo?s reaction to this was shock and utter surprise, even some suspicion, but that was only revealed inside of him. His face remained smooth and expressionless. ?Are you?? he queried in return, not entirely certain what it was she wished to say. This was not Quatre?s normal behavior at all.

The governor nodded once in a quick, curt way. His jaw line was as firm as the wood on which they sat. ?Heero Yuy came into my house and robbed me of money that was rightfully earned by myself, and of a woman that was legally engaged to me ? by you.?

Milliardo?s fingers clenched into twin fists of swift irritation. ?And??

?I will not allow for him to have the slightest chance. Yes, we could have him chained and locked up to be later hung for the entertainment of whole London. But his kind has a way of the tricksters. By black magic he could escape and I refuse to permit such a thing.? Quatre glared at the setting sun. ?Whether by my hands or another?s, I will see him dead before I ever return to England.?

Baron Peacecraft tipped his head forward, blond hair falling into his face and hiding every feature except for the tight jaw line. ?In that case, I ask one thing.?

?Of course.? Quatre watched his friend, waiting. ?What is it??

Milliardo looked up at him, and his blue eyes glinted dangerously. ?I want to kill Yuy.?

Both of them were silent, but then Quatre nodded a few times. ?Your request is justifiable. Who am I to deny you anything?? He held out his hand.

Milliardo took it and they shook, sealing the promise.

?Then the duty ? no the privilege,? Quatre corrected, ?will be yours.?

Peacecraft stood and stared out at the golden sky. ?I accept it with no hesitance.?

He swore as the first star shimmered into view that he would catch the pirates of the Ivory Damsel and gain Relena back.

And then he would have his, Quatre?s, and Relena?s revenge.
---

?There is a challenge in the air tonight,? Mueller said to Dorothy as he brought her the nightly glass of wine his captain preferred. Being Italian, it was red, and she tossed back the first few gulps like water.

Dorothy smiled at his words, relishing the taste of her drink. ?I feel it as well, and here it is welcomed. I?ll bet the Navy?s out by now. Milliardo wouldn?t trust them, but the government always manages to get involved in everything somehow or other.? She mocked a sigh. ?They crowd the water.?

?Yet they make for interesting competition,? an underling named Otto pointed out. ?However unimpressive they are.?

?And they are unimpressive. That?s why I dislike them so much,? said Dorothy matter-of-factly. ?They bore me to tears. I scarcely understand why a soldier is so desirable in society. Status is important, I?ll say, but a man should never be dull if you?re going to spend the rest of your life with him.?

?Well-said, Dorothy,? grinned Alex. ?You can marry me instead.?

The pirates of the Belladonna laughed and snorted. Dorothy joined them, but she raised a brow at Alex. ?I would have you become a very rich gentleman first, and then I?d kill you in the night and be your rich widow.?

?Sounds tempting,? Alex joked. ?Baptist or Catholic church??

More laughing roared around and Dorothy shook her head. ?Arguing with you makes my head hurt. Mueller, have we neared Yuy?s ship??

?Two days,? Mueller said, emphasizing with his index and middle fingers held up. ?Only that, and we shall be upon them. To get your cousin?s princess and get our booty.?

?A very pretty booty.? Dorothy tilted her head to the side. ?I hope they haven?t killed her. I don?t s?pose I?d be very patient with a pampered little doll like Peacecraft. Can?t figure Yuy has been either.?

?Have you ever met him?? someone asked.

?Heard the stories from a friend o? his. A long time ago, in Barbados. It was a passing moment, when he paid for my drink.? She held up her wine glass in salute to the pleasant memory. ?I respect him for that. Free drinks taste much better.?

?That means are your drinks are like heaven!?

Dorothy grinned. ?Indeed.? She loved her ship. She loved her crew. And she loved her wine.

Two days, she thought. Then she would meet Heero Yuy and the gall-full crew of the Ivory Damsel. She would have to see how Italian hearts fared against British ones.

She wasn?t worried at bit.

---

Heero was just spreading out his two blankets for the night when Relena came into the kitchen. He paused just as he was pulling the top blanket over his bare-chested self. ?Good evening,? he said. He hadn?t seen her all day. After the previous night, he?d needed a break from her again.

Relena stared. In front of the small glowing fire, he looked so?vulnerable. She was surprised. He couldn?t have stayed very warm, lying there. The polite lady inside her felt apologetic for taking his bed, whether he had insisted on it or not.

?I was looking for Catherine,? she told him, altering the truth slightly.

Heero smirked. ?You were looking for dinner, were you not??

Relena?s cheeks tinted with pink that couldn?t be blamed on the fire. ?I didn?t come because I?was watching the sunset.?

He blinked, interested. She?d either taken dinner early or late because she had wanted to watch the sunset. It was as though she was obsessed with them. Just how much of nature?s glory was blocked off from her in London life?

?You?ve not seen a sun go to sleep before?? he questioned slowly.

