Love Among the Ruins 14

[Sailor Celaeno]

Here is another chapter from me.

**********

Disclaimers and warnings: I don't own the characters and there's tons of warnings from the previous chapters.

Gundam Wing: Love Among the Ruins
Act 14: Strangers
By Sailor Celaeno

[all is changed for me]

?You see, Relena was under pressure to resolve Mars as quickly as possible. Her efforts were failing. Not that anyone lost confidence in her, but the fact is that she was under such intense scrutiny? I often wonder what kind of suffering that poor woman had to endure. It must have been hard all alone, without anyone to help her. I mean, she had friends, but it was impossible to be around anyone. And I wish I could have been able to help her, but I was being selfish again. I can?t possibly deserve any kindness,? Hilde said softly.

*****

[into tears and pain]

It was a solemn day when Duo?s memorial service was being held. Though he was a popular Preventer, only a few people could come. Mars was an on-going case, so many of his comrades weren?t able to attend. Hilde stood over the monument bearing his name. She held a handkerchief tightly as she watched everyone slowly walk away. It was a beautiful service and she could imagine that Duo would have been happy to know so many people loved him. She wondered what he would have thought if he saw her with Heero here.

Heero held her hand tightly and silently, as though his strength was transferring to Hilde. Relena was very silent watching the service and not paying much ado about the couple near her. Trowa, Quatre, and Wufei also stood in the background, watching solemnly. It was a simple, brief service. A preacher said a few words. ?You know? he wanted to have a get-together with all of you. All of you were like his brothers, watching his back, and always there to be his friends. I?m glad that I had the privilege of knowing a kind, generous man like Duo Maxwell. I?m even prouder to be his friend,? Relena began simply. Soon, the ceremony ended and everyone parted.

Relena walked over to Heero and Hilde. ?I?m sorry that Duo is gone. I?m sure it hurt you very deeply.?

Heero watched her with some caution. Just what was the meaning behind those words. Was she angry? Jealous? No, it wasn?t like Relena to be that way at a time like this. What was he thinking? Relena is a better person than to ?add insult to injury.?

?Thank you,? Hilde managed to say between sobs.

?I can?t stay long. You understand,? Relena said quietly before leaving.

Hilde looked up and noticed that Heero was watching Relena go into her car as Peygan closed the door behind her. ?Heero??

?I often wonder??

?Wonder? About what??

?I wonder what she?s thinking right now.?

*****

[from their eyes, able to perceive]

?I wonder myself. What was she thinking when she saw us holding hands and us just? just being together. Even now I can?t help wonder could this all have been prevented, or was it something that would inevitably lead to this? I can?t help thinking about that,? Hilde sighed.

?It?s natural for you think about these things in hindsight. But you couldn?t have thought that way at the time. Try to understand that when these things happen, you can?t always prevent them. You can only do what you can in that one moment,? replied the doctor.

?Do you think that I?m selfish??

?Selfish, Hilde? Why??

?I?m selfish for thinking so much of myself that I forgot her feelings. Relena is the better woman. She deserves better than this. My selfishness is killing her, so I?m evil,? said angrily.

*****

[Stand still for a moment]

Relena sat on a deck chair watching the nighttime sky. The stars were shining brightly with the silky, gentle moonlight in the distance. Relena thought it would be a nice way to remember Duo by watching the moon. He once told her that he liked moon gazing. ?You never see the moon like this out on the colonies.? Relena was amused at how romantic a guy Duo was. But something did bother Relena. She wanted to get records of Duo?s death and other information about his work on Mars for her investigation of the matter. However, Une informed her that the records were to be sealed in government archives until the Mars situation was dealt with. Something didn?t quite add up. Being a high ranking official in ESUN, Relena could easily demand copies. Her assistants were already working on it. Something about the circumstances of his death didn?t quite add up. Relena smiled at the thought. Maybe being around Heero for so long taught her how to be suspicious.

?Oh Duo? I hope that I can find the answers. I wish you could help me out,? she said softly more to herself than to anyone in particular.

*****

[Oh memories, yes, dear and final]

Hilde sat by the window of her apartment. She was watching the moon and the sparkling sky. Heero approached and handed her a glass of lemonade. ?Do you suppose that Duo forgives us now??

Heero was a surprised at her question. ?I?m not sure.?

?Well, I didn?t expect you to give me an answer you know,? Hilde gave him a gentle smile.

?I know.? Heero stopped for a moment and then said, ?Wherever he is, he probably forgave us. Try to get some sleep Hilde. I?m going to take a quick check of the e-mail and see if we have anything before we sleep. Okay??

Hilde nodded. Heero walked away and gave her one last glance. Hilde just stared out the window.

*****

?There was another disturbance last night. This time centralized in the business district of New Port City. The young Martian city, as you may well know, has been the epicenter of rash violence among rival syndicates, and the MOPS force. While they is progress by MOPS, there is no question that this ?gang war? will continue. Fifty people were injured and five dead in an explosion that appeared to have originated in a garbage can like this one behind me. An ordinary garbage can sitting on a street corner. Word from the office of Zechs Merquise is that a curfew may need to be ordered.?

?We are all concerned for the safety of all citizens of New Port City. We are seriously considering curfew enforcement in order to limit criminal activity and ensure the safety of as many people as possible. We intend to capture all of syndicate bosses and their henchmen. We wish to assure everyone that these criminals will be stopped,? Zechs spoke at a podium as cameras flashed.

?We at United Press Alliance will continue to cover this story and inform you of further details as they come. This is Darla Milliard reporting.?

*****

?When was the last time you got a full night?s sleep?? Sally asked as she shown a medical flashlight into her eyes.

?I?d say weeks ago,? Relena gave her a weak laugh.

Sally arched an eyebrow. ?You need to sleep.?

?I can?t afford it. Time is too valuable. Besides, I try to sleep, but something is buzzing in my mind. I can?t stop thinking, and the next thing I know, it?s morning.?

Sally thought for a moment. ?I don?t normally recommend this, but here?? Sally began writing on her prescription pad. ??here is a mild sleeping medication. Just take two pills when you?re ready to go to bed. It?ll take a few minutes for your stomach to digest them, so it should work fairly quickly. Once you start sleeping by yourself, you can stop taking them.?

?Thanks.? Relena said as Sally left her

?Try to sleep tonight. You can?t possibly be feeling very well,? Sally said before she closed the door behind her.

[why do you reward me thus?]

Relena held the paper in her hands. She stared at the words and began to cry. That?s what it all came down to. She needed medication to ease her mind. It was sad that after everything that was happening, tiny pills would come to her aid. Maybe when she went to sleep, the sounds of people begging for her attention would finally go away. Maybe relief.

AN: Sorry if this isn?t a particularly enthralling installment, but that should be relieved with the next chapter. Now onward, ho!

1) ?Dove sono i bei momenti? from ?The Marriage of Figaro? by Mozart A. Mozart

2) ?Quando men Vo? from ?La Boheme? by Giacomo Puccini

3) ?Song to the Moon? from ?Rusalka? by Antonin Dvorak

4) ?Va Pensiero? from ?Nabucco? from Giuseppe Verdi

5) ?Vissi d?Arte? from ?Tosca? by Giacomo Puccini

6) ?Libiamo, libiamo ne?lieti calici? from ?La Traviata? by Giuseppe Verdi

[silversong]

(does a dance) It's another one! Huzzah!

~Silver