The pen wavered in her hand then dropped on the smooth, polished top of the Elizabethan table while a deep sigh, potent as whispered words, flowed like a cold breeze during lonely summer nights inside the room…

Her speech lay on the table, forgotten.

She reached out to touch a small piece of white cloth within the folds of her notebook while her mind reminisced those treasured moments of long ago. The cloth was torn from Heero’s uniform when he was in Sanc. It was the only thing she had to remember him… That, and the teddy bear now safely tucked inside one of her boxes… If it weren’t for them, she would have thought everything that happened to her during those hard times were just a figment of her imagination… Even Heero’s face was just a blur to her, now… but her feelings remained clear.

No one saw her caress the small cloth… No one heard those mournful sighs… No one-

"Relena, is there a genetic structural factor in onnas that always make them spend their entire time in their rooms to unconsciously be late for conferences?!" Loud knocking sounds accompanied the yelling voice.

Relena rolled her eyes in frustration and did her best to keep calm. She hated it when such irritating tone of voice invades her only time for peace and quiet. Not to mention that she almost- almost!- remembered his face! Ah well... There’ll be plenty of peace and quiet when the day is over.

‘At long last!’

The notebook slammed shut and the cloth was squeezed within the last written page of the journal. Knowing that no one would think of looking through the most obvious place, she inserted the notebook inside the box of her other school memoirs, a great camouflage.

"I’m coming! I just need to fix my hair a little bit more!"

Her soft voice, hinting upon the finality of their conversation, reached the ears of the person waiting outside. "Make sure about it!"

She waited for a few more minutes. Once sure that the person outside had left, she turned to her dresser mirror. Facing her reflection, she repeated the phrase she had told herself a million times before.

"Relena, you are a fool. You’ve accepted this a long time ago and you will live through it. You promised yourself that you wouldn’t care and you do not. You know that he will never show up. You know that he will never reciprocate your feelings. So, close your eyes." She closed her eyes. "And forget about him. Just forget about him and be happy with what you do have."

Her chest rose and fell as deep breaths flowed after another through her body. Then, knowing that she had secured that one memory under lock and key once again, she opened her eyes to a face with a touch of smile and nodded her approval.

"Good." She stood up and walked out of her room only to see the person who had knocked on her door only minutes ago, leaning proudly against the farthest wall.

"Finally."

The irate word reached her ears but she didn’t turn her head as she passed by him. "Wufei, what have you found about Quatre? Where is he?" Concern laced her quick question.

Wufei walked by her side, intensely aware of his surroundings though they were just inside her house. One could never be too sure. "According to Mariemaia, he received a special mission with an unspecified date of return."

She absorbed this information as she did all the others. Since Wufei hadn’t expounded, it only meant that whatever Quatre was doing… it was important. "Thank you. I was just worried… I haven’t heard from him for quite a while now, you see." She closed her eyes for a moment and, in her heart and mind, she wished him to take care. "What about Hilde and Duo? Any word?"

Wufei grunted. "I still say they shouldn’t show up today. Those reporters will get on their tail- two for one- you and that Maxwell in one day. The press will have a field day."

"So, I guess that means they haven’t called…" She stifled another sad sigh. Her friends promised that they would be there with her on her last day… Where are they? She looked at her ceiling high window with drawn curtains and then shrugged. Those two probably were having a hard time getting themselves through the airport without anyone noticing them… Or maybe they’ll get into Kwairy Hall, incognito. Knowing them, they’ll probably surprise her with a party afterwards.

She looked at her silent bodyguard then reached out for his hand.

Wufei stopped in surprise. He looked at his hand, encompassed in Relena’s, then into her serious face.

"Wufei… it had been wonderful… Thank you."

The deep meaning in her words, the look in her eyes… It cut through him in the oddest way and he could only grunt out his response.

She understood him, the way she always had and let go. Wufei didn’t speak any more while they walked out of that bare house and into her white limousine just as they had done so many times before- indifferent, yet highly attuned to one another.

‘How was he even able to talk me into this?’ The thought came for the millionth time in the span of one hour as the boisterous, talkative man beside him blasted his ears with inconsequential data. He thought that with all the years that passed, the man had matured enough to control his loquaciousness and be more aware if the person he was conversing to even cared! But no! He’s more ignorant, in fact! Well, that was the conclusion he just came up with a few seconds ago.

"I don’t know how Hilde puts up with you. You are too noisy." His cold, monotonous voice cut through the merry, one-sided conversation and stopped the brown, braided man in mid-sentence.

Mission Accomplished.

"Hmmm… that’s a good question… I wonder how…" An innocent ‘I’m wondering’ look passed over that mischievous face.

Heero inwardly cringed. Once again, when it was down to shutting Maxwell up, Mission Failed. A hidden smile lifted the corner of his lips. How funny that he could say those two words nowadays and not feel like a failure.

"I’ll ask her later once I get back. So, man, how do you like our li’l get together so far?" Duo crossed his fingers as his hand ran through his thick mop of hair. It was just accidental that he saw Yuy a few days ago. He’s still wondering what the guy was doing at the Preventer’s Main-HQ… As for himself, he gave some overdue statements about that stupid dictator’s brother who thought he’d get Hilde. Too bad for him! He didn’t know whom he was dealing with! Duo Maxwell, the God of Death! Then again… according to Une, he needs to stay on his toes. "It’s not as explosive as our last one, but hey! You can’t say you ain’t enjoyin’, right?"

