A War Worth Fighting Part 34
Late in the evening of what was now being referred to as V-E Day, Howard and Duo touched down in Honolulu. Making a beautiful landing on the runway of one of the local airports, the Blue Gale came to a slow taxi before coming to a rest at the designated 'docking' shed. [1]
When they came to a complete stop, the plane doors opened and her passengers lowered themselves to the ground. The crews working that evening all approached with looks of awe at how a craft in the Gale's shape had even made it off the ground, let alone made it safely down.
Recognizing one of the approaching faces, Howard smiled and nodded to the grinning man, "Good to see you again, Kanoa." He stretched a hand out in greeting.
The tall, slender Hawaiian shook his head in amusement and shook the offered hand in a firm shake. "Always a surprise and a pleasure, Howard," he replied kindly. To what do we owe the honor of having you back in Honolulu?"
Duo neared as he removed the hood of his blue gray sweater. Planning a hand on the braided private's shoulder, the old man introduced, "This is Private Maxwell of the United States Army. He had been a prisoner of war in Japan since this last August. I was hoping you may accommodate us in being able to reach his supervisor so he can be granted permission to return home."
Gasps and sputters from the crew gathered around filled the air as eyes widened and turned to the violet-eyed American. A bit uncomfortable with the attention, Duo cleared his throat and fought a blush on his cheeks. Raising a hand, he waved with a small smirk.
First to recover, Kanoa beamed proudly, "Welcome home, soldier." Extending his hand, he said sincerely, "It is an honor to have you here." All around, heads nodded and members of the crew clapped as a handshake was exchanged.
"Thank you," the private responded quietly, unsure how to really react to the accolade. In the end, his serving his country was nothing special. And it certainly was not anything worth the recognition he was receiving.
Howard came to his rescue by telling his Hawaiian friend, "It's been quite the long day for us. Is the inn and diner that I am used visiting still open? Much as I love flying, I know I won't be able to head back to Japan until I've had some rest."
All too happy to assist, Kanoa nodded, "Yes, they are still open. I can give you a lift there." Waving for his visitors to follow, he led the way from the shed.
Taking hold of his pack, Duo lagged behind Howard. Emotionally and physically drained, he was anxious for that hot meal and a soft bed to lie in.
* * * * * *
Not long after sunrise that following morning, Lady Une was working in her garden to clean out the weeds amongst her blossoming flowers. Every year, she looked forward to seeing her variety of roses, carnations, lilies and lilacs fill her front yard.
It was always like a symbolic rebirth... a staring over.
Just as she was about to wrap up her chore, the young woman watched as the mailman pulled in. Nodding his head to her in greeting, she waved with a pleasant smile before focusing back on her work. Dorothy answered the door as the man stepped on the porch and handed her the letters in his hand. After exchanging a few words of well-wishes, the maid and mailman turned away.
On her way back inside the house, Dorothy sorted through the mail for anything pressing addressed to the Mister and Mrs. of the house.
Looking to the third envelope in the pile, the blonde girl froze with her eyes widening in disbelief. From her limp hands, the rest of the day's mail fell to the floor as she let out a cry.
Jumping at the shrill sound, Lady Une was quickly on her feet and running for the house. On her way up the steps, she removed her soiled gloves and spun her friend to face her. Frightened by the maid's pale complexion, she gasped, "What is it, Dorothy!?"
Zechs charged downstairs from his den where he had been busy working on the Senate's formalities following Germany's surrender. Equally worried after hearing the scream, he looked at the girl anxiously.
Holding up the letter that remained gripped in her hand, Dorothy held it up to her lady. "It's a letter from Duo!" she cried with an elated smile as tears filled her eyes. "I'd know that handwriting anywhere! I know it's from him!"
The breath in her lungs rushing out, Lady Une took up the letter in a rush to scan the envelope. The postmark was dated from over one week prior; sent from Japan without the label marking that it had gone through the channels of the military. It had been sent through standard, civilian mail.
When she looked to the handwriting for her address, there was no mistaking that Dorothy was correct. She also knew her son's handwriting. It was his hand that addressed the letter.
He had written a letter to her almost a week ago.
Feeling lightheaded, the young mother's knees buckled. Quick to support her under an arm, Zechs walked her over to the living room couch and sat her down. Her face was flush both from the exposure and exertion from her work and her overwhelming shock.
"I'll being some cold tea for you to drink," Dorothy quickly offered before turning on her heels and hurrying from the room.
Taking a trembling hand and kissing it, Zechs said softly, "You should have a moment to yourself to read that." With a deep and calming breath, Lady Une smiled to him in appreciation.
