Hollow Girl: Revelation 5

[raine_yuy]

disclaimer: i just borrowed.

note: chapter 5 people. gah, i am so stressed and i know i brought it on to myself. damn muse keeps giving me ideas and i can't keep up coz there are so many. that's it, i'm ignoring my muse for now and throwing it out the window. anyway, i hope you enjoy this chapter of Hollow Girl.




Relena stood before an elongated mirror in her bedroom, scrutinising herself and checking her whole profile starting with her head to her toes. Not one stray of hair escaped from the cruelty of her french twist. The formal black suit was crisp and dared not to wrinkle for fear of Relena?s relentless straightening. Her black medium-heeled shoes shined with unnatural perfection as if a sadist with a taste for scrubbing had ruthlessly worked on it all night. Content with her outward composure, she started working on the inside where turmoil ceased to settle itself. She closed her eyes, willing the ever- reliant emptiness to fill her mind with the familiar dark void that always soothed her. A knock on her door interrupted the process.

?Who is it??

?Miss Relena?? The now familiar voice of Joseph called out tentatively. ?I?m sorry to bother you Miss Relena but I have a very important message for you.?

She walked to the door, opening it. ?Hello, Joseph. What is it??

He held an envelope in one hand and Relena stiffened visibly. The older man frowned in concern. ?Are you alright Miss Relena??

Relena berated herself for the slip of control. ?Yes.? Stiffening her shoulders, she took the note and curtly smiled in thanks at the anxious man before her. ?Thank you, Joseph.?

She closed the door softly as soon as Joseph turned his back. The temptation to lean against the door was strong if not for the voice inside her head that taunted her for that obvious show of weakness. Damn that voice. She turned to the back of the envelope where she fully expected to find her name typed instead of written. She sighed in relief at the familiar writing of Miss Une. It wasn?t him. She proceeded to open the envelope. Inside was the short message:

<i>The meeting will be in Room B143. The officials somehow found out about the problems we?ve been having and are quite upset. They want to see you alone.</i>

How were they able to find out about the problems? Relena sighed wearily, not looking forward to explaining just why she had felt the need to keep everything a secret. Taking one last look at herself in the mirror, she picked up her brief case and headed for the door.



Inside the private car driven by Pagan, Relena willed herself to concentrate on the prepared speech she had conjured up last night and not the irritating presence of the car behind her. The black non-descriptive vehicle consisted of all the Gundam pilots with Heero behind the wheel. Noin noticed the hardened jaw and the restraint pulling at Relena?s face.

?Is everything alright Miss Relena??

Why did everyone all of a sudden have the desire to ask her that irritating question? ?I?m fine. I just feel like I?m being stalked instead of protected. They?re driving too close to our rear end.?

Noin?s mouth lifted at the corner slowly. ?They?re only being cautious Relena.?

?They?re being paranoid.?

?They?re taking necessary precautions.? This from Milliardo who sat beside Relena to her right.

?Fine,? was Relena?s one word answer.

The silence stretched until Noin could not help but wonder what had transpired between brother and sister to create this tension that was pulling at her nerves. "Miss Relena, what will you tell the officials?? Noin asked to break the deafening silence.

?I suppose the truth will have to do.? What was it with her and truth these days? ?I will tell them that there was no evidence as to any serious problems then and there isn?t now.?

?You?re going to continue to keep this dangerous situation a secret?? Noin asked in surprise.

?This situation has nothing to do with my duties as Vice Foreign Minister. It doesn?t affect my job.?

"It will when they find you gutted.? Milliardo counterattacked harshly.

?Zechs!? Noin exclaimed in shock. Never had he been so cutting with Relena.

?It?s alright Noin.? Relena smiled bitterly and turned her attention for the first time on her brother. ?With the way you and Heero guard me, I doubt even a fly would be allowed to settle on any part of my body.?

The sarcasm fed Milliardo?s dark mood. ?And with the way you keep ignoring our warnings and putting yourself in such reckless situations, one will have to wonder if you?re deliberately inviting death.?

In all the conversations they had ever had, whether they be polite or bitter, Milliardo had never shown all the cruelty he held in abundance. Relena turned her head away, feeling an unfamiliar tremor take hold of her. She refuse to recognise it as fear.

The car slowed and saved her the burden of replying to Milliardo?s disturbing comment.



The sound of heels clicking echoed through the desolated hallways of the building. Relena and Noin walked ahead of the gundam pilots and Milliardo. They spoke softly enough to keep every word in privacy. They were to approach the room in which the meeting was to be conducted when Relena whispered softly, ?Miss Noin??

The softness of her name on Relena?s voice brought Noin to attention. ?Yes, Miss Relena?? There was a strange expression on her face. A kind of unguarded innocence that was unfamiliar to see in Relena. Noin became more alert. ?Is something wrong??

