Found
Part 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- "It's over," Relena breathed as the last remaining piece of Libra crumbled in the magnificent blast of Wing Zero's buster rifle. /It's finally over. After all this time, finally, we'll have a chance for peace. Finally, we'll have a chance for each other.../ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
"...But after the Mariemaia incident, you disappeared. I've sent my best searchers, even the Preventers, out to find you.... And still no word," Relena whispered nearly on the brink of tears as she stared out the window of her office in the rebuilt Sank Kingdom. The memory of each incident of when she was so close to him; the times before he went off to fight against her brother in AC195 and after he released Mariemaia from her pain, each incident was fresh in her mind. And yet each time she forced herself to remember, the wounds were re-opened and covered with a thin blanket of salt... much like the snow that was softly falling outside now.
She touched the window gingerly as one solitary tear fell from her glittering blue eyes. "Where are you...?"
"Where is who?" A familiar voice asked from her door. She spun around to be greeted by the warm smile of Dorothy.
"Dorothy! Want are you doing here?! I thought you were working as head councilor for Lady Une?!"
"She gave me the holiday off, so I thought I'd visit my old and dear friend!" She exclaimed as she walked over to Relena. "Why are you crying? Are you sad Miss Relena?" She asked as she wiped the remnants of the tear away with the back of her fingers.
"Huh? Oh, no. It-it is just the cold, that's all," Relena answered trying to get her strong appearance back again.
/Why do I think it is more that just that?/ "Well, then! If that is all then you should get away from that cold window! Pargon has made some cocoa and has invited us to have it in the den. He thought a nice fire, a good friend, and some hot cocoa would be a most excellent break from all the paperwork."
"And he couldn't be more right!" Relena chuckled as she and Dorothy walked out of the room and down to the den talking about how great it was to see each other again.
"Oh, Miss Relena?"
"Yes Pargon?"
"You've just received another visitor."
"Who is it?" She asked as they reached the door before opening it.
"Quatre Raberba Winner I do believe. Unless of coarse Duo has cut his hair, dyed it blond and has contacts in."
Both Relena and Dorothy had to laugh at that because that was just the thing Duo would do.
"Ah, but he would rather kill himself than cut that braid of his off!" Dorothy exclaimed as Pargon opened the door for them.
"I will see you three soon then," Pargon commented politely as he closed the door.
Relena turned around to see Quatre sitting on one of the couches sipping the cup of cocoa he had. He looked up smiling and set down the mug as he stood. "Sorry about not waiting for you two to get here, but the cocoa just looked so good, I couldn't just let it sit there!"
"You are quite excused Quatre!" Relena smiled as they exchanged hugs.
"How are you Quatre?" Dorothy asked as he took a seat in a chair beside one of the end tables.
"Oh, just fine! Did you know Trowa and I have moved into a mansion together with Catherine?"
"No I didn't, when did this happen?!" Relena asked.
"Some time during the summer," he answered as he took another sip of the steaming sweet liquid. "Her boss told her that she deserves a break from all the hard work she put in for the circus, and since we found out that she is Trowa's biological older sister through a check-up, we thought that it would only be right if they came together."
"But doesn't she have some other place to stay?" Dorothy asked.
"No. She told us circus has always been her home since she was a little girl, so I offered her and Trowa a place to stay since Trowa wouldn't leave her."
"I see," Relena said as she took a sip of her slightly cooled cocoa. She was dying to ask the question that was screaming in her mind, but didn't know if she should because of the emotions it might bring up from the answer; although Quatre beat her to it.
"Have you heard from Heero at all?" He asked as Relena's head jerked up and she gave a silent gasp.
"No! Have you?!"
"No. I was just wondering because the guys can't figure out where he is at all. Heero was the one who was always good at finding hidden things and looking into people's minds. Without him around, we've been stuck..." his voice trailed off as he reached the end of the statement.
"I see," Relena began as she lowered her head. "Do you think we'll ever find him Quatre?" she asked in a low whisper.
"I don't know..." he answered in the same manner, "but I'm sure that when he wants to be found, he will make it known. Until then, we can only wait."
