Chapter 3

Should have been different but it wasn't different was it?
Same old story Dear John and so long
Should have fit like a glove, should have fit like a ring
Like a diamond ring a token of a true love

Relena heaved the large cream suitcase onto the silky sheets of her penthouse suit bed. The French government had been exceedingly helpful. Frowning, the young woman opened her luggage and began to pace about to and fro placing articles of various clothing into drawers and cupboards. However her mind wasn't on the job at hand. Wufei had regarded her so sternly since they'd met again. Already being such a serious character in childhood, Relena had expected nothing less. The effects of adulthood had only served to sober him further, there was definitely something buried within him ...something that wouldn't let him rest. What was hanging so heavily on his heart? Perhaps her presence near him had reminded him of his life during the war. Relena sighed as she walked towards the door, she was going to have to determine things for herself...he surely wasn't going to openly tell her.

Should have all worked out
Bit it didn't
She should be here now
But she isn't

In front of her, the large classy lounge sat sunken into the floor. Relena hardly reacted. All her life she'd been accustomed to the lavish way of life and the penthouse was no different. A large bar was anchored in the far corner several metres away from her. A three-piece suite sat comfortably in the middle of the polished oak floor in front of a huge video system submerged in the wall.
Wufei's room was directly opposite. This meant that without the door closed, she could see him asleep in his bed. She could see him now; busily replaying the actions which she had completed moments earlier. Relena still didn't understand why he wouldn't let her close. Okay it had been a day but there was a silent invisible wall being built up. With every exchange of words, glances and gestures, another layer of mortar and brick was laid.
Sighing inwardly, she leant her back against the frame of the door. She had to find a way around that barrier. They couldn't work together as colleagues properly if they weren't friends. How could she trust him with her life, if he couldn't even trust her with the simple pleasantries of conversation?
Relena chuckled. This was one battle; she didn't think she had the ammunition for. Turning her head slightly she caught a glimpse of the subject of her thoughts. He was watching her mid-action as though she were crazy. He'd heard her laugh.
Blushing slightly, she turned away back into the room. The only case left packed was her briefcase. Work. Relena sighed and began to pull out page after page of papers. It seemed that the life of a politician was never an easy one.

There's your trouble,
there's your trouble
You keep seeing double with the wrong one
You can't see I love you
you can't see she doesn't
But you just keep holding on
There's your trouble

The young woman jumped as the drill of the video phone rang. Hurriedly peeling herself from the bed, Relena pressed the receive button. A young dark haired woman wearing a receptionists uniform answered.
"There is a call for you Madame"
"Oh thank you" Relena said before taking a gulp of her tea and cringing to find it bitterly cold and sweet.
Sally Po's face soon appeared and she smiled "Good even Minister Dorlain" She said in her low sultry tones.
"Evening?" The blonde young politician retorted quizzically
"Yes, it's 6.30 where you are!" Sally chuckled "Did you have a good journey?"
Relena blinked at her watch in the dim light of the hotel room. That would explain why her eyes were beginning to smart. "I didn't realise I'd been working so late...Oh it was fine thank you miss Po"
Sally raised an eyebrow and leant towards the screen "How's Wufei behaving himself?"
Wufei? She'd almost forgotten about him, she'd been so wrapped up in her work "Wufei? Oh, hold on and I'll check"
Relena quickly hopped across the room and opened the door. Sticking her head out she didn't have to search far to find what she was looking for. The reading glasses she wore slipped to the end of her nose as he mouth formed a surprised little "o" and her eyebrows almost touched her hairline. Snapping herself back to her senses, Relena dashed back to her stool, which sat in front of the glowing vid-phone.
"Uh, he's doing some kind of martial arts." Relena said with a detectable breathlessness in her voice and a subtle nudge to manuver her glasses back up her nose.
"Ah his kata" Sally said knowledgably and solemnly
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah, his movements, reactions, timing, gestures...his style...his kata"
Relena felt as though she should smack herself on the forehead and shout "duh", but honestly she had no idea what Sally was talking about.
The braided caller smiled "Maybe you'd better go ask him yourself" She replied, her sultry, suggestive tones returning.
The screen flashed off and Relena sat for a moment considering Sally's words. She didn't want to go back out there, not with Wufei dressed the way he was. But then again, it might be a good time to get to know him, when he was relaxed and focused. She might also learn something that could be poetically useful in a speech.
Quietly removing her glasses, Relena hopped back to the door and opened it. There he was still where he had been. He'd been so quiet the past few hours. She could only guess he'd been doing this throughout that time. Again she felt the characteristic tightness of her throat and dizziness of her head, which came from admiring handsome members of the opposite sex. He was standing with his back to her. And what a back! Every movement of his arms caused the muscles on his broad supple back to ripple and flex with such hidden power that they resembled that of a tiger or lion.
Without making a noise, she quickly made her way to the sofa and sat down, never taking her eyes away.

