Upper Class 8/?

[Gundam Girl]

Wow, this has been out of action for a while, hasn?t it? And I know I left you all at a cliffhanger last night, something I?m deeply sorry for. Things are definitely getting hectic with the holidays coming up, but I hope you all can manage to stick with me. You?re such wonderful readers, and, as you know, there?s always room for a little GW fiction.

Note: More ?Full Metal Panic!? sightings. Kurz made supporting character!

Disclaimer: Ah, the necessary ?me no own.? Oh, look, there it was.

Upper Class ? Chapter Eight

By Gundam Girl

Heero was furious. Since when on the planet God had made did his guard leave him? Never, not even in his sleep. There was always a pistol under his bloody pillow. There was one in his back pocket now, but with his palms pressed to the back of his skull, there was no way he could reach it.

When the woman with the long, yellow hair had looked at him with her dagger held to Relena?s throat, the first thing he had felt was instant loathing; the next was coldhearted fear for the woman being threatened at this very second, and the third was desperation for any kind of plan that could be accessible to him. Since he couldn?t think of anything, he went back to loathing.

?Who,? he said lowly, ?in the seven seas are you?? His voice could have scratched the heads of diamonds.

The woman smiled, but it was Duo that spoke up from his chair beside Heero?s. ?Dorothy Catalonia,? he murmured, ?Captain of the Belladonna. She?s from Italy.?

?Well, obviously,? Trowa gritted out between his teeth. Like the rest, his hands were also to his head, as Dorothy had commanded, but his arms were so long that he was having trouble not hitting Cathy in the head with his elbow.

?Come for the lady, eh, Captain?? Wufei snarled. ?With dishonorable methods, no less.?

Dorothy tossed her hair over her shoulder, but her weapon-occupied hand remained steady. ?Well, Mr. Chang, I decided that since bargaining was probably not an option, a surprise assault would be best. Besides, are you going to be a hypocrite and tell me that your way of taking her from Governor Winner?s house was any less dishonorable??

Wufei?s eyes were slits as he glared at her. ?I do so despise sarcastic women.?

?Fortunately,? the Italian pirate said, ?I don?t give a damn what you may despise.? She smiled cordially at Relena. ?Shall we be off then, Miss Peacecraft? I?ve an agenda, you understand.?

Relena was suddenly forced to her feet by a tug Dorothy gave on her arm. Her other arm was suddenly seized by a man with short, brown hair, and she reflectively attempted to yank herself away to no avail. She noted that there were several other men moving in around the Ivory Damsel?s crew?s table, all of them holding revolvers out, aiming at one of them. One of them, a blond who wore glasses, looked particularly ready to shoot, given the chance.

She jerked her head around to face Dorothy. ?Just what do you intend to do with me??

Dorothy?s smile was cunning. ?You, Miss Relena, are just like a beautiful gem ? a diamond, a pearl, or maybe, in this case,? she said, spying Quatre?s ring on her finger, ?an emerald. My job is to take you back to your original owner. So, there is no hope of me selling you.?

?To the governor?? gasped Hilde from her seat. ?After we just spent all this time??

?Not Winner,? grinned Dorothy. ?But if I told you who, then where would the mystery be in this little adventure? Past adventure,? she corrected. ?For it seems the story is closing.? She began to back away, Relena in tow. But she stopped near the door of the pub.

?And one more thing. Captain Yuy,? she called. Heero?s eyes had never left them, and she nodded in recognition. ?I must thank you for taking care of the future governor?s wife for me. I do hope you won?t miss her too much.? Dorothy had already figured out that the man was completely dumbstruck by the girl.

?I will chase you,? Heero growled out. ?And when I catch you, you will pay for this treachery.?

?Sticks and stones, Captain. From one pirate to another, let me just tell you.? Dorothy motioned to another man, and he and Muller carried Relena out ahead of her. ?You?re going to need some new sails. Just some advice.?

?Damn you!? Trowa exclaimed, but he was only responded to with a bubbly little laugh as the female sea captain followed her men outside. When the rest of Dorothy?s crew had gone, and the rest of the land men that she had hired to aim at Heero?s crew had run out and away, he stood up. ?Well, let?s go after her, straightaway!?

?You heard her, didn?t you?? grumbled Wufei. ?They?ve destroyed our sails. Probably tore the bitch out of them with their bloody daggers.?

?So we?re just going to sit here?? demanded Trowa, who was never for just sitting. ?We?re going to make no plan at all?? He looked toward his captain. ?Heero!?

