A War Worth Fighting Part 39

August 15, 1945

The world sighed in relief at the Emperor Hirohito's announcement of Japan's surrender. After two nuclear bomb hits on the country's mainland, there was nothing that would justify their allowing the war to continue. They finally had no choice but to admit defeat and do what they could to rebuild what they had lost whilst looking after their people.

By then, the full picture of the atomic bomb effects had reached every ear as the horrendous realization that those victims killed in the blast were the fortunate ones. Those poor souls that remained to endure the effects of the radiation suffered more than any person should.

Congress, while still wishing that they had been informed of the bomb before it had been used, had no choice but to support the President in his difficult decision. Whether they, themselves, would have acted as he had did not matter. The Commander in Chief had done what he thought would be the best for his country's soldiers by seeing that they did not have to infiltrate Japan's mainland to be taken out by the hundreds of thousands.

In the end, that was the result any leader would have sought. The morale behind the means was a gray area that could be debated.

For most of those soldiers still stationed in Europe, with the exception of those in Germany, there was a wave of excitement in knowing that soon they would be reunited with their families.

At long, long last, the war was finally over.

*   *   *   *   *   *

It the last week of August when Catherine woke early to oversee her family's vineyard. Dressed in her rattier work clothes, she tended the crops along with the hired help. Gloves on her hand, she knelt and turned the soil over in the row of plants that she was working on for a close inspection of it. Once she was pleased with what she found, she carefully patted the dirt back into place.

Under the blisteringly hot sun, she and the crew worked the hours away until the sun was well on its way to beginning to set. The whole scene of those lush green plants against the vibrant, multi-colored sky was a breathtaking one that never lost its appeal to those that lived there.

Pushing herself up from her kneeling position, Catherine headed back to the estate where a fresh pitcher of water was waiting. As she removed her gloves and moved to reach for a cup, she heard several startled gasps and mutters amongst the staff.

Her brilliant blue eyes looking to the hillside where the others were pointing, she heard herself gasp while her body turned numb in shock. Just over the crest of the nearest hill a few yards out, a lone figure was walking towards the vineyard.

Not needing to see the figure's face, the red-head knew exactly who it was. Tears instantly clouding her vision, Catherine cried, "Trowa!" Before she even told her body to do so, her legs were running as quickly as they could carry her to the uniformed soldier approaching.

Chuckling deeply at the sight of his sister coming towards him, Trowa fought the shimmer in his own eyes as he tossed his pack aside to scoop her up when she threw her arms around him. Nearly falling over from the sheer force of her running into him, he laughed whilst just managing to keep on his feet.

When they finally pulled back, Catherine cupped her brother's face in her hands and smiled, "Come on inside. We have a lot of catching up to do."

Nodding at that, Trowa took up his pack and his sister's hand in his own free one as they headed to the estate that he had seen in his dreams every night he was stationed in Europe.

*   *   *   *   *   *

In Virginia, Merian was taking her clothes from the line outside of her family's home on a sunny afternoon. Heading back into her home, she walked into the living room sit at the couch beside the radio that she had left on.

Neatly folding the articles of clothing in her lap, she listened to the news reports of the progress in the peace treaties following the war. Along with those announcements, there was a bulletin on the Japanese soldiers stationed in Manchuria, China and Burma. [1]

Soon, Hong Kong would be liberated thereafter to remove all Japanese military presence in China. A wide smile spreading on her face, Merian's chest swelled in pride at knowing that the Japanese invasion in their home country was ended thanks to Wufei's efforts along with all of those brave soldiers in the Pacific.

Their sacrifices had not been in vain.

Her heart ached over recalling her fiancé's tale of how his friend, Johnny, had been killed. He and so many others never had the chance to see what they helped bring about with the end of the war. She only hoped that wherever their souls had moved on to that they were at peace and able to understand that the strike was finally over thanks to them.

At the sound of knocking on the front door, Merian blinked in surprise and confusion over who could be visiting unannounced. The only member of her family close enough to the door, she moved the clothes in her lap onto the couch before going to answer.

Opening the door, her eyes widened with a sharp cry. "Wufei!" she shouted as her hands flew to cover her mouth.

Sure enough, her soon-to-be life partner was standing before her in his full uniform. On his chest, along with his colors of rank, was the Air Force Cross medal that he had won for his valor in battle. On his face, he wore that same loving smile that he only showed to her- the very one that she always envisioned when she missed him most.

Trembling, Merian all but collapsed into Wufei's arms as they opened to her. She cried into his shoulder and held on as tightly as she could.

Finally... now they were both home where they belonged.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Those soldiers stationed in Greece were finally given the word to return to their own homes after their service. Hari and the Indian soldiers that had come to know Quatre offered their 'little brother' all the best in his new life while reminding him that he was always welcome to return to India and see them.

It was an emotional day for the Arab to see his fellow soldiers off. Never regretting his decision to stay in Greece, he still had a kinship with those men that he was going to miss. But the friendships and bonds that he had made with his friends was not something that he would ever forget.

Several days passed and Quatre's uniform was replaced for civilian clothes. It took some time to get used to the new attire, but he soon found his comfort in it through how he was able to blend better with his new neighbors.

