Rating: [T]—Adult situations and insinuations in later chapters.

Genre: Romance/Action/Adventure/Suspense/Angst/Hurt/Comfort

Summary: [SM/GW Crossover] All thought peace was here after the Gundam Wars ended and Crystal Tokyo was claimed...until an assassination attempt on one of Tokyo's ambassadors uncovers a hidden group of renegades fighting against the new life expectancy on Earth. While Earth seems to have its own problem, so does the space colonies; outraged at the citizens of Earth's new-found benefits.

Time Period: Crystal Tokyo Era, three years after claiming the throne*

[Ages: Inners 25/Outers 27/GW Pilots & Relena 26/Zechs 30]

Treasured Liaisons

Prologue

I wonder if this is what it feels like to really die...a hum shifting through me as I reflect back on my journey until this moment.

I still don't remember what exactly happened after the battle with Chaos but I never seemed to question it. It's been years since those days, running around in mini-skirts fighting evil forces that tried to hurt the world. Those were the days, when I could be young and reckless.

Instead, at the ripe age of twenty-five, I lay here bleeding...wondering where I'd gone wrong...questioning if I'd even lived. I'd been through so much already so why did I feel it ends here?

I'd won the war on a mystical level but was left in the dark when it came to knowledge of the Gundam Wars. It took me until the last two years of high school to review what happened and how five brave young men faced the odds against Oz soldiers. I can't help but wonder if I could have done more in the war. Instead, I focused with the rest of my friends like real students: studying to someday help rule Crystal Tokyo.

Maybe if I'd done something more I wouldn't be in this position thinking about my life now that it was coming to an end. Was it another small uprising still connected to the Gundam Wars?

It could be, but I still felt my regrets swelling with dissatisfaction.

One thing I wished I'd done was spend more time on my hobbies and passions like becoming the perfect housewife. I'd never felt feminine enough which caused me to shy out on opportunities such as dating. And with the limited amount of time to prepare for my role in Crystal Tokyo, I needed to submerge in my studies. Learning refinement, grace, etiquette, economic studies, public speaking, logic, history, and statistics. I was the suited soldier of strength and protection, a role that provided my job as being in charge of the palace's defenses and military strength.

Of course, my true role was to be kept a secret. It wouldn't have looked well to other countries knowing that I was looking into the strengths, weaknesses, and using that to prepare our own defenses. Which was why I traveled around the globe as an ambassador, attending functions and events Usagi's presence wasn't expected or mandatory.

I wonder if someone found out and that was why there was an assassination attempt on my life; one that was possibly working. I felt cold, so cold but at least my heart was still beating deafening the chaos around me.

I hope they would be okay, that my friends would be able to move on without me. Minako, our ambassador traveling to the space colonies, Rei, a priestess running the royal shrine at the palace, Ami, the private palace physician, Usagi and Mamoru, rulers of Earth with Chibi-usa at her terrible threes, Haruka and Michiru, touring the world by cruise liner, Hotaru barely entering high school, and Setsuna, working in our funded science lab. I would miss them all. It feels like yesterday we'd all been brought together again.

After four years of college, everyone was coming together for the celebration of Usagi and Mamoru marrying. That same year, Usagi took the throne and our precious Chibi-usa was born. Usagi bloomed in motherhood and it showed in her added warmth as a ruler. The past three years following seemed to fly by. Minako and I toured the world on official ambassador business before Minako went into space alone. I was still afraid of planes but could handle them better thanks to Minako but going into space was out of the question.

But one of the problems with always traveling and being an ambassador is it doesn't give you much time for a personal life. I tried dating but it never really worked out. Either they wanted too little or too much and asking me to quit my job was out of the question. There was so much I needed to do...

Yes. There is so much I still need to do. Why am I laying here letting whomever it is get the better of me? I had to fight. I neededto live! If not for me, then for our future!

The sounds around me roared to life, making it hard at first to describe what was happening until I could decipher it. My body and head ached as I tried to move feeling a sharp pain stab through my left shoulder making me cry out in pain. At least I knew what side to stay off of as a secession of gun shots and voices echoed off the surrounding hangars. If I could crawl into the hangar behind my jet then I would hopefully be safely out of the way.