Heero was staring at the door and continued to do so more the course of nearly ten seconds. Then the Japanese man surged to his feet and grabbed his beer mug. He hurled it against the wall, listening to the shattering of glass and then did the same to Hilde?s. He paced, fisting his hair, while his crew and half the pub?s guests watched in awe. The cool, collected Heero Yuy, captain of the Ivory Damsel, was throwing a fit.

?God damn it! Damn me!? He kicked over a chair. ?Why did I just? How the hell did they? Argh! Relena!? He threw aside a table, startling a group of waitresses in the corner.

?Calm down, Heero!? exclaimed Catherine, hurrying to his side and laying her hands on his shoulders to massage them and encourage him to relax. It didn?t really work, but at least he stopped the destruction. ?We?ll get her back! We will!?

?But our sails,? Duo began, silencing when Hilde sent him a withering look.

?We can replace the sails in four hours,? Sally offered. ?We just made good money today, we?ll buy sails here and??

?The sails here are shit,? Heero growled, ?and you know it. And in four hours they?ll be long gone.?

?With that attitude,? Catherine reprimanded, ?they?re already gone. No, right now, they?re barely out of port. What if a few of us sneak onto their ship??

?It?ll never work,? spoke up Wufei. ?It?s not like they won?t be expecting something like that.?

Hilde looked sadly at her fingers, interlocked on top of the table in front of her. ?Where?where d?you think they?ll be goin??? she asked quietly. ?With Relena? They just refreshed here, so they won?t really be needing to for awhile. And we at least know they?re heading back for England.?

?At lot of good that does us,? Trowa sighed. ?Considering all of the routes back to England. They?d never have been able to lock onto us if we didn?t stop here at Diablo.?

Duo shook his head, rising. ?Well, for now, Heero.? He looked out the nearest window. ?It looks like we?re going to have to settle for shit sails until we can get somewhere that has better-than-shit sails.? He looked at his best friend in a way a dog might look at his owner who had just tripped and fallen down. ?If Catalonia does take Relena back to Winner,? he said, ?would it really be all that horrible? I mean, I know we could?ve gotten a ransom for her and everything, but honestly?she wasn?t really the ransom type, ya know? Okay, so she?s a soft-foot, but I really think that was changing. Maybe she?d be better off with the governor, because, well,? he finished in a whisper, ?she would never have been able to stay with us.?

Heero gazed at the candle on their table, but instead of seeing the flickering light, he saw Relena?s face; the smile she had been wearing as she had looked out over the moon-covered sea with him. How he had stood there on his deck, watching her as she had reveled in the moonlight as much as he had reveled on her beauty under it. He had seen that expression on so many people; sea-lovers, his crew, people that were simply born to live on the sea?

But she wasn?t. She couldn?t possibly be, he reminded himself. She was a noblewoman, and not just by birth. How could Relena ever bring herself to stay with him? With them, he mentally corrected himself. With?on the sea. Damn.

?Heero,? voiced Sally quietly, ?you don?t? I mean, you really don?t??

Not being able to stand being in anyone?s company, least of all his friends, the people that knew him, Heero broke away from the group. With the thought of not seeing Relena smile again like that fresh in his mind, he ached horrible. He hated it; the aching, the fact that she was gone.

The fact that he might very well be in love with her.

---

Gaulron stood on deck with a glass of port in one hand, a map in the other, and several thoughts scurrying through his high-browed head. They were making quite good time. They had passed the baron?s and governor?s ship almost a full day ago, and they were approaching Diablo quickly (however, Gaulron himself did not know this, as no one in the Navy was aware of it and Gaulron himself was not familiar with the Caribbean). The pleasure was that he could enjoy strikingly good British wine while he went on this too-easy operation.

What on earth had Khushrenada so hyped-up about finding Governor?s fianc?e anyway? The more he thought about it, the more Gaulron rejected the possibility of Treize being simply concerned about Winner?s pride. He wouldn?t send the whole Navy out for something like that. There was more, he was sure of it.

But, he thought with a small sigh, that wasn?t exactly his place to stick his nose in. With any luck, he?d find out from Khushrenada when he returned with Relena or would figure it out on his own before then. For now, Gualron was satisfied with the hunt.

Within the hour, he was one his second glass of port and was looking at a very peculiar line of rocks. How could there be a formation like that in such deep water? There would have to be a shore somewhere nearby, but there were no islands on the map or in Gaulron?s vision.

Scratching at his scalp below his dark hair, he called out to the captain of the ship. ?I want to see what that is,? he pointed.