"I agree completely with Quatre," Dorothy said obviously trying to cheer up the slightly morbid mood that had fallen upon the room. "As I recall, Heero was always good at hiding and then making himself known during the wars. Perhaps he is planning something rather extreme, or he just doesn't want to be bothered now. You know how he is!" She laughed.
That brought a chuckle and a tiny smile from Relena. Yes, that was true; Heero really didn't want to be bothered by her until sometime towards the end of the first war. And whenever he was planning something, it always did end up pretty extreme. Even the slightest little gesture from him meant something big and brought an equal response. Like that teddy bear he gave her for her birthday. It was something small, but it meant a lot to her since it was a gift from him. "You are completely right, Dorothy, maybe that is all. But I have a question. Did he ever give anybody a present, I mean besides blowing up their building?"
"I... don't think so," Quatre answered. "He was really secretive, and he never gave anybody any gifts, at least to my knowledge. If he did, it would mean that that person had a special place in his mind or heart, as if they meant a lot to him. Otherwise that..."
"Why do you ask Miss Relena?" Dorothy questioned.
"Oh it's just a thought. Maybe if he had it would be a clue to where he was staying now. But that would be highly unlikely."
"Well, I'd better go," Quatre stated as they heard a car horn outside. He stood and grabbed his coat. "That's Trowa, we have a few other stops to make, sorry this visit was so short, but my compliments to the chef, the cocoa was wonderful! Also, we are having a holiday party at our mansion on the 23rd. Here are your invitations, the party starts and 4 o'clock and you are welcome to come any day or time before that."
"That may be a problem Quatre," Relena said as she stood as well. "I have a meeting the day after on how the peace is coming along in the U. E. S. N. and if there is any rumors staring about another war. I'm truly sorry."
"Well, since it is sometime in the afternoon, you are welcome to stay over night and open gifts with us the next morning! We have so many rooms that practically everyone is able to stay over! And I'm sure that everyone would like to see you for more than just a few hours. We are serving non- alcoholic eggnog, so you wouldn't even have to worry about a hang-over the next morning!"
"Thank you Quatre. You can expect me to be a definite guest then!"
"See you there!" He smiled as he left the room.
"Who do you think will be there Miss Relena?" Dorothy asked as they watched their friends drive off.
"I expect everybody Dorothy! My brother and Noin, Duo, Wufei, Sally, Lady Une... everybody."
"But what about Heero?"
"He has his way of finding things out. I am more confident now that he is fully aware of what is going on in our lives and knows exactly when to make himself known. If he wants to come, he will! And if he doesn't, he won't."
"You seem to be getting some of his gifts!" Dorothy commented brightly.
Relena straightened. "What do you mean by that?"
"You probably know exactly what he is planning to do just by looking at what he did in the past. You can easily get into his mind, just like he can get into others! Bravo, Miss Relena."
Relena nearly gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you Dorothy, but I seriously doubt that my abilities will ever come as close to his. He's had more practice at it than I have."
"Well, be that as it may, you both have the same thing, if not on the same level. Anyway, I must be going as well, I bought a home not far from here and must see to it that everything has arrived there in the same condition as they were packed. Besides, it is getting late anyway."
"Alright, if you need any help, I'm sure that my servants would be happy to lend a hand."
"I'm sure I am able to manage. See you."
"Good bye Dorothy, and just as Quatre had said, you are welcome any time. Good night."
"Good night," Dorothy answered as they had gotten to the stairway and parted ways. /And may you have a quiet night free of bad dreams.../
But that was not the case. All through the night Relena had had dreams of Heero coming and then leaving as quickly as he came, or of finding out that he had died. Each time she had woken up crying. And each time she had reached for the teddy bear that wasn't there anymore. During her kidnapping, they had ransacked her room looking for any secrets or things of the sort. When she had returned, she found that her beloved bear had been slashed to the point of un-repairable. Although her friends had offered to buy her a new one, she had declined because it wouldn't have been from Heero.
So instead she hugged her pillow and stayed awake the rest of the night. That following day, she had decided, she would tell Pargon that she wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be going into the office.
