Yes I am indeed still alive and kicking my somewhat brief hiatus is over. Although this is not the story I had originally planned to post. But while the others are under review, my hiatus was somewhat extended as I found myself revamping my entire writing style. Not a very smart thing to do in the midst of a school year and several art projects to complete. As always I hope that you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of its characters. This was written purely for entertainment purposes and I receive no profits whatsoever.

                                                                        Fade To Black

                                                                By Aku Tenshi

      Relena rubbed the bridge of her nose as the letters and words began to blur together in her vision; as her head tilted forward she blinked rapidly to stay awake. Lately she had not been feeling up to par at all; suddenly she was becoming more and more lethargic and just recently she had begun feeling nauseous. She scheduled an appointment to see her physician on Tuesday, which according to her calendar was tomorrow, but she wondered if seeing the doctor now was too late to prevent whatever was wrong with her. She shook her shoulder-length honey-blond hair as she once again concentrated on the papers before her; carefully scrawling her signature on the dotted line.

      Emily Une sat at her own desk in the preventers' headquarters her hands clasped together just below her eyes as she stared at the man sitting before her.

"So this is your decision, this mission will have you away for months maybe years even. Are you sure?" she asked again her russet eyes in profound concentration and all too staid.

The man before her a tall gentleman, about her age with the appearance of an aristocrat, long albino hair and sapphire orbs nodded.

"Yes and I am sure," he replied his tone just as serious as Emily's expression but his face emotionless as if carved by stone. "It's for the best."

"This means that you can no longer watch over her as you do now, that you will have no direct contact with her only letters wired to and fro," She explained again; trying to at least change his mind "What if something goes wrong?"

Milliardo threw up a hand and waved it and then he spoke. "Relena has the best caretakers possible; not to mention the bodyguards she has." He mentioned nonchalant. But in truth this was and still is a hard decision for him to make.

Emily sighed, "Very well; I assign this mission to your care and I want the best from you. I expect it." and with that she stood; dismissing him by leaving the room.

      In a place far away and far colder than the temperate room of the leader of the preventers' office a man sat in the frigid cold the only communication available a two-way radio perched atop a wobbly wooden stool. But that didn't matter he never liked people anyway, all his life's purpose was to complete the mission. Whatever the mission might be; the room had already dropped below zero degrees Fairenheight but he made no move to turn the heat up. He didn't mind the cold in fact it numbed all of his senses making it harder for him to feel pain at all. Instead he reached for the remote controller and flipped on the television. Up flashed the young and beguiling face of a news correspondent as she droned on and on about the daily and insignificant news. As the news correspondent went on and on he checked his weapons, disbanding and assembling them over and over until they met his high standards. Only when he heard the name Relena Darlain did he look up the flickering screen casting an eerie glow over his features. Apparently she had mediated another country into stopping the ongoing war if she were to continue this; than soon the whole world would be at peace.

"There can't be peace without war." He mumbled his eyebrows furrowed together as he tried to remember where he had heard the phrase. With a shrug he dismissed the task and continued checking his weaponry.

      Relena entered her mansion and walked up the stairs to her room not even stopping to say hello. On the way up her briefcase clattered to the floor but she made no move to retrieve it. As it bounced down the steps she made her way up peering out through half lidded eyes. She opened the door to her room and then closing it with her foot she stumbled to her bed; her eyes closed even before her head touched the pillow. 

      The widow Darlain made her way into her daughters' room and her heart cried out as she saw her daughter completely exhausted. She kneeled and removed Relena's shoes, jacket and loosened her shirt. And then she leaned over and placed a kiss atop Relena's forehead,

"Oh my darling daughter you work way too hard and the reward is great but wearing yourself out like this," She paused and sighed "I remember when you were still a teenager you had such life but now you're 25, a college graduate and you already have your business degree. But it looks like work has taken the life out of you, I wish you would allow me to discuss this with your brother but," She released a frustrated sigh "Why must you be so hardheaded and stubborn. You have such pride in what you do that you won't stop and it's killing you."  She turned and left the room closing the door softly behind her.

      As Relena awoke the next day at noon she glanced at her clock only to see that someone had turned off the alarm.

She smirked, "Mother." She murmured as she swung her legs over the side of the bed her bare feet gracing the cold wooden floor.

As she sauntered to her bathroom articles of clothing fluttered to the floor until she was wearing nothing at all. She then slipped into her silken bathrobe tying the sash loosely around her; upon stepping into the bathroom she bent over the tub and began running water. Gracefully she then took a seat in front of her beauty mirror and stared languidly at her reflection.
"All that sleep and still I have bags under my eyes." She murmured with a depressed sigh.

She turned off the faucet and dipped her foot into the water; satisfied with the temperature she untied the sash, the robe wavering to the floor.

      Milliardo glanced out the shuttle window at the lone figure of Lucretzia Noin. She looked up until their eyes met, her own inky blue pleading for him to stay whilst his own icy orbs closing off his emotions. He smiled softly down at her and waved as he heard the engine finally start; as she looked at him longing and sorrow etched into her features.

"Take care of her, Noin." He mouthed down to her and almost flinched as he heard his own voice crack.

She stared up at him and nodded; slowly she turned as she let the crystalline tears fall.

"I promise Milliardo, for you anything."  And with that silent promise to herself she began walking away from the runway and towards her car.

      As Relena sat atop the examining table unbeknownst to her that she wouldn't see her brother for a few months or even years. Her legs swished to and fro in the paper gown, the subtle noise from the added medical paper atop the examining table made a soft melody; like that of sandpaper against a fine wood. She began to lace and unlace her fingers together as she watched the clock the minutes seeming like hours, she slowly smirked.

"I guess the theory of relativity is true." She murmured to herself but the smirk was soon wiped from her face when she heard the doorknob turn.

Her doctor Janice Armond strode into the room her crisp white lab coat hanging loosely around her; she pushed her glasses further up the bridge of her nose. She looked quite dignified and still young for a fifty-year old, her auburn hair tastefully striped with gray and not a line of age decorated her face; she smiled softly at Relena and shook her head slowly.

"Relena I've known you since you were a little girl, I've helped you through broken limbs to and through puberty. But I'm afraid this is the worst news you'll hear yet from me." She said her tone morose.

Relena brought her steady gaze to meet the doctor's and with her lips set in a thin line she summoned as much strength as possible; "Just tell me Janice. I need to know." 

      It was then that Relena received the news that shattered her world and future into beyond repair fragments.

To Be Continued.

Yes I do realize that this is short for my standards, but the next one will be longer. I just have a knack of ending the first chapter with a cliffhanger. As always I respect honest criticism and I will be thankful.