Part Two of Two Steps

[Desert Bloom]

Disclaimer: Do people seriously get sued for fanfiction? I should think that the creators are thankful to have an audience. At any rate, I am making no money off of this and stay as desperately poor as ever.

***Part Two of Two Steps***

Authoresses Note: Well, I?m finally writing this! I think the last time I wrote any sort of fanfiction was in the summer. Hmmm. Well, a lot of time has passed, and hopefully my writing is the better for it. As usual, I LOVE getting reviews. You can email desertbloomwonders@hotmail.com if you particularly like this fic and wish to make some sort of comment. I appreciate people giving me tips too, but flames go right in the trash. Sadly, I am sensitive.




Had it really been seven years? Such a long time. And now he was here before me, calm as ever, as if he visited nearly every day and this was a completely normal occurrence.

I searched for the right words, but found none. Several times I opened my mouth to say something, but found I had no idea what I was going to say, and promptly shut my trap closed. He had been gone for so long! Years! Part of me was outraged, the other happy, and then overall I felt slightly numb.

I had cared for him. I cared for the bravery he exhibited under pressure, cared for the heart he had never been allowed to have, but was struggling to find. I had cared so much, I had put my responsibility on hold, but he had been too stubborn to consider it.

During the few minutes that passed of our simply staring at one another, Heero got to his feet, threw a last glance at the bed, and said, ?I came for the reunion.?

?One of the oddest reunions I think could ever be held on this earth.? I said suddenly.

?A servant was showing me to the ballroom,? He continued, ignoring my last sentence. ?But I stopped, remembering this room.?

I wondered what he possibly wanted me to say. For a long time I stared at my feet, and then, looking back up at him, said, slowly, as if I was having difficulty getting the words out, ?It?s a very nice room, Heero.?

He nodded in agreement. I was beginning to feel very uncomfortable under the steady gaze of his harsh brown eyes, and the thought of fleeing from those strong orbs suddenly crossed my mind.

?I?ve got to go,? I said, opening the door.

For a moment, I paused, waiting to see if he would do anything to stop me. I was treated to the sudden flashing image of an unconscious Heero lying in bed, silent in sleep, devoured by shadows. Seeing that he made no movement, but merely stared back at me, I left, softly closing the door behind me.

I could hear the faint sound of his footsteps in the room behind me, as if he was moving to stop me. But then they ceased, and I had a strong feeling that he had gone to sit back on the bed.

Heading to my room once more, I struggled to find my way through the mess of thoughts cluttering it. I had been such an idiot! I could have gotten some information out of him, and answer the many crucial questions I had been wondering for years, such as who had attacked him, why they had done so, and why he had left. Yet when the moment came, the same moment I had rehearsed so many times in my head, I had completely fallen apart, useless to do anything but mutter about nice rooms and odd reunions.




I slept very little that night, and was not at all extremely refreshed when I awoke the next morning. I fought with a profound annoyance that daylight had the nerve to come back. But even one in my power of position had not the grace to stop these changes, and so forth I submitted myself to work once again.

My visitors from last night were allowed to explore the entire area, and were asked to please stay a couple more days if they could. Most of them agreed, except for Sally. She had some pressing mission that couldn?t wait a moment longer.

Nearing noon time, I left the paperwork and all the other files, the pressing sheets so ignorant of the fact that their keeper may have a life, and went to bid Trowa and Sally a goodbye. A taxi would pick them up shortly, and so I made my way out the backdoor and through the garden, planning to catch them by the front door. The garden was beautiful that day, and I wanted to have the chance to breath some fresh air and relax in all of nature?s glory, even if it was for but a moment.

I walked past the rows of rose bushes and the other exotic plants that Anne and the others had worked so hard on, nourishing them and loving them. As I walked, I was able to think long about the recent developments.

Five years. A long time. He had literally disappeared, giving no thanks to the devotion I showed, by his side forever. Heero Yuy would never change. Should I dwell on him so? I wasn?t sure. I was confused, torn.

I had just neared the front when I was suddenly made aware of loud voices, raised with anger. Raising an eyebrow, I stopped, listening hard.

Sally?s voice was at my ears, desperate and tearful. ?Wufei, I told you, I couldn?t!?

Wufei mumbled something barely audible. I moved a couple steps forward, separating the leaves so that I had a tiny peephole, and watching as Wufei and Sally came into view.

The front of the palace was actually an ingenious arrangement, a large set of steps set before the front door. Before the steps was the road, so that different vehicles, such as taxis, could pull up and have whoever it was catch an instant ride. To me, now, however, it seemed as if the fates had purposely made the perfect place for the two to argue.

