Catherine scowled still gazing out the window.  She could have sworn that was the same statue they passed half an hour ago.  The redhead lifted her fingers tracing the outline of the erected figure on her window before shifting once more.  Trowa wasn’t a good travel companion.  Her eyes flickered to his determined figure hunched over the wheel.  They should have arrived at their destination, where-ever it was, hours ago. 

 

    “Are you sure you don’t want to stop for directions, again?”  She questioned adjusting the station on the radio. 

 

    “I doubt they’ve changed since we last received them.”  He dryly replied glancing at the wrinkled paper secured to the dashboard by one of Catherine’s knives.  Trowa’s eyes scanned over his slightly unwilling companion, as he stopped at the red light, wondering once more where she hid the numerous blades. 

 

    “At least they might not tell you to drive in the wrong direction on an one-way road.”  Cathy shot back wishing the car had an air conditioner again.  “Where are we headed?”

 

    “It’s a surprise.”  Trowa answered, as a ghost of a smile haunted his lips.  If there was one thing Catherine Bloom hated more than being forced in a car with a broken a/c and sharing it with the very person she was running away from was a surprise.  She scowled glaring at him, obviously not finding it amusing.  The smile increased.  The titan-haired female shifted back in her seat, crossed her arms stubbornly across her chest, and compressed her mouth in a thin line. 

 

        1…2…3…

 

    “Where did you say we were going?”

 

    “I didn’t.”  The smile was evident as he made a sharp left. 

 

    “Oh…” 

 

        1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10…

 

    “Are you sure you’re reading the directions right?”  She tried again.  Fat chance I’m letting you discover our destination that way Catherine, Trowa thought before mumbling a ‘yes’. 

 

    She shifted in her seat as curiosity and not towards the surprise, more to how Trowa would react.  She squirmed as it started to get a hold of her.  A small giggle escaped her lips before she could stop it.  Swiftly making a plan she waited until the next red-light.  Once the car was at a complete stop she unbuckled her seatbelt and threw open the car door.  The motion took Trowa by surprise as she darted out weaving between the parked cars and disappearing in-between the clean (and a few not so clean) hoods.  

 

His fist hit the dashboard leaving a reasonable sized dent, just big enough to hold his cup, before he swerved out of traffic.  The instant the light was green and parked in front of a small café.  Catherine was in for it now. 

 

    Twice she ran away.

 

    Twice he was heading after her. 

 

    This would be the last time…

 

    Hopefully.

 

 

 

    Catherine chewed the bottom of her lip as she thought about her dilemma.  If Trowa couldn’t find her, his next action would be to either check the cameras or bring in back up.  Back up would consist of Quatre at the least.  Back up she couldn’t allow him to bring in.  Dorothy would suffice as a diversion, that blonde had more tricks up her sleeves than a magician did.  So she would call Dorothy and the basement route, void of cameras, that she had used at the last store should throw him off her trail for a while.   

 

    At least she gave him fair warning…

 

“That’s why I left and why I’ll continue to.”

 

    Was that supposed to be a warning to him?  Trowa briefly wondered as checked the street again.  According the salesman on duty a redhead bearing the same description of Cathy passed through.  He mentioned the strange request she made to go through the basement after buying the large concealing hat.  She was trying to throw him off her trail, but it wouldn’t work. 

 

He warned her as well…

 

    “Then you’ll know why I’ll keep following.”

 

Was that his warning in return?  She wondered swirling the dark chocolate liquid in her mug.  I hope he’s not mad at my little test.  “It’s a shame I just can’t tell him everything…” 

 

“You could try.”  Cathy’s head shot up as she jerked upright in her chair almost falling over in the process.  There stood, in all his handsome glory, Trowa Barton, Gundam pilot, brave bull’s eye, persistent protector, troublesome tracker, and…

 

and her friend. 

 

She suddenly realized Trowa was her friend.  He might not always be there for her or extremely talkative, but he was still her friend.  While she was being extremely childish.  Why was she running away?  Because she didn’t want to face him and admit that she was close to him.  She didn’t want to admit that the drop-dead-gorgeous man standing in front of her had secured a large portion of her heart. 