?No. I was just wondering??

?Wondering what Miss Relena??

Relena turned her head away, her eyes focused on the space ahead of her. ?You?ve been with Milliardo for such along time??

Noin frowned in surprise and impatience. ?Yes??

?And that whole time, you?ve been in love with him.?

?I have yes. Since the very beginning.? There was no shame, only a simple admittance.

Relena finally met Noin?s gaze, her eyes filled with wonder. ?And all that time, my brother never expressed any ? emotions.?

Where was the conversation going? ?Your brother was never given to voicing or even expressing his emotions with the tiniest of frowns.?

?And still you waited?? Relena?s expression was incredulous.

Noin?s expression changed to that of confusion to sad understanding. ?He may never tell me that he cares about me, but I know that he does. I know that he cares a lot. I don?t need to hear the words; it?s not a valid proof of his feelings. It?s knowing and feeling it deep in your soul.? Noin could only hope that Relena understood the meaning beyond the carefully chosen words. ?It?s worth waiting for. That careless peace you can feel deep down in your soul when you finally know, even without the words, that the man you can?t live without, can?t live without you. Love is worth fighting for. Or in this case, waiting for.?

?It doesn?t seem like it.? Bitterness crept into Relena?s voice as she pulled her gaze away.

Noin studied Relena, hoping for a sign of life. ?Relena, love isn?t something that cuddles up to you and make you feel safe. It holds you so tight that sometimes you can?t breath. It hurts but it will just keep on holding.?

A knowing smile that was both tender and bruised pulled at the corner of Relena?s mouth. ?Right. Love hurts.?

Noin returned the smile with more tenderness. ?He came back Relena. There may not be words but it?s something.?

?It doesn?t matter,? was Relena?s curt answer. In a sober whisper, ?Nothing matters.?

Standing before the door, Relena and Noin waited for the gundam pilots and Milliardo to catch up. Relena faced them; determination lifted her chin.

?I?ll be going in alone.?

?What for?? Duo stared at Relena suspiciously.

Relena stared back, ?There?s no need for everyone to be there, standing behind me like guard dogs.?

?It won?t bother any of them.? Heero insisted.

?Yes, it will. They are already suspicious of my actions. You being there will only heighten that suspicion. I have no intention of telling them what I consider is a private matter.?

Milliardo opened his mouth to argue, only to have Noin?s arm stop him. She shook her head in warning. There was no need for his objection however, Heero had moved to stand before Relena, his eyes drilling into hers.

?Relena??

?Stop saying my name like that. I?m not intimated.?

If Heero could have been a normal human being, it could have been said that he almost spluttered at Relena?s crude bluntness. His expression was simply unfamiliar as the others watched on.

Before anyone else can object, Relena grabbed for the doorknob and opened the door. There was no time for anyone to react, Relena stepped in and closed the door. Darkness met her in an intimate liaison.

Just as the door closed and she heard the soft click, the last thing that she saw in her mind was Heero?s frown of annoyance before a blinding pain brought her down and seduced her to unconsciousness. Millions of bright lights danced behind her eyes before the darkness finally encompassed light. A shadow stood before her unmoving form, so still?



to be continued...

[Sai Hikaru]

ah!!!!! wuts gonna happe nxt?!!?!?!??!?!
i haf been waiting for da nxt chpt for a long time alreadi!!! so hope dat da nxt chpt comes out soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

[Kuno-baby]

As if I wasn't already hooked. This just keeps getting better. And the fact you frequently update makes it even better.

[shadowcat]

i really like this fic and like reading new chapters!!

-Shadow

[Kiyoko]

Oh my god, I knew that something like that would happen! She just has to be so stubborn doesn't she! Great chapter, please keep going.

[RDP]

Oh no! Stubborn Relena, and then Heero was right. Akk! Please update soon! Too much suspense... :-?

[kmf]

kmf: *runs up to Raine and grabs her in a headlock*

Raine: Ouch!

kmf: *drags Raine back to her pc and throws her into chair*

Raine: Err...a little excessive dont you think?

kmf: *scowls*

Raine: Ok...you're scaring me now...

kmf: *reaches into jacket pocket and pulls out.....*

Raine: *winces in alarm* Oh dear Lord not....

kmf: *pink fluffy bunny of sap*

Raine: ....that! Take it away! Take it away!

kmf: I will, when you finish this story!! *camps out beside Raines pc waiting for her to continue...*

You know hon, I am sure its over a year since I last read this story and got to this point. Pleeeaaasssee! Give me closure! Im on my knees begging for closure. For over a year Relena has been knocked out, locked in a room with a crazy person and Im dying to know what happens next!

Raine: *still transfixed in horror by rabbit* Cant..type..too..scared...


kmf