Wufei had his arms crossed, eyes darting from the steps to Sally and then to the road. Sally faced him, almost challengingly.

?Wufei, I told you before??

?Sally! It?s??

Sally waved a hand, not allowing him to continue. ?Dishonor? Is that it??

Wufei would say no more, sullenly fixing his feet with such a concentration you would think them the most interesting things in the world.

I wondered if I was being snoopy, and if I should make myself known. But then something stopped me, and I told myself that they needed to work out whatever this was for themselves, without interruption. Of course, the more courteous thing to do would be to have left, and allow them some privacy, but that notion was completely lost on me.

There was a screech of tires in the distance. Wufei and Sally had both noted it as well, for Sally bent and picked up her bags, while Wufei?s head snapped up quickly.

?It?s your ride.? He said, quietly, and slowly.

?Yeah.? Said Sally, seemingly very dispirited.

Within a moment the yellow cab was there. Sally?s eyes lingered for a moment on Wufei?s stern face, and then tore it away, accepting the driver?s aide as the bags were placed in the back, and then, after what seemed to me an eon, taking a seat herself. The door closed, and with a roar of the engines she was off.

Wufei jammed his hands in his pockets and went through the front door, and I, suddenly feeling extremely guilty, crept back through the garden from whence I came.





Two months passed without any major event. Then I learned of Zachary Billington.

Zachary Billington was the newest in the line of colony extremists. Deeply religious and firm in his every belief, he had convicted the Earth of murder long ago. His hatred was old hat to many, a political fad that was already done and gone. Yet, he had a considerable amount of support for something that was so ?old hat?.

Most people made light of it. A cult, they called it. Rumor had it that Billington suffered from some personal atrocity against his family, and thusly had sworn revenge. He had joined many different groups, but had never stayed long. To most experts, he was the leader of a cult whose ideas were threatening, but not their actions. One who has such an open personal hatred against something usually doesn?t do very well, they said. Once the followers come to see that they want only for their self, and not the good of the whole, things usually fall apart.

I wasn?t sure. The first time I saw him it was because Noin had brought in a tape of one of his speeches ? she too felt nervous about the whole thing. Watching it, I saw many signs that this was not just an ordinary guy.

With long, rich black hair that he allowed to flow down to his waist, as well as green eyes that you just lost yourself in, admittedly I found him very attractive. As the content of his speech was revealed, however, I was more and more disgusted. But also, extremely impressed.

?The company that lies before me!? He would begin, entering the stage and heading immediately to the podium, ?The Company that lies before me, I give you Earth!?

In the film, the area in the back of him was suddenly shown to be a movie screen. There was a small click, and then horrid images danced across the screen. A woman dishonored, a man, hands and eyes heavenward, bloodied and dying, a small child very thin, large brown eyes begging for some solace. I was bewitched myself.

It flicked off, and the stage was bathed in darkness. Then, on cue, the light was shone on Billington, as if he was an angel in a business suit, deeply honoring the audience by looking over them and speaking to them.

?I give you Earth!? He continued passionately, ?Earth, which, as we have all just witnessed, has brought these horrors onto the colonies! Women raped, men dying, our children?our children starving. Because of Earth! They oppressed us, took our money, cramped us into these small spaces, and utterly looked upon us as the lower part of the human race. When ??

At this, he slammed his hand down, a satisfying smack that seemed to echo throughout.

?When THEY are truly the lower ones! We, comrades, we were brave enough to come out here and settle here! We deserve the Earth! Now?people say things are better?and this is true?but they got away with it!?

He surveyed the crowd, allowing his last words to sink in.

?They got away with it.? His voice was strangely quiet, sending a chill down Relena?s spine. ?They got away with it, comrades, they got away with it. THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT!? He suddenly yelled. ?And shall we let them get away with it??

Murmurs of disapproval at earth shuddered through the crowd. Seeming proud of himself, Billington grinned and voiced the answer: ?No, comrades, we shall not.?

I shut it off there, somewhat scared of the chants that I knew would come. In my mind, I pictured those green eyes; sharply intelligent in an ignorant manner, green eyes laughing as his audience chorused, Death to Earth.

I knew I was in trouble. For there was a new group named D.T.E., and they were lacking nothing in motivation and possessing everything in pure, raw anger.




I was in trouble, as I found out, when the experts were proved wrong and Billington continued to gain power. I felt ultimately helpless as first he conversed with a few senator friends of mine, winning their support. At first I couldn?t understand how they could even listen to him for an instant, much less believe his cause.

Then, however, I realized that he told two different stories.