Once Dorothy had given her a cool glass to drink from, the politician and maid left her alone. After a quick sip from the tea to help calm her, she quickly opened the envelope flap to remove the pages of folded paper within.
"Mom," she quietly read aloud when she opened the letter. Sniffling, she dried her wet face and continued, "Well, I hope that you haven't been losing too much sleep these last few months over me." Quietly laughing, she shook her head.
Had there been any doubt as to whether Duo was the one who wrote her, that was put to rest. It was just like her boy to start such a note with a lighthearted comment like that. He always had a way of taking any tension away with his humor.
Reading the pages in silence, Lady Une had a brief explanation of some of the things that had happened to him. She learned of how he had been captured during a battle on Leyte in the Pacific. She read of how he was taken to a prison in the city of Muroran.
And then Duo shared his meeting a Japanese sergeant named Heero Yuy during his imprisonment. He told him how they managed to form a friendship and found that they had a great deal in common. Then came the day that this Heero helped him escape and together, they made their way against all odds to get away from Japan.
Her hand on her chest, the young mother panted in anticipation when she read that her son was about to make a trip to Hawaii from where he would be able to return home. He was coming home. Duo was coming home!
The only thing that ended the tears of relief was the request, the plea, her son made at the conclusion of his letter. When she reached his salutation, Lady Une was instantly filled with a determination to see to her boy's request.
Rising to her feet, she ran into the next room where Zechs and Dorothy were waiting. "Duo's alive!" she cheered as she embraced them tightly. "And he is coming home." Handing over the letter to her stunned lover, she nodded her approval for him to read it.
Her own eyes shimmering, the maid threw her arms around her friend. "I knew he was alive!" she laughed. "This is wonderful!" When Zechs was finished reading, he passed the letter onto Dorothy when his lover nodded to him. All too happy to hear from her 'brother,' the girl quickly went through the pages.
Taking the politician's hands in her own, Lady Une frowned in worry, "Is there anything that you will be able to do to see that Heero and his mother will be allowed into the country without any difficulty? We know of the prisons where many of the Japanese community members are being held."
With a wide smile, Zechs reassured, "Consider the situation handled. I will see that they have nothing to worry about when they reach here. Their names will be spread through every check-in point that they would need to reach before entering the country. Considering everything that this young man went through to save Duo, I will be able to easily sway the powers that be in the matter.
"If there are problems, I will go directly to the White House myself to bring the issue before President Truman," he smirked. "After all, President Roosevelt handwrote a letter to you that if there was anything he could do for you, you had to only ask. I believe that something like that would be more than enough to sway Truman should he need to be involved."
At recalling the letter from Roosevelt that she had held onto, Lady Une grinned widely, "Of course. That's brilliant!" Throwing her arms tightly around her lover, she shouted again, "My son is coming home!"
Zechs joined in with her laughter as he picked her up and spun her around. Giggling at the sight they made, Dorothy shook her head in wonder over the news.
Finally, after many long months of not knowing and worrying, they had something to celebrate.
* * * * * *
The following day...
Duo sat patiently in the waiting room in the military base of Honolulu. Following his first night on the island, he immediately reported in so that the head officer there could get hold of his supervisors and the red tape of his return could be handled.
As he sat, all he could think of was Heero. Silently wondering and worrying over his lover, he sighed and ran a hand through his long bangs. Nothing bothered him more than not being able to do anything to help the sergeant.
Much as he looked forward to being able to see his own mother again, Duo could not help but wish that there was a way he could have talked Heero into changing their plans of separating. There was too strong of a likelihood that he was walking right into a trap.
Nearly jumping at the sound of the door suddenly opening, the braided soldier turned to watch Sergeant Trent enter. Smiling to this former POW, the blonde soldier gestured with a hand and said, "You can come in, Private Maxwell."
Quickly rising to his feet, Duo adjusted his uniform that he had always carried around with him before following the man into his office. Taking the seat before the long desk, he subconsciously fiddled with the end of his braid out of habit.
The officer, not much older than the private, grinned, "I'll get right to business. Considering everything that you had been through, there is no interest by any party to have you sent back into service. You are granted an honorable discharge from the army for serving your country proudly and to your fullest."
His nerves instantly settling, Maxwell let out a deep sigh in releasing the breath that he had been holding. If he had been assigned back to duty, he would have done so without question. However, he had seen enough of Japan to last him some time and was anxious to return home.
Nodding his braided head firmly, he smiled, "Thank you, Sergeant Trent." That smile fading, he asked, "And about the other prisoners of war in Muroran?"
Sergeant Trent reassured, "I have passed on the word of the prison and where it can be found. For the time being, we need to wait until we can actually breach Japan's mainland before the men there can be liberated. But we will get to them, thanks to your making us aware of where they can be found. In the meantime, any thought of an air strike around the site has been called off indefinitely."
