Disclaimer: same as previous.

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III

The dirt gave way slightly as General Ko walked around the construction site. She watched with little interest as the workmen busied themselves with finishing the Four-Leaf's new home. They didn't know the latter part; only that it was going to be a very important extension of the government administration building. Whether they believed it, General Ko didn't care. For all she knew, they could be suspicious of this place for the rest of their lives and she wouldn't really give a damn.

The large glass structure was built within an abandoned warehouse and was reminiscent of a glasshouse or an enormous covered birdcage. The corners of her lips lifted into a humourless smile. How fitting, she thought bitterly. A pretty bird, too precious to be let out, being shut away into a gilded cage.

"General," A gruff and all too masculine voice broke her out of her thoughts.

She turned her eyes to the workman in front of her and nodded for him to proceed.

"We are on schedule and it should be finished at the end of this month," he reported.

She nodded slowly, still keeping the contemplative look on her face and let the man walk off to continue his job.

Would Suu like it here? She really didn't know. The little girl didn't want to be put away, but there wasn't much choice in the matter. It was either this or watch one of the other Wizards murder the child. If she had to chose between feeling regret or guilt, she would gladly choose to lock the girl and live with the regret. She didn't think she could stand the guilt of letting her die. She would sleep better at night knowing that the child didn't die because of her decision. And that one thought made her lips thin and her eyes narrow. When it really came down to it, was she doing this for the good of the child or just the need to keep the blood from her hands?

She grimaced in disgust. In the end they (the five High Wizards of the Council) were all the same – she was the same. Her keeping the child alive was just a way to prevent her conscience from being soiled. How foolish, she scoffed. Being in the military had already muddied that part of her; after all, the military was renowned for being ruthless bastards.

Then why help Suu? Redemption? Not likely. But a part of her mind was trying to convince her that it was, and to her disbelief and distaste, it made sense. The logic was twisted and skewed, but some far off sector of her mind accepted the wrongness of the explanation. This one deed would erase all the other bloodthirsty choices she had to make 'for the good of the nation'. She disgusted herself. Letting out a heavy sigh, she pulled her cloak just a little closer and walked away from the site.

Her office door opened with a whispered swish and the first sound that reached her ears was the soft hum of Suu's lilting voice. A flutter of metallic wings followed by another sweep of the door, and General Ko was within the warm confines of her office staring at the curiously large bird hovering at the far corner of the room. The corners of her lips lifted into a small smile.

"Grandma Ko, you're back." The little dove stopped its song and evergreen eyes stared owlishly at her.

"Suu child, come down here before you hurt yourself," she reprimanded lightly.

Suu's small wings flapped from behind the little girl's back and she landed softly back on thick carpet. The lace hem of her white dress brushed her knees as the girl made her way to the General. The metallic appendages slowly faded away into thin wisps of thrumming energy before being absorbed by Suu once more.

It had always amazed General Ko just how easily Suu was able to conjure up her wings, and how seemingly painless it was for them to disappear.

"I'm sorry," Suu said, her voice small and muffled as she bowed her head in apology.

General Ko gave a little sigh and walked up to the small child. Gently, she placed her hand on top of Suu's silver mane.

"It is all right. Come, let's have something to eat and you can tell me about your day."

She watched in amusement as Suu's head shot up and her eyes widened. It seemed the child wasn't used to having someone worry about her well-being. The General was certain Suu's mother wouldn't have really cared about what happened to her daughter.

Pushing those thoughts aside, General Ko led Suu to the plush couch and went to fetch the tray of biscuits and tea she had called up. For the past month Suu had lived in her office and the day's events had almost become a routine. She would go out and do her duties and whatnot while Suu stayed here in her office, safe and undisturbed. Once she had returned, Suu would tell her of her day.

The tea was hot and steaming when it came pouring out of the silver spout. She placed Suu's cup near the child as the little girl munched on a piece of short bread. Occasionally, Suu would pause, chew thoughtfully until the mouthful of food had been swallowed and then speak several words before resuming to eat.

The General had long given up on coaxing the girl to talk and had just allowed the little girl her peace, relying entirely on the conclusion that Suu would talk to her when she felt like it. And she was glad it had worked. After several days of unending staring sessions and blank silences, Suu had slowly begun to converse with her. Albeit only speaking sentences consisting of only monosyllables (sometimes only one word between ten minute intervals), but as time passed, more was said and General Ko was relieved.

"The birds look pretty outside, Grandma Ko," Suu said as she took the last bite of her piece of short bread.