The captain, a grumpy man name Septum with quite the dry attitude, snorted at him. ?I have no intention of veering off the course you set for me, Mr. Gaulron.? The formal title gave away the contempt the Englishman held for the Russian.

?Heh.? With a smile that could have been cut from sin itself, Gaulron used his swinging gait to walk slowly to Captain Septum. When close to him, he held up his empty wineglass. ?Isn?t it funny, though, Captain?? He tipped the glass back and forth, letting the sunlight reflect from it in different ways. ?That Mr. Khushrenada hired me to plan this course, which implies that he also has given me the freedom to alter it in any way I may see necessary.? Without a flinch, he gripped the wineglass harder and harder until it shattered, sprinkling in bits of what looked like broken light to the ship deck. ?Wouldn?t you agree?? he asked, grinning.

Septum?s eyes narrowed. ?Very well,? he admitted, undeniably intimidated by the Russian mercenary. ?We shall detour for now. Swing starboard!? he called to the helm man. ?You have an hour, Mr. Gaulron.?

As Septum moved away again, Gaulron smirked at his back. ?Thank you,? he said in Russian, ?Captain.?

---

?Sir, are you sure you don?t want to rest?? A servant brought onto the ship for the single purpose of seeing to Quatre Raberba Winner?s comfort glanced worriedly at the governor. ?You haven?t gotten a proper amount of sleep in three days. Even the baron has managed to??

?No,? Quatre said to him tersely, then amended with a gentler, ?No, thank you. I?m quite well.?

The servant could have disagreed easily, but wisely held his tongue and gave a simple bow before moving away to safety from the concerned aristocrat?s rage, which he knew could swell and boil at any moment, as he had proved numerous times throughout this ?voyage.?

?No change, I see,? Milliardo said as he came to Quatre and sat with him. Quatre interpreted his words as meaning their situation on finding Relena (the thought of which made his fingers clench the smooth wood of the ship), but was actually referring to his friend?s state of mind. ?Shall you stay awake for the whole of our time here??

?I may. Sleeping makes me feel guilty,? he admitted. ?Sitting around on a sea ship just doesn?t make me think we?re really searching as hard as we can for her.?

Milliardo frowned, running his fingers through his long, light hair. ?But when she was captured and taken by see??

?I understand my reasoning is mistaken,? Quatre said softly, glancing out at the water that just kept on rushing by them from below. ?Perhaps I?ve gone mad, my friend.?

?Perhaps you have.? Relena?s older brother shrugged. ?I?ll not blame you. But if I do have to have you locked up, your fortune will already be Relena?s. Fight the insanity, will you? She?d never have any idea what to do with all that money.?

His attempt at lightening Quatre?s mind did not work, and the governor seemed even gloomier. ?We?d have to actually be married for that to happen. As things stand right now, I don?t think that?s ever going to happen.?

?All right.? Shoveling his hands through his hair, Milliardo stomped a foot. ?I have had it with this. With your sniveling ? for Christ?s sake, Quatre! Relena?s a big girl! I am her brother, and my worry for her pains me more than words describe, but you?re a fool!? He turned and paced, only to come back and glare at the younger man. ?You love her??

Quatre?s brows lowered. ?Yes.?

?Then stop thinking so negatively. Think, instead, how nicely you?ll treat her when we get her back. And we will. I just?? Weariness creeping up on him like dawn creeps up on the night, he leaned against the mast adjacent to them. ?I just don?t know how. There?s been no signs of the Ivory Damsel. We can?t kill Yuy if we can?t bloody find him!?

The governor and the baron stared each other down, two desperate men fretting over the well-being of the same woman, their point of views different, but their love identical. They barely noticed the tall man that approached them in the moments of silence.

?My lords??

Quatre glanced to his right and saw a man who appeared to be about twenty, not far younger than Quatre. His respectful attitude did not fit his appearance; he looked on the wild side, even in the expensive clothes he wore. His hair was dark blond; it reached his shoulders and was tied back in a short ponytail that fell between his shoulder blades. His eyes were bright and blue and told a joke without saying any words. What words he might have had would come from the perfectly straight, white-toothed mouth that was currently grinning at the two of them.

?I could not but help overhear how troubled the two of you seem to be,? the youth continued. ?If I am to make myself useful, it should be by attending the men in charge of this operation, should it not?? He chuckled lightly; obviously, a secret was being kept, and the young man enjoyed keeping it.

Quatre looked disdainfully at him; he looked very informal, whether he was well-dressed and well-mannered or not. ?What could you do to help us??