Relieved at that news, Duo was able to smile once more. At the very least he was able to look out for those other prisoners some how. With the focus on the war shifting entirely on Japan, he doubted the soldiers stationed there would be too preoccupied to give their prisoners a difficult time.
"Still no word of talks over a surrender from Japan?" he heard himself ask.
Frowning, the officer shook his head, "I'm afraid not. From the looks of things, we're going to be in for a long ride with them before there will be any consideration of such talks." With a small smirk, he stated, "But we'll have them. It's just a matter of when."
Trent pushed his chair back to rise to his feet and offered a hand. "No need to salute me, Maxwell," he commented. "From this point on, you are a veteran of the United States Army. I, in turn, salute you for your duty."
A veteran. He was a citizen once again. Duo allowed that to sink in for a moment before taking the hand for a firm shake. "Thank you," he grinned sincerely. "It has been an honor serving my country."
Nodding, the sergeant opened the top drawer of his desk and advised, "I have arranged a seat for you in one of our military planes returning to the States later this afternoon." He handed over an official clearance pass, he explained, "Give this to the pilot as it will give him the instructions to make his final drop off to your base in Montana. You'll be escorted home from there."
Just the realization of how close he was to being back in Montana nearly had the private trembling in anticipation.
Leaning forward, he shared, "And just so you know, I checked on the admission of Heero Yuy and his mother. As of this morning, word has been spreading of an official grant of allowance for him to enter the country without any difficulty. When he checks in here, we will send him and his mother to your residence in the same fashion you will be arriving there. Details of official citizenship can be worked out soon after."
Violet eyes widening, Duo nearly fell apart at that. That only meant that his letter reached home. Zechs had come through. He saw that Heero would be taken care of.
After everything that they had endured... they were going to make it.
Sensing the building excitement that was on the verge of bursting out, Trent chuckled deeply, "Head on home, soldier."
Without needing to be told twice, Duo offered a last, quick 'thank you' before all but running through the door. Laughing wildly as he charged down the hallways, he found his way back outside where Howard was waiting.
At the sight of his friend's bright smile, the old man pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against with a relieved, "So they're sending you home, then?"
"Yea," the braided veteran answered while checking out his pass instructions. "There is a plane leaving this base in a few hours. I'll be escorted home when I'm back at my training facility in Montana."
Practically bouncing, he cheered, "They're giving Heero clearance into the States! He can check in here to be sent to the main land!"
Chuckling deeply, Howard replied, "Very good. Then my work here is done for now. I'll be heading back to my own family so I can wait for Heero to give me a call."
Duo bit his lip as a few tears stung his eyes over having to say goodbye to his friend. "Howie, I..." he began in little more than a whisper. "If we hadn't run into you the way that we had, we... I don't know how to thank you."
His smile growing, the old man embraced the braided youth as he told him, "No thanks needed, kid. It's been a pleasure." When he pulled back from their brief hug, he snickered, "so I fought in two world wars now. Not many people can say that."
Wiping at his eyes, Maxwell chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "Still no talking you into returning to the States, is there?" he questioned.
"Nah," his white-haired friend smirked. "I'm as in love with Japan as I was when my wife and I retired there. Whatever may be happening now, it's where I intend to spend the rest of my days." Looking out to the ocean and clear skies, he thought aloud, "The people there will need help rebuilding what they've lost. Who better to give them a hand than me and my boys?"
Quietly, Duo responded, "I can't think of anyone better for the job. Something like that may be able to build some bridges between our differences."
Howard faced him with a nodded, "Hopefully." After exchanging a firm handshake, he winked as he started to walk off to return to the hanger where the Blue Gale was waiting.
"By the way, once this damned fighting is over, you know you're always welcome back to visit me and the Sweepers," he called over the breeze that began to pick up. "Don't be a stranger, kid," he waved.
Returning the wave, Duo called, "I won't be. Fly safe, Howard."
And with one last wink, the old man disappeared into the base's hanger. Moments later, engines roared from within and the Blue Gale taxied out onto the runway.
The wind whipping his braid, the private shielded his eyes against the bright sun as he watched the plane take to the skies until it was no longer in sight. "We're almost there, 'Ro," he muttered to himself. "Just get back here in one piece."
With a deep breath, Duo looked to the pass tightly clenched in his hand and kissed it. A loud hoot bubbled from him as he took up his pack that had been sitting by Howard and ran off the hanger at the eastern side of the base.
He couldn't stop grinning for the rest of the day.
TBC...
[1] The shortened, and more popular term, for Victory in Europe Day when Germany officially surrendered May 8, 1945.
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