/It will be three days until the party. I hope I can get my spirits up by then. I'm sure something will turn up, I hope./
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- "It's over," Relena breathed as the last remaining piece of Libra crumbled in the magnificent blast of Wing Zero's buster rifle. /It's finally over. After all this time, finally, we'll have a chance for peace. Finally, we'll have a chance for each other.../ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
"...But after the Mariemaia incident, you disappeared. I've sent my best searchers, even the Preventers, out to find you.... And still no word," Relena whispered nearly on the brink of tears as she stared out the window of her office in the rebuilt Sank Kingdom. The memory of each incident of when she was so close to him; the times before he went off to fight against her brother in AC195 and after he released Mariemaia from her pain, each incident was fresh in her mind. And yet each time she forced herself to remember, the wounds were re-opened and covered with a thin blanket of salt... much like the snow that was softly falling outside now.
She touched the window gingerly as one solitary tear fell from her glittering blue eyes. "Where are you...?"
"Where is who?" A familiar voice asked from her door. She spun around to be greeted by the warm smile of Dorothy.
"Dorothy! Want are you doing here?! I thought you were working as head councilor for Lady Une?!"
"She gave me the holiday off, so I thought I'd visit my old and dear friend!" She exclaimed as she walked over to Relena. "Why are you crying? Are you sad Miss Relena?" She asked as she wiped the remnants of the tear away with the back of her fingers.
"Huh? Oh, no. It-it is just the cold, that's all," Relena answered trying to get her strong appearance back again.
/Why do I think it is more that just that?/ "Well, then! If that is all then you should get away from that cold window! Pargon has made some cocoa and has invited us to have it in the den. He thought a nice fire, a good friend, and some hot cocoa would be a most excellent break from all the paperwork."
"And he couldn't be more right!" Relena chuckled as she and Dorothy walked out of the room and down to the den talking about how great it was to see each other again.
"Oh, Miss Relena?"
"Yes Pargon?"
"You've just received another visitor."
"Who is it?" She asked as they reached the door before opening it.
"Quatre Raberba Winner I do believe. Unless of coarse Duo has cut his hair, dyed it blond and has contacts in."
Both Relena and Dorothy had to laugh at that because that was just the thing Duo would do.
"Ah, but he would rather kill himself than cut that braid of his off!" Dorothy exclaimed as Pargon opened the door for them.
"I will see you three soon then," Pargon commented politely as he closed the door.
Relena turned around to see Quatre sitting on one of the couches sipping the cup of cocoa he had. He looked up smiling and set down the mug as he stood. "Sorry about not waiting for you two to get here, but the cocoa just looked so good, I couldn't just let it sit there!"
"You are quite excused Quatre!" Relena smiled as they exchanged hugs.
"How are you Quatre?" Dorothy asked as he took a seat in a chair beside one of the end tables.
"Oh, just fine! Did you know Trowa and I have moved into a mansion together with Catherine?"
"No I didn't, when did this happen?!" Relena asked.
"Some time during the summer," he answered as he took another sip of the steaming sweet liquid. "Her boss told her that she deserves a break from all the hard work she put in for the circus, and since we found out that she is Trowa's biological older sister through a check-up, we thought that it would only be right if they came together."
"But doesn't she have some other place to stay?" Dorothy asked.
"No. She told us circus has always been her home since she was a little girl, so I offered her and Trowa a place to stay since Trowa wouldn't leave her."
"I see," Relena said as she took a sip of her slightly cooled cocoa. She was dying to ask the question that was screaming in her mind, but didn't know if she should because of the emotions it might bring up from the answer; although Quatre beat her to it.
"Have you heard from Heero at all?" He asked as Relena's head jerked up and she gave a silent gasp.
"No! Have you?!"
"No. I was just wondering because the guys can't figure out where he is at all. Heero was the one who was always good at finding hidden things and looking into people's minds. Without him around, we've been stuck..." his voice trailed off as he reached the end of the statement.
"I see," Relena began as she lowered her head. "Do you think we'll ever find him Quatre?" she asked in a low whisper.
"I don't know..." he answered in the same manner, "but I'm sure that when he wants to be found, he will make it known. Until then, we can only wait."
