Saber's Tear - ch. 4 !!!

[Ame-san]

Saber's Tear

By: Ame-san

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing; not now, probably never.

Author's Note: It's been ages since I last updated, but here it is, a new chapter. Yea!

" Your Highness, as expected, Treize has gone to the assassins by himself." Captain Zechs Marquise of the Imperial Guard reported his findings.

" Good work, Captain." Quatre paced back and forth in his chamber. " His reason for doing so will soon be revealed. Personally I've never trusted him." He stopped in the middle of his track. " After all, his brother was executed for treason. Zechs, continue to watch him closely."

" Your Highness, may I ask you why did you consult Treize about the assassins when you knew very well that he would use this opportunity to wish ill upon the kingdom?"

" Someone has to give him a chance to show his true colors, or else we'll never catch him. Treize is a dangerous man. He may not look like it, but he is the most dangerous of them all, a bigger threat than the assassins. Treize's grudge against the King is more than the death of his brother; it's something deeper of which we have no knowledge. Think about it, what would be his motive to continue to work for the King when the King was the one who gave the order to execute his brother? You do not work for your enemies unless you are out for revenge; you just don't. "

" Keeping the enemy closer, eh?" Zechs replied.

" Exactly. This is why we must keep a close eye on him."

" What about the assassins then? "

" I have a feeling that they will be sacrificed by Treize one way or another. I just wish that day won't come too early."

" Pardon me for my ill manners, Your Highness, but wouldn't you be the one responsible for their down fall? After all, you were one who gave Treize the opportunity."

" Yes. It would be my fault, but nothing else would be able to push Treize to the point to show his true color save this one. He must be eliminated before father's death, for the King places too much trust in him. My father believes that Treize chose his country over his kinsmen, but I know better. I'm afraid if we do not act soon, Treize would become much more powerful and difficult to control. By then, it would be too late." Quatre sighed. " Unfortunately, I have to carry on the guilt for the deaths of many. It's inevitable. It's not Heero's role in this one but mine. Mine alone. We need the crown prince to survive but not the second in line."

* * *

She met him exactly ten days ago. Relena contemplated quietly the man she had come to know as Heero Yuy. Sitting on the grassy bank of a river, she stole a glance at the figure next to her. He wore such a soft expression on his face when he watched the sunset in the far distance. She studied his features: tall, strong, dark unruly hair, a living spirit of a righteous warrior. She never thought she would say this, but he was her knight in shining armors, except a knight she was supposed to kill. Well, she couldn't possibly have the heart to do so now. But he wasn't a real knight either. She thought. He was only a traveler who lived according to his emotions.

" Why are you looking at me with those curious eyes, Relena?" They mutually agreed to cease the need for formality. She turned her head away quickly, avoiding his stare.

" I was just thinking, that's all."

" Care to share your thoughts?"

" Not particularly."

He chuckled softly and went back to watch the sunset. He still didn't know anything about the maiden sitting next to him except that she was the most beautiful, most clever, and the kindest woman he had ever met, and she was still just an ordinary girl. She wished not for jewels and fancy robes but a small cabin where she could tend to her chickens and grow herbs. He envied her dream.

" Heero, " her voice grew serious. " you do know that our parting is inevitable."

The thought of it disturbed him. " Why bring that up now?"

" Because I can't..." She couldn't say it. She couldn't tell him that she couldn't open her heart to him when she knew this short-lived happiness was only an illusion.

" Just let it be, Relena." He put his hand over hers. She looked away, for she hated showing her weakness.

" Yes, just leave it to fate. Don't you think fate can be very cruel sometimes?"

" But there is nothing we can do. For the moment, Relena, let's live the life we want to live and not worry about what's real."

She chuckled sadly. " It's quite silly actually. There is so much I do not know about you, Heero, but I'm still willing to trust you completely. I must be mad to feel such a way."

" You really trust me completely?"

" I do not know what you did before I met you, but I trust your character, and that's all that matters to me. You are an honest man, Heero Yuy."

" My character." He didn't know what to say. " Maybe you should rethink..." He murmured to himself.

" What's that? What do you mean?" She laughed bitterly. " Don't tell me that you are a criminal running from the imperial guards." 'Because I'm one they want,' she thought.

" Relena," He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. " There is something I must tell you before I leave."

" Heero, if this is about what I said then it's ok. You are not obligated to tell me anything."