So now you're thinking bout all you're missing
how deep your sinking
round and round and dragging down.

This mission was too easy. Une had taken it too far this time. She has made her feeling of dislike towards him clear from the beginning. He knew that was the only reason he was given the crappy jobs no one else wanted. Still this was high profile assignment, which many preventer agents would have wanted. Although it wasn't a challenge, it wasn't child splay either! He'd seen how trying it had been with those "friendly" reporters. What would happen at a political rally? The worst part of his first experience was the look on Relena's face upon his rough treatment of her. He hated to admit it, but he was going to have to get to know her better before he could do his job. What a waste of time! He'd have to be able to watch her and observe her mannerisms, likes, dislikes and be able to read her expressions in an instant. Which meant spending time with her and treating her with a little too much respect. Things Wufei wasn't sure he was ready for.
Finishing his train of movements which he'd been subconsciously doing he breathed deeply. Turning around he found himself staring into two aquamarine orbs. Controlling his reflex to jump in shock, he noticed fully that Relena was sitting cross-legged on the sofa in front of him, watching as he thought about her. He turned several shades of red, hoping that he hadn't spoken any of his thoughts aloud.
"Hello Wufei, I hope you don't mind me watching you?" She asked politely, shining an innocent smile at him.
Wufei studied her for a moment, wondering what significance this face had. Then nodded curtly and tried his hardest to relax and return to his movements. It had taken a long time for him to get used to Sally observing his kata, never mind Relena Peacecraft. Bringing his arms over his middle and back again, he struggled to focus with her piercing blue eyes on his form.
Relena sat rigidly. Maybe this wasn't the best idea after all. She was only making him uncomfortable. But she couldn't just get up and leave after asking, no, she'd stay and watch for a little while then excuse herself. His movements were slow and methodical making his muscles look like water beneath his olive skin, fluid and graceful. He slipped his limbs about, shifting lightly on his feet in rhythmic timing with the rest of his body. Relena moistened her lips as her mouth sat in an arched parting.
"Is that Kung Fu?" She asked in an unpredictably small voice.
A tiny smile quirked on his fine lips. "Yes" He replied quietly, guessing that her question was a fortunate one, he doubted she had any real knowledge of the art. "It's mantis style" He added then subconsciously slapped himself for saying more than was required.
Her smiled brightened against the cream leather of the sofa as he stood a few feet away on the carpeted floor. Sighing with a frustration new to Relena, Wufei began to hunt for concentration again. His onyx eyes focused narrowly ahead of him, stern and severe, and his defined chiselled jaw fastened in place. Relena's eyes helplessly wandered down his bare chest, admiring the well-built and cared for pectorals. As his arms deliberately glided across his chest, his wrists bent over into claws, her gaze travelled with them. His fingers moved with an esoteric air that was mounted deep in a dark and mysterious ancestry. Her gape darted up to his eyes suddenly as she became aware that after a few moments he'd stopped moving. He was watching her; a strange puzzled quirk flickered in his eyebrows. Those eyes with that same, dark mysterious, rich, inherited knowledge of a culture so carefully preserved.
Pulling her eyes from his increasingly sensual stare, Relena cleared her throat and stood up, excusing herself. All of a sudden she felt herself tingling. Why? Because she met glances with her bodyguard for a few seconds? How ridiculous!
Wufei stopped; something electric and strangely pleasant had zipped through his body as she had observed it, and then as she'd met his eyes he felt it burning in his chest. "Stop it!" He silently commanded to himself. She's just an airhead woman, no different from the rest.