His dear friend, Isis had opened her home to him to stay with her for as long as he remained in Greece... or until he got on his own feet and set himself up with a home of his own. It was by far the most generous offering that he had ever received before.

This was where he knew he would spend the rest of his life... while taking time to visit his families in Saudia Arabia and India from time to time.

Before long, that 'family' would grow even more.

Nearly a month into his official stay in Greece, Quatre nervously shifted from one foot to another when Isis's family finally returned from their hiding before the Nazis occupied their homeland, made their way into their house. To the curious faces of the teenagers entering to find him, he smiled timidly.

Wrapping an arm around the Arab's shoulders after tearfully reuniting with her children, Isis introduced him to the lot, "Everyone, this is Quatre. Your new brother."

Grins spread widely on the youths' faces as they anxiously got in line to introduce themselves to the new member of their family.

Unable to hold back his own relief and overwhelming emotions over being accepted so readily, the young soldier accepted and returned every embrace and greeting with tears in his eyes.

*   *   *   *   *   *

In Muroran, it had been quiet. Too quiet for Treize's liking.

After spending days, weeks trying to come up with a way to get out of his predicament, he was completely helpless for the first time in his life. All of the scheming, lying, screaming and even begging, had done nothing to get him what he wanted.

Right now, all that he wanted was to be as far away from Japan as possible.

Over the last few days, the guards of the prison had been... far more tolerant of their prisoners. While they were by no means kind or willing to put up with trouble, they were showing less of a wish to cause harm for no reason. Even the food portions given to their charges were more generous.

Which all meant only one thing... Japan had lost the war. And showing ill treatment to their prisoners after the fact would reflect poorly on them.

It was only a matter of time now before the allied troops came to liberate the facility and so many others like it across the country.

So this was it, Treize had no choice but to accept. Surrounded by enemies and only to be dealt with by more foes, there was no longer anything he could do to get away. He would be discovered by the Americans and it was only a matter of time after that before his identity and involvement in the war were discovered.

For the rest of his days, he would rot in a prison much like the one he was presently in... if not worse for his treason.

But no, the liaison realized suddenly. There was something that he could do to make his own fate as he always had. And just as everything else he had ever done, it would be glorious.

That afternoon, when the guard stepped into his cell to drop off the plentiful rations for the day, Treize lunged for him and removed the soldier's gun from his holster. Just when the Japanese young man shouted for help, Khushrenada smirked in victory when a herd of footsteps ran for his room.

Quickly, before the guard could recover enough to stop him, the tall man placed the pistol to his own temple and pulled the trigger.

His lifeless body collapsed in a bloody heap. Even in death, Treize's smirk remained on his face in defiance of the events that had spiraled out of his control. His say was what mattered at the end of his life, just as he always wanted.

Sparing themselves and their country having to explain a recently lost prisoner, the soldiers moved the body to burn it as every trace of blood in the secluded cell was cleaned away.

Not even a day later, Muroran was liberated. All in all, more than five dozen prisoners were freed to return to their homes and families to leave their hellish experiences behind them.

And not one of those men was all the wiser of Khushrenada. The legacy that the man had worked to earn himself was lost.

*   *   *   *   *   *

The days that passed following Hiroshima's bombing wore more and more on Duo as his hopes over Heero and his mother's state began to wear thin. Everyone wanted to believe that there was a chance that they'd made it out of the country in one piece. But he could not help fearing the worst.

Even if they had survived the bomb, what if there had been a trap that they never made it out of? What if there was no way for them to find a way back to Howard to get out and away from Japan safely?

So many questions. And the answers were not coming.

That frustration only made Duo all the more aware of what his poor mother had endured while he had been captured and trying to find his way home. It was easily the most difficult thing he had ever had to endure in his life.

At a knock on the door, the braided teenager gasped sharply, his violet eyes widening. Springing from the couch in the living room, he hurried to open the front door. On the other side, Zechs stood with a suitcase in each hand.

Smiling sadly, the tall man greeted, "Just me." He blinked in surprise when the boy just smiled and embraced him as he would his mother whenever they were reunited.

"You're not just anything," Duo smirked while taking one of the suitcases in hand and leading the way inside. "You're just in time for dinner. It should be on the table any minute, so make yourself at home."

Warmed by the veteran's words and gestures, Zechs followed after and closed the door behind him. Lady Une and Dorothy soon appeared from the kitchen to welcome the political sponsor back.

Seated together with his family at the dining room table soon after, Merquise shared all that had happened in Washington over the last few weeks. After what had happened over the course of the war to its horrific end, he had initially planned to leave his position for good. There was just so much that he had questioned regarding the government and how dealings surrounding whether people lived or died were handled.

Nearly distraught over Zechs's formal announcement, the Senators urged him to stay and in turn worked an arrangement where he could remain in Montana and work from there. His sense of duty to his country in seeing that the right people were elected to seats in Congress was what made him inclined to take the offer and remain a Democratic sponsor.

Lady Une could not stop smiling following that news for the remainder of the night. And Duo could not have been happier for either of them... even as his own heart was crumbling in wait for any information on Heero.

