Kuroi Hane (Black Feather)

The Winner mansion was known for its peaceful surroundings, especially the gardens behind it. However, these days there was no happiness within the tall mansion walls, only sorrow lie within.

It was a sad thing to see a comrade die, but even more was the fact that the comrade was your brother-in-law. The day of Heero’s suicide was a dark day for Quatre Winner. He watched as the light in his wife’s eyes instantly melt away. She cried a bit but kept herself together for a while. Quatre admired his wife’s bravery. When they returned from telling Josie of her father’s demise, Quatre immediately had someone look after the children and ordered that he and his wife not be disturbed. The moment he locked their bedroom door did the waterfall come.

In their bedroom he held her as she cried well into the night until fatigue took hold of her form. Not once did he let her go, knowing she needed great comfort to get over the death of her twin. Quatre knew Heero was like her other half and because of this her mourning was going to be like a hard punch to the ribs.

As the days wore on, Crys would keep her cool during the day but at night behind locked doors she was a wreck. Only during the funeral did she allow everyone else to see her cry, though it was nothing compared to her wails in the night. Only Quatre and those who dwelt within the Winner household knew the reason for the agonizing screams that drifted down the hallway.

As time passed by, the light began to return to the Winner walls, until craziness arrived. Demons and arch angels, battles between good and evil, the appearance of a once dead ally…Quatre didn’t think his wife would ever be the same again.

She put up a good front for everyone, an aftermath after being married to a high class businessman. She knew her emotions weren’t needed at the moment so like her brother did many years before she hid them away.

Heero had just finished seeing Danie and Josie. As soon as he stepped into the room where everyone else was waiting, all hell break loose.

All motion stopped when they heard the smack. Heero’s head was turned to the side, a red handprint carved into his cheek. Standing right in front of him, hair covering her face, her arm stretched out, was his sister.

Heero seemed unaffected by her slap as he turned his head to fully face his twin. There was a moment of intense silence.

Quatre held his breath.

Then the fists came.

They were haphazard at best nor strong enough to cause damage but nonetheless Heero stood like a rock as his sister pounded the hell out of him or as best as she could. Everyone had been quite surprised save for Quatre, he was expecting this to happen.

“You bastard!!!” She screamed as another punch was landed on his ribs. “Why…Why couldn’t you just stay!?” The tears came next, like a flood they poured out. “You didn’t think did you!? You stupid bastard!!!”

Crystilline Heiwa Yuy Winner went on with her ranting, her punches slowly halting as sobs racked her body. Heero held his twin the moment she broke down in nothing but tears.

“I’m sorry…” Despite the stares Heero spoke to his distraught twin. “I know I hurt you the most.” He sighed. “I know the bond we share was cut when…it happened…Just remember…” He kissed her forehead. “You’ll always be my little sister…Even if only by a few minutes.” A small Yuy smirk. “So don’t think I’m not going to watch over you like a hawk. Quatre makes one wrong move, allows even ONE scratch on you…Rules or no rules I’m coming down and slicing his head off.” His hard eyes trained themselves on the man in question.

Never had Quatre feared Heero’s threats but now, suddenly the businessman felt his mouth go dry. There would be no doubt in his mind if one day Quatre found himself staring into the face of his maker if he messed up in any way.

The smirk upon Heero’s face widened making Quatre pale; being dead, the Yuy male could hear Quatre’s thoughts. He knew very well that Quatre was now quite scared of him and the bastard was glad for it too.

Turning back to his twin, the smirk fading away, Heero placed something in her hands, hugged her again before disappearing from everyone’s sight. His forty-eight hours on earth were done.

Thinking quickly, Quatre rushed to his wife’s side before her beautiful face could meet the floor. Whatever Heero had given her was gripped in both her hands tightly. Bidding everyone farewell the two headed home.

Thankfully their children were away with friends, leaving no curious faces at the door. Rashid spoke not a word to them when he opened the door for them, watched as the two ascended the stair case to their room.

Leaning against their door, Quatre held his wife. She hadn’t spoken a word on the way home, Heero’s gift still clutched in her hands.

“Quatre…” At last she spoke, her tired eyes rising to meet his.

“I’m sorry…” He wasn’t expecting those words to fall from her lips. “I’ve been—“

He chose to stop her with a kiss. There was no reason for her to feel this way.

“What did he give you?” He asked her, hoping it would distract her from her unneeded apology.

She moved away a bit, removed the death grip in her hands.

The feather was as black as night and as soft as silk. To a wandering eye it looked like the feather of a crow or even a raven, but the two knew where it came from. No bird’s feather would be so perfect in shape, so shiny in the light.

Smiling gently he took her hands in his own.

“We’ll take good care of it.” He promised. “I’m sure he would want it back when he returns.”

A huff. “When I’m old and gray…”

Quatre chuckled, glad to hear a bit of sarcasm from her.

“Somehow…I think he won’t allow it…I have a feeling Heero will be back sooner than you think.”

A small smile formed on Crys’ face. Removing herself from her husband’s warmth, she went to one of the large windows. The rose garden was being tended to by the gardener below.

“Yeah…” Her eyes reached the skies, where she knew her brother was watching her. “I think he will.”