"I agree completely with Quatre," Dorothy said obviously trying to cheer up the slightly morbid mood that had fallen upon the room. "As I recall, Heero was always good at hiding and then making himself known during the wars. Perhaps he is planning something rather extreme, or he just doesn't want to be bothered now. You know how he is!" She laughed.
That brought a chuckle and a tiny smile from Relena. Yes, that was true; Heero really didn't want to be bothered by her until sometime towards the end of the first war. And whenever he was planning something, it always did end up pretty extreme. Even the slightest little gesture from him meant something big and brought an equal response. Like that teddy bear he gave her for her birthday. It was something small, but it meant a lot to her since it was a gift from him. "You are completely right, Dorothy, maybe that is all. But I have a question. Did he ever give anybody a present, I mean besides blowing up their building?"
"I... don't think so," Quatre answered. "He was really secretive, and he never gave anybody any gifts, at least to my knowledge. If he did, it would mean that that person had a special place in his mind or heart, as if they meant a lot to him. Otherwise that..."
"Why do you ask Miss Relena?" Dorothy questioned.
"Oh it's just a thought. Maybe if he had it would be a clue to where he was staying now. But that would be highly unlikely."
"Well, I'd better go," Quatre stated as they heard a car horn outside. He stood and grabbed his coat. "That's Trowa, we have a few other stops to make, sorry this visit was so short, but my compliments to the chef, the cocoa was wonderful! Also, we are having a holiday party at our mansion on the 23rd. Here are your invitations, the party starts and 4 o'clock and you are welcome to come any day or time before that."
"That may be a problem Quatre," Relena said as she stood as well. "I have a meeting the day after on how the peace is coming along in the U. E. S. N. and if there is any rumors staring about another war. I'm truly sorry."
"Well, since it is sometime in the afternoon, you are welcome to stay over night and open gifts with us the next morning! We have so many rooms that practically everyone is able to stay over! And I'm sure that everyone would like to see you for more than just a few hours. We are serving non- alcoholic eggnog, so you wouldn't even have to worry about a hang-over the next morning!"
"Thank you Quatre. You can expect me to be a definite guest then!"
"See you there!" He smiled as he left the room.
"Who do you think will be there Miss Relena?" Dorothy asked as they watched their friends drive off.
"I expect everybody Dorothy! My brother and Noin, Duo, Wufei, Sally, Lady Une... everybody."
"But what about Heero?"
"He has his way of finding things out. I am more confident now that he is fully aware of what is going on in our lives and knows exactly when to make himself known. If he wants to come, he will! And if he doesn't, he won't."
"You seem to be getting some of his gifts!" Dorothy commented brightly.
Relena straightened. "What do you mean by that?"
"You probably know exactly what he is planning to do just by looking at what he did in the past. You can easily get into his mind, just like he can get into others! Bravo, Miss Relena."
Relena nearly gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you Dorothy, but I seriously doubt that my abilities will ever come as close to his. He's had more practice at it than I have."
"Well, be that as it may, you both have the same thing, if not on the same level. Anyway, I must be going as well, I bought a home not far from here and must see to it that everything has arrived there in the same condition as they were packed. Besides, it is getting late anyway."
"Alright, if you need any help, I'm sure that my servants would be happy to lend a hand."
"I'm sure I am able to manage. See you."
"Good bye Dorothy, and just as Quatre had said, you are welcome any time. Good night."
"Good night," Dorothy answered as they had gotten to the stairway and parted ways. /And may you have a quiet night free of bad dreams.../
But that was not the case. All through the night Relena had had dreams of Heero coming and then leaving as quickly as he came, or of finding out that he had died. Each time she had woken up crying. And each time she had reached for the teddy bear that wasn't there anymore. During her kidnapping, they had ransacked her room looking for any secrets or things of the sort. When she had returned, she found that her beloved bear had been slashed to the point of un-repairable. Although her friends had offered to buy her a new one, she had declined because it wouldn't have been from Heero.
So instead she hugged her pillow and stayed awake the rest of the night. That following day, she had decided, she would tell Pargon that she wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be going into the office.
/It will be three days until the party. I hope I can get my spirits up by then. I'm sure something will turn up, I hope./