She scowled at him for the insinuating tone in his voice. She wasn?t daft. ?Of course I?ve seen it, but in the city? It?s not like it is here.?

?It can?t be,? Heero stated. ?In the city, you?ve your buildings and your people. They hide the beauty of it.?

She wrapped her arms around her waist. ?It is beautiful.?

?Aye.? He stood up again and ignored how it made him just a little nervous to see her eyes move to the contours of his bared stomach. She brought them back of to his face quickly, however, and he relaxed. ?I?ll heat you your stew,? he said. Cathy had left it for her on the table. Taking the bowl, he placed it on the floor close to the fire.

?Thank you,? Relena murmured. ?I wanted to ask you. When my brother comes for me?will you hurt him??

Heero met her eyes quickly. The question had set him off guard. Sure this woman knew nothing of violence. ?If he attempts to hurt me,? he answered bluntly. ?Will he??

Her eyes lowered and she folded her hands over the skirt of her ridiculously thick dress. ?I do not know. He is not a normally ill-intentional person. If he does?it would be because he only wants me back.?

?He?ll get you back,? Heero assured her. ?For the right price.?

Her eyes narrowed. ?It is truly despicable that you believe when can be priced.?

He shrugged. ?Not just women. I could have kidnapped that bony fianc?e of yours and gotten much more money from all of England. That scale was just too large for my liking.? It was a lie, but at least she wouldn?t be able to tell the difference. People didn?t lie to her often enough.

Relena took a deep breath. So what if he looked vulnerable there before the fire? That wouldn?t make her like him any more. ?I think my judgment of you is progressing,? she informed him.

He scoffed as thought she had told a joke. ?When you make the decision, I hope you?ll tell me what it is. Ruthless barbarian or humble pirate?? He scowled at the flames.

She hesitated. He had said the first two words with such bitterness. It suddenly reoccurred to her that Yuy was Asian. Had that had any unappealing affects on him before? How curious?

She suddenly felt something warm shoved into her hands and jumped. The stew steamed invitingly, a cool-handled fork provoking her touch as it protruded from the broth. ?Thank you,? she said again.

Manners, Heero noted. Manners very close to perfect. ?Drink up. In my chamber, right??

Stubborn and disliking his tone, Relena spun on her heel, prepared to take her meal back to his rooms, but then she stopped. ?What you did is not easily forgivable,? she told him. ?You took me from a place I did not wish to be taken from.?

?I did.?

Relena sighed. ?Your honesty is not particularly admirable.?

Heero grinned. ?Neither is your modesty.?

She glared. ?Goodnight, Captain Yuy.?

?Goodnight, Miss Peacecraft.? As he listened to her footsteps storm out, he lay down and pretended her chilling tone didn?t freeze him.

Back in his bedroom, Relena shook her head at him behavior. His kidnapping of her was not easily forgivable by any means. But?

Her shoulders sagged. Why did she feel like she was starting to forgive him anyway?

-----------------------------------------------

Review please!

[Elyn Yuy]

Wow!!! I like this fic even more!!!!

Write more please!!!

Elyn Yuy

[Morrighan]

Ooh..... This me like. It's getting very involved and the intrigue is just so much fun to watch.

Can't wait to see more, GG!

[Gundam Girl]

Thanks for reading, guys!

[Eienvine]

As always, this is a brilliant fic and I love it. I think your characterizations of everyone are really spot-on, very fanon (do people use that word around here?). Update soon!

[lilac310]

It took you so long to post this one but I guess, that's ok 'cuz it's absolutely worth it.....this story is wonderfully progressing.....I just can't wait to see some "lip action" between Heero and Relena. ...I mean, it's quite obvious that he is attracted to her

..Keep writing!!!!!

[Gundam Girl]

Hey, guys! Kinda impatient aren't you?

Lilac: Um, it's been SIX CHAPTERS!

GG: Hehe, ok. Thanks for reading! I'm glad you think this is a good fic. ^_^

[lilac310]

Hey, guys! Kinda impatient aren't you?

Lilac: Um, it's been SIX CHAPTERS!

GG: Hehe, ok. Thanks for reading! I'm glad you think this is a good fic. ^_^

ummm...yea..it's been 6 chapters already but still no kissing scene!!!...WAHH!!... ..heh..did i miss something?...anyways, this is really awesome...you definitely have to write faster and post chapter 7 sooner..I'm really excited as to what's gonna happen..

[Gundam Girl]

lol, this is kind of the "for fun" fic, so a couple others are my priorities. But I'm trying to get this one out fairly quickly. I promise, chapter 7 will NOT disappoint you. And why? Because there's PLOT PROGRESSION.

Readers: Ooooh...

[Aristale Wolf]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!! i luv it even more than when i first started to read it....poor Heero and Relena (shakes head) will they ever figure themselves out??? curious how quatre and zechs plan to kill mr yuy.....cant wait for the rest...hope its soon...