"Truthfully…" Heero started his answer with an icy glare aimed at the grinning man while they walked through the busy crowd. "I am not enjoying myself."

Duo shrugged indifferently. "That’s ‘coz you don’t give yourself time to enjoy yourself. Not to mention that you don’t let yourself enjoy life."

‘So true…’ A silent sigh left Heero. ‘Took me a long time to realize that… but so true…’

Duo pushed his hands through his jean pockets. "So, whatcha been doing lately? I haven’t heard from you, you haven’t contacted any of us… So? So? So? So?" He knew he was pushing the right buttons… Getting Yuy riled up was one of his favorite hobbies! Not to mention that it was a rare opportunity.

‘You don’t want to know…’ The sad thought left Heero’s mind while his eyes turned to dangerous slits. "Duo-"

"WHOA! Look who’s on television!" Duo suddenly pointed at the small 24 inch television inside one of the side vendor’s slot where- he could see for himself- it was helping the man’s business grow by keeping his customers entertained.

Slowly, Heero’s eyes followed suit… ‘Damn…’ He took in her pristine look as she primly sat on a chair by the left side of the stage… She had not changed. Matured… more curvaceous, but her manners were still the same… Unspoiled as always. And he thought he’d get at least one day of his time without thinking of her. ‘Damn.’

Duo grinned. Oh his friend could hide his feelings alright… Too bad Duo Maxwell has such good eyes. He could see that minuscule muscle that stood out on Heero’s neck, as if trying to hold back a lot of stress. ‘Good… Now if everything would just come down as planned… Heero, my man, don’t disappoint me.’

"Hey Heero… She’s just in that building over there! Wanna go inside and say hi to an old friend?" Duo motioned his head to the wide governmental structure on their left.

Heero pushed his fisted hands deep within his jacket pockets. He knew exactly what he should say. He wasn’t ready. "No." He doesn’t want to. Damn hard enough that he would always find her face on television, and that her name would always appear in newspapers to haunt and taunt him… as if dreams weren’t enough. Why couldn’t his memories leave him be the way he left her in the hospital without a good bye?!

Duo’s face fell. He pouted his lower lip then sighed miserably. "Well… I could never change your mind, so what’s the use trying? All right, if you don’t want to visit her, I’ll just go and get us some ice cream." An evil grin suddenly appeared on his lips. "You can stare, gawk, and ogle at her some more without getting embarrassed."

Heero’s hand snaked out to grab Duo’s collar but the slippery slime just evaded his grip and laughed while he ran away.

"I’m going to get you because of that." Heero muttered dangerously while he glared at the braid that bounced up and down Duo’s back and then it suddenly, swirled around the black clothed body.

Duo faced him with a wide grin, gave a fun wave, placed his hands to the sides of his face, and opened his mouth. "By the way, Heero! Have you told her you love her yet?!"

For a moment, Heero’s eyes widened in shock. He quickly looked around then before anyone could notice the change, his eyes turned to slits to fiercely glower at the Cheshire cat grin on Duo’s face.

"Don’t go after him… You’ve got enough time to kill him later…" He repeated that phrase to himself over and over again while his eyes followed Duo’s trek down the street until he disappeared. "Enough time to torture him later…" He turned to look at the television just as it showed Relena reach the speaker’s podium. His eyes read her lips while his mind wagered a war between thinking how luscious those lips looked, and forgetting about her.

Relena, the center of his confusion… When would he be given a chance to solve it? Self-realization and re-evaluation had both been difficult tasks,but he came through it with one answer- Relena Dorlian…

"I have enjoyed my work very much and I am truly sad to relinquish my hold." She glanced at the huge clock at the back wall while her hand crumpled a piece of white paper with pasted magazine letterings behind the speaker’s stand. Funny how… calm she feels.

"I believe that Ms. Sylvia Noventa will serve you well." Her hand smoothed the paper upon the stand and her eyes quickly glanced down. To the audience, it would seem as if she was just taking a momentary look at her speech- thankfully! Though she already knew what was on the paper, she couldn’t help but glance at it once again.

A friend."

Less than a minute to twelve...

She was not afraid to die, if the message was true. This was the first time she received a warning instead of the actual threat. Then again, if it weren’t true, she would look like a clumsy fool…

Her lips moved as she continued her memorized speech.

Thirty seconds to twelve…

Should she do it? Wufei had done a wonderful job, ruining many previous assassination attempts… He had always been able to confront and prevent such situations well before the initiated time, much to the attempters’ surprise. Yet, how did this one get past him?

Fifteen.

Her hands and feet grew cold but she held her stance.

Five.

Her eyes went to the pencil on the stand.

Three…

Without thinking, she pushed the pencil off the podium then she quickly stooped down to retrieve it, already mentally rehearsing an excuse when a deafening sound of gunshot echoed through the stillness of the air.

{Heartfire's Note: It's been a long time, but I'm glad ffnet is finally up once again. I hope you all liked this first chapter. Don't worry, as I did with Duo's story before, 2 chapters a week. Take care everyone!}