*   *   *   *   *   *

The days continued to roll on and before an eye had the time to blink, it was mid-September.

Like so many other sleepless nights, Duo lay in bed on his back to stare at the ceiling until the sun rose. Groaning over his lack of rest, he pushed himself up and changed to start another new day. Another day of worrying and wondering.

Breakfast with his family was the usual event. The morning chores were handled as they always were. Whatever the veteran could do to make his life busier, his mind occupied, he was all too happy to do it.

While working at the corral that afternoon, Duo was brushing down the horses under a blue sky with patchy clouds here and there. Just another perfect end-of-summer day.

He was just about to wrap up filling the horses' feed bins when he heard a car pulling up the long road leading to the lone estate. Violet eyes widening in knowing that everyone was already home, the braided teenager peered down the stretch to see a black car.

Instantly recognizing the vehicle as the one that had delivered him from his home base, his pulse began to rise. Dropping the bucket of oats in his hands, Duo numbly stepped out of the fenced yard and closed the gate behind him. At the sight of the soldier, the driver brought the car to a stop when he neared the side of the road.

Back at the house a few yards ahead, Lady Une looked up from her work in the gardens and Dorothy paused in hanging the new batch of washed clothes on the line. Biting her lip, the young mother ran into her house to call on Zechs.

Duo held his breath when the black car came to a complete stop before him. Staring at the back passenger seat door, he nearly jumped when it suddenly opened. One jeaned leg stepped out then the other before the person they belonged to moved out of the car.

For a moment, the veteran was not so sure he could believe what he was seeing... until he stared into those familiar... "Blue Eyes," he whispered breathlessly.

Smiling widely and lovingly, Heero nodded to his lover. Not caring who was around to see, Duo allowed the tears in his eyes to fall as he leapt forward to hold his partner tightly. The sergeant returned the gesture with every bit as much strength as he could muster.

Lady Une, Zechs and Dorothy all ran up while the two young men pulled away. Grinning to the lot, Heero stepped away from the car and reached inside the opened door. A dainty hand wrapped around his and a lovely woman wearing a lilac dress with shoulder-length blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes stepped out into the open. Behind her, a tall man in his late fifties or so climbed out.

With a gesture to his company, Heero introduced, "Duo, this is my mother and grandfather." Placing a hand on the small of his lover's back, he turned to his guardians, "Mom, Pop, this is Duo."

The smile on his lips threatening to split his face, Duo followed in suit and urged his own family close. "Heero, this is my mother, my soon-to-be step-father and my sister, Dorothy," he shared with an arm around a beaming Lady Une's shoulders. Clearing his throat against the lump that formed there, he turned to the trio while taking hold of his lover's hand and informed, "Everyone, this is Heero."

At the opening, both mothers moved forward quickly to embrace the other's son tightly. Kissing Heero's cheek, Lady Une whispered brokenly through her tears, "Thank you so much for saving my son's life."

"Thank you for bringing my baby back to me," Sylvia breathed to Duo as a sob bubbled from her chest. Both equally stunned, the soldiers held their partner's mother close as the other onlookers smiled and dried their own eyes.

Once the initial introductions were out of the way, Zechs assisted the grandfather they came to know as Odin with removing their bags from the car so that the driver could return to base. Left alone in the field, the two families grinned to one another before Heero frowned to Duo's mother, "I am sorry that we've arrived unannounced like this. If there is a place we can stay near by-"

Cutting him off with a hand cupping the boy's cheek, Lady Une chuckled quietly, "Nonsense. There is more than enough room for us all right here. And you are all more than welcome to stay for as long as you like." Stunned, her guests thanked her for her generosity.

Zechs and Odin took the lead in heading up to the house with Dorothy close behind. Sylvia looped an arm with Lady Une and leaned close to tell her quietly, "I have been so anxious to sit and talk with you. We have quite a bit in common and it has been some time since I have shared that kind of understanding with anyone."

Lightly patting her hand, Duo's mother smiled, "I have been looking forward to our meeting as well. Let's get you settled and we can talk over tea."

Heero and Duo remained behind. The moment no one was watching them, they quickly closed the distance between them for a long, needful kiss. By the time they pulled back for air, it was the sergeant's eyes that were shimmering. Resting their foreheads together, he whispered breathlessly, "God, I've missed you so much."

Roughly swallowing past his tight throat, the braided veteran replied in kind, "I was so afraid that..." He shook his head at allowing that thought to continue. Instead of dwelling on the bad, he tightened his arms around the neck he was holding and smiled, "I love you."

The sergeant smiled and replied just as sincerely, "Aishiteru." After another kiss, he gazed on their surroundings while keeping his arms around his partner's waist. "So this is Montana," he said quietly.

Grinning proudly, the veteran nodded, "Yea."

A small smirk tugging his lips, Heero stated, "I'm going to like it here." Chuckling quietly, Duo pulled away but kept a firm hold on his lover's hand as he led him towards the house.

There would be a time for questions later. Right now, all that mattered was that they were back together. And now they actually knew that they had a future to look forward to with the war finally ended.

TBC...

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II#1945

 

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