FALLEN ANGEL
Chapter One


"My name is Heero Yuy.  It's a pleasure."

Releena Dorlian had been slouching at her seat, only half listening to what the teacher had to say, when she suddenly sat bolt upright, her blue-green eyes riveted to the slim form at the head of the classroom.

'Hey, that's HIM!' she thought in amazement, remembering that evening on the beach, where the body of an unknown pilot had been sprawled along the water's
edge.  Removing his helmet revealed him to be no more than a boy, and in that moment, he had jumped up, one hand half covering his face, Prussian blue eyes wide with alarm.

Those same gorgeous eyes were now staring directly at her, and she felt a thrill run down her spine, a strange mix of excitement and fear.  He recognized her, as well.

She got up the nerve to approach him later that afternoon.  Classes were done for the day, and the students milled about the school grounds, talking amongst themselves in their own individual cliches.  Releena, as usual, had her own posse following her around, which she tolerated, but only just.  Word had spread that she was going to attempt talking to the handsome new student, and they trailed her like news reporters eager for the latest gossip.  She kept her head high and ignored the lot of them.

He was outside, leaning casually against the railing, the cool breeze tugging at his tousled dark hair and school uniform.  Releena felt her heart give a strange little leap as she watched him, standing there with his elbows resting on the metal guard, his deep blue eyes distant and brooding.  Yes, he was handsome, any girl could see that, but there was something else; some dark, mysterious aura surrounding his entire being.  It intrigued and facinated her in a way she had never known before, and she was determined to find out what it was.

She approached with just a little trepidition and held out the envelope like a peace offering.  He took it slowly,  his eyes never leaving hers, and she gave him a reassuring smile.

"It's an invitation to my birthday party," she explained, aware of how many eyes watched the scene unroll with shameless curiousity.  A few people even clapped.
"I hope you'll be able to make it--"

The words died away in a startled gasp, as Heero ripped the invitation in two and let the seperate pieces flutter to the ground.

She turned away, stung by such a blatent rejection, too hurt and shocked to be angry.  "Why?" she asked, as her eyes watered despite herself.

And then, there was the barest of touches against her cheek, the faintest of carasses as Heero caught the single tear with a finger and brushed it away.

"I'll kill you," he murmured when she turned to him, just soft enough for the two of them to hear.

Then he was gone, walking away with his hands in his pockets, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, leaving Releena staring after him wide eyed.  She should've been afraid, she knew.  She should give this one a wide berth and forget any childish fantasies concerning the quiet boy who was more than what he seemed.  But, if anything, her curiousity was even greater now, and she knew she couldn't let him go that easily.  

'Heero Yuy,' she thought, as the lone figure turned a corner and disappeared from view.  "Who is he?"

She was determined to find out.

*********************

'That was cold, Heero.'

Heero frowned at the condescending voice inside his head, ignoring it as he closed the door, scanning his dorm room out of cautious habit.

'What should I have done?' he answered himself, stripping off his uncomfortable school uniform in favor of jeans and a loose green tank top.  'Accepted her invitation and let her think we could ever be friends?'  He shook his head, walking to the bathroom to splash his tired eyes with water.  'I can't afford that kind of risk.'

Raising his head, he observed the face in the mirror; cold blue eyes peering out of a face that could've been made of stone.  And he wondered what someone like Releena Dorlian would see in him anyway.

'She has a good soul,' he told the stoic face glaring back at him.  'It's too pure to be tainted by the likes of you.'

Stalking back into the main room, he was startled to see someone casually sitting on his bed.  Not the violet-eyed nuiscence who insisted on making his life difficult, but someone who was even more unwelcome.  With a resigned sigh, Heero raked his hands through his hair and approached the form on the bed.

"Trowa," Heero greeted flatly.  Inside, his heart was clenching with rage and surpressed agony; to know the reason why Trowa was here, and to be unable to do anything about it, was nearly unbearable.  Still, he let nothing reach his steely outward appearance.  It wasn't his call, anyway.

The tall figure nodded once, green eyes serene as they gazed up at the other boy.  "Heero.  I take it everything is going well?"

"Who are you here for?"

Trowa blinked, and unfurled his lanky form from the bed, rising gracefully as he faced the scowling teenager.  "That's not for you to know," he stated calmly.   "I just wanted to see how things are going with your mission.  I heard Duo has been bothering you recently."

"It's nothing I can't handle.  Who are you here for, Trowa?"

Trowa shook his head.  "I can't tell you, Heero.  I know how much you hate seeing innocents die, but these are evil times, and we can't save them all.  You know I'm only here to make the journey easier."

Heero clenched his fists.  "I know you better than that," he growled.  "You didn't show up here just to say hello, did you?  You thought that by letting me see you, I'm prepared for what's going to happen, and I might even have a chance of preventing it."

Trowa gazed at Heero, his emerald eyes intense.  "If that was the case, don't you think you'd better get going, instead of standing here talking to me?"

Heero stared at him for the barest fraction of a second before he realized what Trowa was saying.  Then, with a harried "Damn!" he whirled and flew out the door, leaving Trowa alone in the shadowed room.  The lanky teen shook his head sadly, then turned to gaze out the window, where an ominous swarm of blinking lights were just beginning to appear on the horizon.

To be continued....