Mission
		   LH-chan! 2001

	The water running though the pipes in the wall behind
me thrums loudly in my ears; the sound, the feeling, heightened
by my augmented senses.

	It fails to drown out the thoughts I was _trying_ to
block by concentrating on it.

	Why am I so worried about this?

	It’s just a suicide mission.

	They’re all suicide missions really.

	Is it because it’s his mission?

	Logically, he’s the only one able to complete this
mission.  His Gundam is the only one with stealth capabilities;
the only one able to move with the unnerving silence that he is
always working to perfect.

	Logically, none of the rest of us would survive; where he
can.  As he said:  "This is a mission for Shinigami himself."

	So why am I so worried?

	With a thunk on the other side of the wall, the water in
the pipes stops flowing.  There is a moment of silence before the
water-heater starts running.  I take it all in, as I was trained
to do.  To memorize each sound and image from an area, cataloging
them in my mind for a day when I may need them.
	But the worry still tugs at my mind.

	Distracting.

	Dangerous.

	The door to the bathroom slides open, and Duo steps out
into the main room.  The worry comes to the forefront of my mind
stronger than ever.  For some reason I want to think that his worry
is being channeled into me.  Almost the way Quatre describes the
feeling from his Spaceheart.

	But Duo doesn’t look worried at all.

	"All yours, Heero."  He says with a grin, before turning
toward the small sleeping quarters we’ve been sharing here,
water from his half-braided hair dripping a trail behind him.

	_Or does he look worried?_  Some small voice in the back of
my mind seems to say.

	I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but after a few seconds
I just can’t help myself.  I follow him.

	He glances up when I enter, not really paying attention to
me.  He seems to be trying to finish his braid, which has dripped a
rather large puddle on the floor already.
	"Just getting my laptop.  I need to run a few diagnostics on
Zero."

	Why am I explaining myself to him?

	"Hn..."

	He’s not paying attention to me at all.  He’s focused on
getting a short leather string tied around the base of his braid,
but....  Are his hands shaking?

	It’s a movement that only I would notice, nearly
imperceptible...but they are.

	Could he be that worried about this mission?

	I don’t know why I’m doing this.  It isn’t logical.
	I take a grip on the hem of my shirt, and tear off a small
strip about the length of his leather string.  Then stay his trembling
hands with my own, gently freeing the end of his braid from his grip,
careful not to let it come apart.  He doesn’t move, he just sits with
his mouth hanging open a little.  I tie the strip of my shirt around
the end of his braid with a complicated knot that will not come loose
in battle.
	"H-Heero?"
	I place the end of his braid back in his hand, which doesn’t
seem to be shaking anymore.
	"For luck."  I tell him.

	I don’t know why, I don’t believe in luck.

	I pick up my laptop and leave the room.  I think I really
will go work on Zero, I’ll be able to see him off when he goes.


	Strange...I don’t feel quite so worried now....


			Owari.