To his actual group, he spoke of absolute, bloody revenge on Earth. But videos of these speeches were rare; almost none, and I found that one of my servants had conveniently disposed of that tape of mine. He did an amazing job of picking out his members well, so that even though Noin told me she had tried to join as an undercover, but she had been turned away and had a black eye to tell of the event.

There was nothing I could do to fight it. He continued to gain support, a two faced liar who seemed, every time I cornered him, to have a trick up his sleeve. I watched in quiet horror as first he had two thousand members, and then ten thousand, and then thirty thousand. The past?s terrors seemed to be forged anew in this attractive young man, whose words spun very convincingly.

Finally, six months after he had first appeared on the scene, altogether eight months since the reunion, I knew I had to do something drastic. Using all my influence, I set up a debate, which was to be publicly aired. I would shoot down his ideals, while creating a new inspiration in my own.

I was nervous, but confident nothing could go wrong. After all, what did people want more? War? Or peace?




The day eventually came, a harshly cold winter freeze falling over the Earth that Billington hated so badly. I flew off to New York, where this was to be held, grateful for Noin?s company.

?I can?t not watch you kick this guy?s ass.? She had explained at the time.

The flight went relatively well, and, a swarm of guards hovering around me; I was lead into the stage area. I tightly gripped my notes to my chest, a feeling of soft panic surging within my stomach. I was all too aware of what would happen in the case that I would come out the loser.

Noin, the wonderful person that she is, clapped me on the back once we had gotten backstage, and said encouragingly, ?I know you can do it, white dove. Remember that, Relena, you?re the dove of peace.? Then she embraced me in a hug.

I don?t think I have ever experienced a gesture so simply sincere. Leaning into her, I realized I couldn?t have asked for a better mother figure. ?Thank you,? I breathed.

The moment was gone all too soon. I wondered dimly whether my brother realized how truly special Noin was, and then was ushered off for makeup.




Coming out of my makeup room, I felt more like a singer than a politician, and decided I should ask them to put a star on my door.

Two guards were at my side, altogether very threatening towards anyone who should think to make a move. I felt very safe as they led me down the halls, but at the time, safety was not an issue for me. I was wondering when, if I was able to nip this thing in the bud, that is, I wondered when the next thing would be, and if I would be able to overcome that.

As we walked, my eyes scoped the halls. White wallpaper, white tiles beneath me that sounded odd as my heels clashed against it. Mostly boring.

Then they caught my eye.

I wasn?t sure at first, but slowed down, the guards seeming to be quite annoyed at my sudden lack of pace. They said nothing, but I could tell by the glance they exchanged. Oh well, I didn?t care.

It was, on closer inspection, most certainly Heero and Wufei, down one hall, Heero leaning against the wall while Wufei proceeded to talk long. Once again, Wufei seemed to be in an argument, and a thought flashed through my mind, strangely humorous in the seriousness of the moment. My god, I thought, that Wufei just seems to be an overly disagreeable person.

I was more interested on the case of Heero, though. While he didn?t even seem to say something, instead shrugging as Wufei?s lecture, he was angry. I could tell.

?Miss?? Began one of the guards, but I held up a hand and he stopped, cut short.

?Stay here,? I directed, and, holding my notes even harder against my chest, I made my way towards them.

?I don?t like this, Heero. I can?t believe you?re not going to tell her! Do you not have the dignity to even think of the consequences???

Heero?s eyes flashed from Wufei, and then to me, and then to Wufei again. Wufei seemed quite oblivious to me, too caught up his point.

He continued. ?I am not a believer in peace! But the actions of those who do hold belief have made this world better. And now you allow them to be destroyed like this! Heero, it could happen again!? He paused, noticing that Heero?s eyes were no longer on him. Following the direction in which Heero had averted his eyes, he struck upon me, and was immediately silenced.

?What consequences?? I asked, concerned.

Heero spoke. Heero, who I had devoted so much of my thoughts to, so much of my love. Heero, who I cared for so deeply, and Heero, who seemed as if he could not get any more ignorant of all this.

?It is none of your business.? He said quite firmly.

?None of my business! Heero, Wufei just said that something is threatening peace! And I am the?? I stopped, the words I had meant to say ringing in my mind, all too prideful to be voiced.

And I am the peacekeeper. If peace is harmed, I am harmed.

Or do you not care?

I was suddenly surprised to find Wufei?s hand on my arm, gripping it with much strength. I looked from Heero to Wufei, whose black eyes seemed to contain a hidden fear that I did not understand, and wanted so badly to know.

?Relena.? He said, willing all of my attention to him. ?Do not listen to his shit. You cannot go out there, Relena! Don?t go.?