" But I need to..."

" It's fine." She put her fingers on his lips to stop him from talking. " Forget about it."

They remained silent for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company.

" You know that I will never hurt you, Relena." He whispered.

" I know." She hid her face from him.

" Come with me, Relena. Come with me when I leave this place." The question was so sudden even he himself wasn't prepared for it.

" What?" Her body froze. She couldn't think. This was...this was what she wanted, wasn't it? But she could never leave her family, her father, her duty. She couldn't just throw away her destiny for some stranger who accidentally dropped into her life.

She did not reply.

" Relena, I'll ask you this question again in three days, please answer me then. I'll wait for you here. Please think carefully about this."

" Heero, you know that I can't..."

" Just think about it, please. "

She rested her head on his shoulder and did not say anything for a long time.

* * *

" ...so I see, your answer is no then." Treize Kushrunada took a sip from his wine glass. " Lord Peacecraft, please do realize that I am offering you power and protection here. The King just wants you dead, but I'm willing to compromise."

" I will not be a slave to you, Kushrunada." Peacecraft spoke with dignity.

" I'm not asking you to be my slave, Lord Peacecraft. I'm asking for your assistance. In exchange I can make your band of assassins into an unstoppable army. Wouldn't you like that?" A sly smirk appeared on his face.

" To do what? To conquer the Kingdom for yourself, is that right?"

" I have no intention of claiming the throne; I just want the King dead, that's all. And if his death just happens to bring me his crown, I couldn't possibly decline such a generous offer."

" I do not work for people like you, Kushrunada. We might be assassins, but we have pride and honor. We do not kill for the sake of conquest."

" How about revenge then."

" We only kill to punish." The voice was final.

" Well, punish the King for me then. He has wronged me greatly." A bitter tone.

" My apologies, but I cannot accept this job."

" What, the King is too great a task for you? I have never seen assassins who won't take a risk."

" Mock me all you want, but I have no intention of disrupting the peace of this country."

" Disrupting the peace, eh? What do you call your killings, then? Your hypocrisies amuse me. Don't think that you are better than me, Lord Peacecraft. You, like everyone else, do not have the right to take away life, but you do it anyway. You call that honor? "

" I do not want to argue with you. Our meeting ends here, please leave at once." Peacecraft rose up from his seat and left.

Quietly Treize stepped out of the Peacecraft Manor.

' So you won't join me, will you? Well, then there is only one other path for you now. You shall meet your fate in three days, Lord Peacecraft. After all, I can't possibly let you live when you know about my little secret. Enjoy the time you have, you fool.'

* * *

Three days seemed like three seconds in the eyes of Relena Peacecraft, the daughter and sole heir to the Peacecraft cult of assassins. But as a Dorlain, three days were an eternity. Yes, she would love to say yes to Heero, to run away with him into the vast world where no one would know her secret. But no, she could never betray her family. There was no choice. For a brief second, she could have picked Heero, but in her heart, she knew that it had been impossible from the beginning. After all, lies forged their bond, not love, though her feelings for him had been pure. She must stay. This was her choice. It had always been her choice to stay.

With her horse tethered to the tree, Relena sat by the river bank and waited rather impatiently for Heero to show up. He had been the one who suggested the meeting, and he was late. For all the time she had known him, he was never once a second late to anything. A sick feeling tortured her insides. She couldn't help but to think that something horrible had happened.

"It's just my anxiety, that's all. It has nothing to do with him." She said to herself.

"Relena!" She saw her dear cousin Dorothy galloping toward her rather in a hurry. Upon a closer observation, she was shocked to find Dorothy, the ever so elegant lady of Catalonia, dressed in fighting clothes, her hair tied back, and her rarely used sword drawn at her side. She was covered in dust, and there were signs of dried blood at the corner of her mouth.

" Relena, we are under attack by the Imperial Guards! The manor is about to fall!" Dorothy said in between breaths.

" What?! Cousin? The Imperial Guards?" Relena quickly released her horse and climbed on.

" Let's ride; I'll tell you what happened on the way." Dorothy turned in the direction in which she came and kicked hard on the sides of her horse. " It's that damned Chancellor, Treize Krushrunada..."

As they approached the Peacecraft Manor, Relena could see smoke rising from behind the high walls and hear weapons of sorts clashing like thunder.