 

Catherine Bloom shared her emotions, her news, her friendship, and even her life, but she had never let a chunk of heart slip out of her iron-clad-grip.  Somehow it had.  Somehow Trowa managed to win part of her heart… and it frightened her. 

 

“I’m scared.”  She bowed her head staring at the liquid.  The chair in front of her scraped against the linoleum.  He remained silent listening to every breath she made, watching every shudder that passed through her fragile frame, and waiting for her to enlighten him.  “I’m not in control.  I keep myself armed to the teeth so I can keep in control.  I learned how to throw and spent hours perfecting it so I could be in control.  I left Earth because it was unpredictable… it wasn’t under control.  Of all the things in my life, you’ve been the most constant.”  She paused before continuing. 

 

“And I hate you for it.”  He was startled at her last words.  She just confided that she wanted control, for things to be constant, but ‘hated’ him for being dependable.  “I hate that you’re always there silently watching, I hate that you never change, I hate that you stay locked away, but still close by.”  The redhead spat out angrily.   

 

“What happened?  What brought upon this sudden need for control?”

 

“The usual.  Death.”  

 

“Death?”

 

“You were gone when it occurred.  She fell…  and landed right in front of me.  It was horrible Trowa.”  Catherine took in a deep breath as she let her head fall against the cold tabletop.  Her voice was barely audible.  “Her legs broke…  the bone was sticking out… and her face…” Shudders shook her shoulder in a never ceasing wave of movement.  “It was twisted with so much pain as she bled, and bled, and bled.  She never stopped bleeding.  Even when she was dead it still kept coming out.” 

 

“The tightrope walker?”  Catherine’s breath was growing faster and shallower as she attempted to continue.

 

“I…I couldn’t do anything…  She kept bleeding and I tried to help her.  She kept pleading with me, begging for me to stop the pain, but I couldn’t.” 

 

“Sshh…” A large hand clumsily settled on her head patting the red locks in an awkward attempt at comfort.        

 

“You weren’t at the funeral either.  They had an open casket and I was expected to say a few words, but I couldn’t.  All I could do was stare at the face… the face of my friend…  The same face that only a day before had been filled with so much pain and covered with blood…  They… the doctors… told me later there was nothing I could have done.  They said that the bone had… had ripped open several arteries when it broke...  Too many ruptures to stop the blood flow…” The words suddenly ceased as she wrapped her arms around her body as if she were freezing. 

 

“Why didn’t you tell me?”  He whispered still patting the curls. 

 

“When you came back from the trip you were so relaxed.  You appeared so calm, calmer than I’ve ever seen you.  It wasn’t right to bring up a death and destroy that.  You were calm and in control.  Always so calm.”  The shudders slowed down only shaking her form sporadically.   

 

“And while I was so calm you were ripping apart your inside with grief over her.”  His voice turned harsh and cold.  “Don’t you ever do that again.” 

 

“I tried to tell you once or twice when it got too bad.”

 

“Why didn’t you?”  

 

“You rarely talked with your mouth so I grew used to looking at your eyes instead.  All I saw was the disapproval.  That silent disapproval.”

 

“And that’s why you decided to run away?  Catherine, I don’t think you ever looked into my eyes.” 

 

“What?!  But why would…”

 

“Look at me Catherine.”  The titan-haired female shook her head hiding her face in the table.  “Look.”  The hand in her hair drifted down to her chin forcing her head up.  Red surrounded lavender eyes as tousled hair settled down making her look like a drowned puppy.  “Now what do you see in my eyes?” 

 

Emerald eyes focused on her own refusing to relent. 

 

“I see confusion, anger, and pain.” 

 

“How strange for,” his second hand smoothed her brow the cool skin of his fingers calming her down.  “I don’t feel any of those.”  

 

“But I see them.”  She insisted baffled.

 

“I see them as well, on your face.  Look again Catherine.”  She did so still feeling slightly mixed up.  As usual she spotted the same emotions tumbling around in those green orbs.  “Keep looking.  I think you were looking at the reflection of your own eyes in mine.”