?W-what??

?It?s dangerous.? He said, offering no thorough explanation.

I was about to respond, explaining to him precisely why I had to go, regardless of any danger. I was not worried about being shot, I would explain. I had faced that choice, that chance, many times before.

But then the announcement rang out, ?Here comes Mr. Zachary Billington!? and I could wait no longer, for it had started.




I was ready. I had the ultimate weapon to unleash on Mr. Innocent Billington. During a crucial part of my speech, I would turn the stage into a movie theater, much like he had done before, and show the entire world footage of one of his real speeches.

We took our places at our own separate podiums. Nervously I arranged my notes, trying to keep in mind that a good speech was not done with too many glances at notes, lest your audience should think that you relied to heavily on these and not the wit of your own, pure mind.

?I am Zachary Billington,? My opponent opened, going for the direct, no nonsense approach. ?And I am overjoyed tonight to have the honor of the world?s attention! Today I test the credibility of Vice Foreign Minister, Miss Relena Darlian Peacecraft.?

I introduced myself as well, curtsying for the crowd and then clasping my hands together and placing them on the podium in what seemed to me a very innocent, school-girl manner.

We began a long debate over many key questions, such as trading situations and other ?atrocities? that Billington felt the colonies had suffered over the past few years. I tried my best to point out that while they were horrible things that were very rude, they were in no way means for a revolution.

I was muddling through, just trying to survive until I could let out the weapon and then rest, allowing the film to do the work. It was hard, though. He was wonderfully comfortable on stage and thusly had a stage presence that there was no matching to

Finally it came. I breathed an inwardly sigh of relief, and then said loudly, with perhaps the most confidence of the entire debate, ?Our ?comrade? Billington here, tells two separate stories. In one, he appears to be a sensible politician who only wants some minor changes made! I would be all too willingly to make those changes, and believe me, I will, but, he has another story.?

I took a deep breath, eyes sweeping the crowd.

?He makes speeches like the one that I will show to you now, where he takes on quite a different persona. That of a radical, the leader of a group, which borders on the lines of becoming a full-blown cult. Their name: D.E.A. Meaning, quite crudely: Death To Earth.

I slammed down my hand on the podium, the signal for the screen in the back of us to flicker on. The lights dimmed, and a whispered murmur of surprise surged through the crowd. Here it was, and this horrible episode would be done with. I turned to watch Billington?s end appear on the screen.

But instead of Billington?s raised voice shouting his death chant, instead of the disgusting way in which they worshiped this man?s hatred, there was static.

The flickering of black and white blending into gray, the soft hiss as the colors crackled against each other.

My hands flew to my mouth, just quick enough to stop my yell of protest. I was going down in flames. But how? Arrangements had been made. It was supposed to go on now! The accusation I had just made, the way I had just pointed my finger without ANY evidence?

?Well then, Miss Peacecraft,? Said Billington?s voice slowly, as if he was savoring the moment.

My hands left my mouth to stable myself on the podium. My eyes lingered for a while on my notes, now altogether and completely useless, and then finally, after what seemed ages, I found the strength to raise my eyes and look at Billington.

?Perhaps,? He said, green eyes laughing, ?Perhaps now you can explain to us your relationship with the Gundam Pilots. I have heard that it is much more personal than you ever let out??

I didn?t wonder how. I knew I had been set up. The fact that he had known was tearing me apart. But mostly, what really hurt was that I was no longer two steps away. I had been flung without my willing, and now there was not the slightest chance of returning to my dreams. I was more than two steps, more than two miles away.

I was at the point of no return.

[melodrama]

Woohoo, what a terrif story! I'm enthralled! Can't wait to read more! Well Done!

[blackrose]

YIKES! Poor Relena! She should have listened to Wufei! (that's an odd thing I never thought I'd say...)

Heero, you jerkface. **growls**

Geh, I hope there's another part...

Thanks for sharing it!

Love,
Rose

[Tsukiyo]

Oh, Desert Bloom this is just so good. and i'm just so confused. i don't know what's going on at all! This is GREAT!!

~tsukiyo

[Rose of Betrayal]

Ooh...ooh... I am enthralled. I love this! But too many cliffhangers! Oh, well, seeing that I am a cliffhanger sort of writer myself, I should say that you are the best cliffhanger in the world! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
This is an excellently written fic which I luv. *starts chanting* Relena is heartbroken, Heero is a jerk, Wufei is...? Heh, ran out of things to say.

<img src="http://images.quizilla.com/R/Ruri-chan/ ... _Ahope.JPG" border="0" alt="You represent... hope."><br>You represent... hope.