"Stay where you are Ambassador Kino," a warm male voice yells over the shots. I blinked and looked around as the shots died down into the distance along with screeching tires. I recognized the sound of clips being switched out with a mix of sirens closing in; perhaps they'd catch whoever did this. "I apologize but I must apply pressure to restrict the bleeding."

"Use my jacket, it's already ruined," I reply as he kneels near and I finally recognize him. Mr. Quatre Winner the leader of Colony L4 but what was he doing here? I'd met him once before at a ball held by Queen Relena Peacecraft that seemed like an introduction into a world and society I never knew existed. Mostly it contained those that had fought in the Gundam Wars and had been educating to say the least. Mr. Winner was impressive with his warm and charismatic charm, something that gave the room a light atmosphere. He reminded me of someone who would get along with Michiru due to his love for music.

I could tell he played the violin by the small cleft indent on his chin from hours of practice. But, he seemed to be hiding something. A painful past since his smile didn't reach his eyes. No one else seemed to notice but I was there to watch, recognizing his movements as a man that knew battle and wondering if he still trained. I'd danced with him a few times, amazed at how well he moved on the dance floor and soaked up his handsome looks: platinum blond locks styled long on top and shortened on the sides, a small nose that keep his features soft that matched his jawline. A face I'd never forget in a crowd.

Biting my bottom lip, I help as much as I can manage to slide out of the jacket but remain flat. A burning pain courses to my core as I bite a little too hard into my lip, the dull iron substance coating my mouth.

"I am sorry Ambassador Kino, I wish we were meeting under different circumstances," Mr. Winner's soothing voice takes a bit of the edge off. I manage to chalk up a small smile while looking into his dark azure orbs.

"We were meeting?" I ask a bit confused. Did I not get the memo? I thought this was a routine visit to the Sanc Kingdom to discuss the probability of strengthening our alliance. His blond brows squish in confusion but before he can answer, another set of footsteps arrive.

"A small renegade bunker was found and is currently being searched for information," the voice of Ambassador Trowa Barton chilled through the air. "An ambulance should be here shortly. Would you like for the rest of the team to move in?"

"Yes, I want our best. Bring in Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Chang, then have Mr. Yuy follow us to the hospital," Mr. Winner's soft voice hardens surprising me at his demands. I watch Trowa Barton bow, another face I didn't forget since he was a well-known figure I dealt with from the Sanc Kingdom. Every time I'd met with him, he was always the same: distant, serious, and cold forest gems. His uniform was crisp and pristine, the same with his slicked back taupe hair, and always formal as if he wished to keep all conversation strictly business. Even now as he walked away he kept that seriousness and distance following orders.

I let out a sigh and feel how drowsy I am, perhaps from the blood loss or the tequila I had before my flight. Either way, I just want to close my eyes for a moment and forget about the pain.

"Miss Kino, please open your eyes!" I try to fight it but this is too much for me. I just want to rest...

*Author's Note: I thought I would give more explanation at the bottom instead of at the top of the story about the time period. I've been doing some research lately, re-reading the manga to come up with better, accurate character information. I am also aware that we have manga/anime fans all in the same genre so the information about what happens after Galaxia is defeated wasn't covered, if at all, by the anime. Here is a quick timeline for those that do not follow the manga with the Gundam Wing universe time lapse:

[Galaxia Saved: Inners Age 16/Outers Age 18/Gundam Wing AC197: Peace after the mobile suit war Pilots/Relena Age 17/Zechs 21](Anime ends)—What you don't see in the anime is when Usagi comes back from saving the galaxy, a glimpse of Crystal Tokyo is seen starting to be built marking the beginning of the new era to come.

[Mamoru and Usagi get married: Inners 21/Outers 23/GW AC202 Pilots/Relena 22/Zechs 26]—Crystal Tokyo is finished being built.

[Usagi (pregnant) ascends the throne and gives birth to the crown princess: Inners 22/Outers 24/GW AC203 Pilots/Relena 23/Zechs 27]—With the power of the Silver Crystal, beings age to maturity and cease to age while lifespans are up to 1000.

Hope that makes this less complicated and easier to follow. Thank you for reading!