 

After a few minutes the redhead gasped jerking backwards.  Concern and sorrow jumped out at her demanding her undivided attention.  Concern and sorrow for her.  She tore her own eyes away missing the last emotion, the strongest one as the female was too ashamed of her own actions. 

 

“I’m sorry Trowa.” 

 

“I know.  Ready to go?” 

 

“Not home.”

 

“No, not home today.”

 

 

 

Chapter 16

 

Catherine draped the towel around her neck before exiting the bathroom.  She took a seat on the couch as Trowa arranged a variety of small white boxes containing food on the table before carefully running a comb through the damp curls untangling the tendrils.  With her free hand she scrolled through the channels before finding the news. 

 

/ “I’m standing in the very spot where no more than a few hours ago the former Vice-Foreign-Minister was treated to a tongue bath by the…” The reporter paused glancing down at his paper before continuing.  “Head of Security, Heero Yuy.”  Catherine’s comb clattered to the floor.  “We are not yet informed as to what their status is, but after the expressive display during the waltz I am confident they do not maintain a merely business relationship.”/

 

Warm fingers ran through her hair holding a section secure before the comb slowly worked it’s way up to her scalp.  She shot Trowa a surprised questioning glance out of the corner of her eye.  He ignored it continuing silently as the reporter rambled on. 

 

/ “I was able to interview an eyewitness earlier, Phillip Constance.  Can we roll the tape, please?” 

 

Another image covered the previous one.  This one had a tall redhead speaking to the reporter. 

 

“I’m not sure as to what Yuy is up to, but he’s a violent one I tell you.  He threatened to kill me right there on the dance floor, he did.  Told me to take my rotting paws off Miss Relena and that I’d never see the inside of any building she happened to be again.  That bas…”  Phillip was cut off hastily by the reporter.

 

“There you have folks.  This Heero Yuy is a terror that has been unleashed in the public.  He terrorizes guests and has been seen forcing the Vice-Foreign-Minister to dance with him.  Would you relate to us the ‘waltz’ Mr. Constance?”

 

“She kept trying to get away, she did.  Struggling and the whole time trying to move backwards, away from the little beast, but he wouldn’t let her.  Just moved closer each time and had a hand on her back to keep her there.  Then a few minutes after he forced her off the dance floor after the waltz I saw her running desperately trying to get away from him.  She didn’t make it.  He just picked her up and slung her over his shoulder before disappearing.”    

 

“What has the world come to?”  The reporter questioned in an appalled voice.  “Surely she had someone that could stop this… this kidnapping and abuse.”

 

“I’m afraid not.  The whole security force is controlled by Yuy.  It seems Miss Relena put her trust in the wrong person.” 

 

“No one has seen the Vice-Foreign-Minister not even her own brother knows where she could be.  If you have seen or know where she could be please call 961-452-8932.  Ternati out.” 

 

The image flickered before a brunette appeared seated behind a long blue desk in the studio. 

 

“Ternati, I assume that her brother is heading the search. So..”

 

“Actually, when we found him he was frolicking in a pond with a strange violet-haired female.  At first both were concerned, but as soon as the name Heero Yuy was mentioned he said, ‘That my sister is in good hands.  Heero would never harm her.’  His companion and himself refused to listen to our reasoning and promptly took off.  No doubt due to their misplaced trust as well.”  /

 

   Catherine leaned back into the comb finding it oddly soothing.  She slowly relaxed her muscles and even sent Trowa a bright smile before her eyes drifted shut.

 

“What do you think really happened?”

 

“With Heero and Relena?”  When there was no answer she took that as a yes and continued.  “He probably gathered his courage and made a move.”  She held up her hand and starting counting off the steps.  “First, he eliminated all obstacles-threatening poor Phillip who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Second, he put her in a position where she couldn’t get away-the waltz.  Third, he said what he needed to say, probably straightforward and in as little words as possible.  There might have been some reluctance from Relena that explains why she tried to get away.  As for the whole kidnapping and abuse, I think that was after she accepted his terms they started flirting.  What do you think?”    

 

“Heero became jealous.”

 

“What makes you say that?”

 

“The threatening.  He saw Phillip moving into his territory...”

 

“Territory?”