"Yes, they are pretty aren't they?" She said absently.

Suu nodded, grasping the teacup in her small hands and taking a tentative drink of the hot liquid. "I want to be like them," Suu said suddenly.

General Ko arched an eyebrow and looked at the child in mild amusement and curiosity. "And why is that, child?"

"Because..."

General Ko watched wordlessly as Suu stared out longingly through the window.

Little hands clutched desperately at her cloak as Suu stared with wide, bewildered eyes at her surroundings. General Ko tried her best to look encouraging but the small uplift of her lips was taking far too much effort for her comfort.

At first glance the inside of the glasshouse looked to be what any glasshouse should be – filled with plant life and a small lake at the centre. But if the entire area was inspected and explored, a large canopy bed along with various items belonging in a normal house could be found behind large leafy trees and bushes. It was supposed to be a small paradise to house the Four-Leaf, but the more she looked around, the more it felt like an elaborately designed prison. Hidden away in other places were small cameras and microphones, equipment used to monitor and watch the child. What kind of paradise was this? What kind of paradise would need such heavy surveillance on its occupants?

General Ko sighed and broke out of her musings by the small tug on her hand. She turned her troubled gaze on the child. "What is it, child?"

"Why are we here?" Suu asked innocently.

Tearing her gaze away from Suu, General Ko focused on something else. She knew that underneath all the innocent looks the girl knew what was going on. How was she going to tell Suu that she was going to live here from now on? Or for the rest of her life for that matter?

There was another insistent pull. She sighed heavily, having given up on trying to act like nothing was wrong. The child would find out sooner or later and it was better to drop the charade now. She reluctantly turned her face down once more and steeled herself for the inevitable.

"I'm staying here, aren't I?" Suu asked with her feather light voice.

Well that was unexpected, General Ko thought offhandedly, and nodded mechanically. It was somewhat of a relief that Suu knew without having her to explain it, but that little piece of comfort was short-lived. The General hated herself for being the one to first come in contact with the child. It was a fact that Suu would be discovered either way, but she resented having been the one to first meet the child. Maybe if she hadn't left her office that day she wouldn't harbour such affection for Suu. Even if that had occurred, she was sure there wouldn't be a giant glasshouse in this abandoned warehouse and Suu's young life would probably be over before the child could blink. She couldn't win either way.

A movement and a shift of cloth. She turned to find the child sitting on one of the many benches littering the area. The understanding clear in those green, green eyes made the General cringe inwardly even more.

"It's all right."

It was spoken so softly, General Ko would have missed it if she wasn't already staring at the little girl. She blinked. 'It's all right'? What was all right? If Suu meant this...

"Child..." she began slowly, trying to gather some words so she could better understand what Suu had meant.

"It's all right," Suu repeated, this time, a little louder.

Not hiding her confusion, she made her way over to the bench and sat down. "What do you mean, Suu?"

The little girl looked lost for one moment, not exactly sure what the General wanted of her. Thin delicate shoulders shrugged and she peered curiously up at General Ko's disturbed expression. General Ko returned Suu's stare while pushing down the urge to flinch and look away. It was a little overwhelming to have unblinking eyes stare at her in utmost wonder when she knew she was committing an unforgivable deed. She knew she was over dramatising the whole situation, making it seem like she was plotting to kill someone when she wasn't. She had done that at some point in her career and thinking back, she never felt this much dread hovering in her stomach.

Something warm grabbing her old wrinkled hand started her out of her thoughts. Suu's hand grasped her's loosely.

"Grandma Ko."

Her throat constricted. What was the child thinking?

"I'll stay here."

"Suu," she began hesitantly, the girl didn't know what she was talking about. "Do you understand what this means?"

A small nod. "You have to put me here so people would be safe," Suu said with child-like understanding.

General Ko didn't want to just leave it at that; she didn't want the child thinking that she was locked away because she was a danger to everyone. Which was partially true, but having her think that for the rest of her life was just too cruel.

"Suu."

Suu shook her head. "Everyone's scared of me."

She would've said more if it weren't for the quiet resignation painted on Suu's pale face. She sighed. Without another word General Ko gathered herself and walked through the doors. The doors closed behind her with a silent click.

'I wish I was happy.' – Clover.

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Author's note: big thank you to Shaq, who beta-ed this three chaptered piece. This was supposed to be a one-shot thing... but having it formatted in one single chapter didn't seem right. So I had to split it into three parts. Hope you all enjoyed it.