A Second Chance.9 R (2xR)

[Fate Lowe]

AN:Gomen nasai! I am so late in getting this out. I have had a horrible case of writer's block. Plus all kinds of other crap has been happening lately. So I will not keep you. Please enjoy this installment. And remember to let me know what you think. Arigato.

A Second Chance
Chapter 9
By: Fate Lowe

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It was a beautiful day outside but the mood of the Peacecraft estate did not match the day. The sun shone down on a small gathering in the center of the vast, picturesque garden.

In front of the quiet reflection pool stood a long table covered in fresh flowers and several pictures of a young, smiling blonde. All of the people gathered in front of it sat in silence, all remembering their dear friend.

She sat in the middle of all of her friends and family, who all thought she was gone. Seeing the suffering faces made her want to jump up and yell that she was still there, that she wasn?t really dead. But the man that stood directly in front of them all stopped her from doing just that. She sat in between Duo and Hildi, her long red and black hair pulled into a high ponytail and dressed in black, at her own funeral. She stared at Heero?s dark brown hair being tousled by a light breeze and wondered how everything had come to this.

Just then Heero turned around and his hardened, dark blue eyes scanned the group gathered before him. He cleared his throat.

?I thank you all for coming today. I would like to start off this memorial by saying that I am sorry.?

Relena reached over and grabbed Duo?s hand. Duo looked at her and realized that she was staring straight ahead, transfixed by what Heero was saying. He looked ahead and realized that Heero was staring right back into her eyes, when he had delivered that line and had not looked away. He squeezed Relena?s hand, reassuring her.

?Back when I first met Relena, I was a soldier with no name, no past, no conscience, and no future. I felt absolutely nothing, no pain, no anger, no joy, no love. In short I was not human. But, she never gave up on me. She stayed by my side and never wavered in her belief that I was a good person. It took a really long time but her efforts finally paid off. I was able to smile, laugh, form friendships, and finally to love. But with all of these wonderful things came the bad. I started feeling regret for the things that I had done during the war. However, instead of talking about my regrets, I drowned them in alcohol. So for this and so much more, I apologize. Relena, if you are listening to me today, gomen. Boku-no sei. Kimi-no-koto wasure-nai. Itsumo suki-dayo.?

As the last few lines were spoken tears streamed down Heero?s face. As Heero turned and walked away, Duo turned and saw that tears were also streaming down Relena?s.

The rest of the service went by in a blur. Relena didn?t even realize that it had ended until Duo shook her shoulder and told her it was time to leave. As they made their way out, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She knew she was being watched and by who. She turned her head and glanced up at a second story window. Their eyes locked for a second before he turned away and shut the curtain. She turned back and saw a worried expression on Duo?s face. She shook her head and smiled letting him know that everything was fine before getting into the car and letting him shut the door for her. Nothing was said as they drove back to the apartment and changed into their pajamas. They sat on the couch both lost in their own thoughts.

Duo looked over at Relena, who was curled up hugging her legs to her chest her chin resting on knees, seemingly staring at the wall across from them, but not really looking at anything. She was reliving all of the memories that she had, good and bad, with Heero. He could tell by the range of emotions that continuously played across her face. She had not said a word since Heero?s eulogy and he had no idea how to get her to open up. Duo sat there staring at her trying to figure it out.

They sat in silence of hours, until suddenly Relena flung herself at Duo and started sobbing. Duo wrapped his arms around her and held on as if she would fall apart if he didn?t.

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AN:I am so sorry that this is so short but it is almost 4 in the morning and I really need to get some sleep. I will hopefully have another chapter up soon. If you are wondering what Heero said at the end of the eulogy, I'm sorry but you'll have to wait, I don't want to give that away just yet. Please leave a review, good or bad. I do't care as long as you let me know.