 

“The five foot radius around Relena,” Trowa explained before continuing.  “And then re-staked his claim.”  A short silence reigned in the hotel room as Catherine blushed the shade of her hair prompting Trowa to articulate his last five words.  “The kidnapping, tongue bath, and waltz.” 

 

“The kidnapping and the dancing I can see…  but why the tongue bathing?”

 

“This is Heero we’re talking about.”  The titan-haired female laughed the pleasant sound drowning out the newscasters. 

 

“He wanted to make sure that no one misunderstood, right?”

 

“Correct.” 

 

She continued surfing the channels until Trowa froze his fingers stilling in her curls.  Catherine glanced back up at the monitor and blinked.

 

Then her mouth dropped open.

 

/ “That’s right it seems that all though this couple was introduced a week ago they’ve increased in popularity.  Our top third famous couple is Quatre Winner and Dorothy Catalina.  I’m sure our audience is aware that Quatre inherited his father’s company and is now heading it.  Dorothy was spotted at his home on the colony months after the dreadful incident during December with Mariemaya Kushrenda.  It seems that they have relocated to a small house in the suburbs.  I’m afraid we can’t disclose the location, but the two blondes are growing increasingly popular.”

 

“Thank you Marcia.”  The small picture of Quatre and Dorothy disappeared from the top right corner.  “Now as for our second top couple of the week, one of them happens to be related the former Vice-Foreign-Minister, Miss Relena Peacecraft.  Millardo has just recently announced his engagement to Lucrenzia Noin.  We have a picture of them don’t we?”  As soon as the words were spoken an image of Millardo being pushed into the duck pond was shown on the screen.

 

“Apparently, he proposed at the Canadian Goose Preservation Park.  An elderly couple told us that right afterwards a mini water war was started.”  The picture switched to another where Lucrenzia was dropped in the water.  “Another old couple.  Lucrenzia has been seen at several Peacecraft activities with Millardo.  Now as to our top couple…” /

 

“I…I can’t believe…  Are we that out of the loop Trowa?”  Catherine asked caught off guard by the three new declared couples. 

 

“…” 

 

“Trowa?”  Catherine turned around to gauge the other occupant of the room’s reaction…only to discover that she was now the single occupant.  “Quatre and him were always the closest…” She sank back into the seat turning off the monitor.  “Still…I guess I should be going.” 

 

Disappointed and downhearted about Trowa’s sudden disappearance the redhead slowly gathered up her items and stuffed them back in the suitcase.  “Now, I wonder where he parked the car…” She murmured hefting her bags.  “He always did like the back parking spaces.”  The door swung open smoothly.  When the knife-thrower tried to close it, it jammed.  Letting out an irritated puff of breath, she tried again.  No such luck.  It would swing out so far and then stop like something was blocking it.  She ran her eyes along the edge of the door searching for something that would hinder it’s progress.

 

Air…air…air…air…hand… air…air…air…Wait a second, hand?  Lavender eyes moved back to the hand and followed it back to the source.  Hand…wrist…forearm…elbow…shirt…shoulder…neck…Trowa’s face…

 

Nothing out of the ordinary there, Catherine tried closing the door again.  Again, Trowa’s hand stopped her.  He moved closer until his stomach was almost touching her back, so close she could feel the heat radiating off of him. 

 

“I brought you something…”

 

“You did?”  The Gundam pilot had her undivided attention now.  He disappeared to bring her something, and here she thought he went to call Quatre. 

 

“Ever since I first meet you at the circus you were always running around, but I never thought you would actually be running away from me.”  He held up a small charm.  “It’s for your bracelet.” 

 

“Trowa… it’s a cow.”  He frowned down at her. 

 

“Of course it’s a cow.  I picked it out.”

 

“Why did you get me a cow?”

 

“A long time ago people used to practice covenants.  This is the sign of my covenant to you.  That I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”  Catherine smiled up at him almost melting in a pile of sentimental goo.  Once her brain was computing again she held up the charm eyeing it quizzically.    

 

“It’s a cow Trowa.”  He snatched it from as she waved the silver charm in his face.

 

“Catherine I KNOW it’s a cow.  I have eyes.” 