?First,? cut in Milliardo, ?perhaps you can tell us who you are, exactly, sir, and why you have come to be on this particular ship.?

?Of course! Excuse me,? he apologized. ?My name is Kurz Webber,? he said with a bow. ?I hope you?ll not think me too forward for speaking out of place like this.?

?I?m afraid out of the sea, there?s no one to gossip to about you,? Quatre muttered.

?Well, then, all the better! Kurz Webber,? he repeated, his voice shaking the slightest bit with nervousness, ?and I?m training to be a Naval soldier. I was suggested to come here with you gentlemen, prove my worth. If we succeed, there will be very good words said for me.? He bowed to them.

?Webber,? said Quatre, trying the unfamiliar surname. ?You are called as a German is, yet your accent is quite British.?

?Yes, sir. When my parents immigrated to England, I had not yet been born. I was about two months from it, in fact.?

?I know of you,? Milliardo said, his face now filled with recognition. ?The Webbers of Stratford. They?re the richest non-British people in the country.?

?Well,? Kurz laughed, ?they moved to London a few weeks ago, actually, but yes. I was lucky to have a wealthy upbringing.?

?All right, enough,? Quatre interrupted shortly, his patience dulling. ?You were bold enough to imply that we have a need of you. Now, please tell us what that need could be, precisely.?

?Very well. I suppose I should be quite forward then?? At the aristocrats? permitting nods, Kurz went on, ?My bloodline dates back many, many generations, sirs. In the very late 1600s, my however-many-greats-grandfather was a successful pirate around Europe. My father has kept his journals, for his wrote often on his ship.? Kurz?s grin had returned now that his nerves had settled. ?He spoke of an island, my lords, one for business and commerce just between pirates and thieves. By the Spanish it is called Diablo, or ?demon.? It is supposedly quite near here. Captain Yuy has been sailing for a long while now,? Kurz suggested, ?and would it be completely na?ve to think that this island my grandfather spoke of is not a myth??

At their skeptical looks, Kurz rushed on, ?I could show you where it is, sirs! It is uncharted, naturally, but even if I had a regular map, I could show you what coordinates it would be located at.?

?Are you saying we should believe in a fairytale?? asked Milliardo irritable, although his tone was not entirely mistrustful.
?I?m asking you to open your minds, my lords,? Kurz replied. ?Just?a chance. This military could praise me for the rest of my life for this!? he exclaimed.

Quatre stared at Webber through bleary eyes. ?At this point,? he said to Milliardo, ?I?m quite willing to try anything.?

Milliardo sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. ?Very well. Mr. Webber, you may tell Mr. Quinze exactly what you have told us. Even he has any objects, tell him I order him to speak with me.? With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the German man, and he rushed off. They could hear his loud whoop of delight when he thought they were not in earshot.

?Is this wise?? Quatre asked rhetorically.

Probably not, Milliardo thought. But this was the limit. If this ?plan? didn?t bear fruit?it was quite possible that they would be returning to England empty-handed; Quatre without a wife, but he without a sister.

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

Review please!

[Morrighan]

Ooh.... I gotta say that Dorothy sure knows how to stall pursuit.

Heero threw a hissy fit. WOW. And to think that I can actually see him doing that....

Can't wait to see more, nessie!

[Gundam Girl]

Thanks! Ya know what sucks? I finally have an update ready and FFN's document manager is down. One word? FIGURES.

[teardropdangel]

WOOOHOOOO!!! I finally finished reading all the previous chapters.
What can I say? Beautiful. :razz:

Oh and .....*wailing* why Trieze? I was really beginning to like him.

[Gundam Girl]

Because Treize is the Gundam Wing bad guy. And though it is not so in every one of my fics, he's starting to become a very enjoyable villain for me.

Treize: Indeed. Treize, Treize, I am Treize.

Uh...yeah. :razz:

[lilac310]

awesome..keep posting!!!..I hope Heero gets her back soon!

[Gundam Girl]

So does Heero. *hugs*

[J Alberghini]

Ooh, an update! So many new chapters out this week by people, and it's not even Christmas yet. Great chapter, but poor Heero. Can't wait to see what happens next!

[Gundam Girl]

Yup. Poor Heero. This renews my membership in the Heero Torture Club.

[Aristale Wolf]

how could u do that to me again after all u've put me through!!!! ggggggrrrrrrr!!!!! neway still waiting for the next excellent chpater of this magnificent fic... hoping for it soon.....luv ya!!!!!