" Here, take this." Dorothy handed her a black scarf, same as the one she was about to put on herself. " It wouldn't be such a good idea for the whole world to find out that the ladies of Catalonia and Dorlain are in fact related to assassins."

" You still care about your name in a situation like this." Look of disgust.

" It's for your own good. If we hide our identities, there is still a chance we could survive." Without waiting for Relena, Dorothy rushed into the fights inside.

Relena took her cousin's advice and covered her face with the black fabric. She took a deep breath and followed in tow.

* * *

" Prince Heero, I truly appreciate your aid on such a short notice." Treize lowered his head to show his respect. " With you here, I'm certain that we will rid the Kingdom of these tiresome assassins."

" Treize, I don't know what you are playing at, but know that I am not here for you. I'm here for my father, the King." A warning. " I'm here because I was called by the Imperial Seal. "

I'm sorry Relena.

" It matters not now that you are here." Treize pointed at the entrance of the assassins' hideout. " Shall we?"

" Hn."

Heero Yuy fought fearlessly into the heart of the Manor. His mission: to capture and eliminate the leader. As he broke through the last defense of the enemy, he saw a group of loyal pawns defending an aged warrior.

I've found my target. He thought and went in for the kill. He did a flip and attacked from air at the man in the center of a well guarded circle. Just when his sword was about to pierce the panicking leader, a familiar sword blocked his attack.

" You!" He landed outside of the protected circle. It was the dark assassin once more, save this time she was wearing a white dress that had blood stains all over. Her face was still unknown to him.

" Back off!" She couldn't believe her eyes. The man she was supposed to meet an hour ago was here trying to kill her father. Anger, confusion and shock began to consume her insides. She didn't know what to do.

" Move!" Heero Yuy gestured with his sword.

" If you want to get to him, you'll have to get through me first!" She cried, planting her feet firmly on the ground. She would just have to fight to find out the truth.

" I do not wish to fight you." He said, stepping back.

" Heero Yuy! Tell me who exactly you are!" She screamed at him.

Old Peacecraft took this chance to order a counter attack at his enemy, but Heero was too quick to be caught in the trap. Relena was too preoccupied by her mixed emotions to move; with that, Heero bypassed her and several Peacecraft followers and pierced the chest of the leader of the assassins.

"NO!!!!!" She dropped her sword and ran to her father. Heero stood motionlessly and watched the mystery reveal itself.

" Father! No, don't! Don't die on me, father!" Tears began to fall and she wiped them away without mercy.

" Relena..." Her father whispered lightly.

" I'm here, father." She took off the scarf that was hiding her face and seized her father's hand.

Heero's sword landed on the ground with a thud. He backed away in shock. " Relena?" He couldn't think; his mind was drawing a complete blank.

She didn't hear him.

" I'm sorry, daughter." With that, Lord Peacecraft breathed his last breath. Relena remained silent for a second but suddenly turned to face Heero Yuy.

It was too much for either of them.

" You." There was a tone of despair. " How could you?" For the first time in her life, she felt betrayal. " You used me! You used my feelings for you to get to my father, didn't you?" There was hate behind her accusation.

" Relena, I..." He realized the truth. " Why? You are the daughter of..."

" I was the daughter of Lord Peacecraft." Her look of hurt pained his heart. " Why Heero? Why?"

She knelt down on her knees by her father's body and planted a kiss on his forehead. When she lifted her head back up again, the look in her eyes had changed. It was cold and harsh, void of emotions.

She was no longer staring at the man she loved; she was staring at the murderer of her father: Heero Yuy.

[RDP]

Yay! Another chapter...

Quatre sighed. " Unfortunately, I have to carry on the guilt for the deaths of many. It's inevitable. It's not Heero's role in this one but mine. Mine alone. We need the crown prince to survive but not the second in line."

Awww...Poor Quatre.

She was no longer staring at the man she loved; she was staring at the murderer of her father: Heero Yuy.

Oh no! So Lord Peacecraft died by the sword of the crown prince...his death indirectly caused by Relena. Is there more to the prophecy of Saber's Tear? What does Treize want? Please continue, Ame-san!

[Fate Lowe]

As with the other stories, I Love it!!!!!
I need updates on the three stories that I've read so far:
***This one: Saber's Tear
***Perhaps Intentions
***Love is Not A Fairy Tale
Anyways on to read more.