 

“Why did you get me a cow?”

 

“It doesn’t matter just take it.”  He pressed it back into her hands.    

 

“It’s a hamburger on four legs!  Are you saying I should cut back on greasy foods?” 

 

“…”

 

~~~ 

          Catherine leaned back in her well-cushioned car seat as she enjoyed the comfortable silence.  Trowa was driving, he had insisted quite stubbornly on it in fact… did he think she was going to slam the car into a building so his door was pinned and then make a fast get-away? 

 

That just might work…  She acknowledged before shaking her head.  Perhaps not, if I try to run away again Trowa might pull out the handcuffs.  I’d better not risk it.   

 

Catherine’s thoughts wandered again, this time in a different direction.  It was rather weird what Trowa said about Heero’s actions.  The whole staking his claim and making sure all knew.  I wonder if he’s ever done anything like that in the past?  The lavender-eyed female brushed back a stray tendril of hair. 

 

He has been acting a little odd during the whole trip.  Carrying my bags, buying me stuff, and that odd incident at the resturant. 

 

Once both of them had been seated and ordered Trowa took off in the direction of the bathroom, leaving Catherine alone at the table.  Apparently the man at the table next to hers decided it was a great time to make her acquaintance. 

 

So he did just that.     

 

He plopped down in Trowa’s seat and started talking as if they were old friends.  She didn’t mind it too much; he was charming, humorous, and not at all sore on the eyes.  No harm done at all.

 

Trowa didn’t see it that way. 

 

Not even close.

 

The tall acrobat had casually leaned on the table in-between his fellow circus employee and the stranger, Randy Marks, and pulled out his ballpoint pen.  After twirling it around on his fingers, with dexterity that Catherine didn’t know he had, he made his move. 

 

“Did you know there are 75 different ways to kill a man with a pen?”  Trowa’s tone was casual as if he were merely inquiring about the weather. 

 

“No I didn’t.”  Randy replied his blue eyes sparking.  “But I do know twenty-nine ways to murder a man with a fork.”  It was just then that Catherine noted Marks had unrolled his silverware and was gripping the fork in a less-than-friendly manner. 

 

“How interesting.”  She cut in, her silverware had long since been unwrapped and she grasped the tip of the steak blade.  “I may not know several ways to castrate a man, but only one is really needed.  Don’t you agree Mr. Marks?” 

 

Even her emerald-eye companion blanched at that threat. 

 

Needless to say, Randy Marks evacuated their table rapidly. 

 

I don’t understand why he got so defensive.  It’s not like Marks was actually doing anything…  I don’t think I’ll ever understand men.  All that staking their claim, grunting, and stuff, though I suppose that if one had to have a man Trowa’s not a bad one to bag.

 

Not a bad one at all. 

 

Halloween’s in a few days.  I wonder if we could go trick-a-treating.  It’s been years since I’ve been able to have fun on Halloween.

 

 

 

It’s your favorite part of the story!  The infamous Author’s Note!  Now I know you were all waiting so impatiently for this so I made it really long!  Don’t you just love that? 

 

So here it is…  *drumroll sounds*

 

Onitna’s Note!

For those of you wondering about the whole covenant/cow thing allow me to explain.  I didn’t want to add all of this in there because I doubted Trowa would say all of this… 

Back in biblical times (you’ll see a lot of this around Abraham, but Noah’s rainbow is a good example as well) people would enter into covenants with one another.  It was a promise that lasted forever, not even a death would break it.  In fact the Hebrew word that covenant comes from is berith—a solemn binding agreement made by passing through pieces of flesh.  You would walk through the pieces in a circle eight with the flesh inside of the two loops. 

Marriage used to be considered a covenant (before divorces) and it does have the symbolism of walking between the parted flesh when you walk up the aisle.  I used to have a whole list with examples of covenants in everyday life, but I seemed to have misplaced it.  If you would like to know more about this, yes I have more on this subject, just send me an email!

Yes I know I didn’t really wrap things up with Catherine and Trowa yet, but I wanted to put in the other couples some too!  Besides it is realistic that they would be broadcasted.  I’m